mauriesy

I think it's the fake Jack Watts thread.

I just think there's a lot of dubious psychology being raised about tough love, iron gloves and so-called "attitudinal" problems. There's a lot of readily ascertainable measures of the fitness of a professional footballer (for example flexibility, strength, aerobic capacity, body fat, etc.) Goodwin and the fitness staff at Melbourne would have a good idea of where Watts is on these measures compared to where he was when he was playing well and meeting the fitness targets in 2016. It's not hard to show Watts what the difference is and what he has to do to reach previous levels. I'd imagine Watts is intelligent enough to see the problem and work on it, which is exactly what he and the coaching staff are doing. The issue is also to avoid him falling out of condition next year to the extent he seems to have over summer this year. This is where the real application and "attitudinal" issues arise.

BHP. Red for iron ore and blue for gas!

It's in their DNA (Demonland Negative Attitude).

I didn't say I didn't want an MFC logo in it. I'd be quite happy to buy one like that.

I understand the clothing range will be liked by many. But I'm not one for "Jones Nerd" tees, "Ugly" tees and sweaters, large retro logos, "Army Hoodies" or "2 tees in a tin". I'm older and want to support my club but in an understated sort of way. I also play golf, where a lot of the time dress rules prohibit logos and loud slogans. I don't even want "Member 2017" added because it immediately dates the item. I did look at the polos. The 2017 Premium Polo is only available in two sizes (S and XL), and has no product information. The 2017 members polo is "sold out" in every size except S, and lists "back print" under the information (but doesn't show a picture of what's printed on the back). The Media Polo is plastered with the commercial logos of our sponsors. The 2017 Logo Polo is already sold out in L and XL. So there is no apparel at all in the Demon Shop that I'd buy. I think they could do more with understated but quality clothing for older members like me.

I think a lot of people underestimate St Kilda. They're developing with a good midfield and forward line, and even when Riewoldt and Montagna retire they'll still be very dangerous.

Oscar's current update (13/1/17): "Oscar has really emerged again. We all saw really good snippets of Oscar’s progression last year. He’s bigger and stronger again, and has the capacity to run and still carry it. Oscar’s on the verge of becoming a very good player."

I protested the Vietnam War at the same time my brother was over there as a National Serviceman. I had respect for the soldiers, but not for the government decision to involve our country in it. It was a stupid and needless war. I wanted to bring my brother home as much as I wanted the war to end.

Sylvia is only 31. He could still have been playing.

Yes, nothing like sacrificing your face for the back of your neck!

It's hardly surprising that all these band members and actors who were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, and are now aged well into their 70s, are dropping off their perches, especially given the lifestyles many of them led.

It wouldn't make any difference at all to our operating profit. It would however make a large difference to the balance sheet.

So some supporters from other teams don't rate Hogan over their own? Amazing. Daniher has trouble kicking a goal from 20 metres out directly in front.

Wow! Ho ho! That's massive!

To borrow from a golfing analogy, while there are some good swing plane fundamentals that most good golfers try to adhere to, there have been some very good golfers with some pretty ugly off-plane swings. Jim Furyk has won 17 PGA Tour events and a US Open with a loopy swing that is almost vertical at the top. You wouldn't teach his swing to a beginner. David Duval was known as "Duval the Shovel" but got to World No. 1. Craig Parry was famously ribbed as having the swing of an 18-handicapper. However, at the critical point of impact, all were on-plane and powerful. Similarly, the trajectory of a football depends solely on what is happening at the point of impact with the boot. What happens in the run-up is not necessarily material to that impact. That is not to say you can't improve impact by improving the fundamentals of your run-up, which might well be the case with Hogan, but if the ball is sailing through the goals long and straight then the point of impact is fine (Kennedy). Hopping, skipping, twitching and stuttering can be irrelevant to the actual impact of the kick. More than a few very good golfers have ruined their game by mucking around too much with their swings (e.g. Woods, Baker-Finch) and therefore mucking around with their heads.

Nothing kills achievement like the weight of expectation.

You'd have to wait a few years to see whether McKenna, Johnstone and Hannan are better than Grimes, Dunn and Jones, for example. Until then trying to score by points is pretty useless. Comparing new talent that needs a few years to mature but could be good AFL players, against old talent that is a known quantity and likely to be on a downhill slide, is a nice bit of mathematical quantifying, but it's an illogical comparison.

My understanding is that the only difference between Category A and B rookies is the method and selection criteria by which they are added to the list (A being through the Rookie Draft; B being international, zone, no previous registration etc.) Beyond that there is no difference in the rookie conditions or the ability to be promoted.

That should be "eat yourselves alive" shouldn't it?

He's going to have special responsibility for rookies ... to be known as Rooke's Rookies.

You forgot the ones who came back all flabby.

Being an uneven number, there would be a slight season advantage for half the teams because they would play 9 home games against the other half's 8 home games. Unless it is organised that one of the nine home (or away) matches for each team is played at a "neutral" venue. (I guess this could be AO for Adelaide v Port, Domain for Fremantle v WC, MCG where both teams have it as a home ground etc.)

The other day I watched a replay of the first 2016 Melbourne v Collingwood game, and Wagner was really good. There's potential there that to me makes him a better pick for a 2-year contract than some kid taken at #84. Plus he's got a more mature body, and a year of development. In reality, it's just one spot on the list, and I'd much rather have Wagner.

Currently White remains on the list as a rookie. With Michie and King being delisted and Wagner being upgraded, there are three rookie spots to fill. Would it be desirable for Maynard and Smith to go from Category B to A, or doesn't it matter?