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Would be interested to see if there's any track watchers out who can give some observations of todays session.

If we're throwing around a war chest to get a top liner in, I'd much rather the salary cap space go towards McCluggage.

Nice post, some good and interesting takes there and enough to mull over. I largely agree with your points and think we should head in with the two outs: Salem (a given) and Oliver (I suspect he'll play). I'd be inclined to have Laurie as an in. I agree that's it's incredibly important to have reward form via senior selection and we need integrity in the match committee in regards to this, we can't continue with the perceived status quo of playing favourites. Laurie can rotate through the midfield rotations and we can see how he goes against a (relatively) secondary midfield which will be missing Taranto, Hopper and Prestia. Naturally, Pickett comes back into the fold after serving his one week suspension and I'd be retaining Kolt as the sub. Whilst the two inclusions aren't a like-for-like, I'd be inclined to play Woewodin out of the back in the absence of Salem and lets see what he can do. Although we were very ordinary to say the least, I didn't think Taj was as poor as what many have made out (I've only watched the game once, potentially a second viewing in a non-live environment may allow more judgement on this, though). Personally, I'm not sure I'd be playing Langdon down back, I think he has more value as that link-up runner, though he hasn't exactly set the world on fire as of late. I wouldn't be rushing Hunter back. I'm not sure he's the type of player we need in the side at the moment but I wouldn't be adverse to Fullarton coming in, potentially to give BBB an extended break.

Characterising Petty as a below average kick is somewhat unfair. His scoring returns are: 2019: 6 goals, 5 behinds; 2022: 1 goal, 0 behinds; 2023: 12 goals, 1 behind; 2024: 1 goal, 4 behinds. His shot at goal accuracy for his career is, currently, 55.6% which places him into the 'average' category (cf. Fritsch, who is going at 56.9% for his career and has a ranking of 'above average'). Interestingly, McDonald is going at 65.87% goal accuracy (166 goals, 86 behinds). Your observations about the TMac and Petty comparison could well and truly be correct, but we're comparing two very different bodies of work with reference to games played forward. Goal outputs for Petty / Fritsch* are as follows: Petty: 0.3 per game (below average); Fritsch: 1.7 per game (above average). Personally, I do feel Petty's ability to play forward in an ongoing and significant manner (i.e., as our primary KPF) are somewhat overstated and his forward-craft has been magnified by the Richmond game where he went 6 straight. Noting the next week he kicked another two straight against North before going off after halftime with the Lisfranc. His other results for 2023 were: Round 4, Sydney: 1 goal; Round 6, Richmond: 1 goal, 1 behind; Round 9, Hawthorn: 2 goals. (Note: I am unable to recall if Petty started as a forward in all those games in 2023 - others may be able to shed light on that facet). I think he's got some great attributes, especially his strength at marking. But I think the jury is still out on whether he's going to be the forward many have hoped for. At the current stage I'd agree he's more suited to a backline role, though then we get into the issue of the 'over-supply' of backman that we seem to have. *AFL.com.au stats for McDonald omitted, as he is now classified as a backman which skew his goals per game ranking.

Swings and roundabouts. I'm surprised there wasn't more of it.

Sure, but as I said he's been very average by his standards the whole year. I'm judging him by the entirety of the whole year, as opposed to cherry picking form from one match.

Very fair point and agree on your last point too r.e., equivalent salary worthy forwards.

And this is particularly apparent when teams get runs on, which leads to the question, is it because of: - Pig-headedness? - A lack of of risk appetite? an aversion to risk? - Poor game-day tactics? - holes in the list? - poor game-day selection? or - a combination of the above? This is a lingering issue that's been around for the whole of Goodwin's tenure as head coach IMO.

My comment wasn't in reference to internal dialogues, it was referencing the supporter and much of the commentary that's been on this forum post 2021.

Yeah, agree with you entirely. I think our spread - especially our defensive spread from a contest, has been an issue over the past few seasons IMO. It's pretty damning. We came underdone against Sydney in OR in much the same way. It's problematic and the good teams are able to easily punish us. It also punishes the backline with repeat entries able to come in so easily, and quickly. We're fortunate to have a back six that's able to hold up as well as it does.

This is 100% on the money. I've said previously that this even rings true of our 2022 and 2023 campaigns. The W/L column has masked several glaring areas of deficiency with our game that have needed addressing for a long time. We're potentially seeing that now too with the wins over the Dogs, Hawthorn, Port and Adelaide - yet the indicative and true form could be that seen in the Sydney and Brisbane games. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath water yet, I'm somewhat more positive overall about this season than the previous two. But as I said in another post, we'd want to go 3 - 0 against Richmond, Geelong and Carlton to be able to suggest the winning form we've seen this season is the 'true form'.

On pure output and talent, I'd be throwing capital at him to get him to the Dees. As has been said above, given he is rather offensively minded, and silky with the ball in hand, he adds a different dimension to many of the rotating players in our midfield. I see a lot of potential and based on the output of work I've seen, though I accept bringing him in may impact our ability to recruit in other areas. What compounds this decision is that we still need to address our forward line. Obviously we have the ability to address more than one area of concern consecutively, we've shown we can be shrewd in that regard before. But it becomes a matter of priority and identifying where, and how to expend the remaining salary cap we have.

Last night was disappointing, no doubt. But I'll hold judgement - for the moment. Much has been said in this topic thread that I agree with so I wont necessarily rehash the conversation around whether Oliver should've played and the performances of the forwards. However, if we're not able to make it 2 - 0 against Geelong and Carlton, then I think some alarm bells need to be raised (coupled with the losses to Sydney and Brisbane). If that were to eventuate, I think it's fair to say there's a body of work that suggests we're off competing with the teams likely to finish around us in the 1 - 6 ladder positions.

Looking past the disposal count in games, he's been very average by his standards the whole year (I'm not suggesting he's past it though, by any stretch). But to say he was 'killing it' this year, even prior to injury, is viewing his season with a high amount of recency bias with regards to his previous seasons.

But there’ll still be people pinning their hopes that Petty is the great white hope based on 1.5 games of football last year.

No thanks.

Agree with those wholeheartedly. For a combination of reasons, he hasn't hit form since the end of 2021. I'm not writing him off and agree there's still value in him, but not in the defensive structure. Anecdotally, he also has seemed far more adverse to 'contact' over the past 18 months or so too.

Nervous for this game, especially with Oliver being a rumoured late out (suspect Laurie will be in the inclusion if this eventuates). One of the biggest threats for tonight will be Bailey, IMO. He always seems to bob-up against us. So far this season I've been incredibly impressed and surprised by what I've seen on-field (by far surpassing my expectations at this stage). A win tonight will help instil belief and agree, that it may be a prelude of things to come (dare I say it), à la 2021.

Played my one and only halftime Auskick game out here. From memory it was a Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions game. Definitely attended a few games out here. Can't say I have overly found memories of the place compared to the 'G.

Fanciful, at best.

No doubt we'll be Mac Andrew'd again.

You're absolutely correct. Not too mention, this is something that hits close to home and was one of the constant criticisms of Bailey (especially on this forum at times) during his tenure at the Dees too.

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories Douglas et al. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0963721417718261

All good mate, to be honest I anticipated that was likely why it had the vomit emoji!

First time listening to the podcast and I have to give massive wraps, it's a great product. @binman is an especially engaging speaker! Great stuff, will be definitely tuning in from hereon in.