Jonathan Steffanoni

I'm in need of distractions from thinking about last night's game, and this landed in my work inbox. "Diamond Joe's" involvement with the Club was many years ago now, but this still may be of interest. https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2024-releases/24-041mr-asic-disqualifies-former-asx-listed-merlin-diamonds-director-joseph-gutnick-for-four-years/

Is there any word about how Gus is doing? He seemed pretty shattered, as was Goody’s reaction. I cant help but wonder if he’s told himself and loved ones that he’d give it up if he was concussed again. I wouldn’t blame him if this is the case. The risk of CTE is pretty scary.

Actually, let’s just beat them in the grand final. That’s motivation enough for next week.

I’m emotionally ruined after that and could say many things. Let’s keep it simple and say: It wasn’t our night and it didn’t go as planned. Let’s focus on a better performance next week.

Has anybody noticed that our performance at the MCG seems to have improved significantly since Gosch’s Paddock was resized to match the MCG? Would this make any difference? I guess it can’t hurt, but there are undoubtedly several factors at play…

It would have been nice to win, but I think we can take a lot from the match: - Our best is the best - Intensity lapses are costly for us - We seemed to have worked them out by half time - Max will be all the better for having the ruck load shared - We should have stolen it but for missed opportunities and some tough luck - Grundy not in the starting 23, but a good backup if Max goes down - Oliver will be better for the run - Fritsch will make a welcome return soon Next week against Hawthorn will be a tough assignment. We should win, but we’re probably best to finish in fourth spot and get a home QF.

I wonder if we keep it simple with Petty out, Oliver in. Send Clayton to Full Forward and see Carlton’s backline try to deal with two competitive beasts up forward. The midfield actually has a good balance at the moment. Clayton and Christian up forward could cause all sorts of trouble for the opposition.

It’s quite plausible we finish on top too. Collingwood May only win one of the last three. I reckon there’ll be three teams on top and percentage splitting the three.

The way that we won is the kind of thing that can inject that elusive and unquantifiable factor that makes success happen. The self belief that we will win can’t be artificially created any way other than on the field, as Jack, Jake, Trent, Max, etc. showed us on Friday night. That feels profound, as did our last round win in 2021.

This is true to a certain extent… but, leading requires space to move into. Our system sees a lot of forward pressure and therefore sees a lot of bodies inside F50. I wonder whether the tumble punt could be an interesting addition if forwards simply play in front. It’s unexpected and doesn’t allow defenders a clean attack at the ball.

Giants next Sunday. Forget about it and move on to next week. Sloppy game in the wet, mid week, mid season, mid sized regional town.

I hope that he is started off the bench and goes straight into the ruck. It’s important that he is involved early on in the match, and his career.

6. Christian Petracca 5. Darren Burgess 4. Max Gawn 3. Clayton Oliver 2. Gus Brayshaw 1. Charlie Spargo

Great coaching and execution. We looked way more organised and structured than usual even. I wonder whether the absence of crowd noise allowed Lever and May to be even more effective with giving directions for defensive structure. Our defensive structure and running really seemed to trouble the opposition and they constantly appeared to have nowhere to go.

6. James Harmes 5. Clayton Oliver 4. James Jordon 3. Rick Lever 2. Trent Rivers 1. Bailey Fritsch … and nice to finally beat a team above us on the ladder!