Little Goffy

Out for 'X' weeks, apparently.

Round 1 had a pattern of delivering some of the most miserable moments during our most miserable period, so I'm still a little wary of it. But... on the one hand I'm much more confident in our team's ability, and on the other hand I'm much more confident that our team has the resilience to carry on with a strong season even if we do stuff up round 1. It is a bit like, I'm looking forward to round one as a big deal, but only because it is the start of the season, not because I feel like it is any particularly crucial, tone-setting game.

Wow, not content with just a player, Bugg has gone on to totally blindside an entire club in one go! As for the weirdos here who are getting into some kind of hatewank session about the girl, get some dignity you creeps.

I'd argue that it is something for players to decide for themselves, and the choices they make will and should be reflected in their contracts. "Great player, huge natural talent, constantly re-injured because has no drinking discipline during recovery from surgery". "Great player, huge natural talent, can't rack up midfield minutes because like fried food a bit much" I mean, realistically, Petracca for example would be earning a lot more by now if he handn't pranged himself playing (basketball, I think?), Sam Blease's career might have been a whole different deal without that nasty break playing schoolyard kick to kick. Of course, there are also players who have missed half a season after slipping in the bathtub or tripping on a fence cable. It is all increments of risk with a huge grey area. Long story short: Players can make decisions about their off-field behaviour and risks they are willing to take based on their own understanding and comfort, clubs should educate and encourage good decision-making, some stupid risks can legitimately be ruled out, and in the end it all shapes what a player is worth to a club.

First video is a work of understated comedy genius.

I think the 'grace when losing' comments were more about not being a pack of sooking 4rseh01e3 who act like they've been cheated out of something they are entitled to. To put it another way, 'external' grace when losing. Being decent human beings and all that. Which Hawthorn have defintely lost sight of. Internally, no doubt they take losses hard, but most importantly they turn them into a guide for what to improve. It is curious, the two personalities of the Hawthorn football club, especially when you look at it from the concept of psychological 'locus of control' - the idea of how much you see your life as being under your control, versus how much you believe things beyond your control will decide things. Ha! I just realised, Richmond at their worst had a complete reversal of Hawthorn's split internal/external identity. All their players and coaches had too much belief that things were either going to happen 'naturally' or were beyond control, such as draft picks maturing and the predestined super-list stomping along. Meanwhile, the external, all their supporters and coterie people and the like, believed that they could change it all, hence the constant uprisings and interferences. So what do we learn from this? As supporters we have to accept that we only have a small effect on results, but we must always make sure the players and coaches know that fate is in their own hands.

But also, if Davey could get our entire team kicking the way he could, it would just be magical to watch. We could play the Blue Danube from the speakers all game and it wouldn't match the grace.

Yeah, I get a bit annoyed about whole separate streams of development and 'special programs' and the like in a lot of situations, but this is one where it makes sense. And importantly, has a sunset to it - once it succeeds in the goal of normalising the idea of Indigenous people being coaches, it'll wind down naturally. In a professional community as small as AFL-level coaching, personal contacts make all the different. Because of the legacy of separation, because of the competing priority of supporting your community (e.g. Neville Jetta) and because many indigenous players emerge from comparatively remote places (the article notes "... trips to the Northern Territory, Cairns and regional Western Australia to target those who typically aren't exposed to leading coaching strategies "), the direct personal connections aren't going to be as strong. Plus, somehow still, there are little bits of creeping racism which can really stink up efforts at networking. Networking is particularly vulnerable to pissy little low-key racist exclusion. All it takes is just a couple of soft-racist types to do some moaning about how "such-and-such is only getting an interview because we want to look politically correct" or "that guy is only at this event to make up the diversity numbers" and an Indigenous prospective coach is having their credibility and worthiness questioned by people who would otherwise not blink at giving them a chance. Even quite earnestly not-racist people can be influenced by the grumbling of someone they respect, particularly because the actual racial motive might be all but invisible, so to anyone listening it just sounds like a colleague making an honest observation. So that's the lay of the land, but with the momentum for change now, through the likes of Davey and Whelan and Jetta, it really should just be a matter of time. I'd understand if you still find it irritating, but at least take comfort knowing it is a temporary effort that'll just straight-out solve this particular problem in the long run.

Wow. People forgave Denis Pagan faster than they are letting go of the hate for Neeld. It is starting to get a bit cringeworthy.

Not everyone can be Neville Jetta. For us mere mortals it gets much harder to spoil or outmark an opponent if you're giving away 20cms. Thing about the base numbers of tall players on our list, sure we have fewer in total but we have the 'set' required to get the match-ups on a given day. Especially in defence, Lever, May, OMc, and Frost give us 4 defensive tall options of varying but acceptable quality. Smith and Hibberd both play a little taller than their height but are not at the Jetta level for that and aren't really set for directly managing true tall forwards. Forward line is an interesting one in that while we only have a couple of 'true' talls up there in TMc and Weidemann, we've actually got a tody collection of mobile tall forwards just uner that 190cm mark, including Hanna, Fritsch, Brayshaw, Vandenberg, and oliver when he slides forward. But, just two genuine rucks on a list is a little bit scary, even if one is the best ruck of all time and the other is a proper workhorse. So overall, except for ruck exposure to injury (TOUUUCHHH WOOOOD), I'd say we have enough height to match up relevant positions, especially in defence where you can't give away too much height without being punished. Up forward we set the agenda because (at least in theory) we are the ones sending the ball in and we can deliver it to suit what we've got up there. I'd hate to be an opposition coach going into a game with a bunch of big defenders if they are going to spend all day chasing around our mobile formation.

Curious thing about Petracca, agains the flow of the usual 'young kid' story, is his consistency. 16 games this season fell in the 19-24 disposals range. Also worth noting that, just by a glance at the numbers, he got significantly fewer touches in losses than in wins. Now the haters and the fluffers can have a whole new round of debating whether that is because of poor attitude or a consequence of the role he plays.

In 2018, Essendon had about 70,000 higher total attendance at home games than Melbourne did. For the effect of the Darwin and Alice Springs games, knock 40,000 off (crowds being 26,000 instead of 6,000 is a fair enough call I'd say) Counted that way, the difference is about 5%, ignore that effect, the difference is still only about 10%. Essendon ain't what it used to be. Seems like, for some reason, a layer of their support may have been brushed off by accident. And Melbourne are a lot more fun to watch, too.

For discussion's sake and as a quick reference, here are afl.com and foxsports projected best 22 for the cheat club. afl.com B: Conor McKenna, Michael Hurley, Marty Gleeson HB: Aaron Francis, Cale Hooker, Adam Saad ? David Zaharakis, Dyson Heppell, Andrew McGrath HF: Orazio Fantasia, Shaun McKernan, Devon Smith F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joe Daniher, Jake Stringer FOLL: Tom Bellchambers, Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel I/C: Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Patrick Ambrose, David Myers foxsports B: M.Baguley, M.Hurley, A.McGrath HB: A.Saad, A.Francis, C.McKenna ? K.Langford, Z.Merrett, D.Heppell HF: J.Stringer, C.Hooker, O.Fantasia F: A.McDonald-Tipungwuti, J.Daniher, D.Smith FOL: T.Bellchambers, D.Zaharakis, D.Shiel I/C: D.Parish, J.Laverde, J.Stewart, D.Myers I'm now officially declaring Essendon to beat a team packed ful of pretty good but definitely over-rated players. End to end, it is the defining feature of every line.

That May change now. I've got to add my voice to the collective bewilderment that Essendon are clearly being spruiked by the AFL as media darlings and next year's feel-good story, as if this season's throat-gargling commentary on them wasn't bad enough. Adding tangible commercial benefit to that is just an insult to the several honest struggling clubs. They cheated, systematically, and actedlike the victims of a conspiracy when it was uncovered. I'm not a football sadist, I have a natural sympathy for clubs when they are struggling, but I would savour every moment if the Demons put on a show and crushed Essendon to the tune of 20-goals. Hell, I'd savour it no matter who crushed them. In fact, I would have long term more positive feelings about any club that put a boot in Essendon.

Colin Syliva, RIP, gave me one of the most sublime football moments I've ever seen. There was a long high ball coming forward towards an already-formed pack, which was scrambling and scuffling all over the place. Syliva was perfectly positioned, got a clean run right into that pack and was the only player with complete concentration on the ball. The mark itself wasn't even that spectacular, but there was the grace of a shark swimming through fish. And because he was so perfectly set up and so clearly the most alert to the flight of the ball, it was obvious what was about to happen, long before it happened. A moment of football perfection. Must have been a decade ago but I still remember it vividly. Which probably means it will be with me permanently. Thoughts for his family and friends. He will be rememebered.

That's two full Michael Newtons! (Scientific abbreiation Mn) Although, the Mn officially refers to time spent on a list without making regular appearances in the senior side. So Trengove can really only claim one Mn, all due to injury. I really hope he manages a quiet resurgence. Would be one of Port's very few true hard workers.

Maybe this is why so many delistings. This way, we will have plenty of new kids with nothing better to do with their time and a chance to show a bit without anyone really caring about the result. They can fill the AFLX numbers, fans get a look at them, and none of our core group faces the daft risk. All a cunning plan.

What me? Overthink something? Forsooth, twas meant in the spirit of much being ado about nothing. Had an interesting conversation recently with my non-European English-second-language partner, all prompted by the question 'Wait, if he is a prince, how come he is also a Duke?'. I may have, somewhere in there, explained the Treaty of Westphalia. So mockingly irritated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex doen't even scrape the surface of overthinking for me!

Ha! To be sure, Monarchy is the ultimate fulfilment of the expression 'politics is personal'. Although, not exactly 'etat c'est moi' territory here. Is there a sliding scale from 'sun king' to 'novelty show'?

Back in the day, had the pleasure of a quick chat with Dean Bailey at my old habit cafe in Canberra. Was quite startling to see him and maybe four of our coaches, lounging and relaxed as if they had always been regulars. Maybe that was the old slope-backed chairs with the metal base that always made people slide forward in their seat whether they meant to or not. I had only meant to shake hands and wish him luck, but he was quite friendly and seemed to enjoy being welcomed. Had really memorable eyes that always looked interested and ready to laugh.

Even so, surely a tie would have been more appropriate! ?

At the very least we should make enquiries and kick up rumours every single year for the rest of his career. At best we get a gun player, at worst we push up Freo's salary cap and give the Brayshaw family a little extra cash.

I wish football clubs would stay out of politics, eh.

As much as I am impressed by Hogan and think he will give something extremely valuable to Freo, I don't think we'll miss him structurally a whole lot. May coming in means Gawn drifts forward more than back, which has been shown to be good for clunking a goal a game. The rest is easy to picture. We're looking at having a dynamic, unpredictable and intimidating forward line. Speculatively, the 'compulsory 6' at centre boucnes might look like; F: Hannan Weideman Preuss/Gawn HF: Petracca McDonald Melksham with Spargo, Vandenberg, Fritsch, and Neal-Bullen all ready to roll through. There's a good dose of contested marking, marking on a lead, goalsneaking, bullocking and forward-50 pressure in that. Not weak in any area at all. I think we'll have no trouble being the highest scoring team in the game again in 2019, and we'll do it while also having a fair bit stingier defence. All is well. No tears here.

It's a shame Lever will miss a bit at the start of the season, otherwise we'd be spruiking for 4 separate All-Australian prospects in our defence in 2019. Lever. May. Jetta. Hibberd. Meanwhile, when do we play Fremantle? Because you'd bank as a certainty that Hogan and May will line up on eachother. We've got nobody else who could match up on the likes of Hogan. Which I daresay is right on the whole point of why we got May.