Little Goffy

If there's one thing we can be sure of, it is that a North Melbourne tall forward on his last legs will have a final hurrah against the Demons. It's as frustrating as Daniel Bradshaw or Peter Matera record against Meanwhile, Tom McDonald by the numbers on sunday - 18 disposals at 77% efficiency, with 3 clangers. Also, ten 1%ers. If I recall right, McDonald has been not just our leader for 1%ers all season, but has been the leader in 1%ers in every individual game. The kid goes alright. Definitely has flaws. Got beaten by someone taller, more experienced, and better supported.

Must be annoying to fall half a dozen goals short of 600. But clearly not important when contrasted with real, permanent health risks. Just adding my nod to the collection. Genuine champion, not so flashy or spectacular most of the time. Just strong, smart, relentless, effective. Reflecting on it, it's kind of a shame that the injury risk will probably keep him from joining local footy games. All too easy picturing him pulling up in a ute, kicking five in a half and scoffing a few pies during the main break, then kicking another four.

The team overall fell short significantly today and it really exposed the weaknesses of some of our younger and/or less 'complete' players. I've still got quite a bit of belief in Tom McDonald's future, as I do in Garland and Grimes. Won't declare them to be future stars, but I can see all three being the 200-game stalwart types. And I think those types are very valuable in the current inflationary environment, when you see player salaries doubling and doubling again as you get into the A-graders and then the 'champions'.

My honest apologies Pennant St Dee. I did actually notice that you qualified your comments with a 'needed change but not too far', and considered explicitly saying that my rant wasn't as much specifically at you as against the 'cultural block' that still thinks it is appropriate or effective to lose your nut because someone wasn't playing well. People who celebrate aggression and physical displays of dominance like it is an effective way to solve problems... well, you're the police officer, I'm sure you've seen a lot more of that culture's handiwork than I have. Though I've seen enough. As for the 'scoreless' games for kids. Well... deep down I think we know that is more about having scoreless games for parents. Parents who ruin the entire experience for everyone when they turn up at kids games and yell and carry on and abuse umpires. I think increasing the scoreless games age is ineffective and reactive, but in truth it's not the 'helicopter parents' who made things like that happen, it's the ones still clinging to "80s values".

Apparently pointing out that a coach indulged in a selfish emotional boil-over on the field = nanny state / political correctness. Tough love my 4rse. I'm sick of people trying to pass off chest-beating, grandstanding, and an endless battle up and down the pecking order, like it was some kind of meaningful system for getting the most out of people. The death throes of racism, sexism, homophobia, picking on the short kid, and any other excuse they could dig up to say someone else is not as important as you. I'm sick of the 'nanny-state is coming to get us' sooks. Put a f-king seatbelt on and don't drive drunk, it's not hard. I'm sick of the 'political correctness gone mad' sooks. Political correctness is just a nation trying to tell you to stop being an 4rsehole, it's not hard.

Well, I for one was really disappointed by Roos losing his cool and giving such a pointless spray. Remembering this was early enough in the season that the 'magic' hadn't really started to show, we were 0-3 including two disappointing losses that we went in hoping to win. When I posted about the Buckley brain-fade I was wondering if I should mention the Roos-Terlich one. And clearly the spray didn't do anything to convince Terlich to change his ways. Here he is in the VFL, doing exactly what he got sprayed for it seems; Dean Terlich: Dean played half-back and half-forward. He had 16 possessions. I thought he was another who was pretty consistent over four quarters for the team. He positioned himself well and communicated well with his teammates in the defensive area. He just made a couple of disappointing decision-making errors, with ball in hand. He tried to be a little bit too cute, when the conditions were certainly not conducive to tricky ball use – he just needed to play the percentages.

Brisbane actually went a half of football without scoring off their own boot. Their only point was a rushed behind. Terrifying. Also, while I'd never wish injury or suspension upon any player, and least of all such entertaining and club-loyal players as Griffen, Cooney and Giansiracusa... I'm really, really glad they'll be out for our game against the Doggies. The attacking flair they had last time was, in the end, decisive. Really want to beat North, climb another couple of spots on the ladder, and start making people sit up and take real notice.

I did a 'player comparison' through footywire. Cotchin compared to Nathan Jones (seems like a good benchmark). Cotchin is just two contested possessions less per game this season. Interesting, looking at the comparison, Jones beats Cotchin on total disposals, too. And disposal efficiency. And clearances. And inside 50s. And goalkicking accuracy. And even running bounces. They are about even on everything else except rebound 50s and kick-to-handball ratio. I'm really pleased to have such a complete set of numbers all say that Jones is better than Cotchin. Especially since Cotchin is not soft, he just looks soft because of his hair and face. Like the Swallow brothers.

Gracious step back. Dammit, I still have to respect him. Why oh why wont at least one club give me a completely unambiguous run at legitimately hating them.

Oh, he's welcome to do it. It's just that these days, people understand that it's a stupid, selfish, emotional indulgence that achieves nothing. So I guess what I'm saying is, he's welcome to do it, at Collingwood.

As for the Melbourne Airport Parking ad... Well, can hardly expect better from people who willingly associate themselves with something that is nothing but a price-gouging racket.

Excellent post. I'll commit to calling people out on pointless abuse. I'm sure people will find someone to hate. I get anxious that Toumpas will have a career-relationship with the fans a lot like the one Stanton had with Essendon supporters. Really important to avoid doing anything resembling the general culture of Essendon.

Wow. Just wow. I've had my doubts all along about Beyond Blue, I think they take a pretty shallow approach to mental health issues and the hypocrisy of having, as their patron and spokesperson, Australia's leading cutter of health care (incl mental health) and highest promoter of poker machines and casions, Jeff Bloody Kennett. But this... this seals the deal. Trivialising depression, mocking supporters of a club, and most importantly completely missing the point of what depression actually is. Depression, definitionally, has nothing to do with how life is. It would actually be more appropriate to be showing people holding up a premiership cup and then getting home and feeling like cr4p. It's not like they can't find that story in real life, who was the North player in the 90s, spent a decade keeping his depression to himself? Had a mental map of places he could get to around the club where he could be sure nobody would find him if he needed to cry uncontrollably for a while. Wayne Schwass, that's the one. Absolute champion. I'm irritated by their derogatory use of the Demon's symbols. But really shocked at their totally counter-productive 'depression' message.

Good thinking. Had the pleasure of March/April up there this year. Champagne weather. But somehow it still rained/stormed for every damn game of football for a month.

The more I think about it, the more this game is interesting. On the one hand, North have a great number of 'quite adequate' midfielders, the sheer weight of which bring the danger of being overwhelmed. On the other hand, North's potency relies on a very small number of creative, attacking players like Harvey, Thomas, Dal Santo and Atley. Given North's ability to both 'cut' and 'grind', the game style of throttling scoring wont be enough - this is a game where I think we have to really hunt and counter-attack. Thing is, despite North's higher ladder position, they are rivals to ourselves for clangers, especially through the midfield (ours are more spread out around the ground).

I was honestly surprised to find out North beat us by so much last season. Really has been discarded from memory. Trauma? No. I think it was just filtered out as 'just doesn't matter'. Much like, according to other people's reflections (those who can recall the game) the players felt after half time. I think the players will keep feeling like it matters this time. If nothing else, the Roos strategy of trying to stifle scoring long enough that we are still in the game late, even if we have been beaten for most of the game, doesn't allow that scoreboard pressure (scoreboard misery) that makes heads drop. It didn't work against the 'Pies, as far as getting a win. It did, dramatically, work against the Bombers. North seems like an odd mix of both opponents. This is going to be a fascinating game.

Ugh, disgraceful. How dare we even consider playing football on a day competing directly with the Darling Harbour Children's festival. Unless it is a night game, that'd be fine. Though it'll take a lot of candles to keep the ground lit. Will there be fish and chips?

Let's just be clear I was being sarcastic, with that whole thing about "wouldn't touch while wearing a HAZMAT suit". I'm really anxious to be clear about this! Rance is a poor man's Tom McDonald, too loose as a defender and too wonky on the counterattack. I'll try another one; "Collingwood might be willing to give up Jarryd Blair for a first-round pick"

Let's just be clear I was being sarcastic, with that whole thing about "wouldn't touch while wearing a HAZMAT suit". I'm really anxious to be clear about this! Rance is a poor man's Tom McDonald, too loose as a defender and too wonky on the counterattack.

Yep, the fact that Geelong wouldn't have to 'pay' anything in terms of their current list or draft position makes it a huge gimme for them. In a standard trade, they'd be looking at having to give up their first rounder and a young player. As it is, well, fine, we pick up a first round pick, but they lose nothing. Just imagine if Carlton had been able to recruit Judd without giving anything up. They could have been top-4 the last three years with Kennedy and two extra first round picks in hand. System is broken. That said, good luck to Frawley whether he stays or goes. The Melbourne Football Club is now strong enough to cope with losing a quality player. No longer the drowning man pulling down everyone around him in desperation.

Wow, what a condescending opening post. "Let me tell you wrong people what it is really like" Personally, I'd be very keen to target the next half-step down from the superstars, better value for money and less vulnerability to having just a few players out. Hill not Fyfe, Sidebottom not Pendlebury, Fresh air not Gibbs or Murphy. Ha ha ha ha. Poor Carlton. Since there is already a massive thread for that discussion, maybe we can make this a joke thread about players who are considered 'great' by supporters of their club, but we wouldn't touch with a HAZMAT suit on. I nominate Alex Rance. I'm sure we could grab him on a $600k five year contract.

Two months ago I thought Frawley was a bit overrated, that there was a bit of man crush going around. Now it seems I'm one of the people rating him higher than most. Right now he is an incredibly rare player - truly capable of influencing a game as a key forward or as a key defender. His contribution this season has been huge. And I really dispute the comments about him dropping off when things go against us. I'd go so far as to say that's cr4p.

Fascinating that the request to prosecute states that Dank was employed by Melbourne and then 'subsequently' became involved with the Essendon program. So, wrong on the count of employed by Melbourne ,and wrong on the count of sequence of events. But this is the part that fascinates me most - "In the circumstance potentially all - and no fewer than three - of the other Victorian AFL clubs, have, on the premises set out above, committed breaches of the Act." It is such a tangibly desperate leap. And such an insight into the Essendon rationalisation/denial cycle. "Other clubs had supplement programs, therefore they must also have used illegal performance enhancing substances" It's the next defense of the Japanese whaling program - "Other countries have also harvested food from the oceans, therefore they should also be penalised for targeting endangered and protected species"

The fallout from this game keeps rippling around, with dangerous isotopes landing among Carlton and Richmond. For them, the Bulldogs and Melbourne both winning is putting a very sharp focus on their stagnation. They both have fairly rough draws for the remainder of the season and would need to lift their form to keep from being the other half of the bottom four, after Brisbane and the dire Saints.

How do you annoy Carlton supporters? Tell them they're just like Essendon supporters. How do you annoy Essendon supporters? Tell them they are just like Carlton supporters. The main difference is that while Essendon supporters think the umpires are out to get them, while Carlton supporters think the umpires are favouring the other team. I say this in all good humour - by coincidence most of the AFL fans I know are Blues or Bombers, and delightful people.