Dr. Gonzo

Hardly worth going to sleep layzie 🤣

Questionable is an understatement. It was putrid.

The worst part for me was that not only were we getting absolutely reamed with decisions causing multiple goal swings in the first half alone, the nuffie Richmond supporters (and players *Riewoldt*) were still sooking it up as if they were being hard done by! Does my head in, at least be quiet or acknowledge when you're getting a good run.

Clubs outside Vic have 10 interstate trips a year. The WA clubs travel far exceeds anything we do.

The cat is out of the bag though - players can determine movement but clubs can't. This just levels the playing field.

Well they are meant to be "professionals" - you want to be an amateur go back to the VAFA.

It will eventually. Currently players have all the leverage and clubs just have to roll over. If a player signs a contract with a club the club owns the services of that player and should be able to trade them wherever they want (while in contract). Players want the security of the long term contract with the ability to dictate a move at a whim if they get a better offer (and let's not even mention front loaded contracts). I would be happy to see the following; - rookie deals are 2 years (as currently) with clubs given the option of 1 + 1 years (so effectively clubs get 4 years with draftees) - 5th year options after that similar to the NFL - clubs can franchise tag players - clubs can trade players wherever while players are in contract - after initial rookie contract/5th year options players are free agents for the remainder of their careers unless franchise tagged Probably some more manoeuvring within that but this would free things up and ensure both clubs and players had flexibility to determine the future of their careers/list management.

Instead of JVR? Or different draft?

The grappling could actually help as it is more controlled and more designed to stop the player getting a possession away than merely dumping them to the ground. Requires a lot of strength obviously and good positioning of the body.

Merrett was extremely stiff to get suspended. It was a football action and sometimes people will get hurt. It cannot be avoided in a contact sport.

Forward line has been fine it's our defence and mids that have let us down vs Bris and Ess. Highest scoring team in the comp but we are leaking goals far more easily than we have in the past.

Rivers

The "wing" is actually the forward pocket/flank (closer to pocket) but not sure which bays those are

Mate if you take out 3 players who are in the top 10 (possibly top 5) of the whole competition from any side they'll look like "nothing special" too. That's the reason why we are talented, because we have players the calibre of Petracca, Oliver and Gawn.

I thought I saw someone dressed as a Wookie but it was just the Collingwood cheer squad 🙃

It is an advantage to Adel/Port as they get an extra home game but it's not really a disadvantage for the other team if they are a Vic side as we get plenty of Vic/Vic neutral games anyway. I can see how it is a slight disadvantage if for example we are competing with Port for top 4 and they get an extra home game but at the end of the day I'm happy to make that concession considering the GF is at the MCG and will be until at least 2058. Edit - also I'd rather play one of the interstate sides over there than a Vic rival, it's annoying we don't get to go to a Melb/Ess game at the G this year even given the result.

I'm heading there tomorrow as my son is attending a school holiday footy clinic there will be interesting to have a look around.

Garbage

No idea

It's proven to be a great trade. I didn't want him but he has stood up immensely since Gawn went down. We paid very little tradewise and Collingwood are paying a portion of his salary. I hope we don't over react and rush Max back on Monday night because the Tigers have no ruckman of note with Nank, Soldo and even Lynch out injured. Grundy can roll again this week and I am confident we will see a response from the whole team.

Well that's outside your control 🤷

Think you missed the point

Of course but physical fatigue is different to mental fatigue. They were off by 5% but that's enough for a team that is on to make you look silly. If you're not mentally switched on then things look hard, last two weeks we've been gang tackling and running hard, today we weren't sticking tackles or running hard both ways. So which is the real Melbourne? The team that ran the Dogs and Swans off their legs or the teams that turned it up against Brisbane and Essendon? We'll have to wait and see.

Yes and no - a trip across the Nullarbor returning late Sunday then off to Adelaide a few days later can throw people's routines off which can in turn impact their mindset. Not using it as an excuse by any means but I can see how it could be a factor. What seemed to happen though is when Essendon upped the ante and showed they were up for a fight and weren't just gonna turn their toes up our guys seemed to throw in the towel and couldn't be bothered. That's not the standard we've come to expect over the last 2 years.

Of course, it comes down to mindset. We've shown that we still don't have the mature/professional mindset to bring our best each week like some of the great teams of recents years. Look at the Geelong side of 07-11 they would turn up to play every single game, bring the right mindset and pummel teams into submission early before easing off later in games once the 4 points had been won. Unfortunately it seems our players still think they can turn up some weeks and just bank 4 points without doing the hard work. The secret is you have to do the hard work every single week from the first bounce if they figure that out they'll be unstoppable.