bing181

Northener here: getting nippy in the mornings, but not yet winter. We're holding up OK for the moment. This time last year we were just heading into a lockdown that basically lasted until May. Vaccines work.

Plain old normal? I'm in Europe (France), so a bit further down the track on this than Oz. Through a big stick approach we've managed to get vax up over 90% of most of the adult pop, kids over 12 rapidly catching up. We're currently at under 5K cases a day nationally, which is about as low as it's been for 18 months, though tragically, still losing 30+ people a day. Here's what we live with to keep those figures down: - Masks in all enclosed spaces, public transport etc. etc. Includes private spaces (work etc.). - Anywhere people come together, whether it's restaurants, theatres/cinemas, sports stadiums or sports facilities in general (gyms), and any long-distance travel, you can't get in without a vaccine pass: vaccinated or recent negative test. You can't even sit outside at a cafe without one, and people in all these places have a scanner on their phone that verifies the code that you have on your phone. - Most school kids are still having to mask, though that's being eased for younger kids in areas with very low cases - Many shops are still restricting number of people inside at any time and "number allowed" is often displayed outside - Social distancing is still practised, and enforced in some circumstances. e.g., most shops where you have to queue have marks on the floor, 1m apart. - Hospitals and places where there are vulnerable people are insisting not just on being vaxed, but having a negative test as well. etc. etc. "Normal", but the vast majority accept it as the price to pay for living with the "pandemic that won't last forever".

There's an interview with Burgess somewhere where he addresses it - they were just discussing rotations.

Which isn't good for anyone.

But isn't that the point - that Dunstan is a first-string midfielder and the others aren't?

Yes, but didn't want to suggest that Brown's game was sub-par either, quite the reverse thought Benny had a great game and did all that you could have expected of a key forward. Also, how many of those 6 does Fritsch get if Brown isn't there?

Great work again. But don't understand how Fritsch gets 6 goals and is only rated 14th, e.g. below Ben Brown?

Re Goodwin: "The members get a bit annoyed by him and media, because he’s very much one message in his press conferences and quite monotone – he just tells the media that one line that protects all his players. I think that builds trust. We got challenged in all of our finals at different points and we were able to respond with massive quarters. I think it comes off the back of him telling us how they’re challenging us and how to fix it, really cool, calm and quickly, so his on-field stuff is superb. But don’t underestimate how much batting for your players externally builds trust, especially with the young guys."

I saw a tweet or something somewhere showing Bedford celebrating re-signing, but haven't seen any confirmation anywhere.

Perhaps. But not in public. Which the club and other members of the Board understood ... was the beginning of the end for Glenn.

Really important to acknowledge just how %^&*)!!! good ALL the role-players were. Tom Mac had a quiet day, but still popped up for 2 goals and his determined push on Cordy to make sure the Sparrow goal went through was but one of any number of acts that don't even register on the stats but contributed to the victory. But agree on Sparrow, a real coming of age, especially when he was in/out of the team throughout the year.

The dreaded exit interview.

Perhaps in terms of on-field play (though what other kind is there), but it was more along the lines that McCartney got him thinking about taking his football and his career seriously.

All you need is here.

Yes, what a week indeed. But house prices in rural France have jumped post Covid, everyone wants out of their 45 m2 in the bigger cities.

Absolutely, but in the Clarry interview, he gives credit to Brendan McCartney. Can't forget the contribution of players like Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross or of course, Jordan Lewis. It's a long list. All goes back to Roos and Jackson, and what has been built over years, plus the increasing maturity of the players.

Jungle drums are beating ever louder:

When the dust settles, this season and premiership will be seen as the really remarkable achievement it is. To get this team here after the middle-of-the-road mediocrity of the last few years is something that will be talked about for a long time.

Didn't see that coming. This group has more fight and maturity than what I'd expected. One quarter to go, rather be in our position than their's.

May carrying his injury? Whatever it is, he isn't himself.

Nothing to do with Goodwin, all on the forwards who are actually out on the field. Forward pressure is supposed to be one of our strengths.

Neale-Bullen's job from what I can see. (could be wrong).

Bont for the Norm Smith at this rate.

Dogs didn't make it to the grand final by accident. Was always going to be a battle. May not right it seems, and that in itself is enough to swing it their way. But a few unsighted: Langdon not being Langdon is surprising, but Tom Mac might as well not be out there (except he takes their second defender, which isn't saying much.) Not sure here - they have not just the talent, but the experience.

I'm in Paris (south), and I know there are a few others around. Not sure I can face Belushi's or Café Oz, will just watch at home, though I think there's a bar/café somewhere that's doing something as well.