Webber

The ‘King’ of the ‘goldfish’ commentators only ….. no awareness of the past, absolutely zero concern for the bigger picture within a season. Whoever is in form and winning during his astonishingly limited 5 minute zone of reflection is the obvious team to beat/likely premier. Am stunned that he’s presented as a serious commentator.

Heard from a client yesterday (his son was playing) that the Paris Cockatoos won the French Australian Football League premiership. 20th licence? Would make for a nice away game trip.

If you count the automatic downloads and ANY amount of listening time, then the live listeners (regardless of time spent or double-dipping afterwards), there is a number?

Not a question, more a prediction. I reckon this podcast will be the most listened to you’ve yet done. And deserved. Actually, turns out I do have a question. Can you determine the download/streaming numbers of individual podcasts?

Yep, sub-standard umpiring. AGAIN. To that point, there were 2 other shocking non-calls that would have been easy shots on goal for us. End of the 2nd, Murphy tackled running away from goal, ran 5+ metres in the tackle, both arms free, dropped the ball, and the call …. ball up. Latter half of 3rd, Markov tackled, only 1 arm pinned, was spun TWICE!!! fully around, dropped to the ground…..ball up. Unfortunately, the reason they weren’t called was from outright fear of the Collingwood crowd reprisal. Call it the flipside of ‘noise of affirmation’. If umpires were full time, they might be able to coach this fear avoidance out of them. (I’m wild with frustration just thinking about them now).

You and me both. Possibly with an ABC radio commentary option.

Yep, couldn’t agree more. Whatever formula they’ve struck for Jack’s running load and having him off legs is working a treat for his feet. He’s playing 4 quarters like never before, and (at the risk of mozzing him) is injury free. You’ve mentioned Bin on the pod that his CB attendance and percentage game time have been tweaked downward too. Will be good to get Clarry back to ease the contest load again obviously. As to his kicking, I’m still getting used to him now being top 10% reliable by foot on our list, and using his right foot beautifully when needed too. It’s so rare to see a player at his age improve in basic skills, which can only be a testament to his dedication and work effort. When Goody talks about him, you can just hear the admiration and satisfaction. Imagine also the effect of his ethos on the youngers around him - Sparrow, Woewodin, Jordon.

Problem with that theory is they would’ve been using hand-grip all year. On a personal note, I used ‘grippo’, as a marking and set-shot kicking forward. Never felt it affected my ball drop.

Viney’s blind turn away from the tackle and pinpoint delivery to JVR was just outrageous, cos he just doesn’t do that stuff, Robbie Flower did that stuff, NOT Jack Viney. Almost wet myself (having almost done the same after the Lachie Hunter Jonah Lomu-like run through on Hoskin-Elliot)! Having the season of his life is Jack, just stamping his already Dees diamond credentials.

The one where we have kicked 3 goals in a half, and packed our daks when a score is possible. If that doesn’t change, we’re done. Simples.

They’re more skilled and their defence is too good for our attack (such as it is). On the turnover they look incredibly dangerous, we look like we we’d be lucky to score. That’s very simply the story of that half. We’re in it, but playing as ugly and fantastically inefficient as we are (which is now in our heads), can’t see how we pinch it.

Kate Roffey on 774 just now confirmed he’s NOT playing….. infection is ‘up like a balloon’. Horses mouth.

I think he was reported for 8 different incidents. Never heard what the (theoretical) suspensions would have been, or even if they bothered. Great player otherwise, not a fan of the baldy-hiding headband though.

Saw him play his last ever game when I was a kid, and he only had one purpose for being out there - to thump as many people as he could. Most openly violent game I’ve ever seen from any player. Remember feeling embarrassed that he was playing for my team.

Missed the biggest of all, the one and only Robbie ‘Mad Dog’ Muir. Knew Dipper due to work, nice guy, always had time for and interest in the less celebrated. I’d put Chris Judd up there for his history of sniping and eye gouging. Stealth thug.

Yeah yeah yeah, we all heard it and filled the <bleep> correctly, Andy. Was the highlight of this season’s podding for me, not least because I so agreed with the sentiment…… almost lost my chewy from laughing! Keep it up boys! 🍾 stuff.

A couple of decades having witnessed many premierships, perhaps 4 to 6.

The Demonland schizo-pathology in a nutshell.

Same, dworship. Been banging on about this for years. I agree with you about umps going through a ‘thought process’ to make a decision, as they should (albeit they would be more instinctive if they were full time immersed), but the issue remains that it’s literally anyone’s guess what the ultimate decision will be. When I watch AFL games on TV, 80% of the time, the commentary is off (because it’s rubbish!) Live of course there is only crowd commentary. Thus, media ‘experts’ aren’t guiding my interpretations. The rules, some of which have been commented on in this thread, are my reference point. How they are arbitrated is, in my opinion, game to game and within games, simply a raffle, and it’s never been worse. The head high-ducking shambles you outline above is another perfect case in point.

The problem with the rules around ‘holding the ball’, ‘incorrect disposal’, ‘prior opportunity’, ‘dislodged from the player’s possession’ and so on, is the utter inconsistency around their interpretation. The shambles that is AFL umpiring make it impossible to predict or trust any decision. It’s by far the biggest blight and embarrassment in our game, and sadly makes many games almost unwatchable. For which there is no accountability or even discussion. How the coaches and players cope with it, I don’t know, but presumably it’s just what they’re taught to expect.

And dare we say James Hird? Hopefully he remains less prone to d-head behaviour than them.

Read my mind. Thought Joel played a good role last night, echoed i reckon by Goody’s comments. He might be just the man to make the best defender in the game accountable. If not him, then who do you podcasters reckon might get the gig, and how?

Great pod again boys, and needless to say, my ears were burning. Thanks binman and George for re-iterating the strain-tear semantics silliness, and reinforcing the 3 weeks for ANY hamstring rule. I don’t doubt the rehab staff will be aiming to get Clarry up for King’s Birthday.

Draft camp he was top 5 speed over 20 metres, IIRC. I also remember that surprising the draft watchers. A bit like Tom Sparrow. Most assume he isn’t quick by the ‘look’ of his running. He’s top 5 at the club.

Do you mean the AFL? You’re not allowed to criticise or question anything, and if you do, they’ll go on the ‘please explain’ then fine dance. And as you wrote earlier, the journos, who should be able to question and criticise with impunity, are under their control. If the AFL were a national or state ‘government’ (and of course they are in microcosm), that’s plainly a dictatorship. What I don’t get is why there isn’t more noise about it.