DEE fence

Out of idle interest looked up the team results - (it's my old school), 7 losses 1 win over Marcelin by a goal. I still think Nathan has a clue about what is going on though.

It is an interesting conjecture, you could reasonably argue that Spider Everitt being out in '97 really cruelled it for the Saints, that Keating was a factor for the Lions in '01,'02+'03, and Gawn and Jackson in '21 absolutely stretched Brisbane defensively. I would argue that Grundy not being much chop as an ariel presence is the difference in these Grand final games, that i mention. I still think that (not including where 3rd man is allowed up GFs) a strong ruck is a big part of winning a GF, more so than any regular game, because in many ways a GF becomes a slug fest, with all the emotions involved. Grundy should have had a day out, I feel very sorry for the guy, he's not a bad bloke and I hope he finds some redemption. Much as Lever did after having a shocking '17 and an ace '21. BTW, I love Essendon so much, I wouldn't mind a F.U..... like bidding on Kako at 5, hehhehehe

Agreed and Thank you for the player summaries, Xavier, we need more elite kicks (and handballers), a Bont would be too good to be true, even if he was a 3/4 Bont, would still be a massive win. Tobie as insurance on Salem not getting back to the level (this isn't fat shaming, but I think Salem is not looking well still, like he is carrying weight or fluid) I think JVR and Petty will work, so would have Harry at 4. But honestly I trust JT and the recruiting team so much. We are fine as a team for courage and contested ball, need some players to capitalize on the hard work with good linking play.

Sitting here in my office in Baidoa, Somalia, I have stress-eaten a packet of Java house macadamia bickies, a bag of Natural Confectionary dinosaur jellies, a packet of bbq almonds, and am about to get into my cheese stash, reading this thread. I find this whole saga, more stressful than the Type 63 107 rockets Shabbab lob at the UN base next door and I'm not even joking. And it's not Oliver leaving that is killing me, though I am depressed about that, it is how inept the club comes across in the media that is truly triggering. Geelong might as well put a collar on us and parade us along Eastern Beach Road.

I have to say the Gawn segments on the MMM breakfast (I think I only watch on IG) play well, as does Daisy when he's not doing betting ads. Not nearly ad negative as the footy classified misery, or sanctimonious as 360 often is. I find myself watching most of them, anyone else?

About time, he's had some good moments but they have become rare. Fox is at a pretty critical juncture, if they continue pushing merde like mid week tackle etc, it has become to much of a circle jerk. Stopped looking fresh 2 years ago. At it's best 360 was must watch but really found less and less need this season. Front bar with it's gags, and the way they skewered the airlines on flights is actually more on pulse, despite the buffoonery.

It is really easy to be happy for Chris, they were a proper rabble when he joined, he gave credit to oppositions when he lost, was always a pretty straight talker, and overseen progressive improvement. I actually see what Fages has achieved as setting a pathway for Daisy to come into the Men's team one day (Demons of course). I know StKilda had a female coach, but I can see Daisy being a tactical/midfield coach, not just a development coach.

Not against this. The man understands alot about rehab, has spent alot of time watching when injured, was a great player and presents as a decent human, reasonably eloquent as well. Never struck me as FIGJAM either.

@Binman did Mills run over your cat? Without doubt stupidity and alcohol involved, but he hardly strikes me as a recidivist. Not sure anyone has an inside line on what happend exactly, but wrestling going wrong with or without alcohol not exactly unprecedented and can also involve bad luck. I'm not sure we need to make Mills the poster boy for bad behaviour on the grog, DeGoey does a much better job.

I have to say, mad respect for the way Oscar celebrated with his team. Class act, genuine happiness not a shred of poor ne.

Yep, that's my space too, this makes me feel 5% better https://youtu.be/-PCUrVJwvJk?si=-3CQUtYdPfmVZASt

@binman your memory is functioning much better than mine. Thanks for taking the time to expand on that interview.

Not arguing that the season wasn't disappointing, but we had a couple of games Essendon, Carlton etc where I thought we had serious presence, when we went back to a more contested style mids season, we still had failures (obviously) but I did see presence. Lots needs fixing but even the close games we lost, there was heart and presence on display. I think more tune up than rebuild. Speed and Kicking on the shopping list for sure. Some people are blessed with tanks, those who don't, do need a few seasons, as was previously mentioned Tracc took a few, there was an interesting interview where Burgess explained this but couldn't find.

I've played Ultimate with Kenyans Ugandans and Sudanese here in East Africa, and some of them are elite in terms of speed, strength, and reaction time, and competitive as all hell. Really thought they could play if there was a pathway. Used to love getting the Sherrin out after matches. It was the marking ability that really impressed amd the willingness to launch regardless of consequences.

Really surprised me this season, determined young fella is Tmac. Totally good decision. Tomlinson needs a reset, so often he has a great return game into the side, and you think why did we drop him previously, and then the follow up game he doesn't deliver enough and becomes a bit of a liability. Really yoyo's on form. Tmac has been consistent when injury free. So I get the club's decision.

My Hawks mates were moaning big time about Frosty, but Sam Mitchell really smoothed him out, is definitely a feather in his coaching gap, the redemption of Frost (i loved his heart but not his execution to be clear). That he busted his foot is just bloody horrible.

Watching teams that are playing finals and thinking about our season I've had a nagging thought that I thought was worth a thread. Keen for a discussion that leaves out personalities, feuds, and rumour, and to try and keep it evidence based etc, aspirational I know. Anyway was looking for stats based on effective handballs. We often talk about needing better skills by foot etc but I'm beginning to think it is not our footskills leading to turnovers as much as it poorer hand-balls. I couldn't find a stat for effective handballs, just overall disposal efficiency, with the team distributed pretty much as expected. (May and Lever rule here). In summary I don't think our disposal by foot is as bad as we think, I do however think we need to improve in handball. Thoughts?

This you QD?

They are, and also different from each other - I don't understand either was responding to a post that I thought undervalued Clarrie. To me the coaches votes are a fair indicator of value by people who actually do know what they are on about.

98% of the public or the coaches association. I know which horse I'm backing, anyway, Hogan or Cameron, who are you taking? Let's keep it to a like for like conversation. Couldn't agree more than Oliver needs a big '25. And yes when you are an elite handballer and your thumb is buggered, injury makes a huge bloody difference. So I will continue to parse the details between legitimate injury and his off field behaviour. I don't care if you like it or not.

The bit where I said brilliant one day didn't register? up until recently Oliver has been consistent like no other, that is the only thing I am comparing between him and Jezza. Otherwise this is an apples and oranges argument. And as much as Jezza is great and would have happily had him in my team I've seen him go missing or get the yips, he hasn't has had much work put into him, as the opposition has put into Clarry. The other thing that Clayton was doing from day one (and I think the only thing I ever agreed with PF about) is putting his team mates into space creating the scoring chains from turnovers (you know that's hard to do right?), I really hope Daicos has a good career he is a jet, and seems like a really decent kid. I just hope he is as durable as Clarry, because he has alot of attention coming his way and I hope he copes with it as well as Clarry has. I couldn't give a rat's freckle how many goals Clarry kicks, would be nice if he kicked more but not why he is in the team.

Jezza - I feel like he’s batting 50/50, he’s brilliant one day and me’h the next , I agree with this post. Clayton on the other hand turned the competition on it’s head, If he gets fit, he’ll be eating coaches votes all over again, and I wouldn’t mind betting he has more than Jezza next year.

Hence set not sets, glad you got the joke (-;

Carlton will be straight set