Demon17

Was the catalyst for the afl to commence trial by video. Lever was ably backed up last week when carlton tried it on in the 3rd quarter. Esp by tmac and hibberd. Will the crows seriously risk antogonising viney and lewis? As viney said this week when asked about this and alice springs ".....I'm ready to rumble...."

Impeccable sources told me T Mac was absolutely focused on the correct rehab this year. He would call relevant staff every day in some cases to get their sign off for something he may have been thinking of doing, foot conditions status etc. Thus his comeback has been first rate (as opposed to how jack sought to come back early) This is another good example IMO of TMac simply being professional, sensing a concern and having it checked out.

You'e summarised well the likely post - match "narrative" (I love that word) If we lose it will be they were undermanned, we're at full strength and failed - I can see the headline now. or, if we win , they were undermanned and we should have anyway. A ho-hum/didn't mean much headline Then the media will be saying it wasn't really the test and start looking for another upcoming matching to declare that WILL be the test. In summary, can't win either way and just get the 4 points and move on and the club just ignores the external white noise as I suspect they are doing now.

Plus: 3. Must keep Viney healthy 4. 5 teams can win the flag - Melbourne is one of them 5. Outstanding coaching and confidence in trying new things. Expect something different pre-finals, if make it 6. Jake Melksham just needs nothing to think about and let him play on auto pilot 7. No. 1 pressure acts and contested possession team. No easy games for opposition 8. Oliver operating at another/higher level from last year

Some key messages from the Champion Data boys on SEN this morning for interest. 1. The last 4 rounds have yielded 4 wins and a % of 198% - the last time this occurred was rounds 10 to 13 - 1964 2.Will finish top 4

Carlton people I was sitting with said he is and had little time for him, and that the Blues seem to be trying to ' hide' him on the field at the minute. Good summary comment

The team has now won 14 quarters in a row. Does this mean anything given the opposition, or does it actually hint at the end of the narrative that we struggle against lower, ' gimme' , sides, and its full team ahead in these types of games the supporters up to now are always fearful the team will struggle in?

I was sitting in line and it did look like it. The the kick wss low trajectory anyway so made it lookcworse.

Hawks have to win by 6 goals+ to knock us back to 4th.

Levers breakout game. See why spargo is getting a game. Pressure and chasing is fantastic

I hope you're right but im worried now. Kreuzer is no dud. But this game is now a test of the teams resilience and ability of others to step up in the forward line when tmac is rucking. Petracca I'm looking at you. This post is not a call for Pedersen btw. Others here have seen him and agree smith is the correct selection. As recruiters at draft time say always pick the best player not the best positional option.

I should have added a single word ' generally' in that above sentence to illustrate the trend. using other words I thought covered this as a predictor that is not perfect, impacts of drafts etc, but there you go. Your latest post relates to the above industry fund comment how? or are you struck on the original issue? Don't bother replying these are rhetorical questions only. I love Mansfield BTW so think I might buy a house up there.

Spot on Mickey. (speaking as a former CEO) the Board sets strategy then oversees the implementation by the CEO and his team - in simple terms - and holds them to account. I love Bartlett because he allows the AFL's best CEO, PJ, to do his job. Bartlett isn't, nor should be in the media - unless its a full blown crisis - think Paul Little and the bombers drug scandal, the great J. Stynes (debt crisis), . Again that's PJ and Goodwin, as the media is about talking to the members primarily. Other AFL presidents you hear of publicly are in it for the ego rush - think McGuire and Kennett. It doesn't mean that poor in their role, but they love their heads on TV I suspect Bartlett has a strong ego already and doesn't need validation. Great team and the club is in good hands.

Industry funds have that clause to avoid class actions for poor future performance, not because its true, but history is an indicator of behaviours. 1929, 1987, 2008, etc.

Great Post ADD. I think it was Oscar Wilde .." the only thing worse than being talked about, was NOT being talked about. This is classic News Limited strategy (who part own Foxtel and hence AFL360) to get off some cross promotion and get the plebeians talking about their product no matter how stupid ( as it is in this case) I refuse to have Foxtel so I can avoid not enriching Murdoch.

T Mac is an example of the technical deficiency just needing to be corrected and now he kicks reliably. Not susceptible to mental problems so technique fixed and all good.

The key mental theory discussed was that successful teams have more relaxed goal kickers who are less anxious. They know that if they miss there'll be another opportunity shortly. Lower teams know chances are fewer and need each one to count. - hence more anxiety in some players. The reaction of players when they miss is also instructive. When fans go ape over an easy miss, often the player shows no emotion, confident that is will be rectified in the next few minutes with another chance. This is especially true for quality players who know their career is not on the line. Thus ANB's tortured face on the weekend missing open goals, whereas when Hogan missed THAT hook shot against the Saints, his only reaction was embarrassment at the sledging from the opposition. Didn't stop him though later. Ben Dixon, the Saints goal kicking coach supports this theory. he's not at the assisting to fix mental problems, he's merely a technical coach. Thus Tim Membery who was a great kick last year doesn't need technical advice, its in the head, and Dixon isn't working with him.

Talk about pedantic. If you read my post it mentioned " not bullet proof" and " generally best indicator" . Its the best statistical view available on facts, given some commentators were saying clearly after Round 7, with no research. In other words, better to be in the 8 than out at this time of the season.

The Champion Data boys on SEN discussed the psychology of goal kicking - its mainly in the head unless a player is technically deficient which can be fixed. They named the worst AFL 5 players who have had at least 10 shots for goal this year. 2nd worst?..... Christian Petracca. (I think a saints player was the worst) We didn't have a top five representative.

I pencil in the geelong loss as a sort of win and not relevant in the analysis. As of this round the team has won its last 10 quarters in a row. Irrespective of the opposition when on earth had that last happened?. As bolts says. I see green shoots

Across the last 20 seasons the 8 does not alter after round 9. However over this period there have been compromised drafts and new teams so not bullet proof trend but generally the best predictor.

Hence the reason to keep changes to the minimum and lets see how the structure works at the G against better talent. Goodwin noted in the presser that they have trained all summer to be a forward looking team and game plan, possibly evidenced by the 83 Inside 50's. The team in general in its current form (plus Viney if fit) deserves a shot at home and lets see what happens. No point adjusting now if you don't know what needs adjusting. I would love seeing Fritsch and Spargo on the big ground this week.

Great point. We had only 1 A grader in the midfield in Oliver. They had Cripps, Murphy, Gibbs, Curnow,... Different story this week. Oliver, Jones, Viney, Tyson, Harmes (building into this role), Gawn (back to best c.f. last year),

A big test now. Are the Dees capable of burying team or will they accept a 6 goal wins as a good days work. Interesting test of the team, incl coaches.

Agree. He's going past Petracca IMO. CP yet to get close to dominating a game. Set shots deplorable