Demon17

Spot on Lucifer. take out outliers that other teams don't have also and they'll be nothing like a 'dads Army'.

Sir swampthong needs to learn something about statistics. More enlightening would be the MEDIAN age of teams. Cats with 3 outliers in Hawk, Selwood and Danger screw this data. Does anybody have this info?

My friends and 14 year olds live southside of the City. A big kid keen as mustard has now moved on for lack of opportunites to play. Ex-victorina who moved up there. They aren't big sharks obviously.

I hear your concerns on Meek but Grundy WAS a multiple AA and WAS a B and F. His contract has too many years left on it. Big risk I can't see Pert signing off on unless contarct terms are rock solid our way risk-wise.

C'mon mate too - I just laid out the stats for interest. And the trajectory of his last 2 years. I'm not commenting on his ability or potential. personally I think he's worth getting coz we don't have a second ruck and he is at least built like one, he won't have jackson's potential, but he could lengthen Max's career without selling the farm for a banged up 29 year old Grundy which i fear we may do.

AGree with all you say, except the 'taking it all out on him' rubbish. The season outtcome has many reasons. Just highlighting most recent performances reflected his year. Sore calf doesn't stop you dropping marks. He helped win a falg but I'm over the messiah issue. He's not Oliver or Trac in regard to team impact.

Yep. Iv'e seen it. Went to a game there several years ago. Fantatsic complex, lovely playing surface. Pity no-one much else cares about AFL in Brissie depsite what you here. Try being a 14 year old looking for a team to play with? few if any grounds of AFL shape so no dice. Few if any schools play it as a sport. Most are ex Victorians who follow or have a vic connection. Go Sharkies.

Good call. Watching live all year you could see the game plan issues and the 'down the line' to the pocket continuosly yielded poor results. St. Kilda was a great example. Absolutely brilliant play, Saints then change approach at half time and we folded - winning on the back on 2o mintes of sublime football. Happened week after week in the 10 - 0 period. Lethargic coaching and lack of deep analysis of on-field issues IMO. Constant re-fresh needed in this caper or your'e behind the pack before you know it. Darcy Moore, Howe, McCartins etc. would have loved facing the Dees this year.

Max; 12 disposals 30 H/outs 92% TOG Meek: 6 Disposlas, 6 H/outs 93% TOG Darcy came in for Round 2 and by Round 4 had become no.1 ruck, then with Lobb pinch hitting, and Meek hardly ever back in team. By Round 7 Darcy well and Truly owned the role.

Wasn't - just highlighting keys and potentail impact c.f. our talismans in Oliver, Viney etc, 30 handballs over 5 finals, with 90% coming when the team was flying in 2021. Bugger all this year when we needed it when Max was clearly injured. H/O didn't count unless to advantage. My point stands. Potential still at this stage, and I hope he achieves what he is looking for and we get another look at refreshing team now. Interesting comparison was the Chris Judd decision to leave Eagles straight after a flag. Two way traffic and human nature really.

Give Southport Sharks some credit. In the Club foyer they have a big tank with sharks in it swimming around. Clearly have too much disposable cash. Cappers old club too I think.

Blicavs is gerat and his 'pinch hitting ' this year especially consolidated his reputation for sure . What do you think the 'industry' thinks LJ is then?

Great get. Thanks. He didn't write Watership Down.

Its not personal. If I was considering him for a role in my business he wouldn't make the cut - and yes Iv'e never met him but I have seen his behaviour on which I am entitled to have a view - because history tells me he would be unable to commit and buy in. And if you think being an AFL player in the system reflects reality for the general population then youv'e lost me. Its not real. This issue demonstrates a clear immaturity within the AFL. LJ IMO has a number of issues about going home , so I'm not ignoring that the story has a bit more behind it and wish him well.

Agree with your sentiments in last para. But it's a national comp and he had a 1 in 9 chance of staying home. Buy in or play another sport. My overall fear is the AFL is now heading into an EPL style comp where most teams have no chance of improving themselves. Its a real worry IMO to maintain public interest. If the upcoming money sink of Tasmania gets up 9along with GWS and Gold Coast), I reckon it spells the certain relegation/promotion system.

Our drafting position now with LJ leaving is a positive. His finals record ? 5 games, 20 kicks total, 1 goal total. Sure he has upside but we can protect max's longevity in other ways. LJ is no Trac or Oliver - gun finals performares - on this record. Only deserves their money on potential, not record - cue 2022 season. We'll be good. And I wish him the very best. he needs to be back in WA for many reasons.

Lost 8 of the last 14 and you think we are second best in the comp. Agree the facts are we were at end of H and A but are now at season's end. HArdest draw and ahead in nearly all games - bottled isn't a reason, its fitness, hunger (unable to kill off teams), goal kicking debacle at times, no forward structure, ........ That doesn't sound like second best to me.

G. Lyon hit the issue last night - Freo paying a $million a year for a "..role player...", which is what Luke is. He's the Mark Blicavs of the Dees this year. and will be for his next team. On a million??? Good luck with team unity if that happens. No way is he worth more that Clarry, Trac,... etc

Its sad but your'e partly right on the money. Footballers don't live in the real world. Who leaves work for a go home factor in real life? not me, I moved 10 times around the country for work and have never "gone back home". Its not normal for mature professiosnal like me - and Luke if he was one. Hardly anyone. its actually sort of pathetic and shows a lack of reality for the rest of the population. My only proviso is for GWS players. Why on earth would you stay for a career to play in front of 8000 spectators, many of whom probably got free hand out tickets. However I acknowledge his role with 21 others in winning the flag and will just ponder each day looking at my Premiership poster and think of luke wallowing at the back end of the ladder for the next few years at the Eagles. Its great supporting the current reigning Premiers and that overcomes all angst on this issue, especially with the clubs upside for next year. As Richard Adams wrote in Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy to Luke I say ---"..so long, and thanks for all the fish..." Now let's cheer JVR in 2023 and others. CHIN UP JADED N M.

Sensible post on this issue now with reality kicking in. The West Coast angle is huge now for win/win as you say and in JT /list management I trust. I'm already excited by next year with serious line-up chnages coming to recapture whats needed to support our top end talent. We were 5th best this year so move on. But according to G Lyon last night we were No. 1 for time in front during games, and highlights the weaknesses to fix which can come - fitness, hunger, kicking accuracy. Its not talent, its mental and some personnel moves in and out . That's something to work on.

I agree Layzie. Proven foundations are in place for sustained finals now. Others years I would never have been confident e.g. the 98...2000..2002 etc run. In and out of the fianls in odd years. Ridiculous flakiness then. Not now with the team leaders and champions in place. Improve fitness, strategy, lower injuries - things we all saw during the year - and looking forward to 2023 for another tilt. From best3rd 1/4 team last year to close to worst in 12 months is a key worry, but can be fixed. Huge upside in new blood to come in.

Lots of good thoughts and facts/realism on this excellent thread but for me:............... In the past under say Northey and Daniher, I always dreaded each year no finals, never confident, a level of flakiness. Now after this season I see the talent is locked in and we will see ongoing success at varying levels on the field. People on here bitching about the finals exit I guess don't see things through my eyes and my extended age. I just see a poor year for lots of reasosn many on here note, but I see consolidation and look forward to 2023 - with huge FD expectations. If, coaching sorts out strategy, contiuned good recruiting., etc. Medicos did a great job of keeping soem players on the field but now can manage recovery more effectively. 5th is about right for us this year and the FD knows what they need to do - just watch the Pies last night with ball movememnt. They made Freo look like us with being foreced to boundary, useless high kicks in etc.

If that happens it tells me the club haven't matured one iota. The real issue is the test now on Goody to re-set the team and coaching strategies and style to take the list deep into 2023. The window can't be wasted with the talent we have at present. The next 1 to 2 years will now tell us if Goody has it or not. Move him on and we DO become a laughing stock again. Over to you Simon.

ANother underwhelming performance last night. I'm happy to drive him th the airport and rid the club of this distraction. Let's move on, which I trust in JT being on the case. He may be a very good player/athlete in future. Not a club talisman like Trac and Oliver though.

Harsh but fair summary of the key issue IMO DD36 The team has solid foundations with flag standard midfield and defence, but changes needed. The club is solid for the first time probably ever financially, well run Board and Execellent List management and recruiting, team leaders group etc. It's coaching stupid as they say. Goody and team have a lot of soul searching to do, albeit the team was banged up last night and running on the spot after 1/2 time. Your comment on Petty was exactly what we said when we saw it. I'ts taken time on in the last to wake up to this option. If I was Goody I'd be embarrassed. And get back to 2021 fitness levels if at all possible. Its all part of the 'journey'.