Slartibartfast

Well, when I looked at the win/loss ratio and our percentage they looked a lot better under Bailey than Neeld. BTW, just for reference the wins against WCE, Adelaide, Sydney and Freo were all against sides that finished in the eight last year. I'd settle for that now.

Don't you realize that any reporter that says anything about us and tanking is a dud, doesn't know what they're talking about and only worth of ridicule. Let's hope Emma doesn't get involved or DL will lose its love child.

You said you were going to "benchmark" our performance against the Geelong loss. bench·mark /ˈbenCHˌmärk/ Noun A standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed. Verb Evaluate or check (something) by comparison with a standard: "we are benchmarking our performance against external criteria". If anything is unfair it is to benchmark against Bailey's worst performance. RPFC brought up the margin of losses, not me. Anyway others can make up their mind but I reckon you'll be whistling Dixie for a long time Ron, if we lose every game by between 20 and 25 goals you've beaten your benchmark. High standards eh!

Then why didn't we get beaten by 186 points every week or are you using the term "benchmarking" differently to that which I understand. Benchmarked against a 186 point loss last year was a triumph. I didn't see it that way.

For balance why don't you do the same analysis for last year.

If you benchmark an expectation against the worst loss most of us have seen (sadly I saw one worse) then you're setting such a low benchmark as to damn the team with one act. Why, instead, don't you benchmark it against the win against Sydney at the G by in excess of 60 points? I'd imagine it's because it wouldn't give you much pleasure. Reality is we weren't nearly as bad under Bailey as 186 indicates and we weren't nearly as good as the win against the Swans indicates. But under Bailey we did win 16 games in two years with only one win in that lot against a development team. I'm optimistic but I also realize that there is a reasonable chance we will be poor again. There is also a chance we will be much better. IMO the suggestion that we won't really know until midseason is an absolutely reasonable one. Moon has history on his side - 6 preseasons of hope usually dashed by disappointment and none more so than last year. My benchmark is 8 wins given our soft draw. It should be more but I think people underestimate the influence of our mature players in 2010 and 2011 where at times Frawley, Green, Moloney, Davey, Rivers and Jamar played some first class footy, well above the level any younger player has played. One or two remain but Jamar and Davey are shadows of their former selves and Frawley seems to have stagnated. I also believe the current optimism surrounding Davey will evaporate when he is up against genuine opposition pressure and is not "dancing with his sister". I'd love to be wrong. A loss in round one will devastate many a supporter and hurt the club. I'm very anxious about that game.

Yep, this is a breakthrough, I'd imagine Vlad called a special meeting to work out a strategy to deal with this sort of comment. In the words of John McEnroe, you can't be serious.

That's not my experience. With all the rubbish that's come out the response to me is "you're being unfairly targeted". But maybe we speak to different types of supporters. Besides, non footy people wouldn't read Caro I wouldn't have thought and those that have any understanding think she's a goose the way she's carrying on. And if you look at your post it seems to indicate the damage has already been done. More "editorial comment" won't hurt. IMO jerks like Dwayne Russell are far more damaging when he harps on about our low attendances, our irrelevant club, our terrible list, his toxic commentary and anything else he can think of. Caro is editorialising a current issue which the whole world knows about and has made it's mind up on. I just don't think she has much influence. I give people more credit than to be sucked into her bias, but perhaps I'm wrong.

I'm not spooked by her opinions and I think the rest of the footy world think she is on a vendetta and don't take much notice anyway. I really don't think she has damaged our brand with her reporting and has probably done her own brand more harm. Perhaps that's why she's on holidays! MFC supporters are too close to this Scoop and I think many are unnecessarily spooked. We can disagree. I think she has got excellent sources and in the main provided good information.

His fire would have trouble keeping up with the 17465 opinions you've offered!

So I'm not allowed to say that I think if Caro was still reporting the situation we'd know more. How on earth is that antagonising MFC supporters?

And the match sim was only at about 80% of match day intensity. And I agree on the ruck situation. I say no genuine contested ball up or throw in situations. Having said that Jamar is under some pressure to hold his spot because as much as anything Spencer is more competitive around the ground.

Fortunately there is always some dope to respond. BTW, it's probably a true statement. I know many here can't get past her "editorial" comment or inflamatory style but the lack of information since her articles stopped has been very frustrating. We've basically got no idea what's going on and we would if she was still around. I'm not sure we'd like it but at least we'd know. I'm not spooked by the information.

Don't let the truth get in the way of the AFL bashing.

If Caro was around at least we'd know what was going on.

I wouldn't if I were you. I'd try and palm it off onto WJ who I can only assume made the suggestion tongue in cheek.

I can tell that just by looking at your avatar.

Players to impress me were Blease who's run and carry is genuinely exciting. Once he's running nobody can catch him. Matt Jones is a very big midfielder and did some good things. Wasn't a fan of Tynan but like some of what he did today. Toumpas will be a favourite, exquisite skills and finds it a lot. Nicho will frustrate unless he can sort his kicking. Taggert is a big boy too but I didn't see him do much. Didn't see Terlich either which was disappointing as he'd been good the last two times I'd been to training. All in all a good fun day but the intensity is only about 80% of match day and still the skills disappointed on occasions. I find it hard to compare with last year and it's just dancing with your sister stuff. Rohan Bail didn't train with the main group, hope it wasn't because of Dunn's brain fade at the last session.

And excellent point and one not often mentioned around here. Glad you brought it up. Had anyone else thought of it?

I don't know and I don't care but I doubt it.

Kent?

Did they use the whole ground or did they continually stick to the boundary?Great report, thanks for taking the effort and for the information. Same question to you Bob, just saw your post.

You're anything but "average" Nasher and the reason I asked is because I don't consider WJ "average" either. BTW, did you get my PM?

So, did they tank?Have you ever called them Carltank?

Reading Demonland as I have over the last few months I think most here believe that no team in the history of the AFL has ever tanked. We've managed to redefine the word to completely suit our needs.I think things would have been different if it had been Carlton being investigated and we'd never received a PP and had no exposure to any ramifications. Just a guess..........