binman

What position are referring to when you suggest Windsor should be 'moved to the centre'? There hasn't been a specialist centre position, or ruck rover for that matter, since the late 70s, early 80s. Since then, anyone starting in the middle at centre bounces are just midfielders. Is that what you mean - Windsor should be a mid?

Totally agree. I find the talk of a new game plan confusing. To be fair, it's been kick started by Brad Green's email where he said we would be adopting a new game plan. But what seems to have forgotten is we were trying to implement a new game last year, one that had elements of the pies 2023 method involving fast transition from the back half and a high defensive press. Last season's method was completely different to previous years, which was all about predictability, long kicks down the line to Max or another tall, deep zone defence, control the tempo etc etc. We just didn't have the cattle (too many of our best 22 missed too many games), right players (short a couple of elite kicks), or fitness, to effectively implement it. And even if we did it was always going to take time to retool the very systems based games plan we had drilled into the team since tge 2019 season. We got opened up by other teams in large part because we were trying to implement a more aggressive transition method but constantly turned the ball over. And by doing so exposed what used to be our greatest strength - our zone defence. So often they were caught out of position after a turnover, which is understandable given the structures were different and they often pressed up higher than they used to. And our poor fitness meant we were often exposed defensively by teams employing the pies transition method (basically all teams to a greater or lesser degree) because we couldn't 'defend the ground' on transition or turnover. It's worth noting in that context that for much the same reasons, Collingwood struggled to effectively implement the transition game plan they developed. And missed the finals as a result. So, I'm in total agreement - there'll be tweaks (eg Windsor to half back to generate transition) but not wholesale changes. I see last season as very similar to 2019 where we took the opportunity of a likely down year as a result of injury and sub optimal preseason to retool our method and reset (not to mention, bottom out and grab some high draft picks).

Pie man?

We didn't compell her to remain. We were prepared to deal with the hawks but they wouldn't pony up. And she could have quit and nominated for the preseason draft.

Agree. I'd be half the man I am if not for pies and sausage rolls.

Yep, all good calls.

Great report. Depth first class. There is no magic bullet for our issues with turnovers. Bottom line we have a lot of players with poor kicking technique. In an ideal world our best kicks from last year's best 22 (imo, in order, Bowser, Fritter, Mcvee, Tmac, Koz and Salem) play every game and our young guns (kolt, Windsor, XL and Langford) find their feet and all are minimum above average kicks next season.

With our luck he'll pick the dees but struggle with his weight and have a dodgy back.

Also lucky their boss doesn't mind them posting on Demonland in work hours.

Hope springs eternal that breaking that connection to Collingwood will cause an inexorable decline in support for the pies.

Having Mt Scopus as neighbours can only be a good thing, particularly if we are sincere about working with the community. One of the things the dees have lacked in my time is a sense of connection to a specific locality based community. In the 70s all Vic clubs bar us and Fitzroy (and perhaps the swans - Lakeside felt a bit disconnected from South Melbourne) - played and trained surrounded by community. Glenferrie, Linton St, Windy Hill, KP, Princess Park, Arden Street, Punt Road, Whitten Oval, Victoria Park, Lakeside all gave clubs a sense of place, and a natural fan base that to greater or lesser extent remains an important part of their identity. It's no suprise clubs that have moved from their traditional home ground (or in the saint's case returned home) have looked to replicate that community focused model - the hawks at Waverley Park, and soon dingley, the hangar at tulla. The pies are the exception, but am I right to think they still have their admin at Victoria Park? A training base at Caulfield gives us an incredible opportunity to parachute into an established, thriving community - unlike say the hawks to VFL Park and the bombers at tulla where there were new, still developing communities. Building really strong, meaningful connections with our organisational neighbours - MRC, Monash and Mount Scopus is an absolute no brainer, as is connecting with the terrific local footy clubs in the surrounding area. Make those connections and the connection to the broader Caulfield community will organically develop. And that community will become a source of future supporters and members for decades to come in the way Hawthorn still benefit from the glenferrie connection despite leaving that area 40 years ago.

The prizemoney for women's boxing in Australia is so bad I only watched Tayla's last bout because Kayo paid me to view.

I'd take that bet. I know bugger all about boxing, let alone women's boxing, but I suspect she's made very little money as a boxer. Im guessing the prizemoney for women's boxing in Australia is next to nothing.

Love it Red. Really great ideas. I'm in the south west but would go to such an event in a heartbeat. There's even a link to the greatest racehorse ever - Phar Lap, who was called "The Red Terror," and "Big Red". The Red and Blue Terror stakes? The Big Red and Blue Cup? With Caulfield racetrack right next to Caulfield station it is incredibly accessible - particularly for people on perhaps the two most populated rail lines, Dandenong/Pakenham and Frankston. But it's easy for me to get there too. I'm on the Laverton line which continues onto Frankston, so I wouldn't even need to change trains. The other opportunity is building a relationship with Monash's Caulfield campus. Perhaps let them use the ground, or offer internships for their sports or physio departments. Promote the dees to the students, many of whom are international students who likely don't have a team. It's a brilliant site for us. The sooner we sort it the better.

Precociously talented but prone to the occasional rush of blood and rash shot?

Maybe, maybe not. Yes she has struggled with shoulder issues, but there is a correlation between fitness and the risk injury and its possible her lack of fitness contributed to her reinjuring her shoulder. But I'll concede that's an unknown and I might be being unfair. As for her boxing career, I'd consider making it a hobby if her last fight is anything to go by.

Just let them go through to the keeper GW. Playing shots just keeps encouraging those frustrating balls just outside off. Play at 'em and they'll keep putting them right there and you'll eventually get out.

At the risk of upsetting her many, deserved, fans I have to admit I'm ambivalent about Tayla leaving. If we can get overs in a trade I have to say I'd be tempted to take it. She is an excellent player, though i think somewhat over rated, and super exciting when on, but I don't think she's ever got fit enough with us. Which really reduces options if she is being double teamed, as is often the case, as a key forward. And at the risk of being unfair I wondered if her sub optimal fitness was a factor in her injury in the first game of last season (she looked completely cooked early on in that game), particularly given her choice to go to the Olympics as a red bull ambassador rather than a full preseason.

Using the term 'full schedule' to describe two games, one of which being an 'in-formal (sic) match simulation' (ie scratch match) at a yet to be determined date and ground, hurts my head. By the by, do our players have to wear a tux against the roos?

In terms of Brown's speed, if he plays a role similar to nibblas role, the critical thing is not acceleration (ie burst speed, or speed off the mark) it's what they call striding speed - ie ability to cover ground, say 80 to 130 metres, at a really good clip. And then the other factor is their ability to do multiple such sprints all game- which is where the need to also have elite aerobic capacity and endurance comes in. I think at least a couple of players could play a similar role at any one time ie it's not inconceivable Brown AND Sharp could play in the same team playing much the same role.

Doubly difficult given being 'linked to quality small forwards in the draft each year' is a strange evidence to use to suggest the club thinks Chandler is a 'jobber'. For one thing he is more a flanker than a crumbing forward in the Watson mold. And in Koz we already have arguably the best small forward in the AFL. But 'being linked' to players in the draft is not the same as actually selecting a particular player or player type. I mean, we had two high and one late draft pick this year so could have used one to actually select a small forward if we really wanted one. But didn't. Perhaps that is evidence the club thinks Chandler is the best small forward in the AFL.

And ironically some of those who aren't are often the very same people who banged on about the club being in crisis because 'where's there's smoke there's fire' - you know, the general vibe.

Agree. We want Bowser having the last kick inside 50.

Thanks. You're right - that is an interesting article. I really like Peter Ryan, one of the best sport journos I reckon. And it's a good article. But you have to think part of the deal with the Eagles to get the interviews was not being critical of Reid I say that in the context of giving him a complete pass on not coming back in tip top shape, in fact coming back in what sounds like pretty average shape. We've just had the draft, where a huge premium is placed on young men being uber professional and driven. Sure, go home, recharge your batteries and have a good break. But surely minimum expectation foe all players is they do the required work to start the preseason in good shape. I doubt a single demonland poster would give Windsor a pass if he came back in poor shape. And I thought this part of the article was strange: 'The Eagles plan to treat him like any other player – as Reid wants to be treated – but that is not always simple, as some of the issues he might be forced to deal with are different to the average player’s.' By strange I mean, it seems as if the Eagles are not treating him like any other player as returning in good shape is a mimimum expectation of all players and Ryan doesn't suggest he has received any consequences (which is not to say he hasn't).