binman

A good mate of mine, a mad dees fan (he has been to every final we have played in since we first met way back in 1990, including the 2018 prelim with me), has been living up in Sydney for 25 plus years. Loves the city, but can't stand Swan's fans for some reason - well, for much the same reasons your mate can't stand them from what i gather, particularly their lack of understanding of the rules. Theatre goers he calls them. However, like most things he does, he goes next level. He has been a Swans member for years - and because he loves watching footy, goes to lots of Swan's home games (though only at the SCG - he hates their other ground) And barracks vociferously for the whatever team the Swans is playing that day.

Yep, all good points. A key is having players who can win contested balls between the arcs despite being out numbered. The ability of players like Viney, tracc and Oliver to win such balls is phenomenal - and hard to replicate. That's where a player like Sparrow is so key - he feels a bit under appreciated at times but for a young player he is amazing at winning, or at least halving, contests - same is true of JJ and Spargo Another key, is as you suggest, players who can make the system work down back work - and in Petty, Lever and may we have three players who are brilliant at maintaining structure and are super disciplined about when to go up the ground, zone off or double back. A related point is that it is a system years in the making at the dees and whilst it works great now, it is only because of the huge amount of work they have to put in over long period to make it so instinctive, seamless and effective. Only takes one player not being in the right spot for it to unravel. My point was that is so effective, and gives us a real edge, that i'm surprised more teams are not using the system - or at least trying to implement it The dockers have the closest method, and perhaps to a lesser extent the Cats too. The Pies have variation of the model and it looked like the blues were tying to implement it but seemed to have abandoned it. The club i'm most amazed hasn't implemented is the lions as probably only them and the cats have the players strong enough to win outnumbered contests regularly. By the by it is a model that is impacted by fatigue, because fatigue makes winning out numbered contests harder and therefore the oppo will win more of such contest and have more inside 50s generally and more inside 50s where the last kick is not under immense pressure. This places the defence under extreme pressure, even with extra. Exhibit B of this scenario was our previous game against the Swans. Me thinks the Swannies are in for a rude shock on Friday night.

No chance they gamed it to maximize their likelihood of playing at the g. For one thing that would have dramatically increased their chances of losing and not making the top 4. And, whatever way you cut it, a home final at the SCG could of only helped their cause, both for this game and their chances of winning a flag. No need to travel. Dees would need to travel. Majority support. Much more familiar than us with the ground. Instead, they have to fly in, play at the g, our spiritual home, which will be heaving and the crowd will be 75% dees - which will be a big factor.

Goody would have said something like: 'Swanny, some great learnings there for you, not least a reminder not to bring your @##%%*@@@ dog to @##%%*@@@ training!!!!'

How about you let us be the judge of that!

I don't. The lions are a good team, who ran into a Demon juggernaut. At home they will be too strong for the tigers. For punters, the 2.18 for the lions to win is brilliant value.

Does that mean we can't discuss the King brothers?

Yep, good point. And clarko has flagged he is interested in getting some senior players into the club. Tomo has been brilliant since he arrived at the dees in terms of his professionalism, attitude etc. etc. Would be a great fit at club on the rise, with young players who need good role models and strong leaders. And the fact that Tomo can play in multiple positions would be helpful - though i suspect his best spot is as a key defender. Having big bodied, older defender who can wrestle with the gorillas like Hawkins would be a bonus for a young team. And whilst a flag would likely be off the table for Tomo, being involved in rebuild under Clarko would give him the opportunity to build his leadership skills and leave a strong legacy.

Makes perfect sense, as with Turner coming on he may well struggle getting a game in our backline. The dogs would be a good fit i reckon as their backline is their Achilles heel.

An emoji typo LH! Fixed now. I don't think i have ever used the vomit emoji actually. Well, not deliberately I quite like the cats, but certainly hope they fail this season. Well, if by doing so that mean we win the flag that is

I was thinking the same thing. Her kicking was coming of a really low base, but has improved heaps. She had good hands last season, but looks to have taken her handballs to another level, helped by how strong she is.

How good was purcell?

Too drunk too woke

Bloody fully woke to be knocking a poster for using the term woke! Particularly when said poster was using woke in post rock ironic fashion! Double exclamation mark!!

Did he build you a green room?

Too drunk to fight? Is that the woke version?

Personally, I'm not convinced Jacko is gone. But if he wants out, I 100% agree we should play hard ball. We owe Jackson nothing and homesickness doesn't tick the 'personal reasons' box.

I don't think that's the case. Far, from it fact.

Indeed. And, there were some unique factors that might reinforce our win being an exception to the rule: - We never played a home final as such. -three of the preliminary finalist were vic based teams all having to play interstate - covid, lockdowns etc; and the resulting impact on planning But perhaps the three most significant factors were: - in finishing top, we avoided a six day break and playing port on their home deck. Poor puddy cats had to play their home qualifying final at Adelaide oval against a home team!. Whereas, whilst our game was also at Adelaide oval, it was at least a neutral venue given we played the lions - we had the opportunity to get to Perth and set up a base, and also nab tbe best facility. We also had one more week than the dogs out of iso. - the bye before the grand final, which wasn't scheduled until after the finals commenced iirc, is a variable that is unique to 2021. Who knows what impact thst had

Yeah, you're right. Not sure why I was thinking he was a mid. Greg Wells is definitely up there as best mid - particularly given a spot has just opened up!

Brett lovett was a star. His hanballing skills were just phenomenal, as was his ability to win contests.

All roads lead to Berlin. My second favourite city behind Melbourne.

My apologies, my post was uncalled for

Fair criticism.

It's a smart move by the club I reckon. The game is geared towards athletes now, and he is super athletic. With his leap he plays tall, he's quick, he's strong and can play mutiple positions. It's a pretty rare combination of attributes, and I reckon that's why goody likes what he brings to the team so much. He's probably on a relatively low base payment, with as you suggest performance payments. So, not a huge hit there. And we've invested a lot of time and effort already, so there's a sunk cost, so to speak. On the injury front, yes he'd had some soft tissue injuries (groin), but some have been just plain bad luck. There's a good team working with him, so really there's no reason why he won't have an extended block of injury free games. A two year contract shows confidence by the club and in Joel. We need depth, and a strong Casey team - and Smith helps with both. So a good move all around.