binman

I've got no evidence at all to back up it up, but I get the same vibe.

No idea to be honest. But they appear to have taken a completely different approach. There's no way they wouldn't have some loading program in place. But they seemed to not drop off in their intensity till the blues game they just lost. Which is weeks later than when we started our loading phase. I'm guessing the fact they managed seven players in this game isapart of their strategy to manage load, fatgue, rest individual programs etc. Bur that is risky, because clubs are loath to make more that 2-3 changes (except for bevo) because sytems are so important. Seven changes is the reason the blues were favourite against a team going for its 14th straight win. They can afford a loss and that was obviously a risk they were happy to take.

Howes is an excellent kick, as Laurie. But both would need to do a power of work to get their tank to nibblers level as he is an elite runner. And im not sure Laurie covers the ground quickly enough. Howes looks a better athlete and could play the role. But he's a pretty classy player to give such a selfless, yeoman role to. But they could rejig the structure and system and spread nibbkers kms around and design a role for howes. Woey might be an option down the track. Last year the logical replacement for nibbler was Toby Bedford. Quick and an excellent tank We wanted to keep him by all accounts, but he left to get senior minutes, presumably because he was told he was behind nibbler. Spewing he left, I really liked him as a plsyrr Toby has been terrific for gws. He is playing a very similar role to nibbler's, though he plays a little closer to goal - though still really gets up and down the ground. Their stats are really comparable this year, but Nibbler has him covered,just, in most key stats. Toby has nibbker covered for pressure acts and tackles. And is better by hand. Their player ratings are almost the same too, but again nibbler shades him. One key difference is nibbler is 54% disposal efficiency by foot (for context hunter is 57%). And Toby goes at 39% by foot. By the by, spargo (who like toby plays a bit closer to goals than nibbler) goes at 68% by foot, which is pretty damn good. Nibbler has both spargo and Bedford covered for score involvements. And is miles ahead of spargo for average tackles and pressure acts.

Not sure what you mean. How is that related to my Bangkok gag?

Maybe they're just furious at the standard of umpiring in the AFL.

Of course he does. Every player does. That's why we coughed up so many turnovers last night. Steve may regularly complete shanks 20 metre kicks under little pressure. Barely a word is said. Lever is average one on one. Gus butchers it frequently on both feet. Tracc is not always one touch. Etc, etc Dimmy makes a great point about the estem his team mates hold him in. Jonsey made the same point in a recent game he was calling. It's about the package. The sum of the parts. Not a set of weaknesses.. And besides, if he is going to cop a wack for a skill error or poor decision then it's only fair he is applauded for some of his really smart ball use and sharp score involvements. And maybe even a pump up for kicking 12 goals and the first goal four times (the last 4 games?).

I'd like to hear Painters and Dockers do the Freo Dockers' song.

It is a complete nothing burger. Yze said pre game on abc he'll be back. Gawn said the same post match x 2 as did goody in his post match presser. The afl football media is an embarrassing, parochial, backwater joke.

Sorry, i meant to include 'asking for a friend'

Bloody hippies

Or goody it would appear. But you know better of course. And sure, let's ignore the opinion of an AFL listed player who has played 150 odd games at the elite level. Coz, you know randoms on a football forum with zero access to internal metrics and kpis have got a better handle on players performances. *nb tmac is on record has saying the high half forward role nibbler plays is, and this is a direct quote- 'by far the hardest role in football"

Remarkable he gets keep getting selected. I suspect there is not a single dees player who had played more games since the start of the 2021 season. He had missed just two games of 75 games, inclusive of 5 finals and a premiership medal. It is just flat out an insult to suggest goody would pick players because he Plays favourites. For petes sake goody is a among the true elite of coaches. 150 games at 58% win ratio. And a premiership medal. And his whole focus is winning more flags. And nibbler is a lock in his best 22 because he believes nibbler will help us win another flag. But sure posters on a football forum know more about nibblers ability, how critical he is to our team and what he brings to the team than goody.

I'm not being factitious, i promise, but playing fast, running in waves, daring football that doesn't break down too often because of skill errors requires a super high level of fitness. And we are not quite there yet. So its it simply not possible to do for a whole match. Yet. And its worth noting that it comes with a significant risk - a fast, risky game styke keeps the opposition in it as it invariably leads to goal on the counter. It is why the teams are always in against the Pies and why we din't get more scoreboard separation in the first quarter.

We were 21 points down on expected score at 3 quarter time - I saw it written on the board they take out to the huddle

Is that how you normally do apologies? Sorry. Not sorry.

Which time? It will get overlooked I reckon, but iirc they had a 28 point lead, we scored a goal to make it 22, then they scored again to tak it back out again. We scored once more in the third, but daniher got the first of the last to make it a 26 point lead again. That's impressive. Normally when teams run down say a five goal deficit the margin doesn't yo yo.

Love means never having to say you're sorry

I have a lot of time for Caroline Wilson. She is a proper journalist. She had a niche - the politics of football, and is still the best at reporting on the back room stuff. Unfortunately her niche has become the template and has metastasised into the gutter gossip peanuts like to Tom Morris trade in. Click bait chasing ****knuckles

We're so lucky that no other dees players make clangers - just nibbler. Sheesh.

True dat.

Was exactly my thought.

Just sat down in the TV room to watch the replay. I see Buckley is on the fox panel. With Lyon. Shudder. But just have to watch 25 min of their pre match palaver for the sheer joy of hearing them butcher it. Off to a great start with Brown gushing over the Daicos brothers for 2 minutes. Gonna love this replay. Go redlegs (By the by, allegedly they can put people on the moon but the AFL can't put up the post match pressers on their app until just before midnight? They will have to wait).

I've got a question. Where does that rank on the best home and away wins list?

I'm a Smithy fan, but I prefer him up forward. I have to say he really is the ideal sub given how many positions he can cover.