binman

Now the bolded bit is something i can relate to. After many years of hard partying in my younger days, i learnt to pace myself much better. First rule of partying - put the base down or ya gonna go face down (translation: have a solid feed before your first drink, or face the consequences) Second rule - don't go too hard too early Third rule (only applicable if the first two rules have been followed) - don't stop until the sun rises (and even then it is negotiable) As for being better for it, well that is disputable.

Was he at the event on Sunday?

They hold the gps monitor

Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread (or any other for that matter) - but Lyon, when calling up Jack Viney said he cracked three of McRae's' ribs at the opening bounce. First i'd heard anything like that at all. Three questions: Did i hear that right? If yes, was he joking? If yes, why has it come out previously?

I'm so excited. And I just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control - and I think I like it!

I sincerely hope so. Or else, whilst the club's aim of tommorow being a day fans will remember forever, it will be for entirely different reasons than they think.

Yep, fair point. The opposition goals are going to come from somewhere and we are brilliant at getting it to ground down back. And i think Rivers improved his defensive work and Bowey added another element that helped tighten up our defence against smalls and mediums

I actually think our least best area was our ability to shut down small and medium opposition forwards. So our defence!

Weakest is a relative term. Our forward line is ridiculously underrated IMO. How many other forward lines have two players with a realistic chance of winning the Coleman medal next year? The Cats maybe? Not the dogs with Bruce out for almost all of next season. The Lions? Not with Hipwood out. If Fritter and Brown stay fit both are odds on to kick 45 plus goals plus next year. So both are well in contention for the Coleman. Fritter kicked 59 goals from 24 matches last season, finishing only behind Hawkins (62 from 25 games) for total goals for the season. Brown kicked 25 from 13 games. Kozzie kicked 40 from 25 games. And T Mac had 33 and Trac 29. Assuming Brown retains his current fitness levels, he'll improve next season. Kozzie has scope for improvement, as does Jackson (who kicked 16, as did Maxy). And on top of all of that we have Weed who will be busting a gut to get into the team. Hopefully the same is true of Melksham - and Spargo and Nibbler will continue to tick along. Only three teams kicked more points than us in the home and ways season (two barely any more) and from memory we were number one in the AFL for contested marks inside 50, total marks inside 50 and percentage of scores per inside 50 entry. If the forward line is our weakest link, then we are doing ok

It's part of the club's 1970's activation. When you get to g you put your keys in a bowl. And grab some fondue too

I want to see the director's cut of this post - ie before the producer forced an edit over creative and commercial differences!

Andy might relapse

As long as it is not the person with the job to press play on the replay, then all good.

Agree. I thought the Cats would miss the finals last season. Got that wrong obviously - but i think their finals campaign showed that despite another top 4 finish they were not a realistic premiership chance. Which in turn was evidence that my in season assessment was correct that, contrary to the accepted wisdom ('it's so even this season - anyone down to 8 can win it!'), there were very few realistic flag chances. I think the same will be true next season too. With the kardina park leg up the Cat's probably make the 8, but i can't see them making the top 4, If they do make the top 4 its probably an indication of another season with very few realistic flag chances. History say's it is unlikely Tigers will rise again. But funnily enough the fact they finished out of the 8 puts them ahead of the Cat's i think because, unlike the Cat's they have had a good post season break to freshen up and they got a first round draft pick. So they may might make the finals. But i certainly wouldn't be shocked if they don't. Like us, with the energy and singular focus their game plan demands, it all depends on their preparedness to do the work to get fit enough and desire to play manic, selfless football. I like the Giants, and hope they do well. I'm not sold on their game plan, but their intensity was fantastic this year and i reckon they are really turning into a hard working, blue collar club. As you say much depends on their injury status - they had wretched run last year, and in previous years for that mater. if they have good run wit injury, i think they have the talent and focus for a top 4 finish. The other two clubs i think will improve are the bombers and the dockers. Both clubs have copied our defensive system and they will reap the reward of another year of embedding that system it and building their fitness base. Other teams will struggle to score against them i think.

I used to play cricket with ralphy. A really good fella. Pretty quick fast bowler too. But jeez his footy writing leaves me cold. Exhibit A - this line: The dees 'must win multiple flags to frank this brilliant collection of talent'. One, the talent didn't magically appear in 2021. If we have so much talent why didn't he pick us to finish top 4 tgis year (iirc he didn't even have us making finals). Two, it's a any way to set up a stupid narrative should we lose a few games - with this collection of talent they are under pressure because they should be winning the flag. Three, yes we have a talented list. But the biggest hurdle will be remaining disciplined and selfless

Agree. The other point of difference is our defensive system, which i'd argue that whilst it has elements of other systems (eg zones, intercepts marking etc) is unique in many ways. That said, whilst we didn't blindly follow the tigers or the dogs there is no question we used their template of pressure, win the contest football as the foundation of our moil. And you could also argue that we borrowed elements of the WC and cat's game plans - specifically the ability to switch to temp/hold onto the ball mode when needed.

We were able to do so because JT and Tim lamb have one such a brilliant job getting the foundation prices in place in the last 6-7 drafts.

Just thinking about the propensity for clubs to follow the lead of premiers, i wonder if mac Andrew going so high was related to the effectiveness of the two ruck model the dees employed to such devastating effect in 2021. A few years ago rucks were seemingly out of favor. Now a reasonable question is can teams win flag without a gun ruck man AND a really good back up ruck.

My guess? Clubs naturally look at what the premiers are doing. West Coast are the outliers since the dogs won the flag in 2016, in so far as the other winners have all been manic contest teams with really strong, combative midfields with game plans that emphasise territory over precision ball movement. This model requires inside mids and contested ball winners across every line. And a key element of both the tiger's and dee's game plans is top line intercepting key defenders and rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills (the latter is true of the dogs too). I wonder if the other clubs, all playing catch up except the dogs and to a lesser extent the tigers (who needed an injection of young, manic energy - and drafted accordingly), prioritised such players. And conversely had less interest in outside players, wingers and key forwards such as JVR and Howes. We have enough inside mids and contested ball winners. And more than enough top line intercepting defenders, not to mention rebounding half back flankers with great kicking skills. So we can afford to target a key forward AND and winger. And seem to have done exactly that

Neither. I meant that when i read comments from Catherine Bennett, i apply the agenda filter too.

Totally agree. And there is no doubting Coatsworth's qualifications, experience and expertise. He knows his stuff. Beware was probably the wrong word. Aware of a possible agenda would have been a better way of phrasing it. For what it's worth, i think Coatsworth has helped create some really interesting discussion through the pandemic - in particular about the pros and cons of the so called covid zero approach and the best approach with children. The other thing he was strong on was pushing back on the critique of Astra Zeneca, and as it turned out, rightly warning of the impact on take up and vax rates. On these points Dr Nick has very clear opinions and has argued strongly, and not unpersuasively, for them. But this is what I mean by being aware of a possible agenda - his comments in the media often, seems to be focused on advancing his arguments and position. Which is fine - but personally i think it is an important filter to apply to his comments. In this context, when i read his commentary, i also note he is an opinion writer for the Fairfax news group, and i presume (but don't know for sure) is paid for comment. This, Fairfax, article, gives a good summary of Coatsworth's position on key Covid policies - and some of the critique he has received. To be clear, i reckon it is important to be mindful of possible agendas of all experts regularly making comments about covid (or any public policy for that matter) in the media, particularly those that are likely being paid for comment. Catherine Bennet is a good example.

Beware coastworth's agenda i reckon

Let it go? You sound concerned, but fear not, I've had therapy to deal with the deep seated issues I have with trac's kicking. I have my bad days, but all in all I've made peace with it.

Ooh sorry. I didn't realise it was sacrilegious to suggest trac is not perfect. I'm really glad I didn't mention his disposal efficiency for the season was 62% - placing him at 6 on tbe Frost Salem scale.

I doubt it. mainly becuase it would be pretty boring for anyone watching on live stream given the event is really only people watching a replay. But perhaps the presentation of players and goodies speech might of interest. You'd think they will at least record them and post them on the MFC website.