binman

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.

Set shots maybe. Still pretty high for field kicks though I reckon. A big factor in why his field kicking is so hit or miss. Near the end of the season I read a stat that was something like trac was number one for total inside 50 kicks. But of the top 50 was last for targets hit!

Very high ball drop. Hopefully you're right about getting good depth with his kicks as that is important attribute for a potential winger. From the very short clip of McVee on the MFC website he looks to have a strong technique

Maybe: Dr. No longer waiting for a flag (1962) From Melbourne with Love (1963) Red and blue finger (1964) Football (1965) You Only Win Flags Twice - or three times, or more (1967) On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Demons Are Forever (1971) Live and Let Die (1973) Fritter - The Man with the Golden Boot (1974) The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Muckraker (1979 - Sam McClure is the villian) For Your Eyes Only (1981) Octodemon (1983) A View to a Kill of the cats and dogs (1985) Beating the The Living Daylights out of the cats and dogs (1987) License to Kill the of the cats and dogs (1989) GoldenBoot (1995) Hope Never Dies (1997) One Flag Is Not Enough (1999) Win More Flags Another Day (2002) Crown Casino (2006) Quantum of Solace for the of the cats and dogs (2008) Tiger's Freefall (2012) Spectre of a dynasty (2015) No Time to Die (2021) Burswood Casino (1967) Never Say Never Again (1983)

From his highlights Howe's technique look a bit clunky. Certainly none of the new boys' kicking skill stand out from the highlight tapes the way Lauries and Bowey's did. Howe is interesting in so far as he look a very similar player to Rosman - tall winger with good athleticism. Me thinks those boys might be competing for the same spot.

Not sure where to put this, so here is as good as anywhere. A question to anyone who has seen more of our new draftees than their highlights tape - how good are each boy's kicking skills on the Frost - Salem scale (Frost being 1 and Salem being 10)?

Please, please, please tell me this was satire. If so, kudos. Gold standard satire.

No thanks. Petty is a very near future AA defender. I predict he will be in the 2023 AA team. An absolute gun defender who is much more valuable as a defender than a forward. In my opinion.

I wouldn't have done either, either. Good thing i wasn't in charge! But as you say sent a very clear message. It seems to me that over the journey many people seemed to think goody's quiet, reflective demeanor was evidence of a lack of fire, steeliness and toughness. Those calls were evidence such an assessment were way of the mark

Our last three first round draft picks - Jackson, kozzie and Roo. Add rivers, who wasn't a first rounder, but is first round quality, and that makes four West Australian boys (if you count kozzie). Say's a lot about the confidence we have in our culture I reckon. Particularly after years of the will Hogan go home fugazi

So meta. You would be watching us watch the replay of the grand final - which we all will have watched previously. Insert exploding colours giph here.

It can be bit old cliché - but as that vid shows, bailey is complete natural footballer. Exhibit A - how he positions his body in marking contest Exhibit B - how he times his movement toward the incoming ball to make sure he is in the best position to mark or collect the ball. Exhibit C - he has beautiful hands Exhibit D - he is not just technically a good kick, he also has the much too rare skill to weight the ball to a teammates' advantage Class players having time is another cliché, but bailey has that attribute - but the other thing that jumps out from that vid is how he refuses to be rushed with ball in hand. All of those attributes have translated to the AFL. Robbie is an excellent comparison - and there ain't no higher praise.

Good point. France seems to be in ok shape. Long may it continue Bing. A couple of questions: What is the Vax rate there France were one of the first countries to implement mandates and Vax passports. What is the majority public sentiment about these policies?

And the sight of 30, 000 adults going bananas!

My point is that whilst on an individual case by case level this might true, on a community wide level it isn't. I might be wrong (paging webber). but this excerpt from the info referenced seems pretty conclusive that the impact of influenza is not as bad as covid: 'when compared with seasonal flu, covid was associated with an increased risk of extrapulmonary organ dysfunction, death, and increased health resource use, such as a fivefold higher risk of admission to intensive care and longer stays in hospital.' In short, a flu outbreak won't overwhelm our health systems. Covid will - as Europe is tragically about to discover. Agree though we need more people have flu vaccines to avoid dealing with both diseases simultaneously.

The impact of Influenza is not as bad as or worse than covid 19, or at least that is my understanding. From the BMJ (a medical journal) on this very point: Which is more dangerous, flu or covid? 'Research published in The BMJ last December, which was based on an analysis of US Department of Veterans Affairs data on more than 3600 patients admitted to hospital with covid-19, found that, when compared with seasonal flu, covid was associated with an increased risk of extrapulmonary organ dysfunction, death, and increased health resource use, such as a fivefold higher risk of admission to intensive care and longer stays in hospital. Deaths from covid-19 were most pronounced in people over 75 with chronic kidney disease or dementia and in black people with obesity, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that in the US there were 1.8 deaths from flu per 100 000 population between 1999 and 2019.8 The estimated death rate from covid was 217.54 per 100 000 in the US and 206.73 per 100 000 in the UK. The global figure for the covid-19 death rate is estimated at 279 per 100 000 population. In the UK the Health Foundation has articulated the difference in impact between flu and covid in terms of life years. “In a bad flu year on average around 30 000 people in the UK die from flu and pneumonia, with a loss of around 250 000 life years. This is a sixth of the life years lost to covid-19,” it noted.

Except in its impact.

Its got a fair bit whiter!

That's where i always sit when i go the G (but to be clear i have no idea, was joking. I suspect they will only have the Olympic stand and perhaps part of the southern stand open - and of course the members area)