binman

An accurate throw i suspect. They want Harley in primo shape for the finals not round four

I would be shocked if he is dropped. i highly recommend the zoom sessions the club is running at the moment. Fantastic intiaitive from the club. I have only missed one so far. The only go for 30 mins but they have been super interesting and informative. The zoom format and having members only really seems to creat an open and transparent vibe that is relay refreshing compared to the sound bite media pressers. Anyway Ben Matthews said on Tuesday that Brayshaw was the clear stand out in the intra club game.

Follow me! I'll be right behind you.

Well as a long term listener, chat room regular and occasional caller that pleases me no end

There might be a joke there about audience numbers, but I'm not going to make it.

I spoke to my happy Garry Baker avatar and said he salutes your optimism, fully agrees that a midday game at the G at Metricon will be perfect for us and predicts a 37 point win.

And two additional reasons. One, he wanted too much coin. Two (and related to the first reason), as well as he can play in any given match there always the risk he will cost his team a game because of the combination of his poor kicking and poor decision making. And that is just as likely to be in a final, perhaps more so given pressure exacerbates poor technique and poor decision making. Frost ball will get you at some stage.

Yes, he confirmed Smith would remain in the backline. Said they like his versatility, athleticism and closing speed. Asked about him flying for balls he should have stayed down on, mahoney said he got a bit too excited. Maybe they should give him a mogadon right before the cat's game. Or if the music he listening to is bit too amped make him listen to Brian Eno's classic album Ambient 1/Music for airports instead

Unless there is an injury i very much doubt they will any changes to the side. In fact i would have thought the fact that Hannan and VDB had the chance of a competitive hit out would have cemented their sport rather an opening the door for Brown (who plays different game to both of them in any case - he might only come in if Fritter gets injured)

No, i doubt it very much. I was in the zoom session with Mahoney last week and he was asked about the back line structure and whether it would be a horses for courses arrangement (eg bring in a big for a team withe multiple talls). His answer was no, not at the moment and that they were looking at a smaller, more mobile defensive set up and they were going to give the unit picked in the blues game time to build synergy and that May and Lever together would be key.

Agree. It seems to me that as you say Goody is modelling the forward line structure (and perhaps the defensive structure too) on the model employed by Collingwood. Tmac is filling the Mihocheck role and he is surrounded by medium, mobile marking targets such as Hannan, VDB and Melksham. With Kozzie playing the small crumbing role, Bennell the skilled deliverer and Fritter the finisher. I wonder if that sort of mobile structure helps disrupt an opposition''s zone system and also stretch and disrupt their defensive system as most teams have at least two to three bigs as key members of their back six. Geelong worrying about picking Taylor or not is an example of this issue. The other potential benefit of a more mobile forward line is an ability for that group to push up the ground and provide a defensive zone or wall something the pies are brilliant at.

Try the fish, i'm here all week. Love your work demonstone. You have similar posting strategy to my my dad joke strategy - fire off as many as possible and by weight of numbers some will hit their target and get a laugh. This one gave me chuckle

The virus spike continues

One big advantage is for the players who were not selected for the don's game as they got a 20 v 20 game under their belt, which according to Ben Matthews on the zoom members meeting tonight was 4 x 20 minute quarters

Yes, it is ironic given the discussion about a player of Neita's ilk not being suited to today's game that our current key position forward in his current form and shape is not suited to today's game. Another irony is that in his current form TMac would not be suited to the game in Neita's period either. One thing that hasn't changed in footy is that teams like their key forwards to take the occasional contested mark and kick the odd goal.

Indeed. And the problem Goody faces if not TMac then who? Weed is the obvious one but seems out of favor. Brown is not big enough to play the key forward role we need TMac to play. And with Petty injured there literally is no one else who can fill the power forward role. Unless Goody decides to troll Demonland and replaces TMac with OMac..

Of course. The same is true of any sport. The key common denominator of those who make it in elite sport is not talent. Every sport is chock full of talented players at lower levels. Of course any player/competitor/athlete making to the elite level of any sport are insanely talented. But what marks out a player/competitor/athlete who have made it to the elite level in any era is their work ethic, how driven they are and their myopic focus on being the absolute best. And perhaps also a large dose of hatred of losing. For the champions (Laver, Fangio, Barrassi, Ali) these traits are even on higher level. No better example of that then The Last Dance.

Agree Skuit. And i've been talking to my avatar, happy Garry Baker and as is his wont he has a positive spin on the postponement of the Essendon game. Garry made the following points: Essendon are in good form at the moment so not a bad time to miss them - with the added bonus of the whole saga being a huge distraction for them It has allowed us to get another good block of training in, effectively extending our preparation period for the rebooted season - with the added bonus of four points in the bag from the blues game For Bennell, VDB and Hannan it is a terrific chance to make sure they are as close to fully fit as possible - with the added bonus of having being selected last week knowing they are a lock this week and the incredible chance to build some synergy with teammates and get some touch in the scratch match The scratch match was an incredible, unique opportunity to play an intra club game that was the closest simulation to a real game any would have experienced - with the added bonus that there were no injuries and there is less need for recovery this week at training meaning they can get get a good aerobic block in The scratch match will have allowed the club to trial their modified game plan, perfect tactics, look at match ups, try players in different positions, create healthy competition and emphasis the squad mentality they are trying to build - with the added bonus of doing all that on the MCG, i mean how awesome would have it been to play on that billiard table, against your mates on a beautiful Melbourne winter's day (and for some it will have been their first time playing on the G) We have close to a full list, ready, prepared and raring to go against the cats, who we play where we just trained, whereas in most years we play them at Kardinia Park at a ground THEY have trained on during the week - with the added bonus of having only played a scratch match, albeit a willing one, whereas they are coming of a pretty brutal slog and will have some pretty sore boys We will get to play Essendon later in the year when we are better prepared and have had the opportunity to have scouted them and worked out our own game plan - with the added bonus that there is every chance it will be on a bye round created to allow for make up games and the impact of the WA hub meaning we won't lose the momentum we have built up by then or have to worry about the impact of the bye and dees fans will have footy to watch that weekend

Yep. 48 hours prior

Sorry, but you're on the wrong bus there. Not a chance in hell DHHS have done this to appease the AFL.

Stewart the only Bomber a close contact of McKenna as tests come back negative James Stewart is the only Essendon player deemed to have been a close contact of Essendon's Conor McKenna as a result of a Department of Health and Human Services investigation.

Absolutely. Its beyond ridiculous to suggest that players with such talent wouldn't thrive in today's game, assuming of course they had the drive and desire to do the increased training loads modern players have to do. And how many players of the that ilk do not have the drive and desire to do what is required? In fact if i was to pick four dees players from the time i've followed footy who would thrive in today's game i would struggle to go past Flower, Shwartz, Lyon and Neitz (in that order). Stynes would be in the discussion too, as would Stretch, the Wiz and Lovett. Footy has circled back to needing great wingers and Robbie was the greatest of the modern wingers (apologies to Wood, Shimma and Greig). Flower would be like a Hill or Jetta. But better as he could go forward and be like Fritter. Or even play off the half back if needed (what were you thinking barrassi!) As you say Lyon could play anywhere, including the middle. I reckon he is probably the same height as Bontempelli. Image Lyon streaming out of the centre hitting up a leading forward. But his best position now would be high half forward, with a licence to roam up the ground like Melksham or how we will play Bennell. His frame, build and athleticism (he was terrific runner at school - he was the year above me at Melbourne High) would be perfect for today's footy. And he wouldn't be smashed week in, week out trying to play at CHF. Neita bulked up to play as a key forward but if he played now he wouldn't and would be an out and out star (who none the less would go though periods where he simply couldn't mark!). Hogan would be a good comparison. The Ox. Forget about it. Easily the most talented footballer outside Robbie i have ever seen before he did his first knee injury. If he had remained uninjured he would have rivaled Carey and in fact would be a better fit for the modern game because he was more athletic. Would be the best player in the league right now. The other thing is that if the Ox played now they would have fixed his knee properly after that first injury and he would have a better chance of getting back to his best and certainly have been less likely to do it again. My son plays basketball, as does his and i ran into him in Geelong earlier this year before a game and we had a chat. Top bloke. He played a lot of basketball and he said he was close to pursuing it. We talked about injury and he said he never had a single injury playing basketball. He also said that his first knee surgery screwed him completely and could never move laterally or jump properly after it. The query for Jackovich would be his application to training. But lets say he had that desire he would be a phenomenon now, just as he was when he played. Small forward lines are suddenly in vogue now and he is arguably the best medium forward in the last 40 years. Certainly on goals per game. The modern equivalent would be Stringer at his very, very best and De Goey. The other thing all five players have that elevate them and set them apart in today's game is brilliant kicking skills. Everyone of them elite. And two sided. What i would give to have five players with that skill level in our team at the moment.

This is exactly why there has been the spike. Selfish people who o operate on the can't happen to me principle. Apparently some attended family events with symptoms. Spread it and went then went to work the next day. So now restrictions won't be lifted ans all those restaraunts and hars getting ready to have 50 people in them and getting somewhere close to breaking even have to wait 3 more weeks. Not to mention kids lime my son who is climbing the walls waiting to play bball.

Sorry dazzler, missed that.

No it's not. All four got it elsewhere. What is remarkable is that more than 2 weeks after the march there has not been a single case of community transmission from that protest. Despite all four of those people being contagious at that point. That protest has been repeated in larger numbers 500 fold in rhe states, which have been going on for almost a month. And there has been no spike (In fact the opposite) in New york, Washington, LA, Seattle or indeed any big city that have seen protests. As I have been saying the issue is indoor not outdoors. And indoors where people share that space for some time. Which us why this upswing in vic is all related to family transmission after the restrictions lifted and families and friends came together in big groups for lunches dinners etc. And then not doing the right with social distancing and hygiene. Which is also why they won't allow people back onto offices any time soon.