binman

Love it! Watched a few minutes, very good. Will watch in full at home. Looks very similar to the one i'm staring at right now. I have detached the speakers to increase the stereo effect. Because that's how i roll. I had a super cheap boom box as a teenager in the 80's. Fondly recall a tape a mate gave me - one side with Loudan Wainright III and the other Hendrix. Loved both but it was the first time i'd heard Hendrix (and Loudan for that matter) and it blew my mind, crap sound and all.

There's a word you don't often see on a footy forum. Or anyhere for that matter, Much the shame. I have an old JVC boom box in my office, prbably from the 80's, which has a fine tune adjustment. Doesn't seem to do much., like the eq meters!

A good point Moonster. Some players really struggle if their preseason is interrupted, perhaps those that are not thhe most atheletically gifted? = a category i put Tyson in.

No it wasn't, well not primarily. Attendances are largely here nor there, particularity in terms of revenue. Its all about TV rights and participation as it for footy. In cricket participation was falling off a cliff. 20/20 has reversed this trend and by doing so potentially saved test matc cricket given the revenues it has provided to subsidise the losses made in that form of cricket (and Shield and County cricket for that matter).. if AFLX increases participation and the polarity of Australian Rules football as is hoped, more kids will play (taking talented athletes from soccer and rugby,increasing the talent pool and improving AFL standards), help shore up support for the Giants, Bears and Suns (and protect the AFL's enormous investment in those clubs) and drive up the TV rights, which are already super high. Sydney is the holy grail given it is Australia's most populace city. Increasing 'market share' there for footy is huge and has been one of the AFLs' key strategic goals for 25 years. AFLX is part of that strategy and good on them for trying something bold and new. I'll make a (not particularly bold) prediction. I reckon the ratings will be terrific for the AFLX games and better than the other pre season games.

innovation never comes without risk of failure. For 20 failures there might be only one success. As has been noted 20/20 is a really good analogy for . Didn't exist 20 years ago. Late last year the rights for the IPL went for 2 billion dollars and the BBL (which was ahuge risk for CA to take given the costs involved) is booming. Cricket participation rates for juniours are up and 20/20 might well be the saviour of cricket. I'm not all suggesting AFLX is likely to have that sort of success but there is no doubt the outcome they are looking for is as Bandicoot has noted is to make further inroads in NSW and QLD (forget overseas, that would be icing on the cake at best). AA punt worth taking i reckon. I for one will watch with interest.

Good report. Nice and succinct yet covers a fair bit. i could learn a thing or two from it. Loved this: Oliver, who averaged 29.95 disposals per game in 2017, appears to have trimmed down yet again and his efforts to work into the space created by teammates appears to have improved signifcantly.

He has excellent genes

I have been told market analysis shows lots of tradies listen to Smooth FM, which is why you apparently (i have never listened to it - no really) will hear ads for things such as power tools on it

So like SWYL you are surprised Goodwin didn't resign? A young coach lands his dream job, his first and potentially last AFL senior coaching gig and you are surprised he didn't quit that job when his players go to the AFLPA over a work place issue? Really? I mean i don't doubt your intel that there was a good deal of angst around this whole issue but how would it look to potential AFL employers if he quit at the first sign of trouble and left a club that he is contracted to? His currency would be zero and rightfully so. Sheesh.

In that example, assuming you were not (unlawfully) sacked would your boss resign? I'm not interested in a slanging match but suggesting goodw8n might resign is just plain silly. Defending that idea even sillier.

'Rjay' If the fd had their way they wouldn't play any pre season games. They are pretty useless in terms of preparation as clubs don't go hard and usually clubs only field a near full strength once if at all (the swans never) leading to mismatches and one sided blow outs. Meaningless. In that context aflx will be no worse and the fd might even prefer because it replaces one of the pre season games (i think) and given tbey only use 10 players not 23 and the games will be shorter statistically there is less likely to be injuries

Well they are still playing footy. Its not a new sport and unlike international rules uses footy not a round ball. Whilst they won't b able to practice all in game stragies (like full ground spread, leading patterns and their zones) there will be plenty of things thye can practice on a rectangular filed eg moving the ball through the corridor, quick hands to clear congestion, hitting targets, moving the ball quickly etc etc. All things that they do in training already , for example as someone has noted in this thread the 9 v 9 corridor drill they do. So 100% it would help players prepare for the season.

I think this is the critical thing. All at the club probably would acknowledge the palaver was poorly handled and i don't doubt there would have been some pretty serious angst, partic from goodwin who as gawn said might have felt there was a mutiny from players. But the critical thing is how the club responds and moves forward after this palaver. Communication is pretty easy when things are cruising. The real test comes when there is conflict. So in that sense this episode gives the club a terrific opportunity to improve and enhance communication and cohesiveness.

My understanding is it replaces one pre season game? If so it probably reduces the likelihood of a preseason injury in a game given AFLX only uses 10 players aside and i assume shorter. Worth a try - the pre season games are crap anyway

So it sort of is a footy card in so far as this and presumably the other shot is posed. I like this photo as well. he makes Hogan look like dr smiley

No i don't. But i'm very happy to argue my case for why i rate a player, particularly when the opposing arguments are patently ridiculous.......

That's a great photo. it looks like a footy card from 1968, which is fitting because Lever looks and acts pretty old school (the hair, the seriousness at such a young age, engaged etc)

Its one thing not rating a player in the team you support and making your case as to why. I have no issue at all with that. What i do have an issue with is so called supporters bagging their own players, particularly when it is as petty as this post. I cant stand it, whether it is my club or another one. You often hear it at the footy and i am embarrassed when it is a demon fan. Basically a personal attack on a 21 year old kid busting a gut to play for the demons. Questioning his courage? Ridicuiling him? Pathetic.

Great stuff hardtack and son and saty. In your sons photos HT there are two of Salem that caused me to look twice. In the first it looks like he has grown a beard and in the second a third arm as well! Harmes has number four this year?

Thanks GOTO. Do you know what is wrong with Weed? He really needs a good pre season to be well placed entering what will be a very important season for hime. Possibly a career defining one.

Agree, a terrific summary of the landscape.I really liked Leach but have barely bothered since. Like mazer i just can't see where any new listeners are going to come from. I'll probably give Wheatley a go but i hardly ever listen to the radio between 9 and 12 which understand is his slot?

Do they?

Yeah right. Which is why, with finals on the line the paid professionals had Frost plaiyng at Casey at the end of the season and Tmac's younger brother in the ones. I mean what would would the coaching staff know.

Part apart from that is a gun......

He has trimmed right down. Seems to be the trend for the older players