binman

It would be well and truly good enough for me too. It's also what I expect will happen.

Of course our season is not done. If people want to run around hysterically with their hair on fire, calling for rebuilds and saying the season is a write off that's their pergorative. But i for one remain bullish. And I don't give a toss that most posters might find that ridiculous. We are 4 points from fourth for pete's sake. We will likely win 2 of our next 3 and be back in the 8. The doomsayers on here may be proven correct. Or they may not. And if they are not I'm going to enjoy whatever success comes our way safe in the knowledge that i stuck fat and didn't get sucked into a doom spiral some on here seem to revel in.

Last year at exactly this point in the season (after round 13) the Swans were 13th, Giants 14th and Blues 15th. They finished the home and away season in 8th, 7th and 5th respectively. The swans went out week one, by a goal to the blues. And of course the blues and giants made prelims (and the giants were very unlucky not to make the GF)

And his previous game (against the saints): Ruck Contests Ruck Contests RC % 2024 % 2023 % Max Gawn 63 81% 82.0% 57.5% Jacob van Rooyen 14 18% 14.2% 13.1% Harrison Petty 1 1% 4.3% 2.0%

Yep. Yesterday: Ruck Contests Ruck Contests RC % 2024 % 2023 % Max Gawn 78 91% 82.9% 57.5% Jacob van Rooyen 4 5% 13.4% 13.1% Harrison Petty 4 5% 5.3% 2.0%

Yep.

I think a reasonable question is whether the kamikaze, hard core training regime Burgess introduced - and Selwyn has carried on - is sustainable long term. I have heard many players over the last few years, and Burgess himself, say we train harder than any other team and that our training is often harder than games (which I find hard to believe to be honest). A hard model for senior players to deal with for multiple seasons - and super hard for young players, particularly if there is any drop off by the core senior leaders. Is it a coincidence that the crows, who looked the fittest side in 2022-23 looks one of the least fit this year? I'm hoping, perhaps against hope, the deskes have looked to dial that intensity down this season (with the goal of ramping up closer to finals), which might help explain our clear lack of run and cleary being miles off optimal fitness.

The pressure numbers were appalling. It's worth noting that pressure points are the weighed sum of pressure acts. Physical pressure acts are worth 3.75 points, closing acts are worth 2.25 points, chasing acts are 1.5 points and corralling are 1.2. I say worth noting because we were plus 23 for contested ball, which suggests we were OK in the contest - although down 20 less tackles cuts against that. But I'll bet if there is was a breakdown of the numbers we would have been hopeless for chasing and closing acts. That lack of pressure was a huge reason they were able to have free players to hit up on transition I think we are cooked physically and desperate for the bye. Which, I'd true, would result in a drop off in pressure. But there's a huge mental factor in being able to maintain pressure to a reasonable standard, even when fatigued ie pushing through. We didn't do that yesterday. And worryingly there was a lot of finger pointing and hiping teammates would cover spread. And there was almost zero third man in defensively. Quarter For Agn Diff 1 163 173 -10 2 146 199 -53 3 179 173 +6 4 167 201 -34 Match 164 187 -23

We are a curious mob, us passionate footy fans Many dees fans are hoping we go back to a game plan that last year many hated and wanted to see the back of.

Huge game. With our insipid performance last week we have put ourselves under huge pressure - both in terms of our effort levels being rightfully knocked all week and the need for the four points. But the pies also desperately need a win to keep in touch with the 8. We played poorly in our previous losses, but the freo game was different. Understanably, there has been some strong comments and condemnation on dl this week. But i dont take anything from last week in terms of our game plan, sytems, personel and lines. Apply that level of effort and any meaningful analysis is superfluous. But this is goody's 8th season as coach and that was the only time under goody that we appeared to give up. They have earned the benefit of the doubt. But they get that benefit just once. I'm super excited. I am firmly of the view that in terms of method our plan is to revert to our normal method, with improvements to our turnover game, come the end of the season. I think we will revert to that model today. Forward half, contest based, win the inside 50 count football (and go back to a more transition based game against the roos). Basically the same model we employed the last time we played the pies. And I suspect we have long set ourselves for this game, and planned accordingly in terms of our high performance program. I hope I'm right. We will know if I am pretty early I reckon. Dees by 27.

Agree with all of the above. Though I'd add another couple of factors as to why it is not discussed more - the AFL and its broadcast partners prefer the illusion that every game starts with a level playing field, so to speak, and each game will be a cracker - the culture in footy of not wanting to be seen to be making any 'excuses' for poor performances. 100% with your final point. Fatigue is now regularly discussed during games and commentators are alluding to the impact of increased training loads. And coaches are starting to be asked about it. Just one example - in goody's last presser he was explicitly asked if a factor in the freo performance was increased 'training load'. And I promise it wasn't me. It's getting pretty hard to ignore as a factor, particularly around the bye period, with the game having become so challenging aerobically- ie when teams can't cover the ground they are toast.

Indeed. That was a follow on from a comment I made the previous week, and without that context might have been confusing. My point was in relation to suggesting load management and/or fatigue as a possible causal factor to help understand a poor performance (for example several this round) being framed as making an excuse for the poor performance Whereas I have been saying our poor kicking has been a causal factor in our poor performances for years (and unfortunately still is)- and not once has anyone on DL suggested when I do so that i'm excusing a poor performance. Why? Because poor kicking being a factor is an accepted fact. And for some the impact of load management is not. It's in the voodoo realm and like injuries is never to be raised after a loss by coaches, players and fans lest, quelle horror, they are seen to be making 'excuses'. By the by there is an intersecting intersection between the impact of increased load and kicking skills......

The AFL put the fix into fixture.

Ugh. At least the cats lost

Burn the clock swans!

It's a fine balance. I want the swans to win. But by no more than 22 points!

Totally agree last week was unacceptable. We played poorly in our previous losses, but the freo game was different. This is goody's 8th season as coach and that was the only time under goody that we appeared to give up. They have earned the benefit of the doubt. Tommorow is a huge game. Huge. As you say a fierce response is non negotiable. Anything less and we are in trouble. But if we do play fierce, and win, and as you say also come out firing post bye, then we will be in pretty good shape.

Well, nor did we. But if you are making comparisons, we haven't lost four on end. And the cats were every bit as bad in that loss to the suns as we were against the dockers.

Good. i backed them at the line. Tis the season for wacky results. By, the by, comimg into this game the cats have lost 4 in a row, including having had 160 points on them by the suns (who couldn't manage 50 points in their loss to the saints last night). The giants have lost four of their last 5. Is anyone writing either team off?

According to Libby Birch, it sounds as if collectivey clubs are taking a different approach to their high performance programs this year. And then there is individual program differences- eg the cats model of managing players ad opposed to ours of not doing so. But I was more referring to the bye period. Every year for the last 5 years or so there are crazy results around the mid point of the season. A big factor is the accumulative fatigue all teams experience at the half way point of the season. Another is the aforementioned differences in programs, including when they do a big block of intensity and density and how they manage the bye period. It's all made worse by the AFL's greed. They should go back to all teams having their bye at the same time. But that ain't gonna happen because the AFL, nor fox and 7, dont want a football free weekend. So instead we have the ridiculous situation of byes being spread over several weeks meaning it's all over the place in terms of when teams play each other - eg, both coming off a bye, only one coming off a bye, one team not yey having their bye and the other 2 weeks post bye etc etc. And this year it's even more absurd with the teams playing in OR having 2 byes. It is just ridiculous.

I accidentally posted this comment in the pre game thread instead of this one: Tis the season for wacky results. You are three from three so far - and the roos are 8 points up just before half time.

Tis the season for wacky results.

An interesting interview with some good questions - a couple of which goody did the classic politician strategy of answering without actually addressing the substantive part of the question. I always find those examples interesting for what the subtext might be. By the by, it annoys me when media people ask a question with muriple elements, or ask several questions at once. It allows the interviewee to cherry pick which element or question they want to answer - and more significantly the which ones they want to ignore (although that choicr can be instructive).

Good questions - 'll make sure we cover in the pies pod. But a short version of my response is yes, yes, yes, agree. And i think there are a couple of other factors, which I'll save for the pod As I said on the pod I suspect we might revert to our forward half method on Monday as there is a lot riding on the game. And interestingly, the pies, who for the first 5-6 games were playing a front half game (I think because they were not fit enough yet to play their turnover, transition). But since then have reverted to their turnover, transition game - its no coincidence they look way fitter and are covering the ground better.

If we are anywhere near as insipid on Monday as we were on Sunday then even my optimism will take a terminal hit. Hello darknesses, my old friend.....