binman

Went by myself to that game. One of my favorite matches. Zaharakis almost won it for them single handed. Couldn't believe he was allowed to get that last clearance. Would have been a heartbreaker if a bomber had marked that kick and then kicked truly.

It's funny how people can watcgth, closely, the same players and reach different conclusions. I can't see how anyone could characterize TMac as a poor decision maker. Perhaps he overreaches (which i like nd think he should continue doing) but i think he is excellent decision maker. I think at times he chooses not to take the high risk, yet best option (eg to a player by himself on the fat side of the ground but requiring a kick across the face of goals) because he is worried about turning it over and instead takes a less risky option (eg down the line to a pack) that at times appears to be a poor decision (well guess it is, but not because he lacks footy smarts, but becase he has a poor kicking technique). However i suspect Roos has encouraged him to take risks and in doing so, particularly when crossing the ball, the impact of his poor kicking technique is magnified.

I agree. His sort of repeat, gut running capacity is absolutely crucial to the Roos game plan and as has been the case already he remain part of Roosy's team. I agree he has limitations but i reckon he is underrated.

I wouldn't worry. Saty was rolling alongside him on his scooter asking him about his interest in the EPL and where he gets his hair done. Hard to chat and run a good trial at the same time

Did that upset you?

Yep, 100% agree especially with bolded part. I see it in junior basketball. Young players with a flawed shooting technique. Unless you are an athletic center who can block and rebound you need to have a reliable shooting technique. If it is not sorted by say age 13 (assuming they have not just started playing bball and have been playing for some years previously - with thousands of shots with incorrect technique forging their muscle memory) they're stuffed and will have a ceiling imposed on how far they can go. Quality coaching is crucial

Is this a haiku?

see below

Yep - and if Jess was so concerned why, in the best interests of the players he supposedly represents, didn't he advise his charges not to agree to be involved in the supplement program? He could have also let the AFLPA know of his concerns or workcover for that matter (who would have been appropriate as as i have banged on about the real issue is player welfare not use of PEDs - certainly this is the issue a manager who is concerned about his player should be most concerned with)

More warner comedy gold. I hope though he's right about the decision in the third appeal coming down next week. If unsuccessful I wonder what the hun spin will be. BTW slobbo and warner won an award from the Australian sports commission for their coverage of the efc saga. One word comes to mind - how?

I'm with you on this one P-Man. He'll be a loss, if for no other reason than he was a hardened 100 plus gamer and his direct replacement is no guarantee of getting to that stage. But whilst he'll be a loss it won't be a huge one. I reckon he is overrated and as STHM says didn't really show on field leadership. Also all good defenses operate as a unit and if the new unit gels then we will be in front if as expected Brayshaw becomes a player. IMO the reason he was kept forward after Dawes came back was Roos wanted the defence to gell/form a unit without him in full knowledge he was gone

I'll channel my inner Sweet and Sour Dee here: if Dunn is not put on the DL banner that's it for me with this jumped up joke of a forum/ A joke BTW. Not the Dunn part - he def should go on the banner.

It is interesting isn't it. One thing seemingly all journos commenting on this palaver agree on (perhaps the only thing) is that ASADA have been poor/shoddy. I recall the lambasting the old CEO (whose name escapes me - Androuska?) copped after being cross examined in the Middleton trial. Well Middleton didn't share the view of the peanut gallery and in fact went to some lengths to praise how considered she was in her responses and point out that she and ASADA had in fact been quite effective and the process she followed in terms of delegation were standard business practice. He even praised the joint investigation as a model, a model which had been roundly panned. Not surprisingly this praise for ASADA was not highlighted and i don't recall a single journno even reconsidering their negative assessments, let alone change them.

Exactly - particularly given whilst he might have an axe to grind with EFC on more than one occasion he has sympathized with the players. But leaving that aside what about the moral duty? it was his program (and the players blind faith) after all that has exposed the players to these charges. Beggars belief. As does his pathetic threats to sue all and sundry (where are all those defamation cases at?) and fatuous claims he would only appear in the safety of a court - hold that the AFL tribunal is ok, but only if it open to the public. Because of course no one can be trusted and this all an ASADA/AFL conspiracy. Pathetic. As is Hardie. A legal academic my arse. And you can throw Chip Le Grand in for good measure. I heard him on SEN the other day ('breaking'the story ASADA had considered offering Charter a job - which the article actually noted after checking with Vic pol they dd not proceed with - some scoop) and that numskull Mark Allen said something along the lines of thank god for Chip who cuts through all the rubbish and makes sense. Are people for real? Chop again reiterated that the case will get thrown out next week because the players lawyers will successfully argue ASADA do not have sufficient evidence. If it doesn't will he admit his error? Of course not. Just as Mick Warner made no comment about spectacularly wrong he got the outcome EFC appeal. How he could return to journalism after his ridiculous and 100% wrong cricket score analogies is anyone's guess.

Is this a riddle?

Yep, that should be enough time. I'm not sure its an easy position in so far as it takes real skill and courage to zone off and great timing not to get caught out. Plus the decision to spoil or mark is fraught. Gibson and Rivers are the two best at i reckon (with apologizes to the poster who says that sort of comment is superfluous ie i reckon, in my opinion etc, though in my opinion it is a useful qualifier and helps distinguish fact from opinion)

I disagree, in so far as whilst he is good one on one Gibsons key skill is zoning off his man and coming over the top of packs and spoiling forwards, often with a big punch to the boundary. Howe can do the same but yes he he needs to develop his defensive smarts buts as TMac notes that is what the plan is as he has only had the year down back.

Speed and carry off the HBF is crucial in modern footy, with meters gained an increasingly important stat. Roos identified this as a weakness and noted it was one of the reasons he was keen on HL . TMac, Jnr Mac and Howe all run and carry as does HL. What's Frost like with this? Similarly long penetrating kicks are crucial to beat the flood back and transition it quickly. Howe is an ok kick and so is Jnr Mac apparently. Not sure on others. I can see the Toump playing off hb to help with this What's Harmes's kicking like?

Back for mine. In 2013 he copped plenty on DL for being lazy and unaccountable up forward. Had a much better year in 2014. As TMac notes will only improve his defensive skills with more time down back and if he does i think he can play a similar role to Gibson. Also whlst his set shots are average his field kicking is generally pretty good - long and accurate, which is crucial for us coming out of the back half. TMac sounded pretty unequivocal about him playing back.

I was just about to post exactly the same thing. Great minds and all that.

They're pros. Not getting ahead of themselves and taking it 10 weeks at a time

Great post. Ta. I didn't realise jnr Mac is an above sger like brayshaw. Turns 19 in Feb. Does anyone know what he was doing this year as he must have done vce in 2013?

I heard Hardie on rsn this am. Amazing stuff. Seemed to have chrisso and mm convinced it was a beat up and asada had Nada. This despite them introducing him as a dank confidant and efc adviser. Hardie the Monash legal lecturer

I'll wait until i see what others say before deciding if i know what i mean

Only someone suffering from groupthhink would deny the accurate use of groupthink