speed demon

If a 16yo can learn to do this... professional AFL footballers should be able to reliably convert set shots. I don't think the AFL is as professional as it likes to believe.

I've been a Goodwin supporter but I'm coming around to this way of thinking. Ten years is a long time to lead an organisation. I've read about a theory in organisational psychology that I think applies to our current predicament. Leaders can become personally invested in 'projects' they oversee. If a project the leader is invested in is underperforming, a leader may continue to support the project trying to make it a success rather than acknowledge failure. The more that has already been invested - and the more the success of the project is linked to the leader and their reputation - the more the leader continues to invest ('sunken cost' fallacy). Whereas, a new leader can view the organisation more objectively and be free to cease projects or cut staff when needed ("failures of the previous administration"). I wonder if the above explains Goodwin's slowness in previous seasons to adapting our once supreme game plan despite evidence we needed to. Also, while acknowledging Goodwin's relationship with the players has been a strength, I wonder what decisions a new coach - without close connection to the players - may make regarding senior players and would this be in our better interest? I think he's got this year but without recognisable player buy-in and effective execution of a new game plan, I think there's an increasingly strong argument for a fresh face to be our next premiership coach.

I went to one of the open training sessions over summer. A dozen or so players were doing ~150m sprints along the boundary while most players were doing match simulation. I'm from an athletics background and thus quite interested in the players running technique and ability so I watched closely (I'm rather dull like that). Looked like they'd been instructed to run hard but not all out. The player who impressed me most was Jefferson. Not only was he fast but - unlike most the others - he was nicely balanced and moved very smoothly. I imagine that translates to being better able to mark on a fast lead. If he can build a good aerobic base he could be a very effective high forward by getting away from his opponent on long leads or out sprinting them when running back to goal. With his height, he could become a difficult match up. There are a few "ifs" with Jefferson but plenty of potential there too.

My concern with JVR, Turner, Fritsch and no AJ or Campbell is who provides ruck support? Seems even less likely to be JVR with his back concern.

So much more engaging seeing players be themselves rather than trying to concoct answers to statements-masquerading-as-questions like "you must be excited to be drafted to the Demons"!

Lindsay may go on to be the replacement for Brayshaw that we need; a runner with high footy IQ who can play multiple positions, read the play and make good decisions. If he can do that - and be a better kick - he'll be a valuable asset.

I'm with you @Sir Windsor. If Trac wants to leave - at 28yo and coming off a major injury - trade for the right price. That's business. If Oliver wants to stay - as a vulnerable person who seems to be getting his life back on track - keep if he's committed and capable. Trading wouldn't be business it would be an erosion of trust between the playing group and the football department. I strongly doubt it happens.

Thanks for your excellent training reports @WalkingCivilWar. Love how you compassionately personalise the players. Your insights enhance my enjoyment of following the club and serve as useful reminders that our players are just young people making their way in life.

@58er you are quite correct. These figures are not for 2024. Exact membership numbers for 2024 will not be reported until September. These figures are from the 2022 season. I should have been more explicit about that. I've ran the numbers for 2024 sourcing average game day attendance data (up to and including round 19) from https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/attendances and estimated club membership (as of 30th July 2024) from https://www.aflonline.com.au/afl-news/current-afl-membership-numbers-for-2024/. Interestingly, we again come in third, despite a poorer season this year than 2022. My overall point is that the popular narrative that MFC supporters are fickle and don't turn up is false and should be contested. Of course, there are individual supporters who are fickle and our attendance numbers are lower at night games in the depths of winter etc but this is true of all clubs. On a comparative basis, these numbers not only disprove the stereotype but actually show the opposite; proportionally Demons members are more likely to show up to a game than members of 15 other clubs! * A limitation I've just realised is that the numbers I've used are for average attendance are for all games not just home games as in the 2022 data.

"For every complex problem there is a solution that is simple, clear and wrong"

Moralising about football attendance is absurd. There are endless reasons why supporters may or may not attend games and who are we to judge others we don't know. Media potshots regarding MFC game day attendance is an annual event that plays to a stereotype that is unsupported by the statistics. Ignore. Any ire from the low attendance should be directed at the AFL's scheduling.

I generally agree with this. Though, so long as Oliver abides by team rules off field, I expect he'll be given until next season before his contract is evaluated against what he does on field.

I'd rather the opposite; start with last week's line up and sub in Fullarton if not working. I'm also more interested in seeing what Fullarton can offer at AFL level than Laurie or Billings.

You're right, it doesn't work like that. I come from an athletics background. An athlete can stay in peak racing phase for about 4-8 weeks. In the past week we have seen the big names in athletics start coming into peak form for the Olympics in 3 weeks (e.g. Faith Kepyegon's 1500m WR and Jess Hull's 1500m Aus record). Stay up for too long and the aerobic fitness base degrades and performance drops. Need to start the cycle again. But don't trust an internet random's comments. The DL interview with Selwyn Griffith is so insightful. He describes how the players are unable to do enough training during the season to maintain their fitness. Hence the importance of an excellent pre-season and why Oliver is not going to get back to - and sustain - pre-hamstring injury form this season.

Thanks for this. Watching Jako as a kid, I had the impression he wasn't a great kick due to the number of behinds he kicked (208 goals, 173 behinds). Looking back, I realise I was being too harsh. Disinclined to pass, he took a lot of low percentage shots; 39% of his kicks were scoring shots (not including many OOTF) and averaged 1 handball per game! Moreover, I didn't realise how skilled he was on his left. Would have made him unpredictable to a defender; could turn and snap on left or right from anywhere inside 50m.