nutbean

Peter Foley spent big money getting the sound just right and the artists love him because he looks after them ( apparently most venues don't). I know he is actively out looking for a new venue but it is a real shame to me as there is something really special about the room - it just works.

Double devastated - Not only Chester from LP died this week, The Caravan Music Club is shutting its doors from 2018. It is highly successful, the sound is great and the room is great however it is in the hall out back of the Oakleigh RSL and the Caravan Club proprietor wants to invest money to make it better but they are not interested and he also wants to take over the running of the bar ( which is diabolically slow and inefficient) - whilst giving the RSL the profits from the bar, Again they weren't interested. I respect returned servicemen but geez the board of this RSL are crusty old farts.

I'm with reek - an alive coward rather than dead hero.....

Gotta say I was a little underwhelmed with the first episode.

Not to say we are strict in our household but Mrs Bean does have a habit of asking questions in the middle of episodes. We have now made a rule - we give her a pen and paper and we address all written questions after the episode. Harsh but fair.

Devastated at Chester Bennington's death at age 41 ( apparently suicide). I am a huge Linkin Park fan - especially their early work - nothing quite matches up to Hybrid Theory. RIP Chester

go sit in the naughty corner and think about what you said. Have you lost your mind. I am not an avid TV watcher but there are two shows I don't miss - GOT and Last week tonight.

you are dead to me, Tim.

Left for dead - nekk minut - he pops up in a religious cult chopping wood and then found by Beric Dondarrion. Glad he is still in the series - my second favourite for the amusing quip behind Tyrion.

Saw them at the Holler festival at the caravan club on a warm Saturday afternoon. They blew everyone away. They are selling out show after show - after seeing them I understand why.

New kids on the block ( a statement - not the horrible boy band) If anyone gets a chance to see the Teskey Brothers I highly recommend they do. They are the bom-diggerty.

I love Demonland. I can now work Godwin's Law and Ad Hominem into conversations.

okay...so I was interested and went along to see The Tiger Lillies on Sunday night. They have been doing their act for 27 years ! Truly bizarre and truly brilliant. (most of the night I was thinking - "what the hell am I watching?")

Agree - Tmac is a good reader of the footy coming in. (elite is bandied about a little too much for my liking - Alex Rance is an elite reader of the play ) He can be diabolic by foot but can also make poor decisions when he overthinks things. However his pluses very much outweigh his negatives. I think Jack Fitzpatrick went ruck , forward and back ( and then out !) but that's an argument for another day.... It is purely a subjective argument but I would not list being a smart footballer as one of TMac's key attributes. That doesn't mean that he isn't one of the first picked every week.

I didn't say Tmac was a dumb footballer so you are correct - you misquoted me. I said he is not the smartest footballer. Do I think he is was the general in the backline when he playing there ? Didn't look like it to me. And that's ok - not everyone is a general. I like Tmac - I just think I am aware of his limitations.

I will digress - our recruitment has been magnificent but part of the reason for this is we are bringing players into a culture and environment where they can succeed as opposed to the cesspit that was our club.

He had a poor game against the Pies. But he was worst performing player for us yesterday ? Really ?

Read the context in which i wrote it ( well I did clarify it) . It doesn't matter what past experience you have unless you can do something positive with that experience going forward. Lumumba (All Australian, high finisher in B&F's, premiership player) and Dawes did not provide what we required. Lewis has been good on field and ( by all reports) is providing exactly what we expected in terms of leadership.

I have listened and read interviews/stories from the players about what Lewis brings to the table as you are right - we can't rightly judge from over the fence. It is one thing to be experienced and it is another to be able to impart this experience and knowledge to others. But I do think I can judge a smart footballers. I judge each footballer on their worth to the team. I am a fan of Tyson but am not blind to his less than perfect disposal skills. I am fan of Frost but his penchant for running off irrespective of the circumstances can be both brave and effective but also costly. I am a fan of TMac but his decision making at times is questionable. Let me compare him to Hibberd ( albeit I am working on limited exposure) - Hibberd knows when to punch and when to try and mark. Hibberd knows when to tighten up and when to peel off. Hibberd knows when to kick long and can also pick out the short kick. Hibberd knows when to play on and when to go back and take a kick. Hibberd is a smart footballer - can you give all these attributes to TMac ?

I shouldn't have really separated them - the comment was borne of being burned by our club with past recruits who offered similar to Lewis. We have brought in players in the past who were meant to "bring experience" and that just hasn't happened - premiership players (Lumumba, Dawes to name but two) who haven't offered enough in terms of experience. In fairness to Dawes he was apparently offering plenty at training and working with our younger KPP but couldn't do it on the field. Cross was an absolute gem - not only leading by example but also by his direction. To me Lewis is the same. He is playing good football ( without being spectacular) and his is providing experience and leadership.

The reality is that the players have made comment themselves on Lewis's on-field and off-field leadership where I can't recall any of the others save Jones getting a mention. Viney is new at the game ( he leads by example not necessarily by positioning or direction) , McDonald (IMO) can point and direct all he likes - he is not the smartest footballer going around. Watts is an incredibly smart footballer but he has only graduated in the last year to someone who can concentrate on anything bar his own game. Jones is a true leader and to a less extent so are Jetta and Bernie. The reality is this year Lewis has played solid football with one poor game but offers a lot more than purely ball in hand.

It doesn't matter that he WAS a 4 times premiership player or a B&F winner. That was in the past. It's what he was going to bring to the club now and in the future that matters. I loved that we did the deal. I could see that he was aging and slowing but I believed that he had some miles in the legs. What I was hoping for is the leadership that we have long been crying out for. He did let us down with his suspension and last week he did play poorly. He knows where to run and how to fill holes. What he has done week in and week out is offer coaching/structure/leadership on the field. He is close to giving himself whiplash because he is moving his head around so much on the field to make sure everyone is where they should be. He is constantly barking direction. This sort of stuff is invaluable.

Forgetting the very subjective formulation of this stat, the position played ( forward/back) and the role/style ( inside/outside, loose/floating/tight manning) will have a huge impact. This is the one area where your eyes absolutely tell you the truth - You want the ball in the hands of Salem/Watts. Of your mids, you would prefer the ball in the hands of Oliver/Jones than Viney/Tyson. Out of the back half Jetta/Hibberd use the ball better than the Mac's.

I just re-watched the last 5 minutes against the pies and you could not get a more valuable coaching and teaching lesson than Lewis's actions in the Tom Phillips goal. 5:18 to go. When the ball is turned over , Lewis gut runs and chases from our half forward line - not quick enough to tackle. As the ball moves wider to our half back flank Lewis has run ahead of the play to where he thinks the ball may go filling the hole 40 metres ahead of the Collingwood kicker. The ball does come in and Lewis looks back and sees that Moore will mark unopposed, backs into Darcy Moore at full back to at least create body pressure and a contest (not sure where the tall backs were). The ball spilled loose due to Lewis's body pressure ( albeit Moore should have marked over Lewis) - Phillips gathers and goals. Whilst they still kicked a goal from beating our press, Lewis, whilst not earning a stat and the team getting a negative result, showed what 250 games plus of experience brings to the table. He is past his best but is valuable none the less.

There was another piece of play in the third quarter when the ball came long into the Pies forward line. I have no idea where Omac and Frost but it left Moore on the edge of the square poised to mark. Lewis who gave away 13cm backed his body into Moore and the ball spilled. Moore should have marked it but the physical presence made him drop the pill .( they got a goal anyways - not the point). Little things go unnoticed. His value to us reminds me of the value Daniel Cross gave to us. Is his best behind him ? Probably. Does he add value ? Absolutely.