Demon Dynasty

Bonjour Dz. Presently sitting about 950 nautical miles off the coast of Oz in the bay of Lifou, New Caledonia. Have internet but the French might describe it as cette putain de merde! Something i cannot repeat in English within the hallowed halls of DL. I also need my laptop which i didnt bring for obvious reasons. So bottom line i will be putting the ratings against the GC together most likely just before the Hawks match then follow it up shortly after with that one.

AFL Circus constantly setting examples of 'MFC players' in situations where no serious injury or concussion eventuates Eg; Smith/Kozzy & now Ballard /JVR. Yet others we know are love children of the AFL (and their mouth piece commentators... Cornes a major one) either don't even get free kicked/looked at or decisions are reversed or severly reduced (in some cases to just a fine) on appeal. How often do you hear commentators say of other big Vic Club or interstate players "nothing in that, move on" or "he'll get off that's incidental contact" yet if it's an MFC player "oh boy likely to be in trouble there", "looks bad", "will probably get looked at", "at least 1 or 2 weeks maybe worse"? Etc. And even if it should be looked at... often just glossed over during the week and no MRO action. In particular Kozzy. Even after the verdict...."should've been three!", "lucky to only get two". Laughable as no concussion / no injury & Smith played out the match yet here we have the AFL circus trying to crucify (and did) another MFC player. It's because the MFC is obviously not on the Circus's (read Chanel 7/SEN's) protected species list and are free game. The Cripps fiasco last year a classic example, which also resulted in him winning the Chas with almost everyone in the entire circus going along with the ring master's directive, including zero controversial comments on the award night. Imagine if that had've been ANB, Harmes or May etc. There's no way that hearing and eventual technicality verdict even gets to court lol. Had JVR wanted to take him out he could've coat hangered him but no, fist went straight ahead at the ball drop. The rest was incidental contact and GC has officially said "no damage/concussion". Sounds like we going to push back on this one. Fine at worst using the Lynch/Cripps/others precedents. "No more Mr nice guy" MFC. Must act as the other Circus favourites often do & take this all the way.

Out of interest let's take a look at this season so far vs our 2021 flag year.... Top four in CENTER clearances (on averages) so far in 2023 are... Clarry 3.5 Viney 2.4 Tracc 2.4 Gawny 1.4 TOTAL 9.7 5th Grundy 1.1 Season 2021 (top 4) Clarry 2.9 Tracc 2.8 Viney 2.0 Gawny 1.8 TOTAL 9.5 5th Harmes 0.9 STOPPAGE Clearances 2023 (Top 4) Tracc 3.6 Clarry 3.4 Grundy 2.7 Viney 2.4 TOTAL 12.1 5th Hunter 1.8 Season 2021 (top 4) Clarry 4.5 Tracc 3.5 Viney 3.3 Gawn 2.6 TOTAL 13.9 5th Harmes 2.1 So center clearances are about even (stats don't tell you where the players are directing them though....quality factor?) Stoppage clearances we are down roughly 2 clearances a match with Clarry & Viney each down approx one clearance per match (so far)

I suspect that's been the case for many years now Abyss Confirmed by Carey in his pilot podcast series recently.... ..."it really wasn’t something I was totally enjoying,” Carey added. “I knew you could just go there on autopilot, you knew what you had to say... you are muzzled to what you can say, you train yourself to what you should and shouldn’t say."...

Very good Brownie I believe a VG leading forward would change us for the better up forward though. Players streaming off HB and through the middle under heat...someone leading at them instead of most running away is a must have in the mix. Players not only need to just lower their vision.... it helps when they see someone coming at them or on a lead to fat side/up the guts. Is the answer BBB or Macca in the medium to long term. Maybe not but in the short term they're it. Obviously it's BBB at the moment. He should be straight in.

Super tough game to adjudicate. They're only human so understandable that they're going to make occasional mistakes and blunders. However the constant tinkering isn't helping. This parricular rule is now defunct...probably to suit the AFL's "keep the game moving at all costs" agenda. Very hard game to watch due to the umps generally not on the same page and often selectively ignoring some very obvious frees either by intention and/or incompetence. Yes no doubt some by accident given the degree of difficulty. However the HTB variation is the worst at present for mine. It leaves everyone, including the players, unsure of what constitutes not just a legal tackle but a tackle that is likely to be rewarded (if ever) through great effort and then ensuring the tackled player is not brought to ground with hands tied and head in danger. If the umps tightened up on prior, incorrect disposal & insufficient attempt the game would be cleaned up nicely and so many less 360 tackles made resulting in injury, concussions and potential weeks for the tackler. The HTB interpretation is now a farce and a blight on the game and one which the AFL appears happy to annoint and allow to continue on to the detriment of everyone involved in this sport.

Would like to see the hit outs to advantage ... There are no doubt advantages of having the two big rucks, especially when the oppo bring two big fellas a la the Bombers. However im wondering if what we gain, we also give up in 'some' other aspects such as hit outs to advantage and just reading the clearances in general off the two diff rucks. A cohesion / consistency issue? We all know in footy that doing the basics tends to be the better option in most cases. Has this aspect resulted in some downside in this area i wonder, especially at center bounces?

...duplicate erratum

Ahoy maties! Rubbing in the win to a mostly Brissy/GC centric crew this morning on the goodship boozalot...

From birthday suits to bearskin caps! Outstanding Uncle

Barassi's old pub the Mt View? Great on game day at the G but not 100% confident when we're away. Worth a phone call maybe.

Im thinking Harmes for Hunter. Gus & Kozzy some more mid field minutes? A tad more time for Viney & Tracc up forward? Tracc has some fab moments and stints within games, occasionally a bit of a blinder like last week but oppo not rated. For mine he is running past a few too many contests too easily. Would also like to see Tracc's center & stoppage clearance numbers this season vs last. My gut feel is too much is being left to Clarry and Viney now and Vines aint getting any younger. If there's any truth to that last scenario you are gonna get smacked up in the middle by the better mid fields i reckon and get scored on pretty quickly at times under the 666

Well i can now watch the Johnny Balance Magic Show on the goodship boozalot in a relaxed state regardless of whether it's great, just ok or a giant shizenfest put on to prevent this drunken mob from rioting

~ From a boat in the middle if the Pacific yelling loudly off the poop deck~ "THANK BLOODY LUCIFER !!!"

Sounds like Goody needs to ring a few changes here but hasn't until now. We have struggled in all our away (interstate?) games so far it seems Tracc & Clarry both off so far is a worry? We lack a third quality mid to add something if those two are both having an off night which one could argue should be a combo of Maxy & Grundy but hows that going? Still think Kozzy in the middle for limited minutes should be happening but others say no as our forward pressure is pretty poor and needed there. Petty back? Harmes on for Disco or McVee? Maxy goes forward Grundy takes the bulk in the middle

Kozzy started in the middle last week to great effect. Haven't seen anything of this yet. Has he had any meaningfull time through there so far?

Enough to turn me away Mr Old. Have you considered a pair of head phones for the laptop?

Moose & Disco as well obviously. Would be nice to hear where moose is at

I suspect White may have had some 2nd game soreness/blues guys after a long layoff and clean out of that knee. Maybe a bit of strength and match fitness / conditioning lacking. Remembering that most players who come into a season off a knee or something that's held em back from a normal full pre-season usually don't perform at their usual standards in some or more games on their return. We are witnessing a little of this imv with May at the moment. Fingers crossed he's on the up and up though. White might need to be managed (off the bench for alot less game time?) at some point depending on how he pulls up today. Might be best not to judge him too harshly today given the above.

Possibly the sub for Harmes?

There you go Luci...success following a cafe' reconnoitre

LH the best part* of that wine tasting was the the Chateau cardboard coffee...while seemingly out of place, a worthy participant (and savior!) I suspected as much *Oh i also upset a Lions supporter after he spotted my Premiership cap 😁

Pretty sure it was a chocolate gold coin from last year's royal show

Intensity at, over and around the ball missing. No run. When they haven't got the pill it's very much the same. Pressure is way off. Blues have regressed so far this season