Queanbeyan Demon

Hey @WheeloRatings. Thank you for this thoughtful response. It's appreciated and improved my understanding -> thinking about the game. Your modelling is brilliant — and you are right. Not having access to 'pressure' data — and particularly the inputs used to assemble that data point — is a handicap. And that's my point: many football followers observe first-hand what a player does (or doesn’t do) during a game that appears to be neglected in what I would term 'complexity' inputs. That is, the layered decision-making, tactical compliance, off-ball movement, and game-shaping intent that don’t result in a stat — but change the shape of the game. Things like sacrificing a lead to create space, halting a chain with smart positioning, or neutralising a dangerous opponent without ever laying a hand on them. For example: Not All Actions Are Created Equal — Even When They Look Identical Two disposals may appear the same on a stat sheet — but one may be: Delivered with tactical precision (e.g. breaking a zone) Made after scanning multiple options in a high-stakes moment The Champion Data model attempts to weight difficulty (e.g. a pressured kick may be worth more), but it still relies on observable, event-based outcomes, not the complexity of the decision behind them. Systemic Thinking Goes Unmeasured Modern footy is defined by: Executing roles within highly structured team systems Making spatial decisions on the fly (e.g. when to fold back, when to block space) Adapting to team tactics in real time Yet players who do these things well — often without touching the ball — receive little to no recognition in the ratings system. 3. Complexity Isn’t Always Visible in the Data The system cannot assess: Whether the options ignored were better or worse The quality of positioning before the disposal The degree of difficulty in reading the play or shaping it without possession In short, a player who makes high-complexity, low-volume decisions (e.g. a defender who sets up a zone intercept or a forward who self-sacrifices to create space) is penalised relative to players with high-volume, low-difficulty contributions. Intelligence and Influence ≠ Quantity Footy IQ — the ability to read the game, think a kick ahead, and shape space — is a core reason why players like Max Gawn, and notably, Sidey and Pendles, have sustained elite performance late into their careers. Yet these forms of intelligence are not adequately captured, because they are not consistently associated with discrete, countable events. In Max’s case, he’s even penalised in the data for an errant possession — despite that disposal coming at the end of a 100-metre sprint to drop into the hole, absorbing contact, and creating the space for a teammate’s clean exit. The nuance of why an error occurred, what it created, or how it shaped the contest simply isn’t factored in. The result? A system that reduces football intelligence to raw outcomes — overlooking the structural, leadership, and game-shaping qualities that explain why these players remain indispensable, even when they’re no longer statistically dominant. Summary Champion Data’s ratings provide a useful baseline — but by failing to account for complexity in decision-making and game understanding, the system risks undervaluing the players who make teams functional. Until complexity is measured, true on-field influence will remain partially hidden behind the numbers.

Just quit the AFL as GM Football Performance. City Hall not big enough for all the egos - including those incoming - perhaps?

Player ratings, like so many stats, are like bikinis — they reveal a lot, but they conceal the most important bits. Perfect for pretending you’ve seen the whole picture while completely missing the context.

It’s that mythical place between the boundary line and Goody’s imagination. Rumour has it Spargo saw it once in 2021 and hasn’t been the same since.

This week = yes.

My American friend just sent me a welfare check text: How many times will they trample your heart? 50 years x average of 10 times a year . . . 500 and counting.

I tried to get over to Adelaide for the game. Miss kicked it and ended up in Charleville.

Probably the best of the year so far.

Ken will tell the boys that Max Gawn gave him his flu. This will activate their avenge daddy programming. We'll win by 10 goals. Kenny's sick. Fully Sick ! Demons by 40+ Melbourne’s forward line is more dysfunctional than ours. Nil all on the cards here. We'll lose the Watts-Fritsch Cup by a point after Mead kicks the wrong way in the dying seconds inside the D50 and puts it through the big sticks with scores tied. If I down a vodka shot every time Mead gets a possession I should get drunk by R9 2027. Hinkley returned to the training track on Saturday morning after being a victim of a flu bug that claimed others in the football department Surely with the flu he should be quarantined for at least 11 weeks? Sounds like the flu or the squirts is running through the joint might be a few late outs. The umps will look after gawn, didn’t he get about 6 frees last time we played. Getting rid of Hinkley and Boak and their "more to life than football" mantra is much needed. I dont mind the two rucks. Perhaps they can unsettle any Gawn rhythm, and at least we get first hands on it for 5-7 minutes Gawn sits on the pine. Gawn isn’t going to be fazed by 2 rucks doing what one ruck should. Melbournes midfield rotations may end up looking a bit better than ours. My thoughts before selection were that we'd be better off playing no ruckman and just picking an extra runner because Gawn is going to slaughter us no matter what and they actually went the other way and picked two of them to get annihilated, great stuff. We win if Melbourne have a come down after the close game against the pies. Melbourne play a similar congested forward half game to us and will try and force use long down the line to Gawn, Lever and May. Sweet and Visentini to crash into Gawn all day. Get smashed and surely Ken's sacked immediately. Kozzie killed us last time too, and his form has got a lot better since then, so that is a concern and probably the job for Sinn. Dirty ball entries on the ground to negate the impact of Lever, May and Gawn. And if it gets tight late in the game bombing it to Gawn is exactly what we will do. I’ve got a really hot girlfriend, but you wouldn’t know her, she’s from another forum.

The Alberton Blood Bath of June '25 has a kinda ring to it doesn't it?

Fence posts are leaflets dropped from the sky by the Picketistani Liberation Front, demanding the immediate dismantling of all structures involving Goody and the words “system" and "learnings". Read twice. Burn after laughter.

I prefer Jesse, Cameron and Kossi.

As long as I've been waiting for Melbourne to win a final.

I make them based on Goody's.

I'm surprised anyone would pay the Perryman for this length of time.

Good ol' simo the dymo. If he's as clever as reported, he's just playing to the peanut gallery. Some of whom are not in the Freoo echo chamber.

I've written about this in detail on another thread. The data couldn't be clearer. Of those that played in the '21 premiership - only three 'A-graders' have maintained their level of performance or improved (Max, JV and Kosi). The rest have flat-lined or gone backwards significantly. This is the main reason we sit 14th on the ladder.

Does it beat [🤣] this?

Just FYI for posters that might have missed this post . . . I listened to this yesterday with the tv volume off. Not perfect - but 1000% better than what 7 thrust upon us.

Every November for the last 20 years in the Sidey household: Mrs. Sidey: Do you think we can afford to take the kids to Europe, first class, for six weeks next year Love? Sidey: Let me check next year's fixture. Yep, we play Melbourne twice as usual. Mrs. Sidey: Oh good. That's six votes guaranteed in the Copland Trophy - a top three finish again and a 50K bonus.

We unnecessarily extended JV to the end of '28 last year. And we all know the contract situation with the other two. Tail has wagged the dog down at Jolimont Terrace for too long now. There are just no words.

How long you been on 'Land @Farmer ?

Took me a while to find . . . the one post that accurately and succinctly nails it.

The Filth had 4 of their best starting 18 out today. We had 1.

Boy oh boy. Wow wee.