Macca

Mine is just a gut-feeling just working off the highlights reel. Seems to create time for himself with nice elusive skills Of course, the AFL is a completely different beast so unless a player is a quick-thinker, they can struggle. Tholstrup seems to have enough speed in his legs but time will tell

As for the moves the club could make ... Definitely more midfield minutes for Kozzie JVR to play CHF (when required) and to be used as a constant moving target I can see Tholstrup forcing his way into the team and staying there. Looks to me to have x-factor and that's what we need Rivers with some midfield minutes With a full compliment of midfielders, Brayshaw to be used as a defensive midfielder Sparrow to be more of a linchpin midfielder To be more of a corridor-centric team, Hunter & Langdon to be (periodically) used on opposite wings to normal We need to also find out whether Fullarton can hold down a spot as a forward/ruck. In racing terms he's lightly raced but ruckman are a different breed and he might be able to play a vital role Don't know enough about Jefferson but the contract extension is a pointer Petracca to continue playing as a mid/forward McAdam or Billings to play a role as HFF's (not sure there's room for both) More corridor football as we need to back ourselves in on that style of footy Backline ... business as usual

Koltyn Tholstrup

Losing all those forwards last year to injury reminded me of 2007 when we lost Neitz & Robertson. Couldn't win games without them so what did we do? Sacked the coach And even further back to the mid 90's when our forwards were succumbing to injuries en-masse. Sacked another coach as a result So now we've got many here questioning Goodwin because of something that is outside of his control (numerous injuries to key personnel up forward) Sure, question Goodwin on certain tactics but injuries? Doesn't make sense

That highlights the lack of quality amongst our forwards ... most of our entries came straight back out If Petty, Melksham & co had have been available, our forward line would have functioned better and we would have in all likelyhood won the game The amount of entries is also dependant on the quality of the personnel up forward and our forward line that night could best be described as C- We've had similar quality forward lines (C-) from 2007 through to 2015 with similar results. The amount of entries is just a number and often just a reflection on the strength of the respective midfields and/or clearances won There were many times when we matched the i50's with the opposition during the Bailey & Neeld years ... we still got smashed Equally, one could argue that the opposition were extremely efficient with their low number of f50 entries. Again, a reflection on the quality of their forwards in comparison to our forwards The following week against the Blues we matched them for i50's but the same issue was there, a lack of quality forwards. Therefore, we lost So, to win any game of football you need (in general terms) a decent forward line. To win a final you need a better than decent forward line and to win 3 finals in order to win the GF, your forward line needs to be at least, very good Our forward line during the 2023 finals series was not up to par (due to a multitude of injuries to our forwards)

All the best KF's were/are strong on the lead but as you said, the game has changed and it's much harder for forwards to lead into space (but not impossible) Quick ball movement further afield and quick f50 entries is the key And that's what the Pies do. They catch out teams on the counter so it often looks like they've got an open forward line with their f50 entries They are quick and it's nearly every time. Thus, their forwards have got space to lead into What we do has been much discussed and we have to change We do a lot right though with a tremendous zone defence and we have real talent in our backline. The midfield is fine as well with plenty of talent It's just our ball movement which is not corridor-centric which leads to slow inside f50 entries So we need to be quick from HB, stoppages or centre-breaks and we should back ourselves to use the corridor ... turn it over and we've got the stellar defence as back-up Footnote: Pound for pound we've got a better list of players than Collingwood but their system takes them a long way. They play high-risk football knowing that mistakes & clangers are going to happen, no matter which way they play And the best way for us to pay them back for the act of thuggery is to beat them on the scoreboard (although we could send out a goon as well - Ice Hockey style!!)

Barassi (the horse) is well worth following after it's very impressive win today 2nd start wins $147k up at the Gold Coast for the connections, smashed the clock and won by 4.5 lengths with Craig Williams on board Sired by I Am Invincible

Well he'll need to be stellar in the contests if leading up isn't his go. There's not that many successful KPF's that aren't good on the lead But JVR is still very young and is on a learning curve With the flooded forward lines we see these days, there's not that many 1 on 1's to kick to. Kicking long to a key forward these days more often than not results in a kick to a pack situation Besides which, in an ideal world you'd like to see our midfielders hit the lead-up targets in the forward line You'd reckon that leading into space would be a bread & butter move for a forward. I understand that the space isn't always available but you've still got to play the percentages e.g. 1 mark per 30 minute quarter (around the hot spot) results in 4 shots at goal from virtually straight in front. And a KPF doesn't always have to mark on the lead ... he can win a free kick and then there's the front & square smalls You're right rjay, they need to be working on it with JVR

It's like the leading patterns from the forwards ... all important, but do our forwards know how to go about it? Also, the ability to create separation. It's notable that ex-backmen with regards to a 'fit' T-Mac and Petty are able to create separation in a natural way Brown at his best is very good on the lead. JVR is still learning, and who knows with Jefferson So, the connection between the mids and forwards is a complex one. Any number of variables are factors It's going to be interesting to see what McQualter's actual role will be and how much autonomy he is afforded

It's not necessarily a thing but is fairly self explanatory don't you think? e.g. 'Oliver wins the clearance and quickly handpasses to Petracca who then offloads to a bolting Kozzie who delivers it lace-out to a leading JVR (in or around the hot spot) If our coaches aren't planning for those sorts of outcomes what are they doing? However, set plays out of the midfield and from stoppages have been in operation for an age ... they are just not referenced or talked about enough Instead of that, we get a lot of fluff. Our footy media seem to be more interested in gossip So yeah, schemes it is. Unless there's a better word to describe midfield clearances

All depends on whether the Packers win or lose. If GB win the Packers go to 6th spot no matter what (I think) And the Rams have secured a playoff spot so would finish 7th if GB win But if GB lose, Rams must finish 6th (I think) The ESPN Playoff machine is getting a workout as GB can still somehow make the playoffs if they lose to the Bears

Yet the recruitment of McAdam, Billings, Tholstrup & Windsor sends us into a direction that doesn't necessarily focus on defensive forward play. But all our forwards will need to have a defensive aspect to their play However, the recruitment of those 4 players places an emphasis on skilled forward line play. All 4 will get some game time up forward, some more than others Petracca being pushed forward is another pointer that we needed to change the way we go about it up forward But it all starts out of the middle and/or the stoppages. I'm expecting to see Kozzie play more midfield minutes as more of a forward/mid rather than just as an opportunist forward And the acquisition of McQualter says to me that we're looking to improve our midfield schemes and delivery into the forward line (a more scientific approach) We'll find out soon enough as we'll be playing our first game for premiership points in 2 months

I believe you can lose and still play Detroit (depending on other results)

And Stafford is out too, according to McVay

And the Australia/Pakistan 3rd test has well and truly come alive With WTC points at stake, these tests previously described as dead rubbers now mean a great deal (especially if the WTC Final continues to gain appeal) Pakistan already 2 for 3!

And here's the scoreboard from that test match played at the MCG 1931/32. Described as a vicious sticky wicket but in those days, wickets were uncovered Bert Ironmonger (left arm slow orthodox) had match figures of 11/24! Aussie Rules star Laurie Nash opened the bowling for Australia Australia vs South Africa 5th Test 1931/32

Yes but getting clean scores over the past 2 years has become a bigger problem in comparison to limiting the opposition from scoring Previously (specifically 2021) bombing it long forward and working for forward line stoppages did work until ... the other teams starting flooding our forward line along with pressuring our midfield Again, previously we've kicked long to a lot of 1-on-1's ... in the last 2 seasons those 1-on-1's have become packs due to the opposition teams flooding back (combined with our slow ball movement forward) So what was once beneficial has became a liability Collingwood are going to be facing the same issue as teams are now going to flood their forward line along with pressuring their delivery forward (from their mids) But at least they won't be coming from a platform of long bombs forward But better schemes from the midfield and faster ball movement is the key along with forwards who know where to go and what to do. So it starts with the coaching but the players need to buy in as well I see the problem as quite solvable ... it just needs a change of mindset and an ability to let go of the past Collingwood have shown the way with their fast ball movement forward and crisp delivery forward (they don't bomb it long but sometimes kick long to a 1 on 1 - there's a difference) The Premiers often get copied but also, teams try to nullify their strengths at the same time

Actually, all 3 do have the foot skills to regularly hit targets as we've seen all 3 do just that previously But what has happened is that all 3 are now often under pressure when disposing of the ball because our midfield schemes aren't up to scratch So fix our schemes (and have better targets forward who present in a better way) and the problem gets solved What we've got in the habit of doing is roosting the ball forward as a default move. Even more so when our midfielders are kicking the ball forward (under pressure) Bombing it long worked for a period until ... teams started flooding our forward line from early 2022 onwards So Yze/Goodwin weren't able to get our midfield working in a more cohesive manner with decent schemes but hopefully McQualter/Goodwin will be able to. Time will tell But it's not all on the midfielders, our forwards have often been stagnant (as a collective) and forwards leading to the boundary line has also been problematical We need to get away from thinking that working for a stoppage in the forward line is beneficial (because it isn't)

I'm confident we'll see a change of tack and we'll see it in the first month of the season (re mid/forward connection) We may play a more medium/tall set-up, up forward so as to see more movement from our forwards (the recruitment of McAdam & Billings is a pointer) Petracca mid/forward worked as well so we may see that move again too ... he kicked 4 goals against the Saints & Lions and at other times had 4 shots at goal (in the ĺast 3rd of the season) And Kozzie with more midfield time (at times) won't be robbing the forward line if done properly. Early touches does wonders for Kozzie's confidence

Aiden Markram is playing a great hand on this treacherous pitch in South Africa ... currently 102n.o. defying all the odds in a brilliant performance. Even a half century would have been a major achievement South Africa now lead by 60 and making a game of it somehow. Probably need to be 150+ ahead but who knows on this track? India win by 7 wickets in the shortest test match of all time ... 107 overs vs 109.2 overs (way back when)

Like all the other clubs, much depends on the front 3rd and how it functions Defence is of no real concern and either is our midfield strength but our entries from the midfield to our forwards is all important It's pleasing that we've bolstered our forward line numbers with the acquisition of McAdam & Billings and we might perhaps see some moments from Tholstrup and maybe even Windsor. Jefferson & Fullarton might surprise too adding to the mainstays of Petty, JVR, Kozzie (forward/mid), Petracca (mid/forward), Fritsch and the small brigade And then the connection forward. Our release forward from our midfield and wings needs to be first rate in terms of the mids having lots of time to dispose of the ball forward without being under undue pressure (midfield schemes needs to be B+ at least) and more importantly, the quality of those disposals to the right spots forward If we can achieve 14-18 marks inside 50 per game on average, we'll go a long way towards another top 4 finish. And a number of those marks need to be in and around the hot spot rather than boundary side A more scientific approach heading into our forward line is required and with the acquisition of McQualter, hopefully our F50 entries improve in terms of quality Do all that and we'll finish high up on the ladder again Let's not forget that we've still got a high quality list ... we just need to get the best out of that list

As for the 3rd test vs Pakistan, they did very well in the end to make over 300 after being in real trouble a few times Ponting stated that he reckons the pitch will start playing up and be hard to bat on so it's possibly advantage Pakistan Batting last may be a bit of an assignment but we shall see

The Proteas currently 8-48 batting first in the 2nd Test with Siraj taking 6-15! Apparently their lowest ever score is somewhere in the 70's (in the modern era since their readmission in 1995) 36 the lowest back in the early 1900's The wicket very lively but they've batted poorly Significantly pleasing that the first 3 days at Newlands (Cape Town) being sold out Edit: South Africa all out for 55

You make a lot of very good points, TD. Agree with all Some further issues ... So the South Africans are saying that sending a 2nd rate test team to NZ is a one-off when factoring in the future tours. But can they be believed? The trouble is that the ownership of all the t20 teams in South Africa are from IPL franchises and the IPL hierarchy itself is talking about having another t20 competition in the September/October window (every year) ... so in the future, any test cricket scheduled during those months could be compromised And what's to stop other test nations doing the same thing as what South Africa are doing ... in a short space of time a new normality could exist The ICC needs to protect the future tours when it comes to test cricket but will they? So cricket is in good health but test cricket is at the crossroads (somewhat) A sign of that is the glut of 2 test series that we're now seeing And we should look no further than our own backyard ... after Pakistan we play a 2 test series against the West Indies and then a 2 test series against NZ in NZ. Further complicating matters are the WTC* points gained from test matches. If NZ prevail against a B grade South Africa in the upcoming 2 test series, should they be afforded maximum WTC points? One solution is for cricket to be like soccer where International windows could be created to protect the authenticity of test cricket. All test tours could incorporate white-ball cricket to satisfy the bean-counters But that would require an ICC directive and the ICC is made up of all the member nations where self-interest rules ($$$$'s from privatised t20 comps) *World Test Championship (points)

@Go the Biff @titan_uranus @BDA @Dr. Gonzo @Clintosaurus @DemonDave @Dee Zephyr @Dappa Dan @Gorgoroth @layzie @JV7 @DeeSpencer Leaderboard Tipping Comp 7 - DemonDave 5 - Dr.Gonzo, BDA 4 - Clintosaurus, Macca*, Dee Zephyr, Gorgoroth 3 - layzie, DeeSpencer*, Go the Biff 2 - JV7 1 - titan_uranus *denotes bonus point awarded It's the final week and we play for 3 points (a bonus point is on offer as well) Thus, 10 participants can still win either outright (or share the award) Podium places as well contribute to the overall hall of fame 😄 Bit easier to finish ... but is it ever easy? Good luck Gentlemen! Couple of AEDT Sunday games this week - both vital games too although the Ravens have stitched up the bye. Pittsburgh a hated rival though so any concessions?