deelusions from afar

So we can pick a category A rookie AND a category B rookie?

I think JT has done well drafting for needs previously (though I don't remember him ever saying that was our plan) - arguably Bowey / Laurie were needs in terms of best kicks / decision makers last year. The previous draft Jackson was best available but Kozzie was for needs - although some around us were keen on him, the discussion at the time is you don't use a first rounder on a small forward unless it's the next Cyril and aside from his highlights package, people said Kozzie didn't get enough of the ball / didn't play well often enough at the highest level etc. Looking forward to seeing who we get this year.

I agree with what you've said here - I guess it is interesting to see whether we can back up the elite fitness and team first behaviour. Will the desire be there to push ourselves just as hard when we no longer have a point to prove? Can everyone keep going with the team first behaviour when those doing the hard running, the defensive efforts etc are not getting the plaudits etc. They seem to be on top of this... but I guess we won't know for sure until well into next season. Given what we did in the finals, and esp rd 23, it will be interesting to see how much of a psychological edge we have over other teams. For years we've played against great sides - we might play out of skin and be in front late in the third quarter only to be beaten by superior fitness, clutch goals, whole team efforts from sides that barely got out of second gear for most of the game. Will we do that to other sides next year?

These sort of posts can come back to bite us but I think we are unlikely to suffer a premiership hangover (I know everyone would think that after winning). My reasons are: Competition for spots. There are a number of very unlucky players that will be super hungry (Tomlinson, Hunt, Jordon (does the sub count?), Smith, etc as well as others who might be a good chance to be in our best 22 if they can get a decent run at it eg Chandler, Weid, Laurie. Minimal post season surgeries (as far as I know), no retirements from players that were in the 22. Picking up Dunstan can't hurt either. Not playing finals in Melbourne. I think there would be a hunger to win in Melbourne in front of a Melbourne crowd at our home ground. We were the dominant team - we didn't fluke it or get lucky or win before we were ready. We have had many learnings - I feel like our 2018 year was a bit like other teams when they win before they're ready. Obviously we didn't go as far but learning what it takes to get that far and how easy it is to drop behind the pack will be really important for us in 2022. There's room for improvement - many players coming into their prime and others we've only seen a glimpse of their potential (Jackson, Kozzie, Riv, Bowey etc). I'm not saying we'll win it next year as so much has to go right with injuries etc but would be very surprised if we are not thereabouts.

But with change in the path of the sun in Winter v Summer it actually means the towers will block the sun from our training ground in Winter but have minial impact for summer. All for building over the railway to connect Fed square to the MCG precinct but not if it involves these high rise buildings!

I guess my point was that when we are rated THE BEST EVER for defending D50, there's probably other areas that should be higher priority. Goal kicking is prob no1 for mine - but as others have said, it's part of our setup to kick to less dangerous spots (in case there's a turnover) and when it mattered in finals, goal kicking wasn't much of a problem. Arguably the D50 stats are inflated due to the pressure coming from our midfielders and forwards which ensure less quality entries from the opposition, but they're still the best ever. In addition to what Binman has outlined comprehensively, I think the key to us moving forward is continuing to innovate. We are the definitively the hunted rather than the hunters now - so we can't expect it to just happen. E.g. try Jackson as a ruck rover, throw Petty forward, give Kozzie some more midfield minutes, play Tmac on the wing. Not necessarily all of this and certainly not all at once. But we have genuine weapons who if played in the right spots are almost impossible to stop. Next year everyone will be coming hard at us and trying to break down our system. So while its important to back it in (as it will beat almost anyone if we are "on") we have to be ready to mix it up - to counter teams who have done their homework on us and to provide more options should we sustain some injuries to crucial players.

I think you're getting a bit carried away. Every player makes mistakes. May, Lever and Gawn were All Australian and are all known for their intercepts. Maybe they just put themselves in the right positions and more opportunities which means they'll drop more than other players - in the same way that Petracca has the most clangers in the league. I think some people can get carried away with analysing the game - of course we want to eliminate dropped marks and clangers - but if the players are so fixated on not making a mistake, then they won't make the play that makes them the great players that they are. They are up against opponents remember! And when you're at the AA level, generally opponents that are doing everything possible to put them off their game. While there's always room for improvement, given we apparently had the lowest scoring percentage from forward fifty entries ever, I'd say the dropped marks (and our inability to deal with the resultant ground ball) was not a significant issue this year.

Well done to Burgo and Goody (in trusting Burgo to do his thing). Certainly makes sense that you train how you play, play how you train etc At the same time, there obviously has to be the right balance when players are sore because they're injured. We have a long (but recent) history of players with niggles managing the injury only for it to flare up - I feel like this has happened to Viney on multiple occasions. I like the philosophy of the approach and clearly it worked... but also feel like we got lucky (with injuries) this year.

... but conveniently leaving out the drop from 2018 to 2019 in said form line.

Will be really interesting to see how a number of teams cope with getting smashed in finals - Geelong, Port and Dogs. Will they review their last game - remember when people were still talking about our 2018 preliminary final not being reviewed and that being the reason why we weren't performing. Port and Dogs especially should be able to bounce back but some players may have some mental scars!

I thought he was kicking it out in front of the leading player (from memory Brown?) who pulled up when Angus dived for it. Either way it was clever play in a telephone box

While I agree, no team is solid for the whole season and we were unlucky in some ways as well - eg the Adelaide game where we were robbed by some suspect umpiring calls. We were blessed with injuries (which is unlikely to occur to the same extent again) but we also were incredibly inaccurate. Leading into finals people thought we had a weak forward line ... but if they looked at scoring shots I'm fairly sure we would be at the top of the ladder. While it's fair enough that that be factored in (you do have to kick the goals) I think after our strong start Goody and Burgo had us primed for september all year - so it's probably no coincidence the goal kicking largely clicked in the finals. But otherwise agree with the sentiment - its never as good (or as bad) as you think it is! As Goody says "AFL footy is a game of small margins"

I think Brisbane will come back hard - losing Cam Rayner for the season who has the potential to be their Dusty / Petracca type player and then losing Hipwood and McStay for all the finals. They were very unlucky to lose to the dogs - I think they're only a player or two away from being very dangerous. GWS and Sydney certainly have enough talent on their lists to trouble anyone if it all comes together (including injuries and suspensions) at the right time of year. I think Carlton will come good under Voss but would think it would take a few years of "learnings" to get them playing the right way. Don't we know about that!

I'm based in Melbourne, ordered the day after and still received nothing so far. Can't be far off!

What the hell is going on - why are you guys so out to get SONS? Who remembers people's draft preferences from 8 years ago? No one is going to have a flawless record on this stuff - SONS does a reasonable job that most people appreciate.

It is quite amazing when it's simplified down to a message like that isn't it. I think I remember Oliver or Petracca saying later in the season that one of the key differences from the coaches this year is keeping the messages simple. Can't get much more simple than that. I guess when you're the fittest team in the comp and arguably the best at the contest, "get it and kick it" is going to work pretty well.

I'm intrigued as to how these contract negotiations would pan out. On the one hand as a first time coach (with no proven track record until now) he wouldn't have been paid much comparatively to a number of coaches - so to an extent this is the time for him to cash in (and deservedly so)! On the other hand, he has a list that if things go the right way could propel him into the list of great coaches if he's able to drive the team to more success. But surely taking more $$ means less in the soft cap which (most likely) means its going to diminish the support that he (and any coach) would need. I guess the departure of Burgo will free up a bit of coin in the soft cap? The way everything has been handled at the club off-field in recent times (last 5+ years), I'm confident he and the club will find the right balance. I'm just thankful that everyone I've heard interviewed - Gawn, Trac, Burgo, Jennings etc have said that Goody is one of the most selfless ppl they know.

The "word" seems to be that GWS are very keen but have no idea where that comes from / how credible it is

They get an armchair ride every year with the timeslots - this time every year people say "they'll be much better next year". I loved how (due to covid) the prime time matches were selected as the season went on - rewards the clubs winning and playing an attractive game style. Was hoping this was one of the covid changes that could continue

I remember Watts recording one of the fastest sprint times for someone of his height - never really saw it on game day. He rarely looked slow but didn't see the explosiveness that you'd notice in some key position players - eg like Frost. I always find it interesting when these results come through - if you are interested in a player... if they get great results does this make you like them more or less. If they have poor results maybe it means there's scope for improvement - or does it mean they are unlikely to cut it at a higher level?

I think you're right - although it seems that we try to replicate the roles and gamestyles so that a bloke dominating VFL in the midfield isn't asked to come in and play in the forward pocket. Ideally you'd mix it up to get the most out of them - but I didn't see enough VFL to know how they managed that.

Hope a proper VFL season / comp next year allows the likes of Toby to show his stuff. From what I've seen, he's behind Chandler for the next small forward spot because even though he's probably quicker, Chandler's disposal is generally very good (at least at VFL level). Having said that, after training with Chocco for a year but having little opportunity to show his improvement, he could be a relevation next year if he gets a chance. It's easy to forget that this time last year there were plenty of doubts on Spargo, ANB and Kozzie - I don't think anyone would have thought they would all essentially play every game in 2021 to the point that none of them could be dropped for Toby / Chandler / Melksham.

As I was too young to remember 1987 - this puts into context how enormous the Stynes / Buckenara incident was against the hawks. 1st finals appearance since 1964, smashing our opposition in the first two finals, arguably our greatest ever player captaining us at the twilight of his career and turning it on, having the reigning premier the hawks on toast in the preliminary.... 94, 98, 2000, 2002, 2018 etc were hard enough but that 1987 year must've been something and really hurt! I'm so glad everyone on here who remembers that year (and the pain before and after) can now have tasted the ultimate success!

I know it was in jest but Eddie essentially got Athletics Victoria to move to build the Holden / Lexus Centre - well he was on the board of both and that was the outcome!

I agree - and I think perhaps the reason why the selflessness approach taken by the players this year worked so well was that that is how the coach has always approached his role - so they had a good leader / role model to follow. When the players speak up (particularly the stars) they always talk about how much they love goody and the impact he has had on them as a player and as a person. Yes it's in their interest to do so - but they seem to go above and beyond which to me indicates it is genuine.