Wells 11

He changed the way the game is played and deserves credit for that. That makes him a great coach. But he also fully lucked out with the draft...call it what you will but luck plays a part. When you pick up Buddy and Roughhead in the same draft as well as the many other players they did at that time well... they hit a rare gold mine. Then they were at the top when the new teams were coming in and the drafts were so compromised and competition polarised for a while ( Hawks stuck at the top with us at the bottom) . So was he a very good/ great coach yes . But he lucked out also, and his achievements will be, in my opinion, squared out a little by his failures after he retires. So I expect/ hope his ego will be tempered by the time he exits!

premature speculation is a curse ;-)

The question in my mind here is that tbh I’m not sure I can see him playing more for us this year then he did fr the doggies. As I see it in 23 Tmac, Fritsch and Brown are first choice. JVR knocking hard and schache next in line. So, at least for this year we would need to be 2 down of our starting 3 talls ( if Fritsch can be called that) for him to play. 2024 is a different story.

Must be a bad hamstring poor fella. I have to confess I’m also glad I’m not going to have witness Bedford breaking out this year with GWS. It’s not that I don’t wish him well, just I was definitely looking forward to what he might bring us this year before he left.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but losing a player like Kozzy, at this stage of his career, will never work out in our favour. He's more irreplacable than Jackson. Anyway, you should know this already given your user name!

Pretty sure it was Gutnick

Does this make it better or worse McQueen?

Is no one concerned about Oliver’s thumb injury? I accept I may be of a more paranoid nature but he’s pulling out of match sims and appears to be repeatedly injuring it and sore. How is this not even included in our injury list?

Except that if he wants to get away from Melbourne ( the city...not the club) and if wants to be in SA then its only two clubs isn't it. Then, if he's made up his mind on one of them, then its the Jackson scenario repeated. Losing Kozzy would be an even more bitter pill to swallow imo. Hard to know if theres any strategy we can employ in this circumstance.

2 days before the deadline..and Feb still hasn't committed. Jan and March may just have to play larger roles if it leaves.

So.., do we have any actual numbers yet?

It seemed to me that opposition teams were finding ways to NOT bomb long into their F50. I.e lots of chip and run type entries to undo the influence of May and Lever and break up our structure. Does Gawn playing back really add that much more? Its a genuine question not a statement. I just cant quite get my head around where to get the most out of him when he's not rucking.

hmm…in basic english that means our member numbers are well down and marketing is hiding it! It’s the same play book we use re hiding injuries that might influence someone to not sign up.

It’s a very difficult equation for the AFL. They have the following to consider. 1./ When is the best time to maximise interference with other sports codes. After the 1st ball of the boxing day test is the latest idea. 2./ How do we maximise the length of time we can drip feed the information. 3./ How do we most successfully hide the mammoth inequalities of a rigged draw favouring the biggest clubs. 4./ How long will it take Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond to get bk to approve the exact amount of advantage we’ve given them.

Yes, but you can bet it wont be us. The big players will be lobbying for that.

Looks way more ready than jefferson.

Becoming apparent to all of us. Whatever you think of Gutnick, missing on Olympic park was the miss of a lifetime.

does it start 2.40 qld time or vic time?

...In the great tradition of demonland you'll know quickly if you have ;-)

very true.

a one point loss 😥

Agree with all of the above. In retrospect he should never have been played in round 1 and then his re entry was poorly managed. A theme for many of our injured players. Let’s hope his injury has settled now as salem of 22, going at about 50% rat power, is a massive loss fr the team.

Yep I agree, unlucky to not be a premiership coach . I think he’ll bring the best out of the group. But just how good the group can be I have my doubts over. The way they went about the coaching change was so obviously shambolic and reminds me of the dees of yesteryear. I don’t wish them ill over at saintland but I’m very frikn glad the dees are no longer there.

His exit left a bad taste ie his total drop in form after agreeing mid season to leave and then his stark lack of recognition and gratitude for the dees. So… I no longer hope he does deliver. Personally I hope we thrash them in a final soon preferably a GF and he recognises the strength of what he left.

yes in retrospect it was well played 😉