Diamond_Jim

7:5 to 2 straight Let's do it again with less behinds

the pyre is almost ready for lighting

$31M from the State Govt to upgrade Mars. Dogs have done well when you add in the Whitten Oval upgrade Of course Geelong is "gold plated".

City of Ballarat subsidise the game. The usual rate is $1M but Dogs are getting under $500k for a couple of games per year. My guess is that they are trying to turn it into a break even mini stadium longer term. Makes sense but definitely a gamble The new partnership between the City of Ballarat and the Western Bulldogs will see two AFL games, one AFLW game, Sons & Daughters of the West Health Program, Youth Leadership Program and Bulldogs Read Program. The three-year partnership contribution from the City of Ballarat totals $1.375 million. https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/news/strong-value-western-bulldogs-partnership State govt is separately pumping in over $30M to upgrade the ground and surrounding Event space

Port dropping away. At least we had 2021. Must be horrible as a Port supporter thinking of those missed opportunities

In this day and age (liability etc) it costs money to open the gates, security, clean the toilets etc. A pity it's not at Gosch's or another permanently open venue.

On reflection it's strange that Guerra hadn't done more homework on the "Caulfield plan." If I had been preparing for an interview I would have anticipated a hypothetical on how I would advance the training ground. It's a simple SWOT exercise. Not a biggie but odd

Agree with your general criticism of the VFL but my guess is that AFL clubs have requested a bye when they travel to WA. We have four travelling emergencies together with staff that would have supplemented the VFL side. Our injury list is not too bad and we could probably have fielded a reasonable team but as the travelling emergencies are your key fringe players have we really lost much? Of course if it was a bona fide competition my thoughts would be very different.

This week just gets better

No back up for Max (not even JVR) Shortsighted IMO

My bad Read the NRL site wrongly (They had the Bye column next to the game. Seems the Sea Eagles have the bye)

This weekend is Magic Round for the NRL. Same concept as Gather Round with all NRL games being played in Brisbane at Lang Park. Strange thing is that Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders have a bye. I wonder if this was deliberately planned and how it works with the advantage of home and away, ground revenues etc

An in depth analysis of the lost opportunity on the possible 2024 trade of Oliver to Geelong by Jake Niall has just been dropped by the Age https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-multimillion-dollar-decision-how-demons-missed-the-boat-on-oliver-20250501-p5lvrx.html Co-incidence or did they want Oliver to avoid the media. The article is mainly about dollars and doesn't really contain much we have not always known One source close to the discussions reckoned 75 per cent was where it might have landed, not counting Oliver’s potential pay cut. Geelong’s position was that they would stump up a certain amount – let’s say $850,000 – and it would be left to the Demons, Clayton and his management, to work out the remains (how much he gave up, how much money Melbourne picked up). If so, the Demons could have saved close to a million dollars per year, with the caveat that they would not gain much draft-wise.

The Australia Post site is probably worth a fortune. Who pays?

Our main competitors for a slim chance at the final 8 are presently Essendon, Carlton and Sydney. Losses by each would be handy assuming we win this week and next. It would put us firmly in the mix

In reality a small to medium business with no control over 70% of its expenditure and constrained growth opportunity. On the other hand it's a highly exposed business with enormous HR management risks. Fascinating MBA discussion as to what type of manager is best. I'm sure the issue has been done to death given the number of professional sports clubs around the world

He needs it. 25 metres out and he kicks the cover off the ball for a behind. Rinse and repeat at Casey last game for 2:5

If I was GCS I'd use points (assuming you can still combine trash picks) and then park him in the VFL for two years. If he does okay you can then trade him for a high second or low first. It's a variation of the original GWS draft and trade ploy. One problem is that Tasmania will take a lot of quality players. If we finish bottom 4 this year would we use our second round pick on KW?

We had 3 tall forwards in AJ, JVR and Jefferson plus two rucks in Campbell and Verall. I do recall JVR marking on the wing but in the main JVR's marks were in the pocket (I think). AJ got a few almost dead in front but 2:5 let him down. Can't recall JVR rucking. If anything we now have too many talls/rucks at Casey. I'd prefer to see them rotated through the backline for experience rather than benched. Then again Kentfield was down back.

Do you think Voss is safe after the weekend? If we win the next two Goodwin is probably safe for the year. Lose to the Eagles and .........

This little snippet in the Age today had me raise my eyebrows. No one begrudges the senior coaches’ wages, which averaged about $750,000 per year in 2024, Given that it's an average there must be some coaches' on around $500k pa. The article is on underpaid and overworked Assistant Coaches. Well worth a read. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/overworked-and-undervalued-inside-the-afl-s-coaching-crisis-20250424-p5lu3w.html

Are we seeing the end of the Swans' run or are GCS very good. GCS certainly had the corridor game working in Q3

Ah the role of the second ruck. Solve that one and you'll win the lottery. Collingwood and others seem to have achieved a balance There's even a school that says hit out stats are irrelevant I have no idea these days

Will he Weideman us with four good games mid 2026 and then a 3 year contract. I hope not. This should be his year if he is to make it.

They were the pioneers of what we now see as the AFL. Sunday games televised live revolutionised the game. Personally I think there's room for a second league a la the English soccer comps (perhaps with promotion and relegation to a third level league.) The VFL as linked to AFL can wither for all I care. Include a few country teams in Victoria and the Riverina and you could have a popular comp. Youtube gives cheap access to media coverage with camera and incidental costs being paid by Local Government. Ticket prices under $20 etc There's a model there but it won't be around for long as the secondary leagues gradually die