Diamond_Jim

But who wants it. It's a spectacle and as long as the output is controlled who wants to pay for more actors. Now if the AFL had as its mission the maximisation of player development as distinct from $$$ (or circuses) you would have an excellent point. BTW... I agree with your sentiment

Dr Bruce Reid wrote to James Hird and then football manager Paul Hamilton in January 2012 expressing his concern over the supplements program. His communication was revealed as part of the list of charges levelled by the AFL against the Bombers. https://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-08-21/full-text-of-dr-bruce-reids-letter Should he have copied the Chairman or the CEO... probably yes. Here's some brief extracts from that letter: I am still not sure whether AOD/9604 is approved by the drug authorities in Australia at this stage. Just because it is not classified as illegal, doesn’t mean that it can be used freely in the community, it cannot. I am sure Steve Danks believes that what we are doing is totally ethical and legal, however, one wonders whether if you take a long stance and look at this from a distance, whether you would want your children being injected with a derivative hormone that is not free to the community and whether calf’s blood, that has been used for many years and is still doubted by most doctors, is worth pursuing.

with no records of who what and when.............. yes, lucky he is only villified.

I agree with your logic but the money would need to come at the expense of something else. The obvious source is the the players wages in the senior team but that is going the other way. The non MFC players at Casey would be paid very little. What worries me is that VFL form is increasingly meaning little when it comes to determining whether a player can make it at AFL level. They play the same zone style and in the main the games are scrappy and rolling maul in their nature. Casey have been at the top pf the ladder for many years but few players have come out of the system. I know some point to Fritsch but he was only there for a year and was ready made when he played his first game for Casey. Lockhart.. maybe but hard to think of a Casey player (MFC listed or otherwise) who made it. Mind you I don't think the success rate is much different for most AFL teams. Why.. I have no idea. I'd like to see 16 players and perhaps some different tactics employed to open up the game. 16 players would reduce costs slightly but more so it might see more open and skilful play. As an aside the whole VFL salary cap (for all teams) is probably not much different to what the AFL pump into the one game in Shanghai each year.

Another player whose long term playing fate will be determined in 2020. We have so many of them... Hibberd, Jetta, Weideman and the list goes on. Would be nice but like many my expectations are not high.

I suspect the blueprint is to dumb down and/or phase out the comp. Many of the clubs complain about the cost of running their VFL team but given the arms race nature of the competition clubs see the VFL as a necessary evil. There's not just the players and support but the costs of maintaining the grounds to the required standard. It's no longer a development league but simply somewhere where your depth players get a bit of simulated match practice. A shame it is so because it could be a much better competition but AFL money men dictate that expenditure should be elsewhere.

As an aside Jaguar are owned by Tata a massive Indian conglomerate. I think it's now run by the grandchildren of the original founder. Almost every truck in India is a Tata. Anyway not so many years ago (2008) Tata announced that they would build a car for the masses of India that would be very affordable. Price around $2k. They called it the Nano. In 2018 the project was cancelled after selling three cars. It out Edselled the Edsell not to mention the P76.

Thought the same thing. The number of horses in it at the 200 metres you would have thought it was a 1600 metres race. Reflects the entries I suppose. Bring back Scotch and Dry perhaps

no 13.... Raymond Tusk

Nah... but we have a great new data analyst

Which coach went off to meditate in India? IIRC it went very well. Perhaps Goodwin could seek divine inspiration for his game plan. I can just see him sitting in the lotus position chanting.. "Play Fritsch forward"

The AFL have normalised a compromised draw. The power clubs would not give up the advantages by any means. We should just have a rolling draw of home and away matches. The season to be 20-22 games and Friday night games nominated 6 weeks out. Won't happen but we all know something like this is the fairest system.

we don't too well against the league average on most if not all those milestones Game Milestone Number Of Players To Reach Milestone Percentage Of Players To Reach Milestone 10 7715 61.323% 50 3968 31.540% 100 2213 17.590% 150 1143 9.085% 200 560 4.452% 250 234 1.860% 300 83 0.660% 350 15 0.119% 400 4 0.032%

What's to stop him getting a few mates from the amateurs or similar and they go for a serious kick at a local oval. Just so happens one of the mates drops the location on twitter the day before.

I did enjoy the bathwater this time last year.........

You have to admit the compromised draw that the AFL now sees as the norm keeps us and the other wannabes in their rightful place. I hope they send us a decent cheque.

This is where the smart coach thinks about week 2. Preuss to play so Gawn is not exhausted etc etc a 0-2 start would see our season under the pump.

Good on him Five years... front or backloaded... My guess is backloaded..

Ever seen a sporting sponsorship contract?? I can assure you they have several triggers and ratings in key cities is a common one

Didn't say "crowds" said finances..... Thursday night game and possibly second Friday game splits the viewing audience that sponsors pay for.

apparently there's a make up Monday holiday in WA for Anzac day. Could it be a twilight derby? On reflection...it wont be a derby but it will be a 5pm Perth game back into Melbourne against a Melbourne club WC v Carlton perhaps

Wonderful reply RM. With four clubs expressing interest it could be who blinks first.

so to clarify... he goes into a draft and states his salary and length of term? What and when is the draft and what pick do we hold? Does this preclude us from taking Murray and Martin? Why didn't we trade pick 125 or similar for Murray?

Waiting for the backlash over the solitary game on Anzac day given it's a Saturday. Probably means there will be a Thursday game and maybe two Friday night games including ours. Not great for the MFC finances or sponsors

The form of both Hibberd and Jetta is important going forward. Having best 22 players at and past 30 is something that MFC does not often enjoy. It is essential to good list management.