Diamond_Jim

Makes you wonder if it is about time to revisit the draw. If the so called blockbusters keep growing the draw will become almost immutable. BTW is the rule that the top 6? of 2018 play each other twice in 2019 etc still applicable or is it merely an aspirational goal.

The AFL have released some key dates and concepts for the 2019 fixture and have asked clubs to provide their wish list by early August. One thing is that there will probably be more Thursday night games and according to the writer less night games for Carlton. "Carlton also looks set to be phased out of Friday night games after surprisingly playing four of the prime-time fixtures this season, with AFL general manager of clubs Travis Auld confirming the League would again look to reward on-field performance when completing the 2019 schedule." https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-07-19/afl-reveals-likely-key-dates-for-2019-fixture

we talked a little about this last year. The general idea as I understand it is that the zone is set 60-70 metres around the ball carrier. You would need to be a very powerful kick to break the zone but if you can run 15 and then kick 50 ...perhaps. Far easier with two quick precision kicks to achieve the same result. Remember the chaos ball of 2016 that the Dogs perfected. Not sure if it is still in vogue. A genuine and reliable goal kicker from 55 metre on the run would be a powerful weapon. Imagine if the defensive outriders had such a player amongst them.

obviously I've been reading two many novels about ancient Rome recently ?

Is there such a place as the wing these days. It seems to me that there is only the player with the ball surrounded by a moving phalanx of 35 players

Interesting concept. I was thinking while watching the Bulldogs game that the concept of a line breaker has changed greatly in recent years. We used to think of it as a player who would run and carry for at least 20-30 metres. Now because of the hard press a player need only run 10 metres before he can effectively break the press or the line as it used to be called. Equally delivery has become even more important than before when the line breaker could usually rely on his target having some open space. Watched Hunt several times at VFL level earlier in the year and he was completely ineffective at any appreciable form of run and carry. I suspect that the press has effectively ended Hunt's former style of play. Not sure if he is able to adapt.

find a post by me that says it caused the injuries ... no you won't find one. Playing in 28 degree heat and 80% humidity is not conducive to maximum fitness for a Melbourne based team. That's what I said. We go for the money... there is no other reason whatsoever and it is time it stopped.

TV exposure.... Darwin was not on FTA and on Foxtel it would have rated 3 men and a dog. NT supporters... come on ... show me the numbers !! The ground only holds 10k and Alice holds 6k most of whom follow the Crows and Port.

If you can find me one sports scientist or professional coach that says that playing in Darwin is a good idea (and by that I don't mean a neutral opinion) then I will agree. Football is a game of inches and we need every advantage we can get. Playing in Darwin is not an advantage.

I would doubt it. An MFC home game so the gate proceeds are ours for what they are worth. May be a contribution towards travel costs but as I understand it the interstate clubs have always had a bigger travel allowance. It's different to say the Port v Suns game in China where the Suns get a decent slice because in the last two years it's been a Suns home game. It just makes no sense whatsoever to take a team from a mid winter environment to play in sub-tropical conditions unless one absolutely has to do it a la the Socceroos last year with games in Thailand and Malaysia.

we whinge about Darwin each year and rightly so. Time the club came out with the financials on the escapade and seriously looked at the revenue it would need to replace the NT funding. $50 each member to avoid the Northern territory or whatever but let's put it on the table and work it out. By the way nothing commercial in confidence about the figures because no other club in its right mind would commit to the Darwin game.

If we target a back up ruckman and I don't disagree with the sentiment how do you ever get VFL time into Flip and of course next year -Anstey. Not to mention developing the skills of relief ruckmen such as we have been doing with Weideman. It was different when we had the development league but that's gone now. PS: Bradtke not Anstey but at least I had my sports right ?

I remember in junior football with the good players that they would play a season on their non preferred foot in order to develop. Made a lot of sense.

Yep and that's where the spreadsheet kicks in. What did the salary gurus have planned for Tom Mc and AB at season's start and what has their form as well as interest from other clubs done to those estimates. In a way planning for the solid players is easy by comparison to those like Gus who while we all knew had potential has come from the clouds in the last ten games. FWIW I think Gus will sign but it will make a mess of that salary spreadsheet. Riddle me this... what do you think Fritsch will need to be offered next year and do you think the salary gurus had that one in their spreadsheet.

Well picked DZ even if it took a howler by the keeper to make it so. While not quite hitting the highs of champagne football it was an entertaining match. I thought Croatia's tactics of soft fouling early and often went a long way to stopping France from getting any breakaways. Croatia should be proud. They played a good game but France were the best team of the tournament. Thoroughly enjoyable world cup and my time in Moscow and Kazan will always be a highlight for me. The Russian people in the end made it their world cup and it was a great one. Thanks to you all on this forum .... it's been great to swap thoughts with you all. Mbappe the fist teenager to score in a WC final since Pele... wow that's a big burden to carry. I will always feel lucky to have seen that France v Argentina game where he announced himself to the world. Now for a new coach and the Asian Cup.

matching a six year deal with some form of loading (front or back who knows) would be a challenge for any club. BTW I heard the Hawks football manager on 3AW saying that Cyril Rioli's would not be in their salary cap next year as he had retired. Understandable but it does open the cap up to some manipulation. A retirement job at Visy or similar perhaps. Not suggesting that was the case for Cyril.

tickets to the finals are in the main easily got except for the GF and buying a normal membership is really no help in getting a GF ticket. For example in the first few weeks of the finals AFL members can normally buy 5 guest tickets. Melbourne v Richmond in a prelim final is probably the only scenario that would get close to a sell out.

England should have iced the game in the first half. Their second half was woeful but they seemed to wake up a little in extra time. Well done to Croatia. They were the better team probably. If France play to potential it could be a big win but somehow I don't think that will be the case. France 2-1 in normal time. PS: The success of Belgium and Croatia in this World Cup augurs well for the smaller teams. Did we beat or draw with Croatia in 2006? Interesting comments on the academy systems in the guardian. People suggesting that by putting your money into so few(often identified at age 8-10) England is effectively limiting its talent pool.

Good first half between France and Belgium but the game seemed to fizzle out a little after the France goal. England v Croatia ... who knows? Must say I was taken aback by Croatia in the black shirts against Russia. Very reminiscent of the days of Tito etc. England in extra time is my wild guess.

Evaluating the worth of Brayshaw both from a dollar and trade viewpoint would be a challenge. Interesting to see how it works out and where he fits in the relativity spreadsheet. Just hope North don't come in with a silly offer as they are prone to do. Gus deserves the success he is presently having as I am sure we all agree. Glad to see some sensible words about Tom Scully. In hindsight many of us over reacted.

A new fortress... a la the Northern Bulwark !

Not going to happen guys until someone at VFL level pushes him out and that isn't happening as far as I can see. More the pity ..not because of any loss of form but it has been so obvious that his place and that of Vince is up for grabs. Getting to the stage where we may need to trade for his replacement come seasons end. Hunt or Wagner anyone ? They certainly don't cut it at present.

Boy o boy... Sweden were so bad Could not help notice the absence of the usual "pretty girl" shot amongst the English supporters. Obviously the young ladies do not travel with the lads... Sensible methinks ? Think it was the Uruguayan game last night where we had the crying child... three times. Whoever decides the feeds really needs a new producer. Now for Russia v Croatia Imagine if Russia wins. We then have Theresa May v Vladimir Putin or should I say Virtue v Evil except I am not sure who is what !!

Didn't we hear recently that they renewed this disaster but we are trying to get it scheduled before the bye ?

really is a game of inches. Brazil could have won that 8-1 but lost. France could not really get their game going but got the win. Good signs and are probably the tournament favourites now. Mind you being the favourite in this WC is not a good thing !!