Diamond_Jim

Must admit the first post was just crossing my mind and I did not really need to be reminded of the sentiments expressed in your second post DL ? Go Toiges !!

fascinating psychology: Why when we are five goals down at 3/4 time do most of us give up while when we are five goals up the same percentage fear defeat. I'm sure Socrates once posed the same question in the Athenian Agora to the Pelopenesian footy squad.

I did not realise that in the case of a restricted free agent if the "old" club matches the new clubs offer and thus forces a trade the old club effectively gives up the compensation pick. Could mean WCE don't match our Gaff offer assuming we make one. https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-02/lynch-to-tigers-a-done-deal-says-one-list-boss "The Suns have the salary cap space to match any offer for the restricted free agent and could do so in a bid to force a trade. But they might opt not to given, on current ladder position, they will receive pick No.3 in the NAB AFL Draft if they let Lynch walk. "

my thinking exactly DD. Perhaps it's time to take a risk.

While I don't think he's done enough I am wondering if Hunt could be a real selection chance for the GCS match. Going forward an in form Hunt probably offers much more than the other candidates over the next 3-4 weeks. Could it be that the coaching panel want to roll the dice on this one?

What a weekend of matches. To use a golfing term...."It's moving day". Important for the MFC to get the job done but a Port loss for example could deliver the opening we need. Need a high scoring close loss by the Bombers to Essendon so as to dent that Hawthorn percentage run just a little. So many combinations. As they say in the classics..... "A great round of footy coming up !!"

Best of luck I suspect he had the talent but I can understand that if you are not into your football it would just become a grind. There was a very sad article in the Guardian the other day about a member of the GB Winter Olympics squad who I understand took her own life at only 18. The pressure on these young people can be immense.

Great point. Imagine if companies reported profits to the ASX like clubs do with membership figures. Revenue per member would possibly see the Crows at the top as most full members have a reserved seat. Could be the same for WCE. What worries me most about the MFC is that stat published by LDC ( if I recall) where we are almost at the bottom of the list as to the number of followers/supporters. That could take 20 years to turn around it is such a huge discrepancy.

Hi 000 when you reference "invited guests" in your opening post who are you referring to...Casey contracted players or others? Many thanks

perhaps "depth" was not a good choice of words. What I was trying to convey is that few if any of the players at VFL level are exactly pushing for selection

would prefer Kent over AVB at this point. Perhaps Bugg? As I keep lamenting... for a winning VFL side there is not really great depth

thanks for that DVB I know that stats can be misleading but his 2018 form is marginally in front of his 2016 form on nearly all accounts except centre clearances and clearances from stoppages where his 2018 form is marginally down on 2016. Strange thing those stats

A few suggestions: please ask about if tagging, what affects his decision to go for a ball in his own right as distinct from standing back and tackling the tagged player when he gets the ball. Did he alter that mindset in the last quarter against Adelaide Would also appreciate some discussion on the hard press and whether instructions are given to vary the press depending upon conditions, relative scores, opponents etc. Ask him also about playing in Darwin and how it impacts him personally from a fitness viewpoint both during the game and afterwards. Thanks

Would be interested to know Max' round the ground stats for this year. We all know that his goal kicking has gone to pieces but I feel his 2016 all round form was better. That being said he has some absolute cracker games in the ruck this year particularly since Brayshaw has hit his straps along with Oliver. I am still not convinced that a dominant ruckman by himself delivers that much if you don't have a really good mid field to back it up.

Point taken but the Weed needs every game he can get. Would prefer Smith or Pederson as the emergency if there is a doubt over Hogan.

No Weideman ?

Just laughable this rule. You can just imagine the scrambling that will go on the moment the ball is bounced. Think of the players now days on the edge of the centre square and multiply it by a factor of three. Twenty seconds after the bounce we will be business as usual. It'll be like the huddle times three. I think I'll call it the "unravelling" ...might catch on. Why they did not start with a significant reduction in the interchange and work from there.

But the 13 fans who were there that day to support GCS may not make the trip this time. So needed to move that club to Tassie

Is it ever otherwise ?

Sorry I could not help but bump this post ? What a difference a year makes

Ah the rise of humanism. Who was your favourite

I doubt it. There were a few 6-8 month experiments a couple of years back and they didn't end well. Would be interested to hear but I think the wisdom is now a full 12 months. Round 7 maybe but you could be right.

agree very much but he may just give that balance we need. A very hard call. Would hope the VFL guys had a hard hit out over the weekend. That ill scheduled bye does no one any favours.

One thing to bear in mind is that although we won against the Crows by no means did we play well. We had a great scoring burst late in the third quarter that won us the match. Two lucky goals.. one to Melksham and the free to Hogan. I'm not complaining about the win. After losing games where we dominated or were relatively even we deserved some luck. If we are going to play Smith we need to give him instructions to lay the ball off to a designated nearby kicker. Similarly he needs to have killing the ball as his first priority. Each of Garlett, Spargo and JKH have something to commend them but the fact is we are not getting enough out of the sum of those three players. On the other hand the cupboard is not exactly bursting open at VFL level. A case can be made for Kent and AVB as players who might just deliver that bit extra. I will trust the selection committee but I hope they consider the team balance long and hard and not just go the easy path and reward the incumbents for being part of a winning team. Hogan and Petracca are vital to the next six weeks as is Brayshaw maintaining his purple patch of form. Get the first two to improve by 50% and we can really dare to dream.

Unlikely to occur but wonderfully worked scenario. I think we need to win 3 out of 4 to go into the finals with any sort of momentum. Given relative form lines, wins against GC and Sydney are a must and it's about time we won a 50/50contest. Anything less we are just making up the numbers. What I find even more interesting in coming weeks is the positions of the interstate sides and who has the home ground advantage.I know Bulldogs did it in 2016 but hard to see that replicated.