chookrat

Looking at positives we've been pretty good at winning the toss this year.

For what it's worth we started the change to our game style after our straight sets exit in 2023 and drafted accordingly in 2024. Goods is on record that we wavered from our new style after big losses to West Coast and Freo and reverted to our contest and defence style in the second half of the season and we're still in the frame for a top 8 finish before succumbing to less than a kick losses to GWS, Brisbane and Port. We have been a bloody good side since our 2021 premiership and I look back fondly at our finals wins vs Hawthorn and Geelong in 2018. In 2022 we were banged up going into finals and 2023 managed to have our forward line functioning well in the back of of the season before losing Melksham in round 23 v Sydney and then Brayshaw in the first final. The straight sets narrative is lazy and doesn't recognise that we were very close to going all of the way in 2023. Goody's message has been consistent that we will stay the course and I still think that while we probably won't play finals we will start to play some really good footy particularly in the back half of the season and go into to 2026 full of optimism.

Re Cats it would be interesting to understand how much of their success is attributable to how well they are ran as an organisation vs the comparative advantage they get from: Home ground advantage of being the only AFL club who trains on their home ground. What does this advantage translate in terms of Home and Away season wins and losses. Not having to travel interstate to play other Victorian teams, as interstate teams have to, while playing enough games at the MCG. Attracting players from other clubs who are attracted to the anonymity of a regional city or to live on a farm. Level of taxpayer money that is poured into the club and region compared to Melbourne suburbs. Re facilities the difference is staggering in quality of facilities that Geelong have compared to inner Melbourne suburbs when it comes to local sport.

I still have confidence that Goody can turn this season around. While time is running out to be able to play finals I reckon we will be playing really strong footy in the second half of the season. For those agitating for change now I'd implore you to hang fire, as there are enough vultures in the media without our supporters piling on, and let the season run its course.

I don't have a problem with any of those appointments noting: Nathan Jones seemed a bit of an odd appointment as one of our line coaches given he has been in the media for the past 3 years since retiring and hasn't been coaching. I think his appointment in part is spiritual to help heal the playing group and so makes sense. Alastair Nicholson seems an odd candidate as his past roles, e.g. CEO of AFLCA put him as more of an Administrator than someone who will establish our home base, align the admin and footy departments to drive success, and grow our membership.

The letter is full of words

It is not just the coaches but the senior assistants and possibly even other staff involved in coaching ,e.g. Specialist ruck coaches etc. There is a significant issue in the AFL where coaches, in particular senior assistants, have had increased responsibilities since the covid personnel cuts and are suffering both financially and from a mental health perspective. The industry is on the verge of losing good coaches because or this and unlike the players, coaches do not share in the ore than 10% of the AFL's total revenue that is earned via commission from betting organisations.

So you're saying he will be an ideal fit for the team we are putting out each week.

It's not obvious to me. Our teams lack of pressure, ability to lay effective tackles to pressure the ball carrier / force turnovers, and poor kicking and/or forward movement into our forward 50 makes it impossible to compete. While coaching is a part of the problem it is more to do with the 18 players on the ground not performing at the level required irrespective of match day tactics.

Can you running Goody's post match press conferences through the AI checker?

Just what we need another distraction 🫣

Couldn't agree more Maximus Gawn. I'd rather as supporters we focus on backing in a proven coach and leave it to the experts with internal working knowledge of our club determine what the Footy Department should look like if and when appropriate. The worst thing any club can do is bow to external pressure to replace its coach and unfortunately supporters are the worst offenders when it comes to external pressure to make changes which often set the club back and rarely result in positive change.

Another way I'd look at this is that we are getting better ball movement into our forward half, and have options for a shorter kick or handball inboard but are reverting to old habits of deep entry to create a stoppage and trap ball in our forward 50.

I'd back Goodwin, the coaching team and our leaders to get us back into form. He did coach us to a Premiership in 2021, finished top 4 in 2022 but struggled in finals due to a banged up list that was too reliant on our star players, got into some excellent form heading into 2023 finals but lost both games by a kick without a forward line (losing Melksham, Van Rooyen and Petty), struggled in 2024 without a midfield but we're within a kick against Brisbane and GWS late in the season before falling away when finals were not possible. For all of the doom and gloom we are a bloody good side and struggling to learn new game style. There is no harm in backing in our coaches, leaders and players for the rest of the year and see how we build on what was a solid opening match vs GWS followed by really poor performances vs North and GCS.

Schultz won the Joffa trophy or whatever the medal is called for BOG in the Collingwood vs Carlton annual fixture.

Here is some good material Cam Schwab Whiteboard Wednesday

Paul Roos is of the view that any player is tradeable which I agree with. The club had stated it would leave no stone unturned to get better and this includes trading out star players. I wouldn't put it past Geelong to have indicated an interest in Oliver and when Melbourne discussed a potential trade that Geelong leaked this to the media in order to turn Oliver against the us and into their arms. For what it's worth I'm bullish about what we can achieve this year and excited to see how far love can take us.

If he gets through training I'd have I'm as one of our first 6 players picked. He was so good in 2023 before doing his ACL in the final round vs Sydney totally transforming our front half and had a really solid impact when he came straight into the side last year.

This place has gone full nuffy

I wouldn't be too worried. We looked flat today and put it down to block periodisation and loading for our run into September.

As a tenant he does need to reign it in, otherwise the MRC might find they lose access to the Caulfield Racecourse for race days.

I think we are in a strong position, the Caulfield trust will want to maximise the use of land within the parameters of its purpose and the opportunity to develop the inside of the racecourse into football ovals and provide facilities for an elite sporting club for our national football code is good for both parties. As mentioned by other posters the land purchased by Scopus is not the same spaces that we have outlined in the feasibility study and I would be very surprised if all parties did not have an idea of the overall plan during Feasibility stage. I'd also be surprised if Scopus purchasing land would have any impact on our access to our ovals in the middle of the racetrack as they would have the most leverage for such a land use agreement prior to their offer to purchase land being accepted.

I reckon Max Gawn as playing CEO.

Yep, from an accounting perspective it makes sense that the full amount is included in our accounts. As soon as the financial settlement was reached, regardless of when the payments were made, would be the moment the liability would appear on our books. An operating profit is a good result considering our mixed performances and drop off in the second half of the season not to mention that KB and Anzac Eve were both away games. Bodes well for 2025 where I think we will bounce back strongly.

I'd like to wait for the club to announce something before commenting.