Tolstoys Nudge

Anyone else find it highly comical when @binman reads out @Binmans PA post in third person on the pod 🤣 😂😂

And to anyone whom HAS said “I was wrong” in their fear-laden premature resignation, kudos to you! For the Andy’s of the world whereby it is purely out of what he defines as ‘MFCSS’ — Fear not, we’re not only in good shape, we’ve this year & last, built an extra 3-4yrs on our window in the youth we are now seeing come through, even with Mac Andrew robbed form us in the process.. JT, Selwyn, Goody, and a slightly extent Pert, are as good as it goods! Our kids — recently described by George as being insufficient — are ‘ALRIGHT’ and then some.. with Jeffo, Verrell, Adams & co to still come! Not to mention, with a pre-season, we have Wheelo Ratings best player (2022)& second best rated player (2021) & 5th best rated player (2023 despite inj) to return in all his glory - hallelujah - in 2025 or who knows maybe even late 2024 in Clarrie 🔥🔥🔥 OH.. and the 6th best (2021,2022) & 4th best (2023) in Trac to return next year.. just sayin 🤷🏻‍♂️

I thought it was epically brilliant & on-point — I wish it’d been a callback on SEN so they’d capsule it and Binman would win caller of the year! After being smashed about alongside ANYONE else whom was remotely positive about the club following Freo/Pies games — and not coming back to rub ppl’s nose in it cus it defeats the purpose, I thought it was the PERFECT ramble to encapsulate the essence of the entire issue. Imagine we had Trac right now? We’d be a top 4 lock & ready to be PRIMED for finals run. Which is what Binman and a select few more have been saying the entire time, only to be ridiculed and dismissed as being loons.. unfortunately the DL masses are preconditioned to be MFCSS-like Debbie downers and the footy data just didn’t align, or the messaging of the club all year long — It’s clear since R1 what plan was and it’s been absolutely brilliantly executed in terms of what is controlled versus what cannot possibly be. We’re in GREAT hands, and anyone who says otherwise has one of: - a certified footy IQ issue - A sheep mentality issue - Or as in most cases, an issue with not wanting to be hurt, like they have been so often previously and build a wall of negativity as a veil. @binman — you know, I know, what the synopsis is & why the forest-for-the-trees viewpoint or perspective is an overtly positive one. Well done on a diatribe that was backed up by data, and for doing it with class amigo 🙌🙌🙌

I also think Tmac is the obvious ruckman fitness wise as it just CANT be JVR, but seems as though it’ll be Petty/Turner combo as TMac likely needed for 2m-Peter or Jones.. Petty back would be only way TMac plays ruck — I’d prefer this based on how fwd line looked LW.

Ruck is undoubtedly an interesting one and I think Fullarton should’ve played but I also think we’re running on top of the ground now and are choc-full of confidence, I think if we convert remotely well and are close late we will run over them & win by 17pts. Rivers & Windsor show take 2, JVR bag!

Many on X saying same thing ie Grundy and Pruess when they signed — why would he etc but I guess Witts is 31 & plays a highly-physical brand, so maybe he knows or thinks Witts is closing in on the end? But, if he’s playing 2nd fiddle in 12m time and Witts is still going strong, clubs will absolutely keep having a crack, that’s for sure! But he’s that good he could overtake Witts by then himself, more to the point I imagine & why he’s re-sign and back himself!

Such insight.. do elaborate Jeremy? Clearly you feel the lost-Max era isn’t as massive of a moment as I do, but the ruck-merry-go-round is reported on regularly by multiple media & is a massive talking point, and I for one think it’s our biggest list issue at present — Hoping big WV makes it isn’t a strategy! Going out and getting a ruckman, IS! Especially in this thread — maybe don’t read it if you find it so offensive. Trigger-points and all that. Give opinions a rest? They’re off-limits too are they? God it really is peeps like you and Dazzle that make this place what it is.. Such insights & positive vibes 🙌

11 22 & under was the post, but it meant both weeks not just LW.

Yes I know.. realised just before I submitted, BUT that doesn’t mean post Max-era come 2027-ish he can’t become a massive pre-agent 🎯 for us.. Being contracted these days doesn’t mean anything more than if they leave, it’s got to be a deal that gives clubs slightly more than combo would! Keep the dream alive!!! Verrall does have some decent Xerri-like Vines though insofar as way he plays, being more say brickhouse, contested demon rather than a towering giant.. Pruess to be out back-up ruck next year, now that would be a suitable homecoming! And it works in multiple ways as well. Bryan will likely be a target as well. I suspect we might investigate how Max’s mate at Carlton is being remunerated as well — he’s signed for years but is 99% MAXY-GAWN come next year! I rkn he’d be a very suitable back-up & transition year Tool as well (Pittonet). Whom else would be investigating? I still think Fullarton has a place, improving Ruck craft weekly by the looks. Samson Ryan.. Cox (Bahaha imagine), Reeves would be handy now he’s fallen behind Meek.. Ladhams sounds 🤮 but will be available!!!

Sounds like Hawks offering 6yrs at approx $620k — putting us out, for now. But if we can clear some more space, I think we’d up the offer and usurp them as a destination to boot if we finish season in style especially. Much will come down to TMac going on (even if he does it’ll be much cheaper) and if we land our other targets or think we CAN land him or them I suspect.. Now that I’m watching him more closely, I think he’d be a STAR if he got to learn from May/Lever Combo for a year — Much will also depend on how Adams develops.. But I think he’s got a LOT more upside than I had originally suspected. Sidenote: watching Tmac last 2wks has seriously made me think he HAS to go on, his value in momentum out of d50, taking game on, changing angles etc is absolutely ridiculous, seriously right now it is as if he is playing like an erudite-inducing demonic life force of transition-humming…

This weekend affirmed for me one of the manifesting targets of my subconscious for last 18m… Operation: ‘GET BLOODY NED MOYLE’ Seriously, ever since his debut Moyle is a guy I’ve pinned as a post-Gawn era Demons lineup. He has ALL the X-Factor attributes to be the guy to takeover form the GOAT of Ruckman. So much so, I’ve coined him ‘The Max-antecedent’ 🤑🤑🤑 He’s now showing with fair regularity why it is that he can become a dominant force in a 2027-2035 period post Max. He is BIG, strong, nimble & good below his feet, poised, smart, cult-ish in appearance, and most of all, Moyle is quickly showing that he IMPACTS games and contests within them, inc deep inside defence, or when pushing deep i50 — Moyle has all the WOW we need to really make him priority #1 in the year or two ahead. Even just this weekend when - as per usual away from home - his teammates laid an egg, Moyle had 27 hitouts, 6 clearances, 6 tackles & 18 touches, of which 13 of where contested — against the most physically demanding opponent there is, Xerri. Alongside the obvious ie Harley, LDU, Marshall, Andrew (🥲), Callahan, Waterman and other ‘dream’ targets, is arguably our Moyle ahead of the pack, such is his likeness to our gentle giant Max and his inherent viscosity in our football club and DNA! I’d be shocked the Lambster and JTSmoove didn’t already have him earmarked, but if they don’t it’s time to get a Moyle on!!! 😈

Why would he? I’d be SHOCKED if he lost his spot even if at 💯 strength — his ability to be decisive, composed and clean-up ground balls with assuredness & grace. Give our D59 something it’s yearned for since Gus’ was forced to retire by that abhorrent excuse for a human Maynard. AMW has, for me, 💯 solidified his spot as a back-pocket & moving fwd could allow McVee to become what he is meant to be.. 🔥 But that’s more a thought for next year or 2026.

Noooo sorry — this is a totally diff level of mediocrity mate, that comment is all about it being an opportunity to make their non-finals W Run even more humorous and entertaining! It’s not about a ‘good’ team going out in straight sets.. it’s purely a psychological amusement

Said it to my daughter last week, feels like this could be the year, considering teams I think most likely to win it, sit outside top 4 right now and will likely start the finals that way! Sure. It’ll always come down to health, luck and conversion, but for me I think the Flag Winner is one of 3-6 teams yet to hit their stride!

I’ve got many — as do we all — of those little random thought-lines re current teams, but one I am EXTREMELY confident on, is that we will beat Essendon. Doesn’t have a heap of analytical integrity to it yet, although some.. But I just feel as though our brand & our defence especially, wilL make it extremely hard for them to kick a score! On proviso we make it less transition based Ala today, and more like against Lions whereby it’s all about the contest & taking it to them in the trenches.

My exact thought when I first realised they were a chance for Top 4. Of all top 11-13 teams, I think their game translates the LEAST for Finals Footy, alongside Swans —. Ur their elite footksills give them at least some semblance of credence!

Like it

Def hurts.. but really does appear to be a perfect storm of a day tbh

Imagine WE were Swans.. what DL would be like 😂

AND that mids are necessarily what they used to be, sure most games they are.. but today was one for the wingers, flankers & predominantly periphery players! It worried at all, in fact — it’s a GREAT sign!

Fair enough call.. BUT — $41 for the Flag, is none of the above! It’s pure and classic ‘Over the odds’ chaps.. Quite diabolically, so 😈

Fair enough call.. BUT — $41 for the Flag, is none of the above! It’s pure and classic ‘Over the odds’ chaps.. diabolically so 😈

Andy even mentioned the ‘F’ word — despite us being outside the 8 on % 🤣 What an inspiring days of footy to put-paid to any modicum of doubt about whether or not we have depth, solid youth etc! Today we learned just how much high-end talent the MFC has at their disposal, despite many of them still very much being raw, unrefined & just really discovering their capabilities themselves. Rivers though, is doing what I hoped he’d do from R1 (but we never given the opportunity), he’s using his creativity, flair & natural instincts to really help give our game another COG in its wheel-of-weapons!!! Shame we let JJ go, but had we known Gus was Maxy-Gawn we obviously wouldn’t have. Anyone notice the running in waves in first half today? 🤔 the fwd handball game all-of-sudden looking by design and downright dirty and demonically dangerous? Funny hey.. I wonder why we could cover the ground and move in waves today? But haven’t been able to in last 6-8wks?!?! I can’t really think why.. but it’s almost like it’s as though — by design — we’ve prepared our team to be at its peak game-day and burst running condition to be kinda now through to September.. Huh.. that can’t be right though so it must of just been a ‘vibe’ throughout the team or something, cus all-of-a-sudden we could run atop the G’ and actually burst from stoppage, transition in waves, get out the back and beat oppo in transition both on offence and defence.. WEIRD as hey.. Gee let’s hope somehow it continues then! And that the sudden, definitive & blatantly ambiguous heavy-legs and inability to run atop the ground we’ve had since round 7-8 doesn’t return, such is its importunate yet totally random appearance, across a very clear period of months in middle of the year.. can’t even contemplate why that might’ve happened or contributed to some less than ideal results when coupled with more than a couple of key personal challenges, inexorably made more troublesome by poor conversion, which also has absolutely nothing at ALL to do with endurance or fitness of course.. Ok, sarcasm now abated — NOW we can see the true Red & Blue-print in action, as it’s actually MEANT to look! Just like we did LW in Q2.. and then more so next week likely for 2-3 quarters maybe even 3-4 if we’re treated to a position whereby our list has now fully recovered and loaded to be ready to attack the final rounds of the year with total abandon, confidence and most of all, the belief that they’ll run harder and be able to play with intensity longer than their opponents, rather than 2022-23 when by R18 we were basically having to put sides away completely in opening half or suffer an eery and familiar position whereby our ‘dominance’ becomes a distant memory by the final siren and somehow we’ve seen our lead hijacked by a team that had clearly been absorbing the blows, knowing that by 13-18min mark of 3rd, we’d be utterly COOKED!!! Goody, Selwyn and his team have done their absolute best to ameliorate those challenges and are attempting to turn the tables! It’s a tight comp, and could still very much backfire — but what I do know for sure is.. repeat the same behaviour, and you’ll be forever doomed to the same outcome. This, again, is why I like where we are, despite the risks and fact our biggest weapon is gone (Trac), cus it means we at least have a CHANCE to avoid the same outcome! Let’s see how Andy & George turn this into a doomsday scenario, or try to redefine the observations into a reproving consort of poo-pooing 🤑 despite @Binman sitting there on their screens with a subtle but 💯 vehement grin on his face 😂 A nice win, some great signs and most of all, a win whereby the mids where reduced to being ‘stoppage only’ participants, not only helping them conserve valuable juice but also help them buy-in to a more transition-based game that can be scaled up-down at will, and will ultimately ensure come Final #1 (all going well of course), we’re not just ready, but primed to launch an all-out contested, crash-bash onslaught from the depths of Lucifers deepest, darkest allusions!

6.Rivers 5. Windsor 4. TMac 3. JVR 2. Viney 1. Kolt

No same happened in podcast version FYI @Demonland