Earl Hood
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Posts posted by Earl Hood
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I was riding my bike along the Yarra this morning and happened to notice the Dees training on Goschs Paddock. I stopped for a short while.
A few observations:
I have never, and I mean never, seen an MFC group train with such intensity. When I was there, they were basically doing circuits, but at full pace, and intense practice kicking accurate 50m passes to fast leading. This also included amongst the kicking and leading, individual players sprinting from one end of the field to another while the kicking and leading was going on around them. The intensity was hugely impressive;
- there were others running the boundary, but at full pace for a change. Honestly, they looked like Olympic athletes such was the intensity. These groups included McKenzie (a very impressive runner - something I hadn't seen from him before), Strauss (likewise), Jamar (impressive commitment), Tyson (a lot less tentative compared to last week), Garland (as impressive as ever).
Notable absentees were sadly Gawn and Bleese. Hopefully they will be back soon.
Intensity!! Sounds good, I am going to make an effort to get down there this preseason. The last two years I worked nearby and would duck out of the office to have a look and it used to drive me crazy how players would wander over from AAMI like Browns cows, laughing and joking and wander about waiting for the coaches to get something organised. When they did get going the players would be jogging around bouncing footies before they would start doing some real training. By then I needed to get back to work so I never saw intensity at any of the dozen or so sessions I saw last year. So this is good news. Unfortunately I don't work nearby anymore.
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However can I just add to the theme of this thread that TA is an embarrassment is the information that is coming out that Australia is now playing a destructive, spoiling role at the Warsaw climate change talks. And we know we took a stand with Canada against a Commonwealth Green Fund to help the small low lying Pacific ommunities that are going under the rise of sea levels.
Abbott is anti Global Warming and represents the interests of the big carbon polluters. This is why he is more than an embarrassment, he is down right dangerous to our environment. We can have an argument on what difference we make to emissions but the problem is we are among the World's biggest coal and gas exporters. Add that in to our high per capita emissions and we are a big player in the Global emissions equation.
we need to be a major player in reducing our emissions but Greg Hunts capped direct Inaction policy will go no
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haha. Am I? That's nice.
You're to be pitied more than despised champ. I sense a very lonely person behind that keyboard.
Your enormous powers of perception may have picked up that I haven't disputed that possibility. That doesn't change the fact that Indonesia want to save face and likely won't be satisfied until that happens.
Oh dear can we just keep our comments to the politics of it all and drop the personal stuff! The political differences in thinking are quite facinating to see in this dull period between seasons.
Once the season starts we won't give a flying f*^k about Tony et el. And who thinks what about what.
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I know FA about these kids personally but from what I have read it is Freeman for me.
If there is a risk but also a potential X factor mid who has an explosive side to his game but with some questions on his kicking, well I will take the punt and go for the potential unstoppable force versus the silky skilled mid, myself.
We have failed so often in the first round we may as well take a punt on Freeman.
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If Clark and Frawley are headed for all Australian I think we would be all feeling very good about ourselves.
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Oh no!!! Surely you don't mean gut running, second, third and fourth efforts and doing stuff as a team? What a revelation.........why hasn't anyone at MFC thought of that in the last half dozen years??
Actually you don't have to gut run yourself into the ground. It is more about having the confidence to present and re-present yourself for the slick 20 to 30 meter pass. Why is that so hard at AFL level but gee it has been absent from MFC play for the last 5 years? I can remember round 1 2011 was it? When we had a draw with the Swans at the G. We had fought tooth and nail to hold a lead and in the last minutes I remember, I think Petterd taking a mark at the 70 meter mark on the northern flank and screaming for a target. I was sitting on the opposite pocket and noticed Dunn actually run from a position in the clear to pick up a Swans defender. I could not believe it. He just needed to run straight at Petterd for the pass and a chest mark. Take it kick a point even and we win. But don't blame Dunn because he was just one, no one else presented. It has been a huge problem for us in recent years. We do not trust each other to back ourselves in the contest. I believe when we do we will see big improvement. The quality of the cattle is important but getting the herd moving as one is just as important and this is where Roos can make a big difference and quickly.
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Sometimes what the Left think is a problem actually isn't. Other times their solution creates more problems than what they perceive to be a major issue. It's called unintended consequences.
The Left love to seem like they're doing something. All compassion with no thought to consequences. Conservatives look at all angles before jumping onto the next feel-good bandwagon.
The Left embrace selfism. I embrace individualism.
Conservatives by definition don't jump on anything except the status quo! It is about maintaining the pecking order of society. Lefties tend to be about reform and change so there is bound to be successes and failures along the way. Without some change the nation and society stalls, please refer to any society ruled by a dictator, re the Middle East or in the Soviet Block. Sometimes conservatives do bring in change, refer to the GST but it is not their default position. They spend a lot of their time dismantling the previous ALP Goverment's initiatives. Refer Tony Abbotts whole election campaign, it was about tearing down the C tax, the Mining Tax etc.
The strength of democracies is that there are regular changes in government that resets the crony network links every 3 to 6 to 9 years. New ideas, new cronies that need to build or rebuild their relationships and advantages. The strength of our system is that it changes sides regularly. Some here believe it is a struggle of good versus evil but really both sides have more in common than against each other.
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Jack Watts!! What?
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You need to understand the psyche of the average MFC member. We've endured the worst 7 years of footballing torment imaginable. I'd almost not wish such a period on your average Collingwood fan. We've been offered a glimmer of hope with the AFL-driven appointment of Jackson and then the subsequent signing of premiership coach Roos. And on the day we announce the signing of a major sponsor and our full, rejuvenated list congregate for the first time, you choose to tell us that the player most of us think is the most exciting to have walked into our club since Robbie Flower, will take the money and run as soon as he gets the chance. You realise of course, that that is exactly what most of us think will probably happen because this past two - three months has been almost dreamlike. We've accepted humiliating thumpings as par for the course, we've seen number one draft picks walk out on us, we've been labelled as tankers, we've lost our much loved former President, our debt was demolished and then rediscovered, we've lost major sponsors, and deep deep down we wonder what exactly could the footballing Gods throw at us next. We are a very, very fragile supporter base and for good reason. Be gentle with us. And by the way I'm one of those tree hugging leftist greenies most on here detest and wouldn't dream
of censoring or banning you. And furthermore, I've a very free and easy dude. I've even got the Big Lebowski DVD to prove.
Hey what's this tree hugging thing? Aren't you from Queensland! Do I have to ring Up Clive to see if you are legit?
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Can we get a bit real here. This guy has not played an AFL game yet. I think we all realize we have an immense talent on our hands here, but every indication is that he is not a Scully. I don't know how many remember the night that Scully was drafted, but I certainly had an uneasiness when I looked at the family, and the body language that night. I tried to dismiss it as maybe prejudice, but the fears were soon realized, and somehow Tom Scully never really belonged at the MFC (unlike Jack Trengove who will turn out to be a 15 year Demon champion).
Hogan I think is totally different. If you see him train in the red and the blue, he is totally single minded in getting the best out of himself, and displaying a single minded team spirit. He also clearly has great rapport with his team mates, and a great sense of humour to boot.
Now he may at the end of the day take the money and run, but somehow I would not begrudge it to him the way I did Scully who was ordinary in the worst sense.
If we show real improvement this year, and this young immensely talented group feel as though they are making real progress in the next year or two, I think we will be able to keep them together, including Jesse Hogan.
It is up to the team and the players really, but the signs are good.
hogan I think is real quality, hence this Post.
Lock it in!
I am still being cautious lets see what he can do in his first, hopefully injury free year. If it is what we are all hoping then let us get into his contract big time then.
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Has anyone noticed at training whether we are looking at point kick in strategies? Here is one area where I hope Roos is looking at. Bit early I admit but gee I hope we construct some competitive strategies for getting the ball out of our backline and conversely how do we hold the ball in from opposition kick outs. Some serious progress in these areas would help stem the beltings we saw last year and the years before that.
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Another example of the [censored] that comes out of the Age, they make the insinuation in the headline that it's Abbott that is wasting the money when it was done before he was elected.
"Stop the waste," Tony Abbott cried endlessly during the federal election, and then made a great show of moving into a little room in Canberra's Australian Police College for $110 a night rather than spend fat money renting a Canberra mansion while The Lodge underwent renovations.
Uh, oh.
Turns out a mansion had already been rented on the taxpayers' docket, and will continue to be rented for a year. For $156,000.
Advertisement
It sits, vacant now, in one of Canberra's most desirable suburbs, Forrest, unloved by a prime minister while Mr Abbott consorts with police cadets.
Liberal senator Cory Bernardi wasn't impressed. He declared it seemed "presumptuous" for the department to sign up for a $156,000-a-year lease when, as it turned out, the Prime Minister didn't want the place. "Perhaps well intentioned, but presumptuous," he added.
Yes Robbie you are right the Age has put spin on something the public service has done. Just be as vigilant when the Oz does the something similar the other way. My advice would be to take anything written by Hedley Thomas with caution. Defending Glenn Milne is a futile exercise. Isn't he the one who took a swing at Steven Mayne at a Walkley night? Great entertainment but really.
But yes I too have noticed the Fairfax media's tendency to put a negative spin on the new government. It seems to be part of a struggling print media trying to lock in their partisan followers. the companies are intent on differentiating their product to keep their customers happy. The facts need to be thoroughly examined from several sources before we can make a call.
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Found it, Automotive Holdings Group.
Not on the skids if GMH or Toyota pull the pin in Oz I hope!
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Is that a serious question?
Do you walk around with your head up your ass?
Have a look earlier in the thread if you want some of the Labour Party's criminal activities. Eddie Obeid Joe Tripodi just the latest in a long line.
Anyway that's me for the time being.
Just remember the truth is the truth no matter what the source and your constant dismissal of anything that comes out of the Murdoch press is just you being delusional; this will all play out in time and you may just look a little foolish.
You are looking like an apologist for the Labor Party.
Gee Robbie let's call a truce I cant keep up with your arguments. i was responding to your extracted articles from the Oz, one of them about the allegations of Julia and her then boyfriend Wilson and a slush fund from a Fitzroy property bought in the 90s. Now you have bought Eddie Obeid into it! I had no idea he was involved. Or are you just dragging everything into the mix to make some point?
The other article on the NBN is a classic. I had another read and can't work out what it is saying. A government project that doesn't pay for itself gee that's new. NPV negative, the private sector wouldn't touch it. Gee I think that is why we have governments. To build basic infrastructure that individuals could never afford. The billion dollar duplication of the Hume Highway, where is the income repayment stream for the Governments investment?
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If we draft him, I'll seriously reconsider my membership. Not just the assault, people forget he completely turned his back on us when we offered support, he's clearly addicted to drugs and still drink drives. The guy is a head case. If drinking a beer and having a smoke stops Garlett from getting drafted, I've got a better chance than Liam. Move on all, we gave the guy the chance of a lifetime and for a variety of reasons he let himself and us down. Move along.
Very understanding of you for his circumstances! But ultimately I agree let us move on. The jump from Yuendemu to the 21st century was too much but only because his own community disintegrated and dragged him in to their mess. Jimmy Stynes always said he was making a bigger jump than Jimmy did to make it in the AFL. It didn't work unfortunately but gee imagine if it had. Liam at his best was something we have rarely seen before. Breathtaking I say but it is gone. Time to move on.
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That's the way if you don't like it, dismiss it, it's easy that way.
When the former Prime Minister is facing the possibility of criminal charges I sit up and listen. If you don't care, suit yourself.
Systematic criminal behaviour in the Labor Party over many years is always a concern.
Do the allegations given their timing involve the ALP or just people at the time who were members of unions, legal companies and maybe junior members of the party at the time? We're Bob Hawke or Keating in on this as well?
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It didn't surprise me that Tony was gracious, just that I disagreed with his sentiments. The left love to demonise Abbott, but the plain truth of the matter is that he's a very decent human being.
As long as you don't find yourself standing between him and his objective!
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A SECRET review of the NBN prepared for the Gillard government almost three years ago estimated it would leave taxpayers up to $31 billion worse off and warned of major risks in the plan, many of which were later realised.
The Weekend Australian has learned that the review by investment bank Lazard found the project would confront construction problems leading to cost increases for the building phase.
It also found that the project - once touted by the former Labor government as ideal for "mum and dad investors" - was so risky that no private investors would stump up the capital.
It is believed Lazard had raised concerns about Telstra's involvement under a multi-billion-dollar deal transferring many risks associated with the project from Telstra's books to NBN Co, while leaving Telstra with the option of competing against the NBN - yet still receiving funds from it - after 20 years.
Significantly, The Weekend Australian has learned that Lazard's calculations concluded that taxpayers would own an asset, NBN Co, with a negative net present value - the difference between the cash a project is expected to achieve and its costs - as high as $31bn.
Net present value calculations are done specifically to take the risks involved into account.
The advisers said the project had significantly underestimated the cost of its capital, and provided alternative figures, but in the end reasoned that this was a theoretical endeavour.
Citing the risk of the project and the long investment horizon, Lazard concluded that "no investor group other than the government" would provide equity finance to NBN Co while key planks of the business case were plagued by uncertainty.
The information clearly suggests that Lazard's views of the project were very different from those of NBN Co, which used Goldman Sachs as an adviser. The Goldman Sachs conclusions have never been made public.
- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/in-depth/labor-told-of-31bn-nbn-risk/story-e6frgaif-1226761478500#sthash.zmKLqRss.dpuf
I always thought one of the arguments for the NBN expenditure was that you could not do a reliable NPV because you are building basic infrastructure but you have no real way of predicting the income it may generate over the life of the asset, say 25 years because we are talking information technology that is reinventing itself every 7 years or so. So yes the private sector can't build it because they can't guarantee profits. We can stump numerous projects that were questionable at the time, a certain railway to Darwin, the desal plant, the harbour bridge, the Opera House, the proposed East West tunnell in Melbourne for that matter. How about the Snowy Mountain Scheme? Sometimes Governments of both persuasions, federal and state take a punt, sometimes there are secret reports too!
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This help; but then again maybe you just don't want to read it, its better to remain ignorant of the facts.
Why, then, have so many media-freedom-loving leaders in the Australian journalistic community, and in academe, been silent and, worse, sneeringly critical of two journalists who have been censored, intimidated and seen their reputations trashed for disclosures in late August 2011, about Gillard's conduct?
Now, in the new light of hard, documentary evidence from exhaustive investigations during the past 11 months by Victoria Police fraud squad detectives, who will be back in court early next month, it is difficult to avoid one disturbing conclusion.
It is that Milne, Smith and their employers were subjected to a shameless, unprecedented, unfair and disproportionate counterattack by Gillard, who wanted their attempted reporting about her role in setting up the slush fund killed off for all time. A conga line of media critics (for whom party-political preference and ideology appeared to trump the principles of a free press) joined in to make sure the credibility of the two was shredded. Despite the rhetoric we often hear about the importance of repulsing overt intimidation of the media, Milne and Smith were cut down, and lampooned as conspiracy theorists. Attempted media regulation followed.
For those unsure of where things are at, the police interest remains high. The police are due to go back to court in a couple of weeks. A month ago, lawyers for Victoria Police explained to the Melbourne Magistrates Court why they have been taking the slush fund fraud investigation so seriously. The police, who have numerous incriminating statements, want to peruse more than 360 documents seized from Slater & Gordon relating to Gillard's former client and lover, Wilson. He is fighting to prevent the police from having access to this material.
Ron Gipp, for lead investigator Senior Sergeant Ross Mitchell, told the court last month that police were confident in their case so far. "The evidence is very strong," Gipp said. "What we are talking about here is not merely Mr Mitchell saying: 'Look, I've got a suspicion.' This is going way, way beyond just mere suspicion."
Earlier this year, police seized hundreds of documents under the warrant, which specifically sought files held by Slater & Gordon relating to Wilson and Gillard, including her personnel files, invoices, travel records and documents from the firm's partner meetings relating to Gillard and the AWU.
Perhaps those who still don't get it - who still lampoon The Australian, Milne, Smith, Baker and other journalists, including this one, who have been involved in exposing these issues - should explain to the fraud squad detectives and the police lawyers why they, too, are barking up the wrong tree.
Well at least you have confirmed my suspicions that the Oz is merely running with Shyte coming out of that nut job Internet troll Smith. He has even managed to implicate Melbourne Water in massive payments to unions in the 90's and numerous other companies. I mean where does it end?
Easy journalism for the Oz to regurgitate this rubbish. And even if there is something in it, it happened 20 years ago and what does it all mean to you Robbie? Is Australian politics really a battle of good versus evil or two parties who have more in common than they have differences these days?
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Sorry Robbie can't get through the Oz pay wall to see whatever sleaze has been dug up by Ruperts henchmen. Can you direct me to the Internet troll site they are sourcing?
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This thread is a cracker.
It looks like going for 4-8 years at this stage (unless conservative forces get it closed).
After watching Heavy Kevvy resign yesterday it struck me that a man who can only shed tears for himself in public (twice)
was a very fragile ego with a Jesus complex.
Yes he was undermined by his own apostles and he did resurrect himself however briefly ,but he was prone to swift and silly decisions.
Tony Abbott was the most gracious and most statesmanlike he has ever appeared in yesterdays sitting.
He will lose his lollies over his stupid "stop the boats" dogma and debt ,as well as his buffoonery in foreign relationships.
Twiggy,Gina and Clive will drag him into the mud(or brown coal) as well.
Despite this ,The Mad Monk will probably win two terms.
The electoral belting Labor received has been a good thing.
Some of dead wood of the ALP has packed up and it will have a post bushfire regrowth if it continues to go back to basics.
The Parliament was full of time-servers (list-cloggers) in footy terms.
Unfortunately for the Liberals they will need some Big Ideas which has always been a weak point.
There is little intellectual strength in the Liberal party to give it serious clout which is the only thing stopping it from three terms.
The left side of politics is only ever one charismatic and eloquent leader away from an election victory.
I dont see that in Shorten or Albanese.
Biff I think the LNP big idea is about restoring the the status quo circa 2006. That will set their agenda for two terms and importantly keep Uncle Rupert happy.
And there are plenty of list cloggers in the LNP but there is also plenty of aggressive grunt in the mid field in Tony, big Joe and Scott M with a nifty winger in Pyne to cover for some other very pedestrian performers in the team.
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nah, a single humped camel.....sorry to disappoint the lads
We are talking a Dromederry rather than a Bactrian then?
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Im not sure what I think of Dunn. But Im not sure what I think about a lot of our players after the last 2 years. But, given that Neeld had possibly the worst game plan Ive ever beheld, its hard to judge. We were kicking to packs and up the frikn boundary line and seemed to just have no forward run. No free players meant our disposal effeciency was always going to look horrible and everybodys disposal count would be down. It mightn't ALL be because a player cant kick.
I wish there was a stat for "free player missed". Im not sure "clanger" would include long kick up the boundary line when a player was inside and free. Not that we seemed to have ANY of those in 2013. I honestly believe a decent game plan with an injection of midfield depth could make us look 100% better. Even Dunn.
Which may at least get us into the middle of the ladder
I see his value as back in his run with negating, tagging role that he played well a few years ago and again on Judd this year. He is big, has an engine and a bit of aggro. He can tag, defend and occasionally sneak forward for a goal. He has experience and could be useful in a side that starts to perform
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Hasn't Tony done anything embarrassing in the last 3 days? I could start on Christopher Pyne I suppose!
OUT: Abbott IN: Turnbull
in General Discussion
Posted
Gee sounds like we have more than enough hardware to deal with any feasible threat tht is likely to appear in the next 20 years. However if circumstances change and climate change models prove to be correct and we have sea level rises then we have millions of people on the move. That will test our moral compass. Shoot or accept?