Earl Hood

Money: Whence it came, where it went! Actually the title of a book by JK Galbraith!

Yes we do but in a meaningful way, maybe that’s debatable .

The old firm were back and firing, Clarrie, Viney, Tracc, Gawn were great. We won all the stats that supposedly count, clearances, contested & uncontested possessions, inside 50’s. But still lost by 3 goals. It’s only a practice game but I ask what value has the coaching squad added to our game plan/style over the off season?

Good contested footy in the third quarter. Oliver in everything, Gawn dominating, Tracc adding some class, Viney in and under. It’s the old crew back and humming with some cameo help from the newbies. Now if I am a “well paid” Head of Football I might be asking myself at this, admittedly, it’s very early in the season, but where is the value add of the “very highly paid” Coaching Department? Me I don’t see any added value at this early stage! Hopefully we are holding our cards.

Vamos Diablos!

And what’s the recovery road for an MCL?

Gee I thought we had a few possibles not playing today, Gawn, Viney, Tracc, May, Windsor, Salem, Langdon might be chance to sneak in come round 1!

Barring a bad run with injuries I think we have the cattle for top 8 and even top 4 but we need to see the game plan and how we execute to really know where we sit.

Update just landed in my notifications has the MFC been reading this thread, perhaps?

McAdam suspected Achilles injury according to Ch7 report. Shute!

I am not sold on Goody’s new game plan at all!

We have the cattle to be top 4 but so much depends on the game plan. If we don’t adapt to the way the game is now being played we will have the likes of Fremantle, Collingwood and Brisbane running rings around us yet again.

Got very teary during his speech. A great man and a great Australian.

We have the cattle to finish top 4 but much depends on: - a good run with injuries - a competitive game plan. if we don’t change the way we play, with a fully fit and with key players in top form, we could still finish top 8 playing predictable, defensive footy but we won’t cut it come finals against the sides playing the hard running, unpredictable, offence first footy we saw last season especially from Premiers, Brisbane. The early signs I will be looking out for are: - Max taking marks around the ground and going back to take a long high kick down the line VS immediately dishing off a handball to a mid running past. - the coach lamenting the lack of connection between the midfield and forwards after we have won the hit outs, the clearances, the contested possessions and inside 50’s but still managing a close win/loss VS the coach lauding our forward efficiency that got us over the line.

Interesting comments re Ricky Mentha, I noticed him last week at Gosch’s during the confined space keeping’s off routine. Some of his footwork in heavy traffic was so impressive I had to get the phone out to double check who he was. Very Pickett like, I thought. Still might need a full season in the VFL to be ready to go.

I was thinking Kerry O’Keefe whose nickname is Skull.

And judging by the tan he must have spent the entire break on a surfboard in WA!

Just walked past Tom concentrating hard and holding a very small bundle with Ruby following behind with a pram and blond kids in Fitzroy this afternoon. Odd I didn’t pick up it was him until I was right next to him. Usually these tall AFL athletes stand out from streets away. He certainly has slimmed down.

So who is the culprit? I want names!

I agree I believe we have the cattle to finish top 4, again much will depend on luck with injuries, how many and who to but the most important factor to me will be our game plan on game day and under pressure. We are currently training in the sims with an emphasis on rapid and unpredictable ball movement connecting to players who are in space and on the move. I love it, it looks great and given the high speed, high risk ball movement we saw from the Lions in the finals this year, it is the only way to go. But will we play as we train when opposition pressure is applied and the season drags on? I have watched training in recent years and the sims have always featured quick ball movement but come game day we often revert to the predictable kick the ball long down the line stuff.

Wow, great photo, forget the players, where is that scar tree in the background?

It would be a nice change to see a variety of set plays from kick ins to be more attacking and to keep the opposition guessing. The May long kick to the left to Max near the boundary for the spoil over the boundary was playing the percentages but it slows our ball movement and makes us so predictable.

Totally agree. I hate that we have to play the Pies twice again next year. We can’t afford the injuries or suspensions. I live for the day, sometime soon when Darsknee Moore and Brayden Mayncharge get their right whack but it won’t be from us. We are the nice guys.

Same to you Mate!

Gone!