Earl Hood

Exactly. Poor Bennet was forced out to CHF and never was the same again. He wasn’t mobile enough nor a great overhead mark. Given he could kick goals from 60 m you would think it would have worked, if only he could get the ball.

One interesting observation from Stinga was about Kossie in a one off white top in the 3/4 field ball movement exercise. He seems to be used as a go to option with a directive to take on the defenders. That is get the ball to Kossie around the centre for him to run and break the lines at all costs. I will be interested to hear if future track watchers observe the same tactics as it may mean they are looking to play Kossie further up the field so he can use his speed to more advantage.

Here is another blues guitarist I have discovered in lockdown. Gary Clark Jr. He does know how to play a guitar I think. Cool dude! Here is Bright Lights.

Still haven’t seen a good explanation as to why the insurrection failed. Yes most were there to cause some trouble, do a bit of looting and take selfies but there were a number of well armed, military trained groups determined to take hostages and it appears they had inside intelligence, they had maps of tunnels and help from some of the defenders. The defenders were undermanned, unprepared and abandoned by whoever should have deployed the National Guard, and the FBI who were warned of what was brewing but appears to have done nothing. Is it a case that if only the mob threatening the Capitol had been Muslim, Latino, Black or Communist we would have been ready? For some reason the well armed mob was halted by a few brave officials barricaded behind a door armed with pistols. If ever a US disaster needs to be forensically investigated, it’s this one.

Here is a bit of Jimmy and Joe. Jimmy’s daughter does backing vocals for Joe as well. What a voice, what guitar work!

Here is another Joe classic performed at the Sydney Opera House

Don’t know why I hadn’t come across Joe earlier but he does some great guitar work!

Hello! Where is everyone?

Really hope we get to see what Jackson has to offer this year. Kozzie to really grow into the defensive forward, crumbing role Tracc to move up to Dusty level someone to make the other wing their own to compliment Langdon - TMacc, Hunt, Smith???

How many small forwards do we need? Kossie, Spargo, ANB, Chandler, Viney, who I would like to see play as a defensive forward/mid, Bedford, Hunt....now two more!

Yes never heard of draftee, no matter the pick number not having skills! It’s about deciphering the code. What’s the old one, if the player’s assets are footy smarts and quick hands it means the player is as slow as treacle across the ground. They are all potential champions until they are tested in their first season or two, then the failure/delist rate is what 30%?

I read where the Tigers have emphasised the importance of using mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety, improve focus on the present etc. They also promoted the importance of enjoying the experience with their light hearted joking in the pre-start huddles when opposition teams are doing the opposite, revving themselves up as if they are going into battle. Whatever the Tigers are doing psychologically, it is working a treat.

I can see your point but watching him this year I started to change my former opinion of Charlie as an undersized forward option with poor tackle pressure, no explosive pace and not many other tricks. He does have a good footy brain, he knows where to position himself for the fall of the ball, he can kick a goal and I think he will develop the ability to stick tackles. He also seems to have a good attitude. I am a convert that the Spargo experiment could work.

Mitch arrived at MFC first so he should be B1 and Ben B2! That would be less confusing.

Looks like the dorks got Phillips for next to nothing and I suspect the Pies are picking part of his pay as the Hawks originally baulked at the $600k per year but late phone calls with the Pies got the deal done. Thought we should have been into Phillips knowing the pies were desperate.

Still out of contract?

Not sure letting Cross and Plapp go is a positive. Who are the replacements, if there are any?

Still a interesting choice by Smith to me. He had the choice of running the deep wings at the G for a majority of games or running in traffic at Cardinia Park that has no wings. As Hawks supporters tell me he Doesn’t tackle and likes to have space to receive, and run. It will be interesting to see how he plays at Geelong next year.

You are probably right and he does have a lot of mates but not solely because of technique. I just don’t think the team game plan puts a premium on accurate kicking, it demands contested footy, get ball and bang it forward at all costs. Skill levels are secondary to brute, contested ability. If you get it right it overwhelms bottom 6 sides, is competitive with middling 7 to 12 sides but struggles with top 4 sides big time. In short the coach and game plan worry me.

Anyone know why he fell out of favour? He made mistakes early on then settled down Into the back pocket quite well I thought but was dropped and that was it. He showed some great qualities, burst speed, evasiveness, zero fear and willingness to take the game on. Might need some managing but plenty to work with, so was disappointed he didn’t get a late run.

Was Martin squeezed out? I thought at the time he took off of his own volition after experiencing the first year of Neeld. He is a highly intelligent individual and the Schwab/Neeld circus of stupidity was too much for him.

Grain of salt, surely? We supposedly had so many other players on our radar. Rory Sloane is often mentioned. Would he or Neale have been lost to the game early if we got them under the Bailey/Neeld/Schwab era?

Great career, all the best post footy mate. Never understood why we let him go at the time.

Gee interesting where AFL is at the moment. I am now watching the Rabbitohs v EELS which is closely fought final. AFL contests So often one sided.

And that pay scale [censored] is basic draft tampering but the AFL just sits there and watches it happen year in year out. It started with Luke Ball who walked from the Saints and refused to talk to suiters other than the Pies, we had first dibs. He had medical issues he would not devolve to anyone but his preferred destination club. Now we just get guys demanding front end payments that other clubs can’t meet, all to get to their preferred club.