Earl Hood

Was in Borneo recently to see the Orangutans that are still surviving the palm oil plantations, now we have this hydroelectric dams in Indonesia! What hope for the Orangutans in this world?

And unfortunately as much as I loved the man, Jimmy’s decisions allowed it all to happen. He courted CS and signed off on Cuddles as Football Operations manager after he missed the coaching gig. So Bails started his job under a lot of pressure I would think, reporting to the guy he beat for the coaching position. Post 186 Jimmy oversaw the sacking of Bails, rather than CS, huge mistake in retrospect. The way Bails was sacked still sticks in my guts. What was that about except as a reflection of CS exerting his power and hatred for a Coach who had worked out that the CEO was a big part of the problem in the club. I think Jimmy’s problem was he only saw the best in people and that everyone meant well but working life is not always like that unfortunately. CS prevailed and poor Neeld came in as the attack dog to carry out the retribution against the senior players. There is one villain in this sad saga and it is not Neeld or Jimmy by the way.

And can I add these thoughts, if we are worried about congestion, get rid of the third man up ruck rule so umpires throw up the ball ASAP everytime and extend that to boundary throw ins, no waiting for ruckman to line up and reduce rotations more so players get tired and can’t get to every contest.

I could not find another thread on this. Merge if I am wrong please. I was thinking today that the proposed 2019 rule change is the 6/6/6 configuration for all centre bounces next year. This could be very beneficial for us. Given our cluster of see ball, get ball, inside mids, giving them extra space to work in. It could be a god send. You don’t need outside receivers if you are running straight out of the centre looking for a target. The proposed setup should/will allow for more time and space for clearance players to get ball, run and deliver and we have a number of clearance beasts in Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Jones etc. We can only hope for some even up given the changes to the ruck circle seriously curtailed Jeff White’s ruck dominance.

Hang in there Layzie! I have used aerobic and resistance exercise in the past to work through my depressive episodes. I found it worked wonders but it is not that easy to get started if you are lacking motivation. So I set a goal to get back on the tennis court, I hadn’t played for 20 plus years but had been a good junior player but gave up as I started to lose games and became more interested in playing team sports like football. The exercise got me back on the court and socialising with other players. And the best thing was I no longer worry about whether I win or not! When I was young losing used to cripple me mentally for days.

Gone Bananas?

Are these finds from Mawson’s Hut?

Matthew Lloyd’s analysis of us in the Hun today is pretty spot on, says our midfield is loaded with talented ball hunters who all go in leaving the opposition on the outside. If we don’t dominate inside possessions we get smashed on the outside and from there the backline struggles. He points the finger at Goodwin’s strategy of emphasis on the contested ball to the detriment of outside run and delivery; says we need to get back to some basics with Hogan and TMac staying forward all game and giving Frost a few games to see if he is the answer down back until we get Lever back.

Layzie, hang in there mate. Maybe time for a change in your job? My worry is that you are depending on the Dees performances, I think we all know they will find a way to let you down, Year on Year. I know I struggled with this a few years ago but have learnt to move on from a loss very quickly, I have had to work hard on that though, I admit. You need to work to keep the MFC and it’s rials in perspective. Their failures are no reflection on you.

On the footage shown is it leg speed issues, fitness or mental laziness? Probably a combo of all three but we certainly our midfielders are one paced, contested ballers, but if they don’t have the ball.... Whatever no wonder the backline is struggling with the ball being run into our forward 50 like that. And we have been seeing oppositions move the ball Coast to Coast in every game where we haven’t totally dominated the midfield battle. Spargo, Stretch, Garlett, Frost must be in the mix over the next few games if things don’t improve.

I see Greg has been promoting nude golf recently. I have always been keen to get the gear off and enjoy playing the fairways of our nation’s best golf courses in total freedom. Does anyone know what clubs are offering the nude option? Although I will have to wait till the weather picks up a bit locally before I get out on the first tee while starkers. I just have to work out where to put my ball marker!

First break go our way in 4 World Cups. I will take it.

Ratsnest Island as the Dutch called it, I suspect Uncle. Forget the quokkas I am very perturbed about the poor coffee, that is a disgrace and in my new role as national Australian Coffee Standards ambassador I can assure you there will be ramifications!

Its the World Cup after all when have we not been dudded against the top teams? They bought in the VAR but we still get dudded!

Shyte!

It’s one all!

Strewth nearly got a goal!

Booked in to see my doctor tomorrow as I was obviously at a different match today. Thought I was at Dees vs Pies but I must have been watching Lewis on replay when he played for another team.

I must have been at a different game today. Okay I played down back in my time and you always look bad when the midfield gets smashed. We got smashed in the clearances today and I thought Lewis stood up and showed us his experience big time.

Alas not. But any recognition would be a bonus for my tireless work in the Banking and Franchising Industries!

Russian interference eh?

Wrong year!

Great stuff just downloaded the Fagan version but not picking up Zingg on iTunes music library. Anyway managed to download 3 or so related great songs from this lead. Micheal McDonald, ex Doobies and so on. Thanks for that. Somehow lead me to Randy Crawford and Foreigner and on and on...

Interesting I know in our darkest hours I was Pro [censored]! If I had been the head recruiting officer back then we would have Hurley over Watts, Dusty over Trenners, Darling over Cook! And we all agree on Wines and there are others. My mantra at the time was kids with talent but with a dose of aggro and we had the full selection of the best talented, mongrels available at that time. But we went for the nice kids, often with questionable talent. Once Roos showed up he used the phrase competitive nature I think as a major indicator for draft selection. I believe competitive and aggro are similar traits. Thus we started picking out Bugg, Tracca, Oliver, Harmes, Hogan, then Vince, Lewis etc. And given the management at the time yes we would have stuffed up and lost the talented [censored], if we had drafted them. Many of your greatest talents were one degree away from disaster, what the unauthorised [censored] up, the late night disco club punch up when you should not be there, etc. Think Matthews, Duck, Darling, Brereton, Hamel, Dipper etc. common in the 70’s.

Please Moons refrain from your vulgar colonial banter. It has been a previlege to meet the guests prior to the ceremony so far, George and David and Posh and Serena, who I must say has kept badgering me to provide advice on her backhand but really this is not the time. As I said earlier I will be backing guitar for Sir Elton in the after party. Busy day ahead. Keep a watch out for the demond scarf!