General footy chat #AFL Round 21 Weekly Discussion Thread

[bloodspirit]

I wasn't sure where to put this but figured it didn't deserve a thread of its own so have decided to use it to kick off this week's weekly discussion thread.

I came across this excellent article based on an interview with Isaac Heeney: Isaac Heeney and the art of the speccy. There are a couple of good vignettes, one about his ability as a 12 year old. Another, the inside story on his mark of the year, when he was actually intending to spoil until the very last moment, and some tips on how to tackle effectively. But the quotes that captured me the most were about the team, including about how we don't "rebuild", and also about our evolving game style:

There's been a slight change in terms of controlling the game a little bit more. Because it's pretty hard to, week-in, week-out, grind out games. It does take it out of you. That's also got to be there, but a little bit more controlling the game.

I found this really interesting because over years gone by, that has been my observation of our gamestyle from recent history. It relied on the players working really hard and was hard to sustain. It was evident in the way that Horse never seemed to take credit or blame for our performances and just put it down to the players being hard and fierce for long enough. Anyway, the good news is that we are tweaking our style to control the game a little more so that we don't have to work quite as hard and wear ourselves out quite so much.

[Markwebbos]

Thanks Bloodspirit. Really interesting article

[barry]

pity the poor bastards going to canberra for tonights game. It could literally snow during play.

[KTigers]

pity the poor bastards going to canberra for tonights game. It could literally snow during play.

Yes, I thought they played all the Canberra games early in the season to avoid the weather as much as possible.
Must have affected Collingwood's draw somehow, and the AFL requirement that Richmond play as many consecutive games as
possible at the MCG before finals.

[Boddo]

Yes, I thought they played all the Canberra games early in the season to avoid the weather as much as possible.
Must have affected Collingwood's draw somehow, and the AFL requirement that Richmond play as many consecutive games as
possible at the MCG before finals.

I’d say Richmond will be 2019 MCG premiers to add to their 2017 MCG premiership.

[KTigers]

I’d say Richmond will be 2019 MCG premiers to add to their 2017 MCG premiership.

I think you are onto something here Boddo. From 1987 until 2057 at least, all premierships won by Vic teams should be
referred to as "MCG Premierships". Any premierships won by the non-Vic teams will still be referred to as "AFL Premierships".
So for instance, Carlton has won 14 VFL Premierships, 2 MCG Premierships and 0 AFL premierships. And we have won
3 VFL Premierships and 2 AFL Premierships.

[barry]

Like

[mcs]

pity the poor bastards going to canberra for tonights game. It could literally snow during play.

It is very, very bitter down here today. Real icy wind and almost sleet this morning. Did clear up a bit over lunchtime, but cloud rolling back in tonight.

Snow would not suprise me one bit.

[bloodspirit]

The Hawks have been gadding about - Isaac Smith in his jocks and Alastair Clarkson himself topless: Clarkson and Smith train topless as Hawks test out Manuka.

[bloodspirit]

Stephen Coniglio set to leave GWS, Victorian club winning the race for his signature

[KTigers]

It is very, very bitter down here today. Real icy wind and almost sleet this morning. Did clear up a bit over lunchtime, but cloud rolling back in tonight.

Snow would not suprise me one bit.

So it's just a normal day in Canberra then....

[mcs]

So it's just a normal day in Canberra then....

Haha not usually this bad KT - but I must admit I've seen worse!

[KTigers]

Haha not usually this bad KT - but I must admit I've seen worse!

MC, I grew up in southern Tasmania, and all thru high school got up at 5AM to do two paper rounds (no one else
would do the second one, the houses on "the hill").... I know all about suffering...

[Boddo]

MC, I grew up in southern Tasmania, and all thru high school got up at 5AM to do two paper rounds (no one else
would do the second one, the houses on "the hill").... I know all about suffering...

And the usual freezing day you’d hear some old fella say “it’s gonna be a hot one this year”. Lost count how many times I heard that laughable saying plus who could ever forget the Bridgewater jerry that some days never appeared to lift.

And that wind straight off the Antarctic that blew clean through you!!

Playing early Saturday in late June early July mornings was like torture for a young fella down there, week in week out.

[bloodspirit]

Are paper rounds still done by kids? I did three different varieties of paper rounds 1. early morning deliveries to specific addresses; 2. walking around the streets blowing a whistle on a weekend morning; and 3. standing at a set of traffic lights with a barrow and walking up and down between the cars when they stopped. Seems like a bygone era. And I'm not that old.