Rd 7 vs Brisbane @ SCG - Match Thread

[KTigers]

Re the double fisted spoils ; I think the defenders make a decision to do that very soon after the ball has left the other players
foot as a safety first option and don't have time to readjust to try and mark it. A lot of times they are actually successful in
getting it over the boundary line. One day when the Rules Committee is at a bit of a loose end and trying to justify their own
existence it will be penalised as being deliberate out of bounds.

[KTigers]

That's what you get when you appoint Brad Scott, one of the greatest whingers as a player and coach as Football Manager. He makes the big statement at a press conference that the rule will be adhered to, no ifs, no buts. Then the umpires ignore his edict the very next round. Talk about putting the fox in charge of the hen house.

I suspect the new "The Umpire Is Sacrosanct and Shall Never Be Questioned" virtue signaling exercise is a byproduct of the dwindling
numbers of umps coming up through the ranks and way to keep those already in the ranks happy. The downside is that many of them
seem to see little impetus to improve their own standards as there is less and less competition for their spots. To put it in a political
sense, the umps union is getting a little too powerful.

[Nico]

I suspect the new "The Umpire Is Sacrosanct and Shall Never Be Questioned" virtue signaling exercise is a byproduct of the dwindling
numbers of umps coming up through the ranks and way to keep those already in the ranks happy. The downside is that many of them
seem to see little impetus to improve their own standards as there is less and less competition for their spots. To put it in a political
sense, the umps union is getting a little too powerful.

Rather than go with the "Dissent Rule" they should have strengthened the abuse rule. The main reason there is such a shortage of umpires is the explosion of women's football. I live in Montmorency in Melbourne and the ground is used for girls/women's football on Sundays with the first game starting at 9am, that looks to be under 12's. There is also a heck of a lot of school football played during the week that requires umpires.

I have a mate who is a veteran umpire (67). He did an Under 12 game at the weekend that required 2 umpires, did 2 games on Sunday and today has 2 schoolboy games.

Once a player abuses an umpire whether it is swearing or not it is 50 metres. Forget about arm raising etc. I often think that a player engaging an umpire is a strategy to get players behind the play.

On the report on female umpires: Get tough on clubs, coaches and spectators. Fine clubs, suspend coaches and kick out abusive spectators.

When you get to the lower levels umpires officiating at these levels get an email advising what games are available and it is usually first in best dressed.

KT: no umpires union at the lower levels. Just dedicated people holding up our game who already umpire at a high standard.

Once the AFL decided to go to 2 umpires a game the shortage showed up. Why on earth do you need 2 umpires for games at Under 12's.

[dejavoodoo44]

These are our coaches vote totals after round seven.

Mills 31
Parker 20
Heeney 17
McInerney 15
Franklin 12
Ladhams 11
Florent 8
Warner 7
Gulden 2
Lloyd 2
P. McCartin 2
T. McCartin 2
Blakey 1

[Maltopia]

These are our coaches vote totals after round seven.

Ladhams on 11 is impressive after meh first game and not even playing the first few games.

Surprised our coaches haven’t given more to Paddy, and even more strangely, given him the same as his brother. Paddy has been much stronger and given away less turnover goals.

[liz]

Ladhams on 11 is impressive after meh first game and not even playing the first few games.

Surprised our coaches haven’t given more to Paddy, and even more strangely, given him the same as his brother. Paddy has been much stronger and given away less turnover goals.

Both McCartins have polled in just one game - the Geelong win, IIRC. One received votes from one coach and one from the other.

In terms of their relative performance, they are playing different roles. Tom has been largely taking the prime key forward target from the opposition, while Paddy has had a "lesser" target but with a mandate (instruction) to peel off and intercept. So I see them as complementary roles and I think the two brothers have worked pretty well together.

In respect of Tom, check out the goals kicked by each opposition's prime key forward against us, versus their records this season against other teams. I think you'll find Tom's efforts stack up very well indeed. In a defensive unit that has been less secure than we've become accustomed to, I think Tom is having a fine season thus far.

[Maltopia]

Both McCartins have polled in just one game - the Geelong win, IIRC. One received votes from one coach and one from the other.

In terms of their relative performance, they are playing different roles. Tom has been largely taking the prime key forward target from the opposition, while Paddy has had a "lesser" target but with a mandate (instruction) to peel off and intercept. So I see them as complementary roles and I think the two brothers have worked pretty well together.

In respect of Tom, check out the goals kicked by each opposition's prime key forward against us, versus their records this season against other teams. I think you'll find Tom's efforts stack up very well indeed. In a defensive unit that has been less secure than we've become accustomed to, I think Tom is having a fine season thus far.

I’ve seen a few horrible turnovers by Tom this season resulting in goals one of the forwards that he isn’t supposed to be guarding.

Not saying Tom is crap, but I have thought Paddy has only had that one turnover goal in about game early in where he kicked it straight to an opposition player 20m in front of him resulting in an easy goal, whereas I recall Tom with more key blunders or giving away a free kick at goal for pulling on a jersey.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Both McCartins have polled in just one game - the Geelong win, IIRC. One received votes from one coach and one from the other.

In terms of their relative performance, they are playing different roles. Tom has been largely taking the prime key forward target from the opposition, while Paddy has had a "lesser" target but with a mandate (instruction) to peel off and intercept. So I see them as complementary roles and I think the two brothers have worked pretty well together.

In respect of Tom, check out the goals kicked by each opposition's prime key forward against us, versus their records this season against other teams. I think you'll find Tom's efforts stack up very well indeed. In a defensive unit that has been less secure than we've become accustomed to, I think Tom is having a fine season thus far.

Yep. We're blessed to have Tom. How many better key position defenders aged 22 or under are their in the comp, based on actual performance (vs potential).

You'd say Sam Taylor. Maybe Noah Balta when he plays down back. Who else?

It's been one of the hardest positions on our list to fill in recent years, since Reg and Ted's retirement. Rampe has done a superhuman job, but couldn't do it forever.

There's a lot of rightful excitement about our young players. There are others who are better. But given the skill with which he does the basic job of defending, and the lack of alternatives, he's arguably the most important of them.

Tom will make the occasional blue. But thank christ he's ours.

[TheBloods]

I’ve seen a few horrible turnovers by Tom this season resulting in goals one of the forwards that he isn’t supposed to be guarding.

Not saying Tom is crap, but I have thought Paddy has only had that one turnover goal in about game early in where he kicked it straight to an opposition player 20m in front of him resulting in an easy goal, whereas I recall Tom with more key blunders or giving away a free kick at goal for pulling on a jersey.

Hes hit and miss . The other night he lost his man constantly and was lucky to not have a bag kicked on him

[bloodspirit]

I’ve seen a few horrible turnovers by Tom this season resulting in goals one of the forwards that he isn’t supposed to be guarding.

Not saying Tom is crap, but I have thought Paddy has only had that one turnover goal in about game early in where he kicked it straight to an opposition player 20m in front of him resulting in an easy goal, whereas I recall Tom with more key blunders or giving away a free kick at goal for pulling on a jersey.

That's because Tom's playing on the opposition's best key forward whereas, as liz has pointed out, Paddy is playing a much looser and more offensive intercepting and rebounding role.

[Aprilbr]

Some pretty harsh assessments on Tom here. He made some great spoils on Sunday and is consistently a rock down there playing on the best key opposition key forwards with other opposition players trying to block him out of the contest all of the time. I guess its a bit like a goal-keeper in soccer. People don't remember the five great saves you made earlier. Just the miss at the end that cost a goal.

[neilfws]

I guess its a bit like a goal-keeper in soccer. People don't remember the five great saves you made earlier. Just the miss at the end that cost a goal.

There's definitely some "recency bias" going around at the moment. McLean for example, pretty solid versus Hawthorn, just doing the basics well as he often does. Then he has one bad game the next week and is straight to the "outs" wish list.

Same with the defenders, pretty solid all year, then one game under siege versus the number 2 side in the competition and they're all under question.

I think Tom has been pretty good all season on the whole, as others pointed out often playing a different role to Paddy, on the key forward.

[TheBloods]

There's definitely some "recency bias" going around at the moment. McLean for example, pretty solid versus Hawthorn, just doing the basics well as he often does. Then he has one bad game the next week and is straight to the "outs" wish list.

Same with the defenders, pretty solid all year, then one game under siege versus the number 2 side in the competition and they're all under question.

I think Tom has been pretty good all season on the whole, as others pointed out often playing a different role to Paddy, on the key forward.

Count me out of that , i have said all along he is hit and miss . Sometimes he looks elite , other times very average .He was right in front of me on Sunday and i saw first hand how lost he can get and its happened before. Im leaning towards thinking he will be elite but no idea why hes spoken about as some kind of sure thing . Even Melican had some A grade games but look at him now , same as Mclean , Ronke . He shouldnt be given a free pass when he doesn 't perform .

[giant]

Count me out of that , i have said all along he is hit and miss . Sometimes he looks elite , other times very average .He was right in front of me on Sunday and i saw first hand how lost he can get and its happened before. Im leaning towards thinking he will be elite but no idea why hes spoken about as some kind of sure thing . Even Melican had some A grade games but look at him now , same as Mclean , Ronke . He shouldnt be given a free pass when he doesn 't perform .

A 23yo rookie drafted key position player who's played lass than 30 games and he's inconsistent? Who'd have thought?

[Roadrunner]

Count me out of that , i have said all along he is hit and miss . Sometimes he looks elite , other times very average .He was right in front of me on Sunday and i saw first hand how lost he can get and its happened before. Im leaning towards thinking he will be elite but no idea why hes spoken about as some kind of sure thing . Even Melican had some A grade games but look at him now , same as Mclean , Ronke . He shouldnt be given a free pass when he doesn 't perform .

TB, I’m sure you will agree that young, inexperienced players need to be given a decent run of games to assess. Tom has shown enough for us to know he can make it. That doesn’t mean that he won’t have some ordinary games until he learns the position more fully. Melican is a depth player but good value to have. McLean has talent but still very raw and can be more than useful, if never a star. Ronke can be good- let’s assess after a few more games. Horse has given JB quite a few games and he will do so with other young players. Your assessments may prove to be correct but you do tend to pronounce judgement early, and that really doesn’t serve any useful purpose unless you have an input in team selection!