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AFL 2024

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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    You are well and truly a club stalwart JJ. Avery long assosciation. Where you raised in the town or move there . That seems like a very strong local league which is obviously good for the towns involved.  There must be a lot of young famillies in the surrounding areas?Did you ever play for Deanmill ?. I reckon it could be a bit chilly on some of those playing days, not to mention training nights. Looking at the temps that way. I noticed Bridgetown was a very cold 0 degrees the other day. When you say zero assistance from the AFL does that also mean the WAFL do not tip in a lot. With a strong colts and auskick you would think they would want to nuture that and keep those kids coming through and continuing on their football journey
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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Moved down here in my employment 30 years ago, long after I stopped playing, never left. Just sort of gravitated out to the Mill via work colleagues and friends, got involved coaching, had a great run and shifted into admin. Now firmly in retirement, just do what I can to help out. It is quite a romantic notion of an old mill town some 6km out of town still hanging in there since 1918 with an incredibly well documented history. John Todd provided unbelievable support until very recently along with many other club stalwarts who went on to greater things at both WAFL and AFL level.

    Yep, chilly training nights and wet days can lead to some heavy tracks, a bit reminiscent of the old Victorian metro bogholes that we used to see on the "Winners" on a Sunday Night with Drew Morphett.

    Bridgetown aka Fridgetown was zero the other morning when I went through on the way to Pinjarra to watch my horses race. Little descending "snow flakes" appeared on the Sat Nav screen and the other day when we played footy there on a Sunday, it was bitter. Sat in the car with the engine running and heater on. Very breezy up there on the hill (Bridgetwon Trotting Track around the outside of the footy oval).

    Country Footy Clubs get diddly squat from the WAFL/WAFC. WAFL Clubs have no money and make a token effort with the odd footy clinic or whatever, basically useless, and Clubs pay a substantial annual levy to the WACFL for "Player Development". It was a bill that when I was Treasurer I delayed paying as long as possible. What a joke, sit on the wood raffle stand outside the news agency all day to raise funds to send to Perth?? Furthermore, it is mandated that clubs run Belt Up rounds, Mental Health Rounds, Save The Albino Transgender Pygmy Whale Day or what ever....put up banners, take photos and forward them to the WACFL whilst the Commission pocket the sponsorship funding from Government. What do we get? A match ball which is given to the best player post match. The absolute myth that the AFL funds or gives a flying fig about grassroots country footy is one of the great smoke and mirror furphys of all time. Total B/S.

    Any club in the country that is surviving or prospering is doing so on the back of ageing volunteers who empty bins, sweep out change rooms, mow and mark ovals and leap behind the counter to cook hot dogs or serve drinks. Any "sponsorship" from local business is in actuality a donation that keeps the joint going whilst the AFL players and the burgeoning administration command eye watering payment  whilst blah blahing about how important the grass roots base is. Rant over, time for a lie down.

    jum, spinking, oldhendo, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • jumjum    3,582 posts
    edited July 2024
    ...
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  • jumjum    3,582 posts
    JayJay said:

    Morning Spink, yes, the 'Mill is very dear to my heart. Nowadays, I am no longer on committee or anything, have done my time as Secretary, Treasurer, Coaching etc but still involved as the Oval Mowerman, Timekeeper and very bad cook in the kitchen after training on Thursdays.

    7 teams in the LSWFL....Manjimup Tigers, Manjimup Imperials and Deanmill, Southerners (Pemberton), Bridgetown, Boyup Brook and Kojonup (reigning Premiers). Amazing that a small town like Manjimup can sustain 3 clubs, all with League, Reserves, Colts, year 8/9's, year 6/7's, year 4/5's and hordes of Auskickers. Colts competitions are almost extinct throughout country WA and clubs are folding left, right and centre. But somehow, participation rates down here surpass anything anywhere in WA, with almost zero assistance from the AFL cash cow. It is very tribal down here, family connections to clubs are set in stone.

    Boyup would be red hot favourites, some very good locals and a lot of quality imports this year and looking very strong, Kojonup, Imperials and Deanmill all very solid and pretty even, then Bridgetown who have fallen away this year which is odd considering the huge population boost they have had from the Greenbushes Mine, Southerners (struggling for numbers with an ageing town demographic) and Tigers who are winless bar an "inherited win" when there was a very minor paperwork infraction for which the micro managed league officials turned into crime of the century and changed the result. On the upside, Tigers have a very strong undefeated Colts side (and when I say undefeated, no one has got anywhere near them for two or three years), so they should recover going forward.

    Deanmill won over at Kojonup last week by a point but play Boyup this week. Boyup at their best will win that contest and the flag based on what I have seen. But the GF is at Deanmill this year, so if the 'Mill can get to the final, funnier things have happened. Upsetting that The Worst has put the mocker on us, it is a tragic pile of slop is Kerry's trash rag.

    By the way, every one of Deanmill's players is "homegrown" even though a couple are back playing with us having played at higher levels elsewhere.  The amount of money that other clubs both in our league and in the"Money Pit" South West League fork out is unsustainable. When imported players in Bunbury are paid amounts 3 times higher than the official WACFL sanctioned salary cap, and up to 6 times more than WAFL players, you know the balance and sustainability is all wrong. Everyone it seems knows what is going on, except the 200 strong crew out at Commission Headquarters in Tuart Hill.

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  • jumjum    3,582 posts
    ^^^^^^
    Great Post Jay Jay
    I have stood back in as President here at Collie for the rest of the season.
    That last paragraph is 100% bang on.
    It is unbelievable what some clubs are paying on a weekly basis for players.

    JayJay, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    Interesting insight into the funds being distributed (not) to grassroots and country footy
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  • VillageKidVillageKid    2,358 posts
    edited July 2024
    I must admit I have little interest in the afl outside of how the Swan Districts lads are going.
    A lot of it is due to the total mismanagement of the game by sickeningly paid executives.
    Give me a day at Bassendean Oval or any amateur/country ground anyday over the supposed "elite" level!

    Manchild, JayJay, spinking, jum, cisco likes this post.

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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    I have been at the can bar at Basso every game since the Toddy tribute match VK. Been some good footy the black ducks are travelling nicely at the minute. Good banter between the opposition supporters and swannies on that hill

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • spinkingspinking    4,002 posts
    Charlie the motorbike Cameron cleared sanity prevails

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    My query to the Eagles supporters is where has that pressure and endeavour shown in the first half against the Dockers been for most of the year. It is actually an indictment on the playing group. 
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  • ManchildManchild    840 posts
    Totally agree Chariots , If they play with intent & get beat , as a fan I can cop that.
    Some weeks they look like they dont give a toss.
    Darling, Gaff ,Sheed and some others should never play again for them, the board all need to hand in their resignations.
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Dockers lost because supposedly smart players made dumb decisions.

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,336 posts
    Yes we have had alot of rain , but i allways thought Clarement Oval even 40 plus years ago was an utter dump  and nothing has changed

    Fancy playing Aust Rules on that cow paddock 
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    edited August 2024
    Fremantle Dockers Coaching Records:
    Coach Games Win %
    Neesham 88 36.4 Sacked
    Drum 53 24.5 Sacked
    Connolly 129 51.9 Sacked
    Harvey 97 40.2 Sacked
    Lyon 184 52.4 Sacked
    Longmuir 106 50.94 ??????

    Longmuir had arguably the best list this year since the inception of the Dockers. Should he survive?

    JimmyPop likes this post.

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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,336 posts
    edited August 2024

     I quite like Justin , there is no spin and bulldust when he talks 

    I think he and Fremantle were unlucky/unfortunate that Josh Treacy got injured and missed the last 3 games 

    Treacy in my opinion is easily their best forward , lightning quick on the lead , one grab o/head mark and a reliable kick - if he had played the last 3 games which they lost all narrowly , i think they would have won all 3 or at least a couple and would have qualified for finals 

    It is all about your list of players , Clarkson this year , another premiership coach - who hasnt got the cattle and thus NM were hopeless 

    I listened to Ross Lyon after the Saints beat the Cats 2 weeks ago  and he was right into re improving the list , alah looking at possible Irish recruits . plus possible mature age recruits , plus trading up ., swapping picks , Stk will be looking at every option possible to improve their list 

    And thats exactlly what Frem need to do , really have a good hard look at their list , how can they improve it , because like alot of teams its not good enough at present 




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  • GilgameshGilgamesh    5,009 posts
    edited August 2024
    Chariotsonfire said:

    Fremantle Dockers Coaching Records:

    Coach Games Win %
    Neesham 88 36.4 Sacked
    Drum 53 24.5 Sacked
    Connolly 129 51.9 Sacked
    Harvey 97 40.2 Sacked
    Lyon 184 52.4 Sacked
    Longmuir 106 50.94 ??????

    Longmuir had arguably the best list this year since the inception of the Dockers. Should he survive?



    I've been a massive basher, i'm not a fan at all.

    BUT i'd say find a dynamic match day senior assistant to challenge him. Too often they just let things that are clearly not working just bubble along unchanged.

    As much as i'd describe him as the worst AFL game day coach in history, get aggravated by team selection week on week, they obviously do a fair bit right.

    I do worry were the list is going to end up. Multiple first round picks and a second for Jackson, multiple coming up for Bolton.

    They could add 3 really quality yougsters and develop (that would mean they pick for holes the have like wing and small forward and actually play them - something they seem reluctant to do) but will probably only be left with one. Top end tallent is fine but play 14-23 each week is going to remain you Banfield/Emmett type if you continue to lose 2 plus picks for one in.

    Chariotsonfire, JimmyPop likes this post.

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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Five players in the All Australian Squad and 10th on the ladder also tells you something.
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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    I don't know whether Longmuir can coach or not....or Drum or Neesham or Connolly or even Simpson over the road. Wouldn't have a clue but the reality is  Fremantle has been a rolling black comedy for almost 30 years, a sad fact. 

    I think the internal Club Culture of any organisation predominantly determines it's success or otherwise and clubs like St Kilda clearly have not had it for nearly a hundred years and it would appear Fremantle fits the same mold. Obviously the list is critical, obviously the Coach is important and all the rest of the seemingly endless list of employees,the CEO, the match committee, football manager, the football department, assistant coaches and so on and so on.

    But dimwitted, shallow, headline grabbing, so called football writers have turned the entire narrative of a club's success into one surrounding just the coach, year in year out. If these goons take a position against a coach, especially in Perth with just the one controlling slop sheet, then look out, they will drive the agenda with all manner of appalling headlines (or front pages) until their mission is accomplished. 

    Look at how the agenda kept changing as coach after potential coach had to come out and publicly decline the West Coast job after allegedly "informed sources" had indicated to The West  that they were the favoured candidate or had been approached or whatever. More changes of position than the Kama Sutra down at Hasler drive. 

    Contracts mean nothing, they stir up all the disgruntled short term fair weather supporters and it's headline after headline with " unnamed sources close to the club" and ''internal pressure" leading the usually poisonous attention grabbing lead article.

    Simpson got annihilated by the grubs at Newspaper house and I suspect Longmuir will now endure the same process. It needs strong leaders within the club to either stand up and tell Woodcock and company to go stick their heads up a deceased bears bumhole, stand by their coaches and build a strong gutsy culture. Don't feed the pigeons!

    VillageKid, oldhendo, JimmyPop likes this post.

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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,336 posts
    Chariotsonfire said:

    Five players in the All Australian Squad and 10th on the ladder also tells you something.

    Im not even a Frem supporter , but you and your 10th on the ladder , how far off 2nd were they. and they lost their key forward for the last 3 games 

    This season you could throw a napkin over the top 10-12 sides , and it all gets down to who has their best players available for the majority of the time 

    Coll the reigning premier got smashed with important injuries , Dangerfield missed 5 games in a row and Geel lost the lot of them 
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    edited August 2024
    JayJay do you think Ross Lyon would have lost the game against the Bombers after being 25 points in front on the last quarter? I do concede that if Ross Lyon was coaching they may not have been 25 points up at that point. The matter was in the hands of the Coach and Players only and Administration could play no part.

    JimmyPop likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Yes, you are probably right on that game. As I said, I am the least qualified person to judge whether someone can coach or not.
    But the nonsense about coaching musical chairs being directed by dills in the media is one of the most irritating circus acts that reappears year after year after year. Clubs could put an end to it if they were prepared to back their initial judgement when the appointed the coach in the first instance and avoid the slow "death by 300 articles" scenario that inevitably gets used to sell newspapers all through the off season.

    VillageKid likes this post.

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  • thefalconthefalcon    20,495 posts
    correct JJ, that woodcock bloke aka "chipdick"needs a 6 month sabbatical to a few melbourne newspapers. maybe he could learn how its done.....
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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Fremantle Dockers CEO Simon Garlick says Justin Longmuir is still the man to lead the Dockers going forward and says the coach and all his assistants will remain in their roles next year and continue to drive the standards until the club is at a premiership level. He says the club will not be swayed by any outside noise or pressure.

    So that is that.

    JayJay likes this post.

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  • JayJayJayJay    8,624 posts
    Cue The West and AFL Media talking heads like Cornes, McLure and 400 game expert "Damo" to immediately start a lengthy take down of Longmuir, complete with success failure graphs on the front page, leaked comments from "unnamed sources", "club insiders" or "those close to the inner sanctum", a recent real estate purchase in Khartoum or enrolment details as to his kids shifting school? 

    And then, if successful, run a series of articles berating Fremantle for not standing firm by their coaches? Or that their drafting is or will be absolute crap. That is usually how it works over summer.

    thefalcon, VillageKid likes this post.

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  • ChariotsonfireChariotsonfire    3,025 posts
    Adam Simpson unlikely to be considered for the Dockers job.

    As a Hungry Jacks franchise holder the conflict of interest with Dockers sponsor MacDonalds may be a bridge too far. 

    Manchild likes this post.

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  • savethegamesavethegame    3,216 posts
    Like to see a Coach roll the dice with the players.
    To see if his got them 100% employ legendary
    coach John Wooden teachings pyramid based methods morals Intergrity etc  Wooden was a stickler for neatness short haircuts, no facial  hair.
     New season training about to start one player had grown facial  hair,  length  of hair getting long , he chipped  the player.  who replied  you can't  tell me how I should,  with regards  to  my hair. etc. Wooden replied  your 100% correct I can't  tell you, but as the coach of this team I am going to miss you.
    Within a hour had haircut , shave.
     . The barber would  be busy down Freo  way ^
    & finishup with collection  of lacky bands. 


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  • MarkovinaMarkovina    3,336 posts
    Very happy for Justin and sensible mgt by Freo , now it is up to the coach and list manager , and all the recruiters , to find some of that hidden gold out their , players who have slipped through the net but can play , and you can pick them up with late picks 

    You only have to look at Richmond , 3 recent flags , now they are a hopeless last with 2 paltry wins  , got those 2 plodders from GWS  Hopper and Taranto  , 7 year contracts on big money to 2029 , and they gave up early picks to get them , you make horrendous decisions like that - you will fall hard and quickly 

    I do find it a bit rich some posters saying Newspaper football writers cant write about coaches , i can remember right back to around late 70s early 80s Grant Dorrington was coaching East Perth and evey paper you picked up the back page headline was East Perth were going to sack Dorrington or not renew him , and that lasted for weeks till East Perth did sack him or didnt renew his contract 
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  • ManchildManchild    840 posts
    I'm  not a Dockers supporter, however , Walters & Fife are not cutting it , they are contracted but...
    Get to peel.
    There are a couple of front runners as well.
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  • G-MacG-Mac    1,678 posts
    Modern AFL is such a tough game. When the legs go there is nowhere to hide. 
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  • GilgameshGilgamesh    5,009 posts
    Freo and Port have a lot of parallels for me.

    Coaches who are very bland and obviously good 9-5 men but lack game day punch.

    Charlie Dixon the port version of Nat Fyfe.

    Lachie Jones the port version of Bailey Banfield - someone somewhere thinks they are going to turn it around!

    Game plan of bomb it long and hope for the best.
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