Yes, they are privileged, but I would hate their lifestyle. They work hard. When they tour, they have multiple engagements each day, with different audiences, make a speech at each one, understand who the audience is, why the audience is there and a lot of meet & greets.
At a table of twenty, they receive resumes of everyone, have to speak to them all and will remember a talking point about everyone, as they are the conversation starters. In a VIP room, a royal was told they were late, but he recognised that he hadn't yet spoken to everyone and didn't leave until he had.
Weirdly, they are born into it and their life isn't really their choice.
I was like a few responses above, and still am in many regards, but I certainly respect what they have to do.
I do some contracting for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (and worked there for 11 years). Great legacy program for youth development, which he put his name and a lot of time and effort into.
I didn't mind the old Patties Pies. A milk bar down the end of the street sold awesome pies - no idea who made them. Patties now make 4 n 20 and I find them too salty. One is enough these days.
Some of the pie shops do weird things (including a layer of cheese on a pepper pie). Don't mind a good curry pie!
Just to add to BigNic's post. I have compared Carlton's lists since 2015 against Richmond - just numbers, not quality of list:
Number of players since 2015: - Carlton 116 - Richmond 85
Number of players still on the list since 2015: - Carlton 6 (Curnow E, Casboult, Jones, Murphy, Cripps, Docherty) - Richmond 13 (Houli, Astbury, Martin, Grimes, Soldo, Riewoldt, Castagna, McIntosh, Lambert, Vlaustin, Edwards, Cotchin, Short)
Number of players still on the list since 2018: - Carlton 20 - Richmond 28 Average years on a the list: - Carlton 2.74 - Richmond 3.65
Greater turnover of players makes it a lot harder to recruit, as priorities about which needs are greater have to be made, or recruits need to be made equally across a number of areas - a few more 'Hail Mary' recruits are made, hoping that they work. This is a lot harder than have a stable side and being able to easily identify recruiting needs. The effect is a less successful side has a lot more riding on getting the recruiting (and then development) right.
A more stable club has a stronger culture and knows what it is on about. How much easier is it for Cotchin, who has played under 1 coach, then Murphy who has played under 6 (I think) to build a relationship, trust, understanding, learn a game plan, and its tweaks and understanding what is trying to be achieved.
There was a post somewhere about SWOT, Mission Statements etc much easier in a stable environment - people laughed at Gale and Peggy when they put theirs out. Not sure who is currently laughing. Strength and stability matters with these. With new administrations, ideas, paths, these become meaning less. Richmond has known what it wanted to achieve and has gone about ruthlessy delivering. and Mission Statements etc become corporate nonsense.
Richmond have nearly won more finals in the last four years than we have won H&A games (stats not checked!). They are the best.
I was expecting an 8-10 goal loss. Compared against the last few years, it was a much better effort. We could have rolled over after they kicked the last four goals of the second quarter - but we came out and got back to it in the third. Of course, the question remains, why we allow the run ons.
We got within 4 points in the last - don't think that Richmond were that comfortable.
Did we have our chances? Yes. Did we take them? Mostly not. Is everyone sick of it? Yes. Is our depth great enough? No. Is it better than it was? Yes. If we play like we did tonight, will we win more games than last season? I would like to think so.
While we argue about a vaccination, this is a snippet of 'Covid News' from Cambodia that a client of mine receives. We are getting similar stories from other countries that the client has aid and relief projects in (incl. Myanmar - what a mess, Thailand, Uganda, Zimbabwe, DRC).
The outbreak came from a quarantine breach on Feb 20.
$2,800 to feed 69 families for a month. $1.30 per family per day.
I have read that Covid has put back global poverty gains by seven years. 110million being plunged (back) into abject poverty. These are people who find a way to get enough money for something for their family to eat that night. If they don't do something, they don't eat.
I just wanted to give you a quick wee update on the latest COVID news. Cases are now over 800 and there is a sense of fear and panic among our families and kids. The kids are reporting that they are now running out of food and the parents are telling us about job losses and drops in daily income.
I keep thinking how unfair it is that the poor are the first to suffer, and somehow the rich get richer. Terrible. I was out on the weekend and saw so many homeless families and kids near the riverside. Loads of kids sleeping on thin mats or cardboard right there on the boardwalk. You know where I mean.
The news today announced that construction is underway for four new crematoriums outside of Phnom Penh, ahead of increases in COVID deaths. I find this hard news to read. The expectations for this new outbreak are obviously not good.
We have asked a few donors to help contribute for food parcels for out most at risk families and we have already made it half way to one month's food for 69 families and I'm sure we'll get the remaining $1400 soon enough!
I watched the 95 grand final for the first time in years and I can't believe how much I underrated Kouta's game that day. I always had Peter Dean as my Norm Smith but that has now changed. Kouta destroyed Geelong in first half and was BOG by a mile at the break. Nothing happened after half time so he was clearly the most influential player on the ground.
Totally agree MBB - clearly BOG and should have worn Norm.
