On Friday morning I will be heading off for six weeks of outback touring. I am going with seven other blokes in five 4WDs and, after a fairly quick trip to Central Australia, we will be travelling the Gunbarrel Highway and then the Canning Stock Route before arriving in Broome on 8 June. Mrs DJC is flying to Broome and we'll drive back down the west coast to Perth. We will then take the Indian-Pacific back to Perth before driving the final leg back to Melbourne arriving back in early July.
It's a little like the trip Cookie did last year but in the opposite direction.
I won't have internet access for most of the time I will be away and I doubt whether I will get to see many games on TV - not that that will necessarily be a bad thing.
I hope our footy team finds some direction while I'm away and I trust that our debates on the best way forward will continue. Perhaps the powers that be will take on some of the eminently sensible suggestions put forward by our posters
Mick always manages to come up with the unexpected and I certainly wasn't expecting him to announce his love of Daisy
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"'Daisy' is a wonderful kid, I really enjoy his company. He is one of those kids, I have two sons and two daughters, so I am not about to say I love him as a son - but I do love him as a son," Malthouse said.
"He is just a beauty. He brings so much to a football club. I try hard to not be biased and not show it but, at the end of the day, the more you avoid it the more it becomes obvious.
"I treat every player the way I see them. I know very well the chemistry mixes with some people. Some just went to get on and be professional footballers and just move on, it doesn't matter who coaches them. Others are concerned about who coaches them, others like that personal touch.
"I get on very well with Daisy - I am here to admit it and he is going to be a great bonus for our club."
His comments about the leadership group are interesting:
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Speaking on FIVEaa radio, Malthouse has urged team leaders Marc Murphy, Michael Jamison, Kade Simpson and Andrew Carrazzo to continue their development, urging them to not worry about being "loved" by their teammates.
The eight-man leadership group also includes Bryce Gibbs, Lachie Henderson, Brock McLean and Andrew Walker.
"What we need, I am the first to say it, is we want players to stand up. We have a young, fresh group of leaders led by Marc Murphy," he said.
"I reckon Marc Murphy, Simpson, Carrazzo and Jamison, they are captain, vice-captains and deputy vice captains, they are all strong characters, they will lead and will get better, particularly Marc Murphy who is only a young man."
Malthouse had felt former skipper Chris Judd had been "overburdened" in the role but, with a more confident Murphy moving into his second year in the job, he has noticed a greater contribution from the leadership group.
Interesting article about Matty Kreuzer in today's Age:
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Kreuzer expects his time either at full forward or at centre half-forward will ramp up this season, having spent the summer discussing and working with rucking partner Robbie Warnock on the best way they can take charge at the centre bounce, at stoppages and as marking threats inside attacking 50.
Kreuzer was ranked elite by Champion Data for score assists as a ruckman last season but contributed only eight goals. He had a shot-at-goal accuracy of 31 per cent - below average for an AFL ruckman.
''With the new interchange rule, it's going to mean bigger blokes are out there longer. It's going to be fun running around as a forward,'' he said.
''I played a little bit more there last year. I enjoyed it. (I will) just keep developing and hopefully kick a few more goals. I played there a little bit as a junior … it's fun down there.''
Jon Pierik's article in today's Age contains some interesting analysis and comments:
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At Carlton, hopes of kicking a big score would again appear to lay with veteran forward Jarrad Waite. He was considered above average last season, despite managing only 14 games, but has been tipped by Champion Data to slip this season. So important was Waite that he contributed to 23 per cent of scores – ranked second at the club behind Chris Judd – despite being moved into defence against Richmond and Essendon late in the campaign. Waite returned to the forward line for the finals.
Lachie Henderson endured a strong year at either end of the ground and was the only player in the league to defend 50 one-on-one contests and be an attacking target on 50 occasions.
Carlton director of coaching Robert Wiley said coach Mick Malthouse would adopt a “horses for courses” approach with the pair.
“He [Henderson] proved last year that he is the modern-day swingman and he can play at both ends, and very successfully,” Wiley said. “I think it's horses for courses. Mick really coaches that way. He likes to see the opposition and where they are vulnerable.
“Jarrad Waite kicked seven goals in the one game [against Essendon], a couple of weeks later he was playing down back. The most important thing is they know their roles, they can play at both ends.”
However, I think Champion Data's methodology is seriously flawed in that relying on a statistical analysis fails to take into account the intangible factors that win games and make players champions. For example, while I'm happy to accept that Roughead and Franklin were elite forwards in 2013, including Rioli and Gunston seems to be a stretch. Meanwhile, Cloke is considered to be above average because his goal kicking was inaccurate.
Sunday is the first time I have really noticed Nick Duigan's run up when kicking for goal.
When he walked back for his first shot I thought that he was going back a long way but that is not unusual among current day players. When he commenced his run up I was surprised at how quickly he built up speed and he was travelling considerably faster than most players when he kicked.
I watched his other three shots at goal ( note shots at goal, not on goal ) and his method was consistent and effective. I noticed that his run up was fluid, relatively straight ( with just a slight movement to the right ) and clearly provided good momentum for his kicking action. The ball drop was controlled and the kick was well-timed.
At this point I should admit that I was a very average kick for goal and probably one of the last people to critique goal kicking. However, I would be interested in others' assessment of Duigan's run up.
