Coming up this Wednesday at 1815 at Carlton.
We should get a few guys back, which is promising.
A bit of talk around that the VFL match may be under a cloud because of the weather
A bit of talk around that the VFL match may be under a cloud because of the weather
It’s now a closed game with spectators only allowed in for the main event.
Apparently Zac Williams is down to play in the VFL game …
Team’s announced and no surprises.
Pitto comes in, along with Binns, Cincotta and Billy Wilson.
Sam Durdin and Chugga will have a run with Zac Williams in the VFL squad.
So our boys play 2 practice matches in high 30s. Not sure if this is better prep or worse for the real stuff
What possible benefits can there be for players having to play in such stressful conditions?
Surely there has to be a cutoff temperature to protect the players.
If the AFL is comfortable with a projected temperature of 37 degrees, what is the temperature where it will say that protection of the players' health is paramount?
What possible benefits can there be for players having to play in such stressful conditions?
Surely there has to be a cutoff temperature to protect the players.
If the AFL is comfortable with a projected temperature of 37 degrees, what is the temperature where it will say that protection of the players' health is paramount?
We're playing Brisbane in Brisbane in Opening Round. Any edge they would have had in hot conditions will be reduced by our practice game conditions.
It's not so long ago that clubs would have forked out for a training camp in 30 degree heat. Virtually every game in the NTFL season is played in similar conditions and those clubs don't have the medicos and conditioning staff and facilities that our players enjoy.
I imagine that the playing conditions will be modified in line with the AFL's extreme heat policy. That is, reduced warm up time, extended breaks between quarters and more water joeys. The benches may have misting fans.
There's heat and there is Brisbane heat it's the humidity up here that's the killer and summer is still very much here at the moment. It's a night game which takes the edge off the heat but even around 7.00 it's still air condition weather. It will be three draining games in a row
There's heat and there is Brisbane heat it's the humidity up here that's the killer and summer is still very much here at the moment. It's a night game which takes the edge off the heat but even around 7.00 it's still air condition weather. It will be three draining games in a row
I’m not sure that the Geelong match sim was ‘draining’ Lods but don’t we pay Jack Russell big bucks to ensure that the players can deal with conditions and back up the next week and beyond?
We’ve had a fairly mild summer but it has been very humid. We should be more than ready for Opening Round in Brisbane.
I’m not sure that the Geelong match sim was ‘draining’ Lods but don’t we pay Jack Russell big bucks to ensure that the players can deal with conditions and back up the next week and beyond?
We’ve had a fairly mild summer but it has been very humid. We should be more than ready for Opening Round in Brisbane.
There's humidity and there's Brisbane humidity. :D
I haven't been outside since October :))
That's not exactly true.
I got sunburnt in the shade at 8.00am in the morning at Auskick last week.
It seems that BoM may have got the forecast wrong.
The temperature is in the mid 20s here on the Bellarine Peninsula but it's overcast and not at all as you'd expect for a day in the high 30s. I just checked the rain radar and there's light rain approaching from the west. It's over the bushfire area now but is probably more nuisance value than a help.
It seems that BoM may have got the forecast wrong.
The temperature is in the mid 20s here on the Bellarine Peninsula but it's overcast and not at all as you'd expect for a day in the high 30s. I just checked the rain radar and there's light rain approaching from the west. It's over the bushfire area now but is probably more nuisance value than a help.
The people of North Queensland will be shocked to hear that a BoM could get a forecast wrong. :))
Weather update; overcast, 25 degrees, humid and light rain falling at my place.
I believe it's a bit warmer in Melbourne but it is raining there now.
Northern suburbs of Melbourne was 30 (+?) degrees and mostly cloudy.
Sprinking of rain has come and gone and last all of 2 minutes
Still hot.
29 degrees here in West Gippsland (4pm), cloudy, sprinkling of very light rain that dries on impact with the ground. Light winds.
The clouds have all but disappeared and it's quite hot in direct sunlight now.
The clouds have all but disappeared and it's quite hot in direct sunlight now.
Yep, an hour or two back about 3pm it looked like it was going to cool off early, now it seems hotter than ever.
VFL side lost by 29 points - from the highlights, Williams and Kennedy looked good.
Highlights package on the CFC website.
Yep, an hour or two back about 3pm it looked like it was going to cool off early, now it seems hotter than ever.
35 in the northern suburbs now, with no clouds.
Bit of a swirly breeze again, although not quite as bad as our last game.
VFL side lost by 29 points - from the highlights, Williams and Kennedy looked good.
Highlights package on the CFC website.
I hate losing EOS
Slow start, lots of fumbles and turn overs by us.
Not a huge amount of focus and intensity by us thus far. Playing like it is a practice match.
Sloppy, no connection/synergy btw defs mids fwds.
Not a huge amount of focus and intensity by us thus far. Playing like it is a practice match.
We are practicing fumbles, turnovers beautifully. If they are positives so be it.
No pressure
No intensity.
No system.
A practice game, but I'm not sure what we are practising.
Sounds like we are all on the same page. ::)
Well, the new ruck rule is benefitting Gawn massively, Gawn's basically running under the fall of the ball and holding Pitto off, last year Gawn would have been penalised for shepherding / blocking.
Looks like the way we attacked practices games late 70s/ early 80s. Practiced every crappy then win the first game by 6 goals
A Pagan's Paddock goal.
Boyds kicking and decision making for a kid is impressive.
Young's not in the hunt, he's 200cm and that sort of positioning and effort is not good enough.
We look like a team who looked sensational playing against each other during PS training then we come up against opposition and have no idea.
Pit doing what pit does. SFA
Gawn playing by himself
Young's not in the hunt, he's 200cm and that sort of positioning and effort is not good enough.
Sadly youre right, put a line through him now.
Second half of last year, we played irresistible, instinctive footy. Not one iota of that is on show tonight.
Tall Defenders at sea without weitering. And dropping our dopey ruckman there confuses things further.
Only a practice match but that part is a bit of a worry.
Doc needs to play back until weiters returns.
That side on slow motion of Sparrow's mark is a huge tell about Young as a KPD, the lad is a giant and he's looking to stand guard and collect crumbs rather than compete. Competing for the footy is not natural for him.
Second half of last year, we played irresistible, instinctive footy. Not one iota of that is on show tonight.
Got to be going hard for that to happen. We are just playing practice match intensity. Don't care to much about that as long as that's intensity isn't what we are taking into Round 1. Would be a very Carlton thing to turn up and thing it will just happen.
Tall Defenders at sea without weitering. And dropping our dopey ruckman there confuses things further.
Only a practice match but that part is a bit of a worry.
Doc needs to play back until weiters returns.
Gov also needs to get more involved by tracking the footy and either intercepting or punching it clear.
Oh by the way, praccy match or not, we have to travel to the Gabbatoir in a little over a weeks time. If we play like tonight, they will make an utter mess of us. Its concerning that we are playing like this on our home deck a week out from the real stuff. I expected a sharper effort than this. I hope the Xmas bath water drinking sessions didn't happen.
Oh by the way, praccy match or not, we have to travel to the Gabbatoir in a little over a weeks time. If we play like tonight, they will make an utter mess of us. Its concerning that we are playing like this on our home deck a week out from the real stuff. I expected a sharper effort than this. I hope the Xmas bath water drinking sessions didn't happen.
We would hopefully play with more intensity. The rest follows.
That last part though is my worry I must admit.
Haven't kicked any goals yet but dumped a few out on the full.
Don't care about intensity as it's a practice game but our ball movement is terrible.
Don't care about intensity as it's a practice game but our ball movement is terrible.
If it was a hot windy evening in some country town, I'd say "Oh well". But to play as shambolic as as we have on a ground that we we know (or should know) every blade of grass and have trained on all summer? Its a real worry.
Ollie Hollands has been our best player by the length of the Flemmington straight.
Ball movement improved the second I posted that.
Last 10 min we have lifted our intensity and looked like our old selves. At least the old selves from the 2nd half of last year.
Ball movement improved the second I posted that.
That skill could be valuable during the year...haha.
Last 10 min we have lifted our intensity and looked like our old selves. At least the old selves from the 2nd half of last year.
Yeah when Gawn went off for an extended rest. Watching H and Schache in the ruck hurt my eyes.
Boyd- Small Forward :D
Yeah when Gawn went off for an extended rest. Watching H and Schache in the ruck hurt my eyes.
The intensity and ball movement from defence definitely picked up. Doesn't matter who went off, if the intensity and workrate lifts, the rest follows.
This game is a game of 2 halves.....and those halves reflect our 2 halves of our season last year.
1st half average.
2nd half quick exciting and getting results
Olli Holland's is bog.
Acres not far behind.
A few of our senior blokes are as expected, Newman, Saad, docherty etc.
Fantasia is a quick thinker and quick to dispose, need more from his skill set, but with all our other small forward injuries, he probably gets a game.
Pitto isn't fit and it showed. Dont play him next week. Tdk is fit, but is getting a lesson from gawn.
Harry in the ruck is something we need more of. Gets us our 2 rucks without playing 2 rucks. Gives him something to focus on other than his kicking which is still a craps shoot.
Don't care about the result. Individual form is what I'm looking at
Get all the good players off now....if you can find them, :(
Olli Holland's is bog.
Acres not far behind.
A few of our senior blokes are as expected, Newman, Saad, docherty etc.
Fantasia is a quick thinker and quick to dispose, need more from his skill set, but with all our other small forward injuries, he probably gets a game.
Pitto isn't fit and it showed. Dont play him next week. Tdk is fit, but is getting a lesson from gawn.
Harry in the ruck is something we need more of. Gets us our 2 rucks without playing 2 rucks. Gives him something to focus on other than his kicking which is still a craps shoot.
Don't care about the result. Individual form is what I'm looking at
Similar.
My other thought too being that we have played on 2 scorching days. They may have backed off looking at the recovery aspects knowing they have another of those evenings next week. It's quite a few days recovery required otherwise.
Fantasia holding his hamstring ::)
If we were practicing how not to play? Mission accomplished.
If were were tuning up for round 0? Fail
The kicks inside 50 have been abysmal.
Good debate about our ruck setup bei g had by commentators. Identifying that an average ruck is very much overrated.
Question remains what does our coaching staff value.
Tdk is the constant tease. Looks good grabbing it out of the ruck but stuffs the kick and creates a shot on goal. But if he can get it done....??
Pittonet is your meat and potatoes guy who grinds all game and adds more ruck craft and our mids benefit from that. But does he do enough around the ground??
Harry is an adequate 2nd ruck and means we 100% shouldn't play 2 others. So who do we choose?
Like last year, I suspect tdk will be first choice.
Hopefully unlike.last year he takes the next step and keeps it.....but he needs to improve his ruck craft and minimise opposition rucks influence.....clearly gawn is a bridge too far but we can't hold that against him. As long as it's not the same against the average rucks.
Pitto being injured/underdone probably makes it an easy decision early, but I don't envy the MCs job.
Fantasia holding his hamstring ::)
And now a calf
And now a calf
Looked a bit proppy at the end of the game.
That's going to be the issue....but we knew that.
And now a calf
That could be cramp. Dunno. I went to bed at 3/4 time with an early start tomorrow.
Looked a bit proppy at the end of the game.
That's going to be the issue....but we knew that.
Looked like cramp
Still 35 degrees hopefully just cramps.
Gawn v Carlton
Boyd, Cunningham, Cincotta, Young, Pittonet, Fantasia
Look like they are deadwood to me unfortunately.
Happy to give them a full season but on that game they were woeful. Can cut Fantasia some slack but not the rest.
Who was the genius that gave Pittonet a four year deal
I thought De Koning did OK.
The new rule is going to suit Gawn down to the ground and he'll be a real force
Tom got the ball a couple of times where things he tried didn't quite come off but he battled really well. He was getting hands to the ball.
I think what we look for in these practice games is who is doing something a bit different.
Have they added another string to their bow.
I can see some improvement in Tom...(Gawn rates him too).
Against that we look for areas where a player hasn't picked up.
Harry's kicking is the easy target, but gee he's been good in general play, and has shown he can do a bit of relief rucking.
Thing that concerns me just a little is I don't see too many others who look a lot different to their 2023 form
...but now for the real stuff.
My Rd 1 team based on the past two games.
B: Docherty Kemp Newman
HB: Billy Gov Saad
C: Acres Cripps Hollands
HF: Fogarty McKay Binns
F: Fantasia Charlie Motlop
R: TDK Hewett Cerra
IC: Cottrell, Big Durds, Kennedy, Moir
Yeah when Gawn went off for an extended rest. Watching H and Schache in the ruck hurt my eyes.
Agree...Jack Silvagni would look like Big Nick rucking against Harry and Schache.
Don't forget, after the way they finished last season, and the very forgettable summer they have had, Melbourne had a bit to prove tonight. When you're trying to show your members all is well so they'll sign up again, I am sure you go a bit harder.
It was clear they played with a much higher intensity than us, but I don't think that's a true reflection of where both sides are at. A few of our players were in second gear (maybe 38 degrees was the main reason).
Having said that, I think our chances of rolling Brisbane next week are pretty limited. If we can win 2 of our first three, I will be more than happy.
It was only a practice match but it was concerning. If we don't play with intensity we will be back where we were before the second half of the season. I think we have the potential to go all the way but we have to turn up to play. We will know more next week.
Lots of people mentioning "intensity" ie lack of it, I dont get it. To me what stood out was that we lacked Fluency/Connection/Synergy between each line moving the ball. Chains were a rarity. That and the TO's murdered us.
I haven't heard anyone mention Cerra. I know walsh is injured but these two have become key for our team. Minus Kennedy wouldn't have helped either.
Guys relax its a practice match. They key is game time getting run into the legs and avoiding injuries.
This group knows exactly what its capable of and these nothing games are not where you put the hammer down as pushing to the limit is when you increase the chance of a soft tissue injury. You build into the season not go flat stick in a game that is meaningless.
We won alot of games in the second half of the season off pure guts, second efforts and wanting it more then out opposition. Drop the intensity even by 10% and we drop to a mid tier team at best.
The intensity will be back up once there is 4 points on the line and we will again be a hard team to beat.
Lots of people mentioning "intensity" ie lack of it, I dont get it. To me what stood out was that we lacked Fluency/Connection/Synergy between each line moving the ball. Chains were a rarity. That and the TO's murdered us.
That could partly be put down to key personnel missing on each line.
Weitering, Walsh the two Jacks etc
In their absence other players have to take on extra roles and burdens rather than their usual roles.
For people complaining about our preseason game, here is something for you:
https://youtu.be/ESMx3YAXWeE?si=xj-UsoJpNtDNaXBF
When Carlton won the grand final and hopes were high. Fev kicked 8. The game also featured both the current (at the time) and future club captains.
After a very poor first practice Brodie Kemp was much better last night.
Would have liked to see a bit more of Billy Wilson.
Only had a few possessions in limited game time but just saw a glimpse of someone who wants to get involved.
We may have to watch that in the VFL in the short term though.
Cripps, Docherty, Cerra, Hewett, all cruised through, never much out of second gear, (way to play a practice), but still picked up 20+ so there all ready to go...
and Acres seems to have two shoulders again (even if one is heavily taped) :D
Gawn v Carlton
Boyd, Cunningham, Cincotta, Young, Pittonet, Fantasia
Look like they are deadwood to me unfortunately.
Happy to give them a full season but on that game they were woeful. Can cut Fantasia some slack but not the rest.
Did you watch all of the game? I was very impressed by Boyd and can now see clearly why Voss rates this kid so highly.
Can roost it 60 metres to a target lowered his eyes and spotted a leading forward 2-3 times and snagged a nice goal from a tight angle.
Has'nt even played 10 matches and some on here wrote him off after 2 games!
I like Boyd too and thought he went OK
One of our better users of the ball.
Probably pencilled in as a lock-down small defender (back pocket), but with the ability to start a chain with accurate and penetrative kicking.
But he could play in a few spots...wing, even defensive small forward.
That was a good kick for goal.
Gives a good effort and is improving.
Just looking at the match stats and it was mostly fairly even, but they confirm what we probably already knew....
We were Ok with stoppages around the ground...but centre clearances were nearly two to one in their favour.
And the other issue was the inside 50's were heavily in their favour, and when we did get the ball in there, our efficiency was very poor in comparison.
We got the ball, we used it poorly.
Their effort and intensity was far superior.
They wanted it more.
They out tackled us 47/60
And the 1% were 28/45 in their favour
Yep, understand it's only a pre season game and none of us really know what the coaching group was wanting from the past two hitouts. Also understand we were missing some important players, so you can only comment on what we saw last night.
Without internal knowledge, knee-jerk reactions, assumptions and attempting to use a crystal ball... just commenting on what I saw... It was somewhat nostalgic; how we were a couple of years back. In the first half I thought we were flat and taking the p155. Second half we saw moments of 'us' but the Go Dee would quickly take control of the game again and hit the scoreboard.
Absent from last nights game in large chunks was pressure, hunger and hunting.
Some individual general observations:
Kempy improved from his first half (couldn't have been worse!) and attacked the game more; initiated and took risks.
Young just doesn't seem to have any authority in his game.
Pitto ineffectual.
Cunners at sea in heat, makes too many mistakes and fails to impose himself. When outside and with time, great skills.
Fantasia, showed moments of sublime judgement and skill.
Does O Hollands take possession enough? Works incredibly hard to get to contests and tackle and harass but do we need more?
Really liked: H as second ruck, did well and marked around the ground as well... and is quick over the grass for a big fella. One of our best.
Doc, worked hard and was... well... Doc.
Saady, along with H, one of our best.
Acres, works hard up and down the ground and hurts the opposition with his possessions.
Billy W, liked his cameo, looked like he belonged out there.
Hewett, reliable and solid.
Binns was lively.
TDK, coming along nicely.
Crippa and Cerra, important.
IF (speculating the bleeding obvious) we bring much of the same against BrisVegas, they'll feast on us.
IF (again speculating) we treated this game as an experiment and to gain 'feedback,' get some match time into blokes, try a few things, etc. ...we may just get a surprise with the turnaround in the 'real' stuff next week.
In short, I know it was only a practice game but a disappointing scoreline nevertheless. Hopefully we got something positive out of it.
Who was the genius that gave Pittonet a four year deal
Give Pitto time, he was in need of a hit out having missed a lot of footy.
As I've said before, Pitto's worth is measured in combination with TDK, they come good and when they do it'll hurt opposition.
If there was anything to take out of yesterday, it was that BigH is not a ruck, not a 2nd ruck, and given how good he looked inside F50 I'm gobsmacked we risk him in that role.
Looked a bit proppy at the end of the game.
That's going to be the issue....but we knew that.
Yep, ignoring the hype it was clear even before we got him that Fantasia is a 1/2-season type now, not a 24x7 grunt.
In short, I know it was only a practice game but a disappointing scoreline nevertheless. Hopefully we got something positive out of it.
I thought there were plenty of good moments against an opponent that was more heavily motivated due to past indiscretions, while we mostly looked like we were going through the motions, but in little moments we did some stuff that they couldn't prevent.
My biggest concern is the ruck rule, it's basically erasing the advantage we hold over a solo Gawn. Now Gawn and other heavyweight giants can basically prop under the footy preventing opponent access, and in the process stopping players like TDK or Pitto getting involved around the stoppage zone. Later in the game when Gawn rested, the Dees smaller bodied relief ruck couldn't stop TDK getting mobile and involved. So I think after that rule change the AFL have a new problem coming, and it'll be in the grey area they have made around rucks blocking at stoppages. It was bad enough against Gawn, it'll be worse against Nankervis, McInerney, Goldstein, etc., etc..
Did you watch all of the game? I was very impressed by Boyd and can now see clearly why Voss rates this kid so highly.
Can roost it 60 metres to a target lowered his eyes and spotted a leading forward 2-3 times and snagged a nice goal from a tight angle.
Has'nt even played 10 matches and some on here wrote him off after 2 games!
Thses are the games that Boyd looks a million bucks. Low pressure games.
The games that 'he lost me' was when he kept folding under pressure and his 'elite kicking' went out the window.
If he can play the same way under pressure, i've got no qualms in him getting a game.
Not many players have been able to come back from 'deer in headlights' games to genuine AFL players though, so good luck to him if he can.
Did you watch all of the game? I was very impressed by Boyd and can now see clearly why Voss rates this kid so highly.
Can roost it 60 metres to a target lowered his eyes and spotted a leading forward 2-3 times and snagged a nice goal from a tight angle.
Has'nt even played 10 matches and some on here wrote him off after 2 games!
Boydy makes a few blues, but he's not Robinson Crusoe there!
He works his butt off, has a bit of attitude and generally hits his targets. Winning that free in the forward pocket and nailing the goal was reward for effort.
I didn't have him in my best 22 but EB reminded me of the job he did on Bailey in the prelim. There's definitely room for improvement but, on form, he plays against Brisbane in Opening Round.
Thses are the games that Boyd looks a million bucks. Low pressure games.
The games that 'he lost me' was when he kept folding under pressure and his 'elite kicking' went out the window.
Personally, I thought in the PF he was one of the few who stood up under the Lion's pressure.
To me that is a bigger tell than all the other games combined.
Give Pitto time, he was in need of a hit out having missed a lot of footy.
As I've said before, Pitto's worth is measured in combination with TDK, they come good and when they do it'll hurt opposition.
If there was anything to take out of yesterday, it was that BigH is not a ruck, not a 2nd ruck, and given how good he looked inside F50 I'm gobsmacked we risk him in that role.
We did come up against one of the best rucks in the comp and in fine form. Pitto simply couldn't keep up with Gawn and was out-muscled, out-jumped and out-thought by the big man. De Koning did a lot better and was able to use his athleticism and mobility to put a very slight dent in Gawn's dominance.
There was one ruck free kick in which, of the three people directly involved, only one saw it as a free to Gawn. Both Pitto and Gawn reacted as if it was a free to Pitto. Apart from that, the "straight arm" rule did not come into play. Gawn dominated because of his size, athleticism and ruck ability.
Harry McKay was excellent as second ruck and I though he was our best player by some margin.
Plan A might be Pitto and De Koning in tandem, but I think Plan B - De Koning with Harry as back up ruck - is gaining momentum.
Goodwin wanted to rest Gawn but had to put him back on in the last quarter when Tom and Harry were having their way with Verrall, Schache and van Rooyen.
Just had another look at the play that ended up with Boyd's goal.
Cheeky bugger put one over on the umpire,
Pulled the ball back under the Demon player :D
Apart from that he also set up a couple of goals with good passes.
Check out the "deer in the headlights". :)) :))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfRka0Wh99g
Harry McKay was excellent as second ruck and I though he was our best player by some margin.
I thought in the ruck BigH was average except when he was up against the other dud ruck who's name I can't remember, away from the ruck he was probably BoG.
Even so, I can't accept the risk that comes with rucking him, I get tall KPF's can ruck, but like Salmon, Rocca and others, you do it at the end of their career after they are bruised and busted. Not when they are at their potential KPF peak.
When we saw BigH run past Charlie and an assortment of Dees defenders to collect the ground level footy on the run and slot the easy goal, (was that the Boyd kick?) that is a tell, and it should have signalled the end of his ruck ambitions. Ruck BigH for too much or too often, or against the wrong opponent like Nankervis (aka The Butcher), and you'll never see that happen again.
Boydy makes a few blues, but he's not Robinson Crusoe there!
He works his butt off, has a bit of attitude and generally hits his targets. Winning that free in the forward pocket and nailing the goal was reward for effort.
I didn't have him in my best 22 but EB reminded me of the job he did on Bailey in the prelim. There's definitely room for improvement but, on form, he plays against Brisbane in Opening Round.
Boyd's attacking game was good vs Melbourne as Shawny suggested with some nice long entry passes but vs Brisbane Id like to see him revert more to being a lockdown player like he was in that prelim. The backline always looks messy with no Weitering steering the ship and its that balance between rebounding and defending that a few of our players need to get right with the exception of Saad who seems to get it right most games and is rarely caught out.
Id be playing Boyd round 1 but the KP spots with Young and Kemp are more of a concern for me and I would have liked to have seen Sam Durdin play seniors and see if he could be an option.
The Harry McKay second ruck idea is a interesting move and Im not sure if it benefits TDK....Harry was good around the ground and looked happy to have some freedom and agree he was our most valuable player but where does this leave the Pittonet/TDK setup? Can both play in the same team now and Im only so so on TDK as a forward and Im thinking I wouldnt have minded him playing down back like his brother at Geelong and giving us another option as Young has looked shaky in both games I have seen him.
No one on this Earth can convince me last night was a good showing in any way shape or form.
- A full preseason on a ground where every player would know ever blade of grass. The blokes wearing CFC jumpers last night looked like they had to google map the address of IKON Park before beginning the drive to it let alone know it well. The next person I hear say "we need to have it as our home venue for premiership points and make it our fortress" I will spew up.
- A full preseason supposedly practicing speed and ball movement. I was abhorrent to say the least.
- A full preseason with footballs in hand from day 1 and they come out fumbling and dropping marks, skills that Carolyn Springs FC would put to shame.
- A full preseason with a group who had supposedly matured and turned the corner in 2023. They looked confused, lacked cohesion, it was like the first session of preseason having read the new game plan book.
Last night was the complete opposite to what I expected. I'm no dill, I realise it was a practice match and the result counted for nothing other than a tune up. However one week out from meeting one of last years Grandfinalists on their dungheap, I expected a sharp, determined looking outfit displaying all the traits that justify our expectations that 2024 will be a year where consolidate the achievements of 2023. And don't feed me the BS about missing our two best players either. Weitering they have know about for several weeks, if they haven't developed a play with him missing, shame on them. Walsh? Supposedly we have a deep midfield, now we are a one man midfield because of a poor showing. I call BS on that. They were missing Oliver and Petracca barely got out of reverse. We are not a one or two man team, or are we?
Overdramatic? Ever the pessimist? We'll see I guess. To truly change you have to guess what, change. Every year we come out slow out of the blocks, last night was no different. Following 2023 this was supposed to be different. Wrote us off too early? Again, we'll see I guess. Maybe last years PF was our peak, maybe that's as good as it gets for this group. I just expected something better, I'm nervous. PS Praccy match or not, they showed they are top 4 material and ready to redeem themselves, we played like pretenders who drank bath water Dakaris all summer.
I thought in the ruck BigH was average except when he was up against the other dud ruck who's name I can't remember, away from the ruck he was probably BoG.
Even so, I can't accept the risk that comes with rucking him, I get tall KPF's can ruck, but like Salmon, Rocca and others, you do it at the end of their career after they are bruised and busted. Not when they are at their potential KPF peak.
When we saw BigH run past Charlie and an assortment of Dees defenders to collect the ground level footy on the run and slot the easy goal, (was that the Boyd kick?) that is a tell, and it should have signalled the end of his ruck ambitions. Ruck BigH for too much or too often, or against the wrong opponent like Nankervis (aka The Butcher), and you'll never see that happen again.
The way the ruck rotations worked, Harry very rarely contested hitouts against Gawn but, when he did, he was certainly better than Pitto!
I'm not sure why you have this obsession with ruckmen getting hurt. Key forwards, key defenders, midfielders, utilities, etc all get hurt and, unlike Jack Silvagni, Harry has the size and strength to look after himself; 106kg to Nankervis's 102kg (and Nankervis is more of a pussycat than a tiger).
Harry's main role is kicking goals and he has underperformed for a bloke of his size and ability; a bit like Joe Daniher really. The latter's goalkicking has skyrocketed since he was given the job of second ruck to the Big O. I suspect that getting Harry into the game by running him in the ruck will make him a more dangerous key forward.
Harry's ability to get up the ground to provide a marking target on the wing or in the corridor has become a feature of his game. Playing as a ruckman last night gave him the opportunity to drag down some big marks deep in defence, something Pitto and De Koning couldn't manage.
Interestingly, Gawn had 30 hitouts while De Koning, Pitto and Harry managed 27 between them. Harry took clean possession a couple of times too on his way to three clearances. As you know, they don't count as hitouts.
No one on this Earth can convince me last night was a good showing in any way shape or form.
- A full preseason on a ground where every player would know ever blade of grass. The blokes wearing CFC jumpers last night looked like they had to google map the address of IKON Park before beginning the drive to it let alone know it well. The next person I hear say "we need to have it as our home venue for premiership points and make it our fortress" I will spew up.
- A full preseason supposedly practicing speed and ball movement. I was abhorrent to say the least.
- A full preseason with footballs in hand from day 1 and they come out fumbling and dropping marks, skills that Carolyn Springs FC would put to shame.
- A full preseason with a group who had supposedly matured and turned the corner in 2023. They looked confused, lacked cohesion, it was like the first session of preseason having read the new game plan book.
Last night was the complete opposite to what I expected. I'm no dill, I realise it was a practice match and the result counted for nothing other than a tune up. However one week out from meeting one of last years Grandfinalists on their dungheap, I expected a sharp, determined looking outfit displaying all the traits that justify our expectations that 2024 will be a year where consolidate the achievements of 2023. And don't feed me the BS about missing our two best players either. Weitering they have know about for several weeks, if they haven't developed a play with him missing, shame on them. Walsh? Supposedly we have a deep midfield, now we are a one man midfield because of a poor showing. I call BS on that. They were missing Oliver and Petracca barely got out of reverse. We are not a one or two man team, or are we?
Overdramatic? Ever the pessimist? We'll see I guess. To truly change you have to guess what, change. Every year we come out slow out of the blocks, last night was no different. Following 2023 this was supposed to be different. Wrote us off too early? Again, we'll see I guess. Maybe last years PF was our peak, maybe that's as good as it gets for this group. I just expected something better, I'm nervous. PS Praccy match or not, they showed they are top 4 material and ready to redeem themselves, we played like pretenders who drank bath water Dakaris all summer.
Agree - need to see more. Its not the loss but the way this group lost.
Harry in the ruck is a must as a relieving ruckman few minutes each qtr against opponents relieving ruck.
Boyd's attacking game was good vs Melbourne as Shawny suggested with some nice long entry passes but vs Brisbane Id like to see him revert more to being a lockdown player like he was in that prelim. The backline always looks messy with no Weitering steering the ship and its that balance between rebounding and defending that a few of our players need to get right with the exception of Saad who seems to get it right most games and is rarely caught out.
Id be playing Boyd round 1 but the KP spots with Young and Kemp are more of a concern for me and I would have liked to have seen Sam Durdin play seniors and see if he could be an option.
The Harry McKay second ruck idea is a interesting move and Im not sure if it benefits TDK....Harry was good around the ground and looked happy to have some freedom and agree he was our most valuable player but where does this leave the Pittonet/TDK setup? Can both play in the same team now and Im only so so on TDK as a forward and Im thinking I wouldnt have minded him playing down back like his brother at Geelong and giving us another option as Young has looked shaky in both games I have seen him.
As the clip Lods posted shows EB, Boydy was a lot more than a lock down player in the prelim ... and I think Vossy wants that run out of defence and good delivery as part of the defender's toolkit.
I thought that both Youngy and Kempy were much better last night - McGovern had a Barry Crocker! Youngy was going for his marks and spoils but he and Kempy were both under the pump with the ease that Melbourne transitioned from defence and won the ball out of the centre.
I suspect that Vossy will be emphasising team defence in the lead to the Brisbane game.
I'll be really surprised if the intensity and effort isn't chalk and cheese this week.
Players smiling and having a chat with opposition mid-game was indicative of the level of intensity.
Our mids didn't break a stride and just went through the motions...picking up plenty of the football but not doing a lot of damage.
Our tackling, especially the double teaming we were really good at last year, was weak.
Let's see what they bring next game.
Personally, I thought in the PF he was one of the few who stood up under the Lion's pressure.
To me that is a bigger tell than all the other games combined.
That was his best game for us and by some margin. But it is a one off at this stage.
Remember Nick Duigan being the finals hero against the tigers?
Next week against Sydney he was average.
He never played again.
So be careful about '1 good game'.
Go back and watch some of his efforts last year and there was a lot of under (a little bit of) pressure moments where he simply folded. There was a lot of similarities between him and LOB. The latter also had some positive moments, but they were the exception rather than the rule.
Best thing going for Boyd is that he is one of the only blokes on our list who can play on a small forward in a lockdown role. Other blokes like Saad, Docherty, Williams, even Newman are better off as attacking players rather than lock down players.
I'm happy for him to keep proving me wrong. I'm not changing my tune after 1 game and 1 pre-season game.
I suspect the times when Boyd has been 'overwhelmed' co-incided with times the total defence was being overwhelmed.
I suspect the times when Boyd has been 'overwhelmed' co-incided with times the total defence was being overwhelmed.
The instances that i'm talking about were more 1 on 1's out on the wing, or in a pack, not last line of defence type stuff.
Like loose ball that he is getting too first. Fumbles at the pressure coming at him. Or throws it on the boot too quickly (quicker than he needed too) and kicks it out on the full or picks out the opposition 20m in the clear. Shirking contact. Passive play.
Just not up to AFL standard pressure and pace.
If he has learned to cope with that at, now, age 25. Brilliant. But as a 23yo, he hadn't managed it yet, and most people don't get the chance to 'learn' that type of stuff at that age. Look at Lochie O'Brien. We gave up on him at the age Boyd was when he started with us.
Boyd is very much a late late bloomer. Has he bloomed enough? We'll see.
He's not a young lad but after only 16 games at AFL level you would think he's still getting a feel for the speed and pressure.
I can't recall any of the incidents you talk about but if they occurred it probably happened because he's still getting used to the intensity.
Problem is personal bias often plays into this.
When we perceive a problem we look for it.
Hopefully it doesn't diminish the good aspects of a player and the positives they bring.
https://www.theroar.com.au/afl/video/absolute-shocker-harry-mckay-outdoes-himself-as-set-shot-from-directly-in-front-goes-25-metres-off-target-1335272/
Farken how? Explain to me how? How many shots has he had from the position at the ground? How?
He's not a young lad but after only 16 games at AFL level you would think he's still getting a feel for the speed and pressure.
I can't recall any of the incidents you talk about but if they occurred it probably happened because he's still getting used to the intensity.
Problem is personal bias often plays into this.
When we perceive a problem we look for it.
Hopefully it doesn't diminish the good aspects of a player and the positives they bring.
When does perception turn into bias?
When we recruited him, I didnt understand why, but then I saw his kicking on his highlight reel, and I thought OK...it's something worth exploring.
The i saw him play and that kicking was nowhere to be seen, in fact it was flat out terrible....but so was everything else he did. He looked like a deer in headlights. Completely overawed by the situation.....and it didn't improve.....at least for a for a couple of years.
He played 1 good game and credit to him, but plenty of nobodies have played 1 good game, or even 7 and still not had 'it'.
I've got nothing against the lad, I actually had a quick chat and got his autograph for my kids at auskick last year. I'm just not convinced of anything until he can do it for longer. As I said, LOB had shown more and more often at a younger age and was still deemed not up to it, difference is the position he is playing more so than how he is playing though.
His first couple of games were howlers. I didn't see any of what we are currently seeing in him at the time.
I even went on record and said I got it wrong after initially saying he wouldn't make it.
He will be an also ran though. Plenty of also rans win flags.
My thoughts exactly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_M0-Y9jIKM&ab_channel=MyBlueHeaven
When does perception turn into bias?
Perception turns to a bias when the defciencies we perceive in a player affect our overall judgement.
We magnify the faults.
We diminish the positives.
When commenting on a player in game threads we obsess about one critical aspect of the player's play and give little thought to the good.
Harry McKay...arguably our best player in both the practice games is an example.
We speak in absolutes....
You say re Boyd....
("Then i saw him play and that kicking was nowhere to be seen, in fact it was flat out terrible....but so was everything else he did. He looked like a deer in headlights. Completely overawed by the situation.....and it didn't improve.....
at least for a for a couple of years. ). He's only played 16 games over two years.
Truth is that while he wasn't a standout in many games he was serviceable and applied good pressure and a bit of agro. And his kicking on most occasions was accurate and penetrating.
His game against Brisbane in a prelim was his best.
A number of our more celebrated players didn't rise to the occasion on that night.
But he's been OK in a number of games.
He still hasn't played many games and the truth is it may fizzle out.
He may spend a lot of 2024 as a fringe player.
It may be that some of his detractors will continue to write him off, commenting on every clanger with an "I told you so."
And from those folks we won't hear a peep when he plays a good game.
But in some respects..."You're only as good as your last game, or current form."
Right now I'll be really surprised if he's not in the 22 come the Brisbane game.
I don't think Boyd will get plenty of games as his off the ball game has been woeful past two weeks.
Maybe he is out of form or his ceiling is reached - if his ceiling is reached then he is deadwood and need to give youngsters a game instead with a higher ceiling. He is good with ball in hand but geez he needs to be better off the ball.
BTW our mids did our backs no favours at all - they were obliterated to such a level that it was inexcusable. Hopefully its blowing out cobwebs. If we bring that game next week - then the players better buy some shares in Vaseline because they will need plenty of it.
My biggest concern with the pre season games is that I don’t think Acres had an OOB with his first disposal in either game…
My biggest concern with the pre season games is that I don’t think Acres had an OOB with his first disposal in either game…
Not up to his usual standard. :D
My biggest concern with the pre season games is that I don’t think Acres had an OOB with his first disposal in either game…
In both games I found myself thinking "Acres has got it again, surely he's got to shank this kick!"
I guess the biggest issue with our pre season form is that we seem to be playing like we were at the start of last season rather than the end…
All I know is that the GoDees had everything to play for, we beat them last preseason and killed their premiership dreams, have no illusions, this game meant more to them than us.
Every team has had 6 months to pull apart what we did well last year and they WILL apply the blowtorch to us.
Will we live up to the expectations that some have for us ?
I hope so but I doubt it.
I think making finals again will be success, once in the finals we can be allowed to dream but I think most can see that the next month or two without Weiters will be tricky.
Young doesn’t seem to have it and big Durds is coming back off injury.
Only in the wet dreams of some do we make a prelim in 2023 and push further in 24, more likely that we’ll slide and need to regroup.
https://www.theroar.com.au/afl/video/absolute-shocker-harry-mckay-outdoes-himself-as-set-shot-from-directly-in-front-goes-25-metres-off-target-1335272/
Farken how? Explain to me how? How many shots has he had from the position at the ground? How?
From the Age, at least they are trying to fix it.
This step is a reason why McKay has hated watching vision of himself kicking, and may also explain why Blues fans are filled with trepidation when he lines up for goal. McKay believes this is the primary cause of his yips.
“I’ve got a little step just before I kick, which I’d always known I had, and I really hated watching myself kick because I knew I had a little step.
“With the data, you could see your momentum would build up, and then I’d take a little step and all your momentum would drop, and you’d try and chase it again.
“I’ve been doing that since I was basically a kid. Over the summer, I’ve been trying to undo that because it was killing my momentum.
“The consistency of your kick would be up and down depending on that step.”
The fault in his action was evident against Melbourne when he almost missed his boot with his ball drop and sprayed his shot out on the full from about 40 metres out directly in front.
“You try and get all that momentum you lost in the last step, your body twists, your leg comes across and you do all these things in order to get the momentum back you just lost,” McKay said.
McKay has also flushed several shots in the practice games, a sign the training he has put in over summer to eliminate the short step is working.
But he warned it would take time to drop a habit he has had since childhood. He will not turn into former sharpshooter Matthew Lloyd overnight, but he and the Blues forwards coach Ash Hansen are confident the changes he has made will hold him in good stead for the rest of his career.
Anyone else notice that H kicked through the aggott when shooting for goal against the Go Dees, regardless of distance from goal?
I recall quite vividly, and perhaps this is an obtuse correlation, during my martial arts training in the Navy (back in the 1800's ;D ) having it explained by the instructor that as he was about to chop his fist through a bunch of roofing tiles, that he aimed and focussed his attention, intention and vision about six inches below the tiles. A lesson that has served me well in life. So I wonder if H perhaps focussed on something well beyond the goal posts and ignored the posts, then sought to kick the pill 60 metres, regardless (of distance from goal).
The fluffed shot, which went out on the full, I actually put down to the swirling wind effecting the ball drop, as also happened with a number of usually reliable shots on goal blokes from the Go Dees?
That was his best game for us and by some margin. But it is a one off at this stage.
Remember Nick Duigan being the finals hero against the tigers?
Next week against Sydney he was average.
He never played again.
So be careful about '1 good game'.
Go back and watch some of his efforts last year and there was a lot of under (a little bit of) pressure moments where he simply folded. There was a lot of similarities between him and LOB. The latter also had some positive moments, but they were the exception rather than the rule.
Best thing going for Boyd is that he is one of the only blokes on our list who can play on a small forward in a lockdown role. Other blokes like Saad, Docherty, Williams, even Newman are better off as attacking players rather than lock down players.
I'm happy for him to keep proving me wrong. I'm not changing my tune after 1 game and 1 pre-season game.
Now, K, old son, surely you're taking the mickey comparing Boyd to LOB? Boyd puts his body on the line (fearless), has some agro and if anything can be too zealous with his attack on opponent and aggott. I admit, I like his game and especially his attitude. Plus it must be remembered, regardless of his age, he's only played sixteen games as a senior player! A work in progress and definitely improving.
On reflection, the thing I noticed missing from both our preseason hitouts was hunting.
We will be hunted this year, with oppositions putting enormous time and effort into dismantling us.
Not a fan of the word 'hunger'... if you aint hungry at this level, you don't belong on an AFL list. Huge fan of a hunting mind set and focus - with a mongrel, ruthless persistence to hunt, you're a formidable opponent. It's very uncompromising. You can build a lot around being a relentless hunter.
Plus it must be remembered, regardless of his age, he's only played sixteen games as a senior player! A work in progress and definitely improving.
Yep, there is clearly something there to work with, in the absence of the brute strength brick craphouse build Boyd's current game style is reminding me of a young Des English.
Early on Des would shank kicks, was always a great intercept but not terrific at hitting targets, he would unload a lot of 60m kicks to nobody or OTF but could lock down anybody. By his 3rd season Des became ultra reliable ball user. For me this ~50 game mark is when the panic subsides and players become more composed, it makes a difference.
It's interesting, because current fan criticisms on Boyd are not dissimilar to the early career criticisms of Saad, I suspect it's part of the small defender role, being judged by your errors rather than successes.
Finally, some players wear more of or all of the sh!zen jobs from the coach, the last line stuff, the minding three opponents stuff while your team mates charge off up the field, fans rarely take that into account when judging a player. That role isn't about winning every contest, it's about minimising the losses.
We lost to Sydney by 43 points in the equivalent practice match last year.
With Vossy leaving the coaching to Ash Hansen, I’m not sure that there’s much we can learn about how we’ll play in opening round and beyond.
The usual suspects in the midfield showed that they’ll be a force again, and Chugga’s return in the VFL was promising. I was disappointed in Lij Hollands’ performance but Binns was good in his limited time on the ground.
Pitto struggled against Gawn. While that’s not unexpected, the big fella seems to be labouring and I doubt whether he’ll be ready for opening round. However, we seem to have found a promising young ruckman in Harry McKay.
Our forward line wasn’t as potent after Motlop went off. Fantasia showed that he’ll be a depth player and we really need Martin and Owies/Durdin in the mix.
The defence was under the pump from lack of pressure up the ground but I thought that Kemp and Young were much better than last game. Gov had a game to forget but, hopefully, that will be a one off. We really miss Weitering’s leadership and ability to beat his opponent, whoever that may be. His absence makes it a lot harder for the remaining defenders.
Zac Williams got through his practice match, as did Sam Durdin. Williams has to be a chance to play against Brisbane but I think we’ll go with Young and Kemp as our key defenders.
At the other end of the ground, Charlie seems to be building for another big season.
That was his best game for us and by some margin. But it is a one off at this stage.
Remember Nick Duigan being the finals hero against the tigers?
Next week against Sydney he was average.
He never played again.
So be careful about '1 good game'.
Go back and watch some of his efforts last year and there was a lot of under (a little bit of) pressure moments where he simply folded. There was a lot of similarities between him and LOB. The latter also had some positive moments, but they were the exception rather than the rule.
Best thing going for Boyd is that he is one of the only blokes on our list who can play on a small forward in a lockdown role. Other blokes like Saad, Docherty, Williams, even Newman are better off as attacking players rather than lock down players.
I'm happy for him to keep proving me wrong. I'm not changing my tune after 1 game and 1 pre-season game.
Omg he has played 9-10 games. You wrote him off after he made some turnovers in his first game and its like you wont dare admit you may have gone a tad early.
You were adamant your opinion on Young being useless was all confirmed in the first practice match yet in Boyds case lets not read much into it cause its just a practice match.
Am i missing something.
Now, K, old son, surely you're taking the mickey comparing Boyd to LOB? Boyd puts his body on the line (fearless), has some agro and if anything can be too zealous with his attack on opponent and aggott. I admit, I like his game and especially his attitude. Plus it must be remembered, regardless of his age, he's only played sixteen games as a senior player! A work in progress and definitely improving.
LOB did have some good games as well. He even showed a bit of agro in some. I think it was a game against the pies where he gave a solid 'don't argue' to the tackler and put him on his butt and kept on his way. His kicking was also something to behold.....when he didn't get overwhelmed by pressure.
Lods says "you're only as good as your last game." and its a saying oft told. However, there are contradictory sayings as well.
Things are never as good, or as bad, as they seem. Which can be used for warning people off using recent form as a predictor for long term form. That is, just because you played well last game (or poorly) doesn't mean that you will play that well (or poorly) in every game.
Ultimately, i prefer to NOT use the most recent game to make judgements, but seek more data. There are exceptions though. You don't need more than 1 game to realise Eddie Betts is not a ruckman. Some players have (or don't have) certain attributes, be that physical or mental and that is evident without a form line.
I remember back in the day watching Bryce Gibbs in an U18's game. It was evident from the half a match i watched that he had 'time', poise, vision. Some things you can see straight away. In Boyds case, it was the opposite. He had none of those things. He's not the only one. Other players have made it without those attributes in the past and others will in the future....but if i were placing bets on chances of players making it without those attributes, you would always bet against them for the best odds.
Maybe Boyd is the exception. Maybe his early games were the exception.
Im not the only one that had the same conclusions.
I've got no allegiance for or against him, or pittonet, or tdk or silvagni or anyone else people accuse me of having bias for/against. My interests are always for whats best for the team, the list, and the club. At the end of the day, i don't give a stuff which players get us the 17th flag, just that we get it. If i trod on a few players feelings (and posters feelings who they are favourites of) then so be it.
LOB did have some good games as well. He even showed a bit of agro in some. I think it was a game against the pies where he gave a solid 'don't argue' to the tackler and put him on his butt and kept on his way. His kicking was also something to behold.....when he didn't get overwhelmed by pressure.
Lods says "you're only as good as your last game." and its a saying oft told. However, there are contradictory sayings as well.
Things are never as good, or as bad, as they seem.
Which can be used for warning people off using recent form as a predictor for long term form. That is, just because you played well last game (or poorly) doesn't mean that you will play that well (or poorly) in every game.
Ultimately, i prefer to NOT use the most recent game to make judgements, but seek more data. There are exceptions though. You don't need more than 1 game to realise Eddie Betts is not a ruckman. Some players have (or don't have) certain attributes, be that physical or mental and that is evident without a form line.
I remember back in the day watching Bryce Gibbs in an U18's game. It was evident from the half a match i watched that he had 'time', poise, vision. Some things you can see straight away. In Boyds case, it was the opposite. He had none of those things. He's not the only one. Other players have made it without those attributes in the past and others will in the future....but if i were placing bets on chances of players making it without those attributes, you would always bet against them for the best odds.
Maybe Boyd is the exception. Maybe his early games were the exception.
Im not the only one that had the same conclusions.
I've got no allegiance for or against him, or pittonet, or tdk or silvagni or anyone else people accuse me of having bias for/against. My interests are always for whats best for the team, the list, and the club. At the end of the day, i don't give a stuff which players get us the 17th flag, just that we get it. If i trod on a few players feelings (and posters feelings who they are favourites of) then so be it.
I don't actually believe that "you're only as good as your last game"
It's a footy cliche "like one week at a time."
I look for a body of work.
Sometimes a positive aspect, although identifiable, takes a while to show itself under the pressure and intensity of AFL.
But good 'last games' and recent form is what gets you a spot in a side and a chance to show what you can do.
If Boyd stagnates or goes off the boil he will drop back in the pecking order
I just wonder though...when we go with an initial judgement like
"I wrote him off after 1 game."
Do we resist, to some extent, what comes after and push back against the positives as the player develops and gets confidence at a senior level
Do we resist, to some extent, what comes after and push back against the positives as the player develops and gets confidence at a senior level
Given its all subjective and given the relative nature of that.
The answer will be different depending on it comes from and who is looking at it.
I'd like to think 'no'.
Given its all subjective and given the relative nature of that.
The answer will be different depending on it comes from and who is looking at it.
I'd like to think 'no'.
I think that highlights an issue we sometimes have.
And it's not necesarily a totally negative issue.
We all admire different aspects of a team.
We admire different aspects of a player.
We have our favourites...we tend to minimise their faults because we see an overall postive.
We have players we're not sure are going to make it....we see their deficiencies and don't give as much weight to their positives.
Two posters can look at the same player through completely different eyes.
So what will often happen is that a poster will criticise a player, basically write him off...but someone else who appreciates what that player brings will jump to the defence.
It's not percieved as a bias by the original poster, but it certainly is received by the reader as such.
And in fact it often 'is'.
It's a criticism that isn't entirely fair because it's not balanced by praise when the player performs well.
That's reinforced when every time the player is mentioned you get the critic making a post, but rarely mentioning him when he does well.
(The bias can also be a positive bias.)
But that's the way these places work.
How they will always work
And actually that debate is part of a forum's life force.
It keeps the place humming.
We're all biased.
The first step to a cure is recognising you have a problem and not living in denial. :D :D