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Practice Game snippets
The WOOF network has some far reaching powers so I was fortunate to have this sent to me and that I could share this with our community
General
I didn't see all of the game.
Teams seemed very much split into seniors versus reserves. Seniors in light blue and reserves in black.
Blue team won something like 90-50.
My eye sight is not what it once was, my vantage point was poor and the players are not wearing numbers, some wearing hats etc so apologies for not getting some of the details we are all after. Blue team were doing all of the attacking which meant I barely saw blue backs and black forwards. I also couldn’t see much of the far wing where I assume Jong was playing. Much of the stuff I wanted answered I either couldn’t see or ran out of time to check.
Blue team
English
Martin
Dale
Vandermeer
Bruce
Wallis
Hunter
Macrae
B.Smith
JJ
Daniel
Libba
Dunkley
Gardiner
Pretty sure Bont, Lipinski and Crozier were as well. Not sure how I missed Bont but I wasn’t really looking for him. A left footed defender got a goal from a 50m penalty late that seemed to be Crozier.
Black Team
Schache
Khamis
Raak
Jamarra
West
Hayes
Smith
Ed
Sweet
Things worth noting
Shocking day for football, hot and windy not really the best day to watch.
Full field umpire contingent and there was 3 50m penalties for the man on the mark rule while I was there.
Some major mismatches for the blue forwards with Khamis, Raak and others taking much bigger opponents for the black team.
English- 80-20 forward/ruck minimal time in ruck while I was there. Starting about 40m from goal at the bounce and working well up the ground when required for a down the line target but noticeably pushing hard forward into space when coming in from the fat side. English had 3 shots on goal while I was there and kicked a goal. Took a big clunk down the line as well (defensive wing) that he then followed and got an uncontested mark forward.
Bruce- starting off the goal line. Took two inside 50 marks while I was there. Clever pass to English from one of them. Looks springier when jumping at the ball and more mobile. Had Khamis for most of it.
Martin- Took a 1 on 1 contested mark inside 50 at one point and passed it off. Seemed very even in the middle for taps which isn’t surprising.
West- Stood out for the black team. Speed and power from congestion very evident and he played genuine midfield. Came out of congestion a couple of times (once from a CB) and evaded tacklers before distributing.
Vandermeer- Very lively on the Hawkins wing where most of the space was. Appeared to be playing more high half forward than wing but involved in everything when the ball was switched to that side of the ground and play was open. Kicked a goal in the last qtr.
Wallis- Deep forward and kicked 2 goals while I was there. One on the lead to the pocket and 1 running back into space on a fast, open play from defence.
Dale- Forward for the blue team and had at least 3 shots while I was there and kicked a couple. Looked dangerous but the ball spent lots of time at the blue end so he had quite a few chances. Looked more likely in the dead pocket where the ball was holding up and he could work his leads and angles.
Richards- Half back for the black team. The touches he got were under immense pressure and windy conditions didn’t help.
Roarke- Wing for black team
Libba- Seemed to get a heap in the middle
Macrae- midfield
Dunkley- midfield
Gardiner- Played on Jamarra for a little bit and beat him twice.
Jamarra- Fair way off at the moment would be my hunch. Hard to see much coming from anyone who didn’t play last year. In fairness it was a small sample size and most of his play was at the far end but that is the general feel I am getting. Played off the goal line at each bounce for the black team.
Caleb- Half back
JJ- half back
Hunter- had it on a string.
Forward 6 for blue team appeared to be English, Bruce, Wallis, Dale, Vandermeer and a resting/rotating mid.
Not going to repeat the number of goals from a previous internal match that a bystander told me but Naughton apparently tore one of the previous intra clubs apart with a bag of goals. I couldn’t see him anywhere on the ground when I arrived but consensus was that he has been dominant.
Both teams defending quite high which made it scrappy in the wind. Wasn’t much space until a team broke through that press and then it was a foot race.
Schache- Was at the other end in last qtr but appeared to get involved heavily late with 2-3 marks and a goal.
Raak- Played relatively deep as a defender.
Hayes- Seemed to be on a wing for the black team.
Couldn’t see Treloar
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Appreciate you posting this GVG. While other clubs post extended highlight videos and official match sim reports to give their supporters some insights, we rely on these tidbits to get excited.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Thanks for sharing.
Preseason is flying by without much noise. The rule change is the first thing that’s caught my attention.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
So...you feeling up to repeating the number of goals Naughton kicked yet?
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
Appreciate you posting this GVG. While other clubs post extended highlight videos and official match sim reports to give their supporters some insights, we rely on these tidbits to get excited.
Under McCartney's tenure we seemed to become more conservative with the kind of details we make public. Under Bevo's reign that seems to have increased, and I don't think the balance is right. Sure we want to protect IP, but at what cost and to what benefit?
I think the club is underestimating the positive impact of using pre-season insights as a legitimate means to stimulate fan interest and in turn increase memberships.
Surely there has to be a middle ground.
To have to rely on tid-bits from supporters who happen to attend training is not engaging, and seems at odds with the clubs message to its members about the club being 'energised by its people' and being 'born to stick together and made of the red,white and blue'.
The disconnect between club rhetoric and what they actually deliver in terms of meaningful and engaging communication with it's members is not acceptable.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Happy Days
So...you feeling up to repeating the number of goals Naughton kicked yet?
I think he kicked 7 last week in a practice game
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I think he kicked 7 last week in a practice game
That rules. If you’re allowed to wear a headband in season I see no reason why he can’t do that every week.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Under McCartney's tenure we seemed to become more conservative with the kind of details we make public. Under Bevo's reign that seems to have increased, and I don't think the balance is right. Sure we want to protect IP, but at what cost and to what benefit?
I think the club is underestimating the positive impact of using pre-season insights as a legitimate means to stimulate fan interest and in turn increase memberships.
Surely there has to be a middle ground.
To have to rely on tid-bits from supporters who happen to attend training is not engaging, and seems at odds with the clubs message to its members about the club being 'energised by its people' and being 'born to stick together and made of the red,white and blue'.
The disconnect between club rhetoric and what they actually deliver in terms of meaningful and engaging communication with it's members is not acceptable.
I've really noticed the efforts to reduce supporter access to match simulations and training sessions under Bevo.
From the cancellation of the East meets West day, which was a terrific training session for fans, to reduced access to practice games
I think if you're a fan who liked to get to those events and sessions there has been a significant reduction in opportunities of being able to watch the players outside of the seasons games.
The website has improved a lot but 2 or 3 minute edited highlights of training or practice games just isn't the same for me and I think many others.
Perhaps this is right across the competition but I do miss going to training sessions this time of the year and being able to see the players running around
After 14 or 15 years of being a player sponsor I'm starting to reconsider if it's worth it because I'm losing ground on what I previously enjoyed. Covid doesn't help but it's getting harder to stay connected to the club as someone living in Melbourne and willing to go to training sessions, practice and preseason games. Outside of the season there isn't as much between seasons as I have previously enjoyed
Under the McCartney era (not a reflection of his coaching) I actually went along to vastly more club functions and felt a greater level of connection with the club.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
Not going to repeat the number of goals from a previous internal match that a bystander told me but Naughton apparently tore one of the previous intra clubs apart with a bag of goals. I couldn’t see him anywhere on the ground when I arrived but consensus was that he has been dominant.
The bolded part almost gave me a heart attack!
Good to see Raak is still training with us because for some reason he dropped off the official AFL training list who have only been listing Macpherson, Scott and Preston.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Happy Days
That rules. If you’re allowed to wear a headband in season I see no reason why he can’t do that every week.
Can't wait until someone chucks it into the crowd a la Bruce Doull.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I think he kicked 7 last week in a practice game
Hopefully this speaks more to Naughts and not our defence.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
Both teams defending quite high which made it scrappy in the wind. Wasn’t much space until a team broke through that press and then it was a foot race.
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bulldogsthru&thru
Hopefully this speaks more to Naughts and not our defence.
Insert whynotboth.gif
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
Appreciate you posting this GVG. While other clubs post extended highlight videos and official match sim reports to give their supporters some insights, we rely on these tidbits to get excited.
It's so frustrating. The best bit of pre-seasons used to be overly detailed training reports from posters here.
We must be the worst club in the competition at engaging our supporters with non match stuff:
-No one is allowed to watch us train
-No one is allowed to watch our intraclubs
-We give nothing more than the briefest of articles and a highlights video consistig of 2-3 second clips when we do release something
-We provided minimal information about our reserves performances last season
-We provided no information about anybody other than the four players who were ok in the reserves last season. For example Khamis may as well as not existed last year.
-We provide no insight into what we can expect this year, aside from the same few articles about the same few players who speak well (Dunkley, Wallis, Bont).
For comparism Carlton released comprehensive match reports after every scratch match last year covering every listed player, they have also had a series of articles where they talk about a handful of players in each position and how their pre-season is going (ie. Their defenders article covered Petrevski-Seton, Plowman, Newman, Parks, Williamson and Saad) plus a ten minute interview with the coach. Essendon has fairly in depth articles with the respective line coaches about their area (Gia does a good one about their Defence), and they also have a great 10 minute video with proper highlights from their intraclub not just artistic shots of players kicking it.
I appreciate that we post a lot of videos of things happening to players (like the announcement of Wallis as Vice Captain) but man we give our supporters absolutely nothing on field apart from the briefest of match reports.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I've really noticed the efforts to reduce supporter access to match simulations and training sessions under Bevo.
From the cancellation of the East meets West day, which was a terrific training session for fans, to reduced access to practice games
I think if you're a fan who liked to get to those events and sessions there has been a significant reduction in opportunities of being able to watch the players outside of the seasons games.
The website has improved a lot but 2 or 3 minute edited highlights of training or practice games just isn't the same for me and I think many others.
Perhaps this is right across the competition but I do miss going to training sessions this time of the year and being able to see the players running around
After 15 years of being a player sponsor I'm starting to reconsider if it's worth it because I'm losing ground on what I previously enjoyed. Covid doesn't help but it's getting harder to stay connected to the club as someone living in Melbourne and willing to go to training sessions, practice and preseason games. Outside of the season there isn't as much between seasons as I have previously enjoyed
Under the McCartney era (not a reflection of his coaching) I actually went along to vastly more club functions and felt a greater level of connection with the club.
I really hope someone at the club is reading this stuff. If that is reflective of the overall member experience, the club really needs to reflect and adjust their approach.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
soupaman
It's so frustrating. The best bit of pre-seasons used to be overly detailed training reports from posters here.
We must be the worst club in the competition at engaging our supporters with non match stuff:
-No one is allowed to watch us train
-No one is allowed to watch our intraclubs
-We give nothing more than the briefest of articles and a highlights video consistig of 2-3 second clips when we do release something
-We provided minimal information about our reserves performances last season
-We provided no information about anybody other than the four players who were ok in the reserves last season. For example Khamis may as well as not existed last year.
-We provide no insight into what we can expect this year, aside from the same few articles about the same few players who speak well (Dunkley, Wallis, Bont).
I could cop it if we roll out with some new game plan that takes the comp by storm but that hasn't looked like happening for 4 years.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
It's funny because, despite the secrecy, we all know how our games will play out anyway once 15 minutes of round 1 have unfolded and Bevo realises his offseason masterplans have unravelled.
"Hmmm Woody tore our reserves apart up forward in preseason. Why isn't it working now?".
"3 talls up forward will be unstoppable. Our reserve backline was helpless in our intraclubs."
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
I could cop it if we roll out with some new game plan that takes the comp by storm but that hasn't looked like happening for 4 years.
I can recall getting to training sessions and practice games in 2015 and 2016 but once we won the flag it became significantly harder with more closed sessions and cancellations of other events like the East West Day.
Over the years WOOF was invaluable for many interstate and country based supporters because of the comprehensive reports many of us here would share based on the training sessions, practice games and club events etc
It's a lot harder now to provide those updates
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I can recall getting to training sessions and practice games in 2015 and 2016 but once we won the flag it became significantly harder with more closed sessions and cancellations of other events like the East West Day.
Over the years WOOF was invaluable for many interstate and country based supporters because of the comprehensive reports many of us here would share based on the training sessions, practice games and club events etc
It's a lot harder now to provide those updates
Feels like this needs to be bought up with the club to be honest, it's actually getting really bad how shitty they're getting with fan out reach compared to other clubs in the comp.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I've really noticed the efforts to reduce supporter access to match simulations and training sessions under Bevo.
.
Agree with this.
If our results on field were much better I'd be more ok with it.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I can recall getting to training sessions and practice games in 2015 and 2016 but once we won the flag it became significantly harder with more closed sessions and cancellations of other events like the East West Day.
Over the years WOOF was invaluable for many interstate and country based supporters because of the comprehensive reports many of us here would share based on the training sessions, practice games and club events etc
It's a lot harder now to provide those updates
We appreciate any little tidbits we can get G !!!
Thanks :)
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Vred
Feels like this needs to be bought up with the club to be honest, it's actually getting really bad how shitty they're getting with fan out reach compared to other clubs in the comp.
I could accept last year with staff cuts etc that we were running pretty thin on the ground in terms of media staff etc and we obviously forgot to take a video camera up to te hub, but when minnow clubs like North and Essendon (snigger) are catering to their supporter base in much better ways than us in 2021, it does grind my gears.
If it is a directive from the footy operations side to give nothing away, they really should reconsider the approach as it's done nothing to improve us over the past 4 years.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
azabob
Agree with this.
If our results on field were much better I'd be more ok with it.
Under McCartney there were a lot more events. I can recall getting a run down of the playing list and how players would be developed by B-Mac. Had a chance to talk recruiting with Dalrymple at that event. Went to a Footscray game and along with a group of supporters and we got a the same presentation the players got on how the game would played from then coach Chris Maple.
Easton Wood had been dropped and Maple told us the reasons why and what he had been asked to do. So there was some terrific engagement with fans
Certainly a missed opportunity as far as I am concerned
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Are we sure other clubs have more open training days?
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Re: Practice Game snippets
G and soupaman you 2 should genuinely email the club with your thoughts.
It might go on deaf ears but you have already basically written the email here. It's such a shame that its go so downhill.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I can recall getting to training sessions and practice games in 2015 and 2016 but once we won the flag it became significantly harder with more closed sessions and cancellations of other events like the East West Day.
Over the years WOOF was invaluable for many interstate and country based supporters because of the comprehensive reports many of us here would share based on the training sessions, practice games and club events etc
It's a lot harder now to provide those updates
It was the 2016 preseason that the shutters really slammed down. I can remember saying "If we are going to do this then well we'd better win the premiership" and they called my bluff!
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bornadog
Are we sure other clubs have more open training days?
North had an open match sim today and also posted a decent highlights video shortly after it ended (not some disjointed lightning fast Michael Bay-esque effort like our media team puts out).
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Topdog
G and soupaman you 2 should genuinely email the club with your thoughts.
It might go on deaf ears but you have already basically written the email here. It's such a shame that its go so downhill.
I contacted the club about the East West day and I think the response was something along the lines of the players were already extended with their commitments and Bevo needed them to train at the club. They also said there would be some sort of other events for the East West club. From memory there might have been a kids session and a BBQ on another evening. At the same time I think there were some country clinics so it was obvious the EW days wasn't a priority and it's never really returned.
Now with reduced staffing and Covid as a legitimate excuse, I'm not sure they have the capacity to do much more but in my opinion we are distancing the club and players from the supporters and maybe that is where professional sport is heading but I don't have to like it or accept it. I like the clubs website but it's not even close to what I used to experience. I really enjoyed practice games, training sessions and club events between the footy seasons but some of those avenues are closing
I'll always be a member but I think to get back to that grass roots connection my focus might be better by going to Footscray games than being a WB player sponsor and I'd look closely at going to the TAC games.
A redo of the study, a big cinema style screen might be a decent option going forward
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
I contacted the club about the East West day and I think the response was something along the lines of the players were already extended with their commitments and Bevo needed them to train at the club. They also said there would be some sort of other events for the East West club. From memory there might have been a kids session and a BBQ on another evening. At the same time I think there were some country clinics so it was obvious the EW days wasn't a priority and it's never really returned.
Now with reduced staffing and Covid as a legitimate excuse, I'm not sure they have the capacity to do much more but in my opinion we are distancing the club and players from the supporters and maybe that is where professional sport is heading but I don't have to like it or accept it. I like the clubs website but it's not even close to what I used to experience. I really enjoyed practice games, training sessions and club events between the footy seasons but some of those avenues are closing
I'll always be a member but I think to get back to that grass roots connection my focus might be better by going to Footscray games than being a WB player sponsor and I'd look closely at going to the TAC games.
A redo of the study, a big cinema style screen might be a decent option going forward
If they start having financial contributions drop off due to engagement, I can see things changing.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
If they start having financial contributions drop off due to engagement, I can see things changing.
Last year was pretty bad. Everyone basically donated their memberships and the club gave us basically nothing back. I know "covid" but it felt very minimal effort and in keeping with our efforts (or lack thereof) over the past few years.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
I regularly attend training at other clubs without an issue. I also see every club and ppl associated with them giving regular, detailed updates from training and match sim on Twitter. They also post highlights regularly with more context than us.
One of our staff Nick T (can’t remember his position) was at least attempting to give updates from our scratch matches in the hub last year.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
This is great content from Collingwood's intra club: https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/new...hZnKaX7301pA5E
We are so far behind the rest of the competition, it's laughable.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
I emailed the club last year about it and got a pretty poor response about a lack of staffing being the reason for the limited content.
How many people does it really take to change a lightbulb?
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
If they start having financial contributions drop off due to engagement, I can see things changing.
Things will only change if the club takes the time to contact and ask members why they have reduced their financial commitment.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
azabob
Things will only change if the club takes the time to contact and ask members why they have reduced their financial commitment.
If long time contributors like GVG stop pouring money in, it should ring alarm bells and be taken seriously. You don't want to see the club suffer, but sometimes talking with your wallet is the only way to get a response. Wish it wouldn't come to it, but after 2020 where we effectively donated our memberships, you would have hoped the club would have engaged the fans more to reward their loyalty.
Plus there is a reason why battling clubs like the Saints and Blues are hitting significant member milestones while we seem to be stagnating (when we actually do get membership numbers drip fed to us) - they have built excitement throughout the preseason whereas we have gone into dark mode.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
comrade
If long time contributors like GVG stop pouring money in, it should ring alarm bells and be taken seriously. You don't want to see the club suffer, but sometimes talking with your wallet is the only way to get a response. Wish it wouldn't come to it, but after 2020 where we effectively donated our memberships, you would have hoped the club would have engaged the fans more to reward their loyalty.
Plus there is a reason why battling clubs like the Saints and Blues are hitting significant member milestones while we seem to be stagnating (when we actually do get membership numbers drip fed to us) - they have built excitement throughout the preseason whereas we have gone into dark mode.
Have we become complacent since 2016 given that success but also because of our recent financial success?
Surely we can’t be so stupid? But then I find myself saying that a lot lately about the club.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
I say that as someone who has probably seen more training sessions than most.
If other clubs want to see our training sessions then they will find a way to see them. We are really only cutting our nose off to spite our face as a club with this training watcher ban. It's silly, borderline ridiculous and it's costing the club.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bulldogsthru&thru
Have we become complacent since 2016 given that success but also because of our recent financial success?
Surely we can’t be so stupid? But then I find myself saying that a lot lately about the club.
It might be that a combination of being a bit complacent from a members perspective but it could also be a bit of paranoia from a footy sense. Those blinds they put up in the Barkers cafe flagged their intent to close out sessions
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Re: Practice Game snippets
So, if secrecy is paramount the coaches can set up and do whatever they like behind closed doors and then at open sessions change things around - confuse the opposition by putting people into new roles. The supporters just want to see the players out on the park. Is inability to achieve this is costing us members? It would be hard to measure this.
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Re: Practice Game snippets
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
It might be that a combination of being a bit complacent from a members perspective but it could also be a bit of paranoia from a footy sense. Those blinds they put up in the Barkers cafe flagged their intent to close out sessions
And covid has complicated the issue further.