VFL VFL Round 4 v Coburg @ Piranha Park - Sunday April 21, 1:05pm.

[ElliottsMaggies]

The team will be much stronger with Ryan, DeMattia, Kreuger, and 3 of Macrae/Sullivan/Harrison/McInnes back

Agreed. So many new young players this year, was it 3 debutants today? Parker, Willis & Farrant. McDonald last week. As you also said, no Sullivan, Steene, Harvey, Krueger, Reef, Ryan..

They'll learn a lot from that loss. So many kids in this team.

Looking forward to a Harry debut, he must be itching to get out there.

 

[Jen2310]

It was great, we must organise a meetup with others perhaps at the next Vic Park game if others want to.

Thats next saturday v essendon

 

[domus]

What don’t yet get about the fact there are extenuating circumstances with AJ.
It’s not simply a matter of a player out of form.
So I’m very comfortable with my condemnation of the unthinking critics.
I don’t normally make a stance where other out of form players have been criticized, because it’s a normal part of ebbs and flow of supporting a team.

This is entirely different.

As too the impact on the group - you completely misunderstand that it’s a very different environment under FLY - where the group would be very supportive and not disparaging of AJ.

But the reasons for his poor form are irrelevant. How many players would have personal issues of great consequence going on in their lives all the time? Many of them, I'm sure. We just don't get to hear about most of them. If AJ cannot perform because of the issue, no matter whether it is out of his control or unjust, he should be dropped or given a break until he can produce footy of an acceptable standard.

Regardless of the supportive environment Fly has created, if a player is not pulling his weight on the field his teammates will eventually be fed up and very frustrated if he faces no consequences.

 

[Jen2310]

I was standing under the commentary box, and had a friend call me up and say -- I can hear you on the broadcast haha. So obviously, I then tried to be extra loud

 

[jmac70]

But the reasons for his poor form are irrelevant. How many players would have personal issues of great consequence going on in their lives all the time? Many of them, I'm sure. We just don't get to hear about most of them. If AJ cannot perform because of the issue, no matter whether it is out of his control or unjust, he should be dropped or given a break until he can produce footy of an acceptable standard.

Regardless of the supportive environment Fly has created, if a player is not pulling his weight on the field his teammates will eventually be fed up and very frustrated if he faces no consequences.

It’s strange that you would be prepared to end a player’s career after your visit to the Collingwood rooms.

You spoke about the care and sense of community at the club.

Did you learn nothing?

 

[Apex36]

This post just shows an egregious lack of compassion, given AJ’s travails.
And please don’t come back with some motherhood statement like “ football is a business”

If AJ can’t handle social media trolls then he shouldn’t be on there. And if affects him so badly that he can’t at least put in the effort required on field then he shouldn’t be playing for an AFL club.
Sticks and stones Spinny. He’s a grown ass man, not a vulnerable 13 year old kid being bullied on socials.

 

[No SPIN]

But the reasons for his poor form are irrelevant. How many players would have personal issues of great consequence going on in their lives all the time? Many of them, I'm sure. We just don't get to hear about most of them. If AJ cannot perform because of the issue, no matter whether it is out of his control or unjust, he should be dropped or given a break until he can produce footy of an acceptable standard.

Regardless of the supportive environment Fly has created, if a player is not pulling his weight on the field his teammates will eventually be fed up and very frustrated if he faces no consequences.

It’s true that some team mates may eventually be concerned AJ’s not pulling his weight, but that’s a very long way off.
Right now I have no doubt they’d be very supportive.

 

[No SPIN]

If AJ can’t handle social media trolls then he shouldn’t be on there. And if affects him so badly that he can’t at least put in the effort required on field then he shouldn’t be playing for an AFL club.
Sticks and stones Spinny. He’s a grown ass man, not a vulnerable 13 year old kid being bullied on socials.

Do you really believe the situation is as Black and White as you insist?
Clarkson is one of the toughest SOB’s in the game and needed to take time off for mental health issues.
Do you really think “sticks and stones” would have given him any comfort, in overcoming his demons?

Sorry mate but we are poles apart on this one.

 

[memoryofmchale]

But the reasons for his poor form are irrelevant. How many players would have personal issues of great consequence going on in their lives all the time? Many of them, I'm sure. We just don't get to hear about most of them. If AJ cannot perform because of the issue, no matter whether it is out of his control or unjust, he should be dropped or given a break until he can produce footy of an acceptable standard.

Regardless of the supportive environment Fly has created, if a player is not pulling his weight on the field his teammates will eventually be fed up and very frustrated if he faces no consequences.

That’s correct. Whilst the club is about supporting players, it doesn’t make them immune from valid criticism. They may change the way they coach or give feedback but it’s not forgotten about unless the situation is very dire.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Do you really believe the situation is as Black and White as you insist?
Clarkson is one of the toughest SOB in the game and needed to take time off for mental health issues.
Do you really think “sticks and stones” would have given him any comfort, in overcoming his demons?

Sorry mate but we are poles apart on this one.

I can't believe people still throw out the 'sticks & stones' line. Surely most people now know verbal & emotional abuse is as damaging as physical abuse.

 

[memoryofmchale]

If AJ can’t handle social media trolls then he shouldn’t be on there. And if affects him so badly that he can’t at least put in the effort required on field then he shouldn’t be playing for an AFL club.
Sticks and stones Spinny. He’s a grown ass man, not a vulnerable 13 year old kid being bullied on socials.

He’s had more than the usual trolling. Words hurt, too, which is why they’ve stopped teaching exclusively to sticks and stones.

But his performance today was poor and a few things need to happen. First, check in on him. If he’s struggling that much, maybe he needs a mental health break much like he’d sit out for an injured knee.

If not, the list of improvement is long because outside of a mark or two and goal, there was nothing else to like.

 

[Maggie5]

Agreed. So many new young players this year, was it 3 debutants today? Parker, Willis & Farrant. McDonald last week. As you also said, no Sullivan, Steene, Harvey, Krueger, Reef, Ryan..

They'll learn a lot from that loss. So many kids in this team.

Looking forward to a Harry debut, he must be itching to get out there.

I agree re the debutants, haven't really had time to gel with the team.

Coburg have trained and played together and were well drilled.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

I agree re the debutants, haven't really had time to gel with the team.

Coburg have trained and played together and were well drilled.

And putting aside the fact it was us they beat...it was a great win for them after not experiencing one for such a long time. They were well & truly overdue.

 

[No SPIN]

I couldn’t watch the much of the 2nd half but I thought Farrant showed some excellent ability - speed for his size, footy IQ, evasiveness and good leap.

How did he perform in the second half.

 

[Maggie5]

And putting aside the fact it was us they beat...it was a great win for them after not experiencing one for such a long time. They were well & truly overdue.

I didn't know that but they had a pretty strong following cheering every goal.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

I didn't know that but they had a pretty strong following cheering every goal.

I'm sure there will be plenty of celebrating going long into the night ..

 

[Apex36]

Do you really believe the situation is as Black and White as you insist?
Clarkson is one of the toughest SOB’s in the game and needed to take time off for mental health issues.
Do you really think “sticks and stones” would have given him any comfort, in overcoming his demons?

Sorry mate but we are poles apart on this one.

Clarkson was going through a hell of a lot more than some clowns abusing him on socials.
If Ash needs some time off then fine, so be it. But keeping him playing when his head and hearts clearly not in it isn’t helping him or anyone. Drop him, give him time off, dress it up any way you want to, he shouldn’t be playing for the club if he’s not capable of putting in the effort required.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Clarkson was going through a hell of a lot more than some clowns abusing him on socials.
If Ash needs some time off then fine, so be it. But keeping him playing when his head and hearts clearly not in it isn’t helping him or anyone. Drop him, give him time off, dress it up any way you want to, he shouldn’t be playing for the club if he’s not capable of putting in the effort required.

Maybe the advice from the professionals, such as Jacqui Louder, is that playing footy, to try and build his confidence and being around the club is the best thing for him at the moment.

I'm sure the club wouldn't be forcing him to do something they think is more detrimental to his mental health & confidence.

 

[Scodog10]

How much match time did Macrae and Markov receive in the end? With the tight turnaround I was surprised Markov even ran out because I thought they’d like the cover for a defender struggling to get to the line (light week so unlikely to pick up a training injury, but you never know).

 

[Apex36]

Maybe the advice from the professionals, such as Jacqui Louder, is that playing footy, to try and build his confidence and being around the club is the best thing for him at the moment.

I'm sure the club wouldn't be forcing him to do something they think is more detrimental to his mental health & confidence.

If that helps you sleep at night you keep thinking it.
I’m comfortable in my assessment that he shouldn’t be on the field until he can start putting in the required effort to perform at the level.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

If that helps you sleep at night you keep thinking it.
I’m comfortable in my assessment that he shouldn’t be on the field until he can start putting in the required effort to perform at the level.

I can guarantee you nothing said on bf keeps me awake at night.

I'm more than comfortable believing the club actually knows what is best for their players.

 

[Jen2310]

How much match time did Macrae and Markov receive in the end? With the tight turnaround I was surprised Markov even ran out because I thought they’d like the cover for a defender struggling to get to the line (light week so unlikely to pick up a training injury, but you never know).

They both seemed to play the whole game (apart from when they got Fin off to check for concussion after a nasty hit -- which took a while for him to get off the ground, he knew they would want to check for concussion) from what I could tell.

 

[Jen2310]

And putting aside the fact it was us they beat...it was a great win for them after not experiencing one for such a long time. They were well & truly overdue.

Yeah, their last win was 2022.
But the team is basically changed, they have recruited well. So I think we can't say.. oh they havent won a game in 2 years, when its vastly different. New coach. New players.

Meant a lot to them

 

[sr36]

Not sure why we’ve got Bytel on a wing though when it looks he’s behind Daicos, Sidebottom, Lipinski, WHE and Harrison for that role.

I think it's the right call. His kicking looks to be his strength.

I don't think Harrison is a senior wing option. Bytel is the only outside mid out of the team.

Lippa can play wing, but he's also our centre square depth. As McRae said, whe is our Swiss army knife.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Yeah, their last win was 2022.
But the team is basically changed, they have recruited well. So I think we can't say.. oh they havent won a game in 2 years, when its vastly different. New coach. New players.

Meant a lot to them

Yep, the club hasn't won a game since 2022. I wouldn't expect it to be exactly the same team from over 2 years ago