We are being told that Ross Lyon is the man we need for the job.
At Freo, that job includes the development of a lot of young men, so how has he gone at that, at St Kilda, after 5 years?
The last team he fielded had an average age of 26.3 years, contained no teenagers, and included only 4 players under 25. That means that only 4 of the teenagers available to him in 2007 have managed to develop the skills to make that side in 2011.
The side they lost to, that day, (Sydney) had an average age of 24.1 years, incuded 2 teenagers and 11 players under 25 years.
The so called "old" Geelong team that thrashed the Hawks 10 days ago had an average age of 26.1 years and had 8 players under 25 years, but no teenagers.
It appers that Ross' preference has not been to develop youth during 2011, despite losing 7 of their first 8 games.  
Presumably he wanted to leave St Kilda because their list is very old. For some reason we broke all the rules to get him, but why?
He has not won a premiership with the Saints, and he has not shown the ability to develop their youth, so why did we panic and shaft Harvey to get him?
And if, as his mate Roos claims, he had to leave the Saints because he was frustrated, why didn't he resign on the Monday morning after they lost to Sydney, rather than eat his cake and keep it too by negotiating with Freo when we already had a coach?
His principles are questionable, his loyaly is skin deep, and his ability to develop a team is unproven, but our non elected Board have torn up the rule book to get him. Why?

First the dust settles. Then the shock passes. Finally we look at pictures of Ross Lyon in a poorly knotted purple tie and think this isn't some strange practical joke. 

There are many angles to this incredible story. The Melbourne media is obsessed (as usual) with the implications for their own clubs, namely St Kilda and Lyon's expected destination of Melbourne. The Perth media is both petulant and bemused, not least because there wasn't a single journalist in the ABC/Channel Seven, Nine, Ten/6PR/West Australian fraternity who saw this coming. Words like 'honour', 'integrity' and 'culture' have been bandied about in the press conference, on talkback radio and online discussion threads. 'Freo is a PR basket-case', some say. 'It's like Damien Drum at the Duxton Hotel all over again' (no, it's not). 

There is a lot of sympathy for the man now departed. Understandably so. Many supporters are (rightly) interested in knowing what Mark Harvey did wrong? Rumours swirl of erratic match-day behaviour, clashes with Chris Bond over list management and the overruling of medical staff. This author isn't going there: to speculate on such matters sullies the good and honest work Harvey did over five years at the club. Who of us really knows what went on behind closed doors? It goes without saying every supporter wishes him the best, but the decision is made now: it's for history to judge whether it will be the right call in the long run. 

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By Seven Hours Behind

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By oz

I haven’t seen the movie myself, but I believe it centres around a fellow who forgoes the pleasures of the flesh for the said time period.

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There is no secret that the AFL cares more about financial returns than a fair competition. Years ago they promised a fair (well, relatively fair) draw where the the top half of the previous season's ladder would play each other twice and the top teams would take on the less successful clubs only once.

"A good plan", I thought. Many others did too.

I think the plan lasted one season. Then money became the determinant for fixturing. We had to have blockbusters. We had to maximise the financial return. Consequently Collingwood had favourable draws year after year. Not surprisingly other teams had less favourable draws - year after year. But it's okay. Because we are pulling in more money - year after year. Fairness be damned.

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A lot of posts already this year have been drawing attention to a perceived disposal problem that a certain mullet-sporting left footer in our line up has …

I’m not going to argue that Rhys Palmer is an elite kick, however, my memory of his first (stellar) season was that his kicking got a bit ragged in the last quarter when he was picking up his 35^th possession and could barely walk., but otherwise was OK. But you can’t rely on memory, so I went to the stats:

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It's been a while since I ran the fingers across the alphanumerics in anger. You know football can bring out the emotions. The taunts Lance (Buddy) Franklin received on Saturday have done just that. Third-hand, we have heard of the incessant outbursts from the a member of the outer. But whereas the taunting was abhorrent and unforgivable, I have been thrilled with the responses from the media, social networks and friends. All have been stunned that the racist taunting was allowed to continue unchallenged. All have said that it would not be condoned in their section of the crowd.

How has the AFL handled this? Not bad at all really. Generally, my opinion of Eyebrows and his lapdog Anderson is low, but they haven't stuffed this up. Not like they've stuffed up the head-high tackle rule.

The AFL has a duty of care to consider for their staff. They have to ensure that they have a safe work environment so that the chances of being injured at work are slim. Indeed, anyone breaching workplace safety regulations are counselled and re-offenders are sanctioned. As the AFL sets the rules under which the players take the field and battle each week for the four points, they also have a duty of care to the players. And rightly so.

The AFL has nearly abolished the fisticuffs, brawls and elbows to the head. They have also instigated a rule where a concussed player is not allowed to rejoin the game. The AFL also severely punishes those who tackle or bump another player above the shoulders. All good. No-one wants to see a player suffer a head or neck injury just by contesting the football. But, to me, there is a huge hole in their duty of care. The AFL is doing absolutely nothing about a player who ducks into a tackle.

Let's think about this in an everyday working environment. Imagine someone standing on an office chair to reach a high shelf and pull down a box. Can you imagine your employer seeing this, regularly, and doing nothing about it? As the person balances precariously on the swivel seat, do you think that the employer would be thinking, "It's okay. He's reaching for the box."? Of course not.

Why then, is a footballer allowed to duck into a tackle and risk a head or neck injury? Why do players do this? Answer - because there is a good chance of a reward. A good chance that they will receive a strike to the head. A good chance that they'll receive a free-kick from the AFL officials.

The AFL is rewarding unsafe practices.

On Sunday, I watched a North Melbourne player pick up a football off the ground and charge head first into a Fremantle player's knee and be awarded a free-kick. Many have said that the player should not have received the free-kick as he "ducked into it". That's not good enough. The AFL needs to outlaw this practice of drawing the head-high tackle and punish the proponents at the Tribunal.

Just as those around the buffoon in Tasmania condoned his racist taunting through inaction, the AFL is doing the same with players who seek a free-kick by putting themselves in danger.

As you know, football punting is best tackled for fun rather than profit. I, for one, over the years have embarrassed myself with my carefully considered predictions of success or failure for various teams. So knowing my enormous shortcomings, I looked for the wisdom of crowds last year and you, fellow Dockerlanders, came up with this.

How did we go? Not too bad, but not so good either. Have we learnt our lessons from last year? Let's see.

This year the collective has predicted…

• Top four: Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong & St Kilda
• Bottom of the eight: Carlton, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs
• Just missing the finals: Adelaide, Melbourne, Richmond, Sydney
• Cellar dwellers: Brisbane, Essendon, Gold Coast, Port Power, West Coast eGurls

Using a simple variance measure, the collective you were absolutely certain that Collingwood would be in the top four whereas the eGurls and Port would be fighting for the 2011 wooden spoon. You were, however, less than certain about Hawthorn Carlton and Sydney. Some of you had these teams excelling. Some did not.

Extrapolating from your band predictions, this is how you saw the ladder at the end of the HomeNaway:

Collingwood
[daylight]
Fremantle
St Kilda
Geelong
Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn
North Melbourne
Carlton (on percentage from Sydney)
-----
Sydney
Adelaide
Melbourne
Richmond
Essendon
Gold Coast
Brisbane
Port Power
West Coast eGurls

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By Seven Hours Behind

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Final reminder.

If you're a member, available, and you care anything for this club, make sure you get yourself down. Come with questions - Harris and Rosich will both be there.

And of course, you can join our group walking down from Fremantle traino from around 6PM.


2010 Annual Members' Meeting
Griff John Function Centre
South Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Oval, Parry Street

Be there.