The positives thread

[Saucery]

I was cleaning out some old stock at work and came upon this, the three wise Roy's. I take it as an omen; the three peat is on baby! Of course it's currently adorning my car

If you want one try:

https://www.repco.com.au/car-seat-covers-car-accessories/interior-car-accessories/car-sun-shades/sperling-sunshade-asssorted-styles-in-store-only/p/A5740720

 

[braddsey]

Port Adelaide and Essendon play each other this week. We can't* end the round on the bottom of the ladder.

*with the exception of a draw. then it's possible. and I wouldn't put a nil-all draw as out of the question with these 2 sides!

 

[M Malice]

Port Adelaide and Essendon play each other this week. We can't* end the round on the bottom of the ladder.

*with the exception of a draw. then it's possible. and I wouldn't put a nil-all draw as out of the question with these 2 sides!

Port Bombers

Is there any way both teams can lose, it needs to be looked into.

 

[mpal6]

Port Adelaide and Essendon play each other this week. We can't* end the round on the bottom of the ladder.

*with the exception of a draw. then it's possible. and I wouldn't put a nil-all draw as out of the question with these 2 sides!

Imagine coming from bottom of the ladder to complete a 3-peat.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Imagine coming from bottom of the ladder to complete a 3-peat.

after finishing 10th at the end of the H&A

 

[Cousin Jed]

Port Adelaide and Essendon play each other this week. We can't* end the round on the bottom of the ladder.

*with the exception of a draw. then it's possible. and I wouldn't put a nil-all draw as out of the question with these 2 sides!

You’re assuming West Coast beat North?

 

[braddsey]

You’re assuming West Coast beat North?

Not at all, but if the 3 clubs below us on the ladder can all avoid losing, then we end the round on the bottom as we have a bye.

...though an equally hilarious outcome could be GWS giving St Kilda 70+point hiding and seeing us leapfrog the Saints on percentage, before our big 12:35 Sunday matchup the following week!

 

[carry on]

after finishing 10th at the end of the H&A

make history, be the first team from 9th or 10th to win the flag, what a 3 peat that will be, and will elevate the current team ahead of the Lions from the early part of the century and the Hawkes and Richmond.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Wildcard round

 

[Saucery]

I'm pretty sure the AFL is pretty chuffed about these figures, a whole state stolen from under the NRL's noses. What ever Ross thinks about favoritism it been a boon for the overall competition.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...s-biggest-afl-state-ouside-victoria/106494686

 

[Grasshopper17]

I'm pretty sure the AFL is pretty chuffed about these figures, a whole state stolen from under the NRL's noses. What ever Ross thinks about favoritism it been a boon for the overall competition.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...s-biggest-afl-state-ouside-victoria/106494686

I think people like Tony Cochrane, and the people within both the Lions and the Suns clubs need to do better to explain the nuances to growing the game in the northern states.

Even forgetting about the success of the various teams for a moment, it's still very hard for southerners to reconcile the fact that we need academies with the notion that we now have the highest level of participation in the country behind Victoria.

Charts like this last one are evidence enough that the battle is far from over and there is still a long way to go in Queensland and NSW:


I'd like to see this better explained in soundbites etc that journalists and social media can pick up and run with. Right now the public debate is very one-sided and that needs to change. Otherwise the academies will go the same way as the cost of living allowance in the early 2000s, which also should still exist, particularly when you look at some of the incredible property prices in Melbourne compared to the rest of the country.

So we find ourselves at risk of falling into an interminable existential loop. Club struggles ---> AFL introduces measures to help support us ---> club continues to struggle despite green shoots appearing ---> AFL parachutes in a well known and experienced Victorian to save us from ourselves ---> club succeeds, on and off field ---> Victorian clubs kick up a stink ---> AFL removes supportive measures ---> club returns to struggle street.

It's happening now exactly as it did 20 years ago, although Collingwood were the chief antagonist back then.

Nobody that I have heard is making the argument that academies is about much more than helping grow the game in the northern states NOW, or helping make the four clubs competitive NOW.

They are also about growing the statewide body of players competing in lower leagues, while progressing their non-footy careers at the same time, such that when, sometime down the track, our club does go into a bit of a flat spin, again, we don't need to rely on some Victorian (be they gun coach or gun administrator) flying in with their superman cape to save us.

Instead we have that depth of "football people" in Queensland who are able to fill roles at the four northern AFL clubs (and potentially the other fourteen as well), in both on and off field capacities.

This should be one of the long term purposes of the academies, but I think it's poorly understood by the vast majority of people, both in the northern states and further afield, and we need intelligent, articulate people associated with our club to be making this argument in the public sphere. And making it probably more succinctly than I've done here.

Until this happens, ol mate Fred basset is having his way with us in the press, the journos are eating it right up, so much so that it's having a clear influence on league policy and the lily-livered head honchos at AFL House.

 

[p4p1]

I think people like Tony Cochrane, and the people within both the Lions and the Suns clubs need to do better to explain the nuances to growing the game in the northern states.

Even forgetting about the success of the various teams for a moment, it's still very hard for southerners to reconcile the fact that we need academies with the notion that we now have the highest level of participation in the country behind Victoria.

Charts like this last one are evidence enough that the battle is far from over and there is still a long way to go in Queensland and NSW:
View attachment 2562869

I'd like to see this better explained in soundbites etc that journalists and social media can pick up and run with. Right now the public debate is very one-sided and that needs to change. Otherwise the academies will go the same way as the cost of living allowance in the early 2000s, which also should still exist, particularly when you look at some of the incredible property prices in Melbourne compared to the rest of the country.

So we find ourselves at risk of falling into an interminable existential loop. Club struggles ---> AFL introduces measures to help support us ---> club continues to struggle despite green shoots appearing ---> AFL parachutes in a well known and experienced Victorian to save us from ourselves ---> club succeeds, on and off field ---> Victorian clubs kick up a stink ---> AFL removes supportive measures ---> club returns to struggle street.

It's happening now exactly as it did 20 years ago, although Collingwood were the chief antagonist back then.

Nobody that I have heard is making the argument that academies is about much more than helping grow the game in the northern states NOW, or helping make the four clubs competitive NOW.

They are also about growing the statewide body of players competing in lower leagues, while progressing their non-footy careers at the same time, such that when, sometime down the track, our club does go into a bit of a flat spin, again, we don't need to rely on some Victorian (be they gun coach or gun administrator) flying in with their superman cape to save us.

Instead we have that depth of "football people" in Queensland who are able to fill roles at the four northern AFL clubs (and potentially the other fourteen as well), in both on and off field capacities.

This should be one of the long term purposes of the academies, but I think it's poorly understood by the vast majority of people, both in the northern states and further afield, and we need intelligent, articulate people associated with our club to be making this argument in the public sphere. And making it probably more succinctly than I've done here.

Until this happens, ol mate Fred basset is having his way with us in the press, the journos are eating it right up, so much so that it's having a clear influence on league policy and the lily-livered head honchos at AFL House.

Regarding participation, is there a break down of boys v girls, kids v adults and men v women?
If I am honest the prospect of playing footy in Queensland as an amateur (particularly as more and more women start playing at local clubs) is a much more enticing idea than playing in the middle of Victorian winters. So while participation is great, the only relevant data really is how many boys are playing football in Qld when making arguments for or against academies.