The Notebook

Three weeks ago, Geelong were imperious in handing Brisbane a 38-point Qualifying Final loss.

Given Chris Scott’s famous reluctance to talk anything tactically in public, even the slightest bread crumb can reveal plenty.

Adelaide are the first minor premiers in the final-eight era to depart from finals in straight sets.

It’s time for the final home and away season Notebook!

Two of this season’s three highest mark tallies by a team in a game have happened in the last fortnight.

It’s a bumper three topic edition of The Notebook for Round 22.

In comes a list and style overview of Melbourne’s on-field prospects for this week’s Notebook.

As we head towards the final stretch of the home and away season, it’s a two-topic Notebook for Round 20.

There’s a focus on three of the top teams in this week’s Notebook entry.

The Notebook returns to normal service after every team’s mid-season health check.

Welcome to the fifth and final Notebook Health Check.

Welcome to the fourth of the mid-season Notebook Health Checks.

Welcome to the third of the mid-season Notebook Health Checks.

Welcome to the second of the mid-season Notebook Health Checks

Welcome to the first of the mid-season Notebook Health Checks.

Sunday afternoon at the MCG saw two teams moving in opposite directions.

49 disposals in a game off half back. All four quarters in double digits.

A two-topic Notebook this week covers an in-game change up, and an individual player focus.

The original plan for this week’s Notebook was to write about a couple of different topics, as per usual.

A fun Notebook this week, if I do say so myself. It’s a two-topic post for Round 7.

It’s a varied palate for Round 6’s Notebook.

There are two winless teams remaining in the league, with both taking slightly different routes to get here.

It’s the 2025 season debut for one of my favourite features on The Shinboner.

A fun weekend threw up intriguing tactical topics to discuss in this week’s Notebook.

Normally this is a Round 1 post, but there were so many intriguing things from teams’ first games this topic got pushed back a week.

The first in-season Notebook of the year deserves an uplifting theme, and today’s will be all positive.

Sometimes the Notebook is deliberately formatted to focus on one theme.

It’s always a little bit of a lottery for what Match Sim will provide.

This week’s Notebook theme is all about team defence.

A lazy day on the couch watching two of the bottom three teams triggered a few thoughts about list management strategies.

The balance between protecting a lead and killing the game off feels like it’s trending more towards the former than the latter.

This week’s Notebook features two topics I’ve been hanging out to write about for a while.

After a fortnight’s break for the Notebook, thanks to mid-season draft updates and rest of season plans, we’re back for the Round 14 edition.

Before the season started, there was the usual over/under predictions.

This week’s Notebook is a single topic affair, focusing solely on James Jordon’s role tagging Sam Walsh.

Firstly, an apology for no Notebook last week due to Greek Easter shenanigans.

This week’s Notebook has two in-depth topics.

Not before time, this week’s Notebook features positivity for West Coast.

In a two-entry Notebook this week, one follows the normal format of being backed up by either stats or video.

It’s a stat-heavy Notebook for Round 4.

This week’s Notebook is a one-topic affair, focusing on how Adelaide are setting up their midfield.

We’re back in the flow of proper weekly Notebooks with a whole round to dissect and discuss.

The first Notebook of the season has arrived, thankfully with enough to talk about from the abbreviated opening round of matches.

The countdown is on until the real games begin, but before that it’s a chance to take stock…

What can be picked up from match sim is structural questions – both team and individual – and how it’s all working together.

The end of the home and away season provides a perfect chance to reflect on the last 24 rounds.

This week’s Notebook is perhaps the most video heavy of the entire year.

When Collingwood trail at three quarter time and hit the turbo button, it always makes for a fascinating final term.

A noteworthy weekend of football as the mid-table logjam showed few signs of abating.

There are only two and a half games between fourth and 15th on the ladder, with eight rounds remaining. It makes nearly every game, every week, high stakes for at least one of the teams involved and it was no different over the weekend. Today’s Notebook covers three topics: the … Continue reading From The Notebook, Round 16: The limits of Gold Coast’s ball use, pros and cons of Essendon’s shell, Expected Score leaders →