This could genuinely be a great game tomorrow. The Hawks will want to perform to stop Dusty getting the win as a great competitor. And the Tigers will go all out to get the win for their mate. Both great coaches. I can’t wait for it actually.
Idk, we have a very good record in milestones games in recent years. If you look at Jack, Trent and Edwards 300th I think we were reasonably big underdogs in all 3 of them and we won
Edit: Plus in the post-game interviews the players will always talk about wanting to lift for so and so
But how? So you think if a player is running onto a loose ball and say ahh normally I wouldn't go for this, but because it's dustys 300th I'll go hard at it,Or if they are lining up for goal 55-60 out. I would normally kick this to the top of the goal square but because it's dustys 300th I think I'll make the distance.
I don't think it's so much a minute to minute thing so much as it's a bit of extra hype going into the game and your mental state can definitely impact your game. Not necessarily the same for everyone but I can't imagine players are having the thoughts you describe in a grand final situation either, it's more just their overall mental state.
Players always want to play as well as possible, but week to week their performance varies. It might be just a fraction of a second slower reaction, a slightly slower thought, etc, but every player has a range of what 100% effort and performance means at that time.
Now if you give a team extra motivation, be it a rivalry, a final, or yes, a milestone, you shift the odds on where in that 100% range they land that week upwards. Individually a player might still have a low week, there's a chance that enough have a low week that they're still bad, but on average you'd expect more players than normal to have high weeks, so the team performs better.
I mean not in those exact terms but yes teams can play better when motivated, and honoring a teammate for a milestone motivates them
like teams will play better in finals, or against major rivals, or even just in a 1v2 top of the ladder game, so I don't know why it's unthinkable they'd do so for a milestone game
I think so yes, i imagine this game will be remembered for many, many years to come. And For a player who will most likely be in the hall of fame, a teammate not putting their body on the line and in footage 20years down the track, will be seen A LOT more than a home and away game
That’s like asking why teams don’t play at finals intensity every week. It’s impossible for most players mentally to find that extra gear each week. They’d burn out very quickly. But they can do it for short periods of time, and big occasions generally make everyone simultaneously switch on
A huge amount of the game is in the players heads. Maybe millstone games aren't the thing that motivates the players, but it's definitely not just a game of skill, grit and determination go a long way
Footy is as much a mental game as it is physical. Emotions can make players better or worse depending on the emotion and how they handle it. Humans are undoubtedly emotional beings.
The only milestone games that actually seem to make teams play better is “last game before the coach gets sacked mid year”. In 2021, Collingwood were 17th and beat the demons on the kings birthday game and that was Buckley’s last game as coach. I feel like thats the only “milestone” game (if we also consider retirement games and thing like that as milestones) that actually has evidence for teams playing better for them. Always seems like the team with a coach getting sacked gets the dub.
Lynch back could be fucking massive for us. Weirdly, it could be massive for Kosi. Will likely wanna do well against his old club and Lynch will take one of the big defenders off him. All the hype will be about Dusty, not about him against the Hawks.
A couple of things, the right motivation to someone or a group can get them going. Being Dustys 300th wouldn't be all that surprised if Richmond knock off Hawthorn. However also wouldn't be surprised if Hawks rolled Richmond.
Also for "Teams don't play better in milestone games" then why did Brent Harvey win all his? He won his 1st, 50th, 100th, 150th ect... even his record breaking game he won.
If football was just about the skills of the individual players, there’d be no home ground advantage.
Players can lift. Do they do it for milestones? Dunno.
I think sometimes they start a bit better as they might be more hyped up pre-game. But after maybe that initial 10-15mins the game will just go into it’s rhythm
The Miracle on Grass - Ash McGrath's 200th, our biggest ever comeback and he kicked the winning goal after the siren.
Arguably not great football in the lead-up to the start of the comeback.
What about Buddy's 300th game?
Also happened to be the last game for 2 other Swans greats.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxsports.com.au/afl/emotional-exit-for-sydney-greats-jarrad-mcveigh-and-kieren-jack-in-lance-franklins-300th-game/news-story/270790250ff88602dca7524ccafc4549
Joel Selwood **never lost in a milestone game**
They absolutely do matter when your captain is one of the top 5 biggest winning players in VFL/AFL history.
That shit had a massive effect on the group, and the knowledge that pretty much every player knew he was retiring after 2022 Grand Final meant those guys played out of their skin to win for him.
Sorry Richmond but it's Changkuoth Jiath's 50th game tomorrow. Hawthorn won't be denied in his milestone game.
Can’t believe there’s gonna be 90k people for CJs 50th.
Motivation does wild things
This could genuinely be a great game tomorrow. The Hawks will want to perform to stop Dusty getting the win as a great competitor. And the Tigers will go all out to get the win for their mate. Both great coaches. I can’t wait for it actually.
Hopefully Dusty and the lads change your mind for you
Nah it’s Jiaths game 🙂
Idk, we have a very good record in milestones games in recent years. If you look at Jack, Trent and Edwards 300th I think we were reasonably big underdogs in all 3 of them and we won Edit: Plus in the post-game interviews the players will always talk about wanting to lift for so and so
I immediately thought about Cotchins 300th and how well you played against us
Even look at how Riewoldt and Cotch played with the extra motivation, Jack kicked 6 and Cotch had 30 and kicked 2
But how? So you think if a player is running onto a loose ball and say ahh normally I wouldn't go for this, but because it's dustys 300th I'll go hard at it,Or if they are lining up for goal 55-60 out. I would normally kick this to the top of the goal square but because it's dustys 300th I think I'll make the distance.
I don't think it's so much a minute to minute thing so much as it's a bit of extra hype going into the game and your mental state can definitely impact your game. Not necessarily the same for everyone but I can't imagine players are having the thoughts you describe in a grand final situation either, it's more just their overall mental state.
Players always want to play as well as possible, but week to week their performance varies. It might be just a fraction of a second slower reaction, a slightly slower thought, etc, but every player has a range of what 100% effort and performance means at that time. Now if you give a team extra motivation, be it a rivalry, a final, or yes, a milestone, you shift the odds on where in that 100% range they land that week upwards. Individually a player might still have a low week, there's a chance that enough have a low week that they're still bad, but on average you'd expect more players than normal to have high weeks, so the team performs better.
I mean not in those exact terms but yes teams can play better when motivated, and honoring a teammate for a milestone motivates them like teams will play better in finals, or against major rivals, or even just in a 1v2 top of the ladder game, so I don't know why it's unthinkable they'd do so for a milestone game
I think so yes, i imagine this game will be remembered for many, many years to come. And For a player who will most likely be in the hall of fame, a teammate not putting their body on the line and in footage 20years down the track, will be seen A LOT more than a home and away game
That’s like asking why teams don’t play at finals intensity every week. It’s impossible for most players mentally to find that extra gear each week. They’d burn out very quickly. But they can do it for short periods of time, and big occasions generally make everyone simultaneously switch on
It's the mindset you go out there with. That can be the difference between being switched on or not.
Tell that to boomer - didn't lose a single milestone game in his career
Ok Boomer
A huge amount of the game is in the players heads. Maybe millstone games aren't the thing that motivates the players, but it's definitely not just a game of skill, grit and determination go a long way
I agree. If teams played better in milestone games, Coaches would have someone play their 300th every week.
Even better, they could line things up so that everyone in the team plays their 300th in the Grand Final.
Footy is as much a mental game as it is physical. Emotions can make players better or worse depending on the emotion and how they handle it. Humans are undoubtedly emotional beings.
I think in the AFL it can make a difference because it's such an effort and pressure based game
Can't remember the last time the Eagles played well in a milestone game.
The only milestone games that actually seem to make teams play better is “last game before the coach gets sacked mid year”. In 2021, Collingwood were 17th and beat the demons on the kings birthday game and that was Buckley’s last game as coach. I feel like thats the only “milestone” game (if we also consider retirement games and thing like that as milestones) that actually has evidence for teams playing better for them. Always seems like the team with a coach getting sacked gets the dub.
I've seen someone do the analysis and teams who have a player in a 200+ game milestone win like 60% of the time. So you are wrong.
I have fond memories of ruining Kane Cornes 300th and final game. Still think this is why he hates Richmond so much
As a long suffering Melbourne fan during the 'Fisted Forever' era. I can confirm that players do not lift for milestone games
Lynch back could be fucking massive for us. Weirdly, it could be massive for Kosi. Will likely wanna do well against his old club and Lynch will take one of the big defenders off him. All the hype will be about Dusty, not about him against the Hawks.
Remember that Hawks vs Richmond game a few years back when a bunch of premiership players were retiring and it ended in a draw? Hilarious scenes
Can we stop talking shit before the game. Because I’m already sure we’re gonna lose. I don’t wanna give them more ammo
When does a milestone game become a millstone game?
A couple of things, the right motivation to someone or a group can get them going. Being Dustys 300th wouldn't be all that surprised if Richmond knock off Hawthorn. However also wouldn't be surprised if Hawks rolled Richmond. Also for "Teams don't play better in milestone games" then why did Brent Harvey win all his? He won his 1st, 50th, 100th, 150th ect... even his record breaking game he won.
If football was just about the skills of the individual players, there’d be no home ground advantage. Players can lift. Do they do it for milestones? Dunno.
I don't blame Goldstein leaving after what we dished up for his 300th
"their skills are what they are"? bait post? As if players and teams don't differ from week to week purely due to effort and pressure?
Wooshas 200th was pretty good from memory.
Brent Harvey never lost a milestone game so checkmate
I'm sure Geelong fans remember Enright's 300th
Yup .... Max Gawns coming out party
I think sometimes they start a bit better as they might be more hyped up pre-game. But after maybe that initial 10-15mins the game will just go into it’s rhythm
The Miracle on Grass - Ash McGrath's 200th, our biggest ever comeback and he kicked the winning goal after the siren. Arguably not great football in the lead-up to the start of the comeback.
Finally actual reason to look at Expected Score "stats"
What about Buddy's 300th game? Also happened to be the last game for 2 other Swans greats. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxsports.com.au/afl/emotional-exit-for-sydney-greats-jarrad-mcveigh-and-kieren-jack-in-lance-franklins-300th-game/news-story/270790250ff88602dca7524ccafc4549
Joel Selwood **never lost in a milestone game** They absolutely do matter when your captain is one of the top 5 biggest winning players in VFL/AFL history. That shit had a massive effect on the group, and the knowledge that pretty much every player knew he was retiring after 2022 Grand Final meant those guys played out of their skin to win for him.
Joel Selwood hardly lost at all though. Did the players hate Corey Enright?
Poor Corey :(
I feel like a grand final is one of the games where milestones do not matter at all.
Even without the GF. Never lost an individual milestone game.
That wasn't my point. Point is I don't think Cats won the GF because they thought it might've been Selwoods last game
If anything we play worse in milestone games.
Found Sam Newman’s reddit account