AFL Rd 14 2023 Pre Game Prognostications Carlton vs Gold Coast

[Baggers]

That's fine, but you need to accept that their judgment comes with a wealth of insight, knowledge and experience that is not available to any supporter. We are, all of us, starting from a position of ignorance. It cannot be any other way. I don't mean ignorance about AFL football in general terms, I mean ignorance about all the inputs that are required to make player selection decisions from week to week.

Fair points, Pauly... however...

Sometimes having a lot of information about players and the inputs you speak of can make the MC too subjective/close; even to the point of gifting blokes games based on reputation or even physical attributes alone to handle a specific position. And supporters (who think without sentimentality), have a basis of judgement solely on what they see on match day, and have a level of detachment/objectivity which can validate certain perspectives.

In addition we humble supporters witnessed, this year especially, out of form blokes being gifted game after game based on nothing more than potential/promise/reputation without delivery; persistent failure week after week - Fisher, JSOS, Honey, etc... much to the chagrin of we humble observers.