On 15/08/2016 at 06:32, John Dee said:

I recently attended a series of lectures to mark the 100 year anniversary of Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. The new hot subject is Dark Matter. We should try to work that into a comment in this thread.

there was a show on sbs (or was it abc) recently where they discussed theories on dark matter and dark energy and a new extension to einstein's formula to cater for such. one wonders whether we know a lot of physics or an infinitesimally small amount. i'd back the latter, but we are running out of brainy-enough people to keep up, and that is saying something because some of these people are seriously smart.

  On 15/08/2016 at 06:55, SPC said:

I admit I was very quick to knock Oscar, but his improvement has been dramatic. He is still timid and needs to build strength, but if he plays 20 plus game next year, I suspect he will be unrecognizable on current form.

With another pre season under his belt, his size and strength will improve, think the reason Roos has put him in now was to face all the forwards he will be coming up against next year, so it won't phase him as he has already faced them

  On 14/08/2016 at 06:31, Fifty-5 said:

It's great that Oscar has started playing well, thanks to all the advice from Demonland to how hw should go about it.  A bit like Jack Watts really.

Quite.

A number of erstwhile demonland posters have made it clear how bad omac is, that he should be dropped and not return until next year. Amazing we have improved so much this year and our defense is now regularly keeping sides under 80 odd points, even high scoring ones like the Hawks and the Port. Imagine how much better we would have been if the our coaches had just listened to them. 

  On 15/08/2016 at 04:47, Lucifer's Hero said:

I doubt Oscar would have developed so much if he played most of the year at Casey. 

With Frost, I believe the club had little choice - we had no available forwards.  Also, it probably helped Frost's game as defender by playing as a forward.  Not the first time it has happened for a defender to learn forward running patterns, body positioning etc.  Again, Frost may not be as good as he now is without the forward experience.

Its no longer realistic to single out defenders one way or the other as it is now a defensive unit not 6 individual players and synergy happens where the result is greater than sum of its parts. The back 6 had to grow and develop together and that has happened.

We will never know but I believe it is most unlikely we would have got to this point if Oscar and Frost didn't have the experiences of this season.

Spot on LF. Good defenses have always required a level of connection, which why they are often referred to as a unit. That need has never been greater. The zone requires complete synergy and trust . A terrific example was that brilliant spoil by Tmac where he left his man to help his team mate out. That sort of synergy and trust can only be forged in the heat of battle and by playing games together.

As i have noted several times the back half of Wagner, Jetta, TMac, Omac and Hunt is both about the now and the future. By finals time next year they will have played 40 games together, the following year's finals 60. They will be a hardened unit by then who like the best defensive units (think Cats and Hawks) know instinctively where their team mates are and have complete trust they will cover for them when required. 

The zone also requires 100% buy in. The players have to fully believe in the system and have to have the courage to take the game on and attack. The current unit has those elements, which i have no doubt why Roos and Goodwin have selected them and OMac in particular. I also suspect it is for these reasons that Garland, Grimes and Dunn are not likely to be selected in the future, or at least not more that the occasional fill in. 

 

  On 15/08/2016 at 04:47, Lucifer's Hero said:

I doubt Oscar would have developed so much if he played most of the year at Casey. 

With Frost, I believe the club had little choice - we had no available forwards.  Also, it probably helped Frost's game as defender by playing as a forward.  Not the first time it has happened for a defender to learn forward running patterns, body positioning etc.  Again, Frost may not be as good as he now is without the forward experience.

Its no longer realistic to single out defenders one way or the other as it is now a defensive unit not 6 individual players and synergy happens where the result is greater than sum of its parts. The back 6 had to grow and develop together and that has happened.

We will never know but I believe it is most unlikely we would have got to this point if Oscar and Frost didn't have the experiences of this season.

Great post, LH. Agreed. And now with the success of this development year, it enables us to attack the top 4 next year, 12-18 months ahead of schedule.

Our team will have a defensive group that has had pretty good continuity together, since basically the loss to Hawthorn earlier in the year.

The FD have done a terrific job and it's great to see everyone getting reward for their hard work behind the scenes.

  On 15/08/2016 at 06:50, hells bells said:

I reckon the list is very balanced and strong enough to make a bit of a gamble.

i'd like to see them have a crack at O'Meara.  We still lack outside polish. If he can get his knee right he would be the perfect addition.

I remember when the Hawks picked up Burgoyne everyone worried that his knee was wrecked.  Look how that worked out.

Except O'Meara's knee is O'Meara's knee and Burgoyne's knee is Burgoyne's knee. I'd be going hard at a Jack Martin, Josh Kelly, Devon Smith, someone like that instead.

  On 15/08/2016 at 07:29, AdamFphlebeb said:

Except O'Meara's knee is O'Meara's knee and Burgoyne's knee is Burgoyne's knee. I'd be going hard at a Jack Martin, Josh Kelly, Devon Smith, someone like that instead.

Obviously dependent on a medical.  Can't see Martin, Kelly or Smith being available.

  On 15/08/2016 at 07:38, hells bells said:

Obviously dependent on a medical.  Can't see Martin, Kelly or Smith being available.

I'd hold off then. O'Meara isn't the guy I'd target.

  On 15/08/2016 at 06:57, daisycutter said:

there was a show on sbs (or was it abc) recently where they discussed theories on dark matter and dark energy and a new extension to einstein's formula to cater for such. one wonders whether we know a lot of physics or an infinitesimally small amount. i'd back the latter, but we are running out of brainy-enough people to keep up, and that is saying something because some of these people are seriously smart.

I live by the mantra "The more you know, the more you know you don't know."

The Physics department at Melbourne Uni are overseeing the establishment of an underground laboratory at a gold mine in Stawell that will try to replicate the findings of an Italian study that found that we are surrounded by Dark Matter; it is effectively the return of the Ether.

  On 15/08/2016 at 08:04, John Dee said:

I live by the mantra "The more you know, the more you know you don't know."

The Physics department at Melbourne Uni are overseeing the establishment of an underground laboratory at a gold mine in Stawell that will try to replicate the findings of an Italian study that found that we are surrounded by Dark Matter; it is effectively the return of the Ether.

Physics is easy, if you kick the ball hard enough and with enough accuracy it will go through the goal

  On 07/08/2016 at 09:01, Stretch Johnson said:

I have been coaching juniors for a long time and whilst it is some jump to AFL footy the concept is the same.

If you are not making mistakes as a young player then there is a good chance that by playing safely you are treading water and stifling your development.  Yes you need to know your limitations, but how do you know where they are unless you test yourself.

I won't bemoan a risky Tmac kick that would be the right option but doesn't hit a target, or Jayden Hunt running himself into trouble.  Great teams will push themselves to the brink of their abilities, that is why they become great.

 

Demonland has no place for such a logical well informed post. I prefer the roller coaster of enotiona from week to week.

Oscar got the RS Nomination

And now he is our fourth rising star nominee for the year! 

Congrats oscar, just rewards for your efforts this year. Maybe now some other "supporters" on here can start getting behind you more. 

Well done to Oscar. He was an unfashionable selection earlier in the season but the club persisted with him and he's coming good with a rush.

Great news!!!! Looks like he might make a few supporters eat their words 

Great news! Shows how far he's come since the start of the year. Four rising star nominations for the year also shows how much great young talent we have. I reckon Hunt will push for a nomination over the next two weeks as well.

Well deserved. By far it was the most comfortable he's looked at the level.

 

Well done Oscar, you've got better with every game, won't be long before the humble pie comes out.

 

 

The picket fence mozz works again.

Hey picket, can you come out and declare that we won't make the finals?

  On 15/08/2016 at 10:11, Demons11 said:

Great news!!!! Looks like he might make a few supporters eat their words 

Wouldn't count on it.

  On 15/08/2016 at 08:04, John Dee said:

I live by the mantra "The more you know, the more you know you don't know."

The Physics department at Melbourne Uni are overseeing the establishment of an underground laboratory at a gold mine in Stawell that will try to replicate the findings of an Italian study that found that we are surrounded by Dark Matter; it is effectively the return of the Ether.

nice mantra and so true

On the show i watched, if i remember correctly (and i may not) they said that there was evidence the universe expansion was not slowing down as previously thought and this might be explained by the existence of black energy (but this was still very debatable)

I put my hand up & say I couldn't for the life of me understand how he was getting consistent games...  But he has won me over in the last month. Hope he carries on & follows in Tom's footsteps 

Well done Oscar.  

Very exciting times.  4 RS nominees from the Dees.  Huge endorsement of our recruiting and development.  

  On 15/08/2016 at 10:46, JV7 said:

I put my hand up & say I couldn't for the life of me understand how he was getting consistent games...  But he has won me over in the last month. Hope he carries on & follows in Tom's footsteps 

I hope to God you mean his brother Tom and not.....

Perhaps pick 53 is lucky for the MFC. Lets have another one this year. Third time lucky (luckier)