There was no patch during the game where we looked to lose stamina which is a really good indication that the boys can run out a full game.

14 minutes ago, brendan said:

Umpires need to get on top of this ducking rule, I'm sure they will get better but the free to bulldogs player in 1st quarter when he dropped his knees to get a push in the back was a shocker 

It will get better in time, but overall I thought the umps did a pretty good job yesterday. It was nice to see for a change. 

36 minutes ago, special robert said:

This is the best team we've had for years. 

We have gotten rid of a lot of the dead wood. Most of our starting 22 would get games at the top clubs. Wasn't the case over the last decade 

2 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

It will get better in time, but overall I thought the umps did a pretty good job yesterday. It was nice to see for a change. 

Much much better, but not there yet understandably. 

1 hour ago, Wells 11 said:

What surprised me watching Spence yesterday was his mobility. I live interstate so I haven't seen him for a while. But I have to say he looked like a different player to the loping, unco, try hard of yesteryear. He was good in the ruck and also really fully fierce when the ball was on the ground. I thought he added a dimension to us when he was on. Its hard to judge from a practice match but I liked him and Max in the same side. At the very least my MFCSS thoughts re Gawn going down with a knee injury on the eve of the finals don't feel as scary. 

One thing for sure though if he doesn't get game time this year he'll be gone next year. That isn't a reason to play him I know but he IS  a valuable commodity. 

And spencer tackles too and hard which is great to c. 

31 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Me? Constant criticism? I suggested that Brayshaw's fumbles weren't uncustomary at this time of year. I also think he's one of the best prospects in the league  - once he settles into the pace and finds that extra quarter-second for decision-making and execution. That's hardly some contribution to a chorus of constant criticism.

Where did I say you "constantly" criticised him ?  You asked for examples "in this thread" and I gave you them.  I also said it's a regular theme.

Why anyone would highlight a fumble in a first scratch match is beyond me.

Talk about sweating the small stuff.

10 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Where did I say you "constantly" criticised him ?  You asked for examples "in this thread" and I gave you them.  I also said it's a regular theme.

Why anyone would highlight a fumble in a first scratch match is beyond me.

Talk about sweating the small stuff.

I referred to your comment regarding the 'constant criticism' of Brayshaw and asked if it was 'on here?' You replied, 'Clint and from memory you', before editing your post to say it was a general pattern. Don't be disingenuous in defending your wispy straw-man. Basically, no one is criticising Angus, and no one is highlighting 'a fumble'.

Gawn to Viney.

 

15 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

All I can say is that, once the highlights of the game as a whole are uploaded, you'll enjoy some promising footy from our boys.

Joel Smith was another today who stepped up and took his chance.  He might find it hard to crack the 22 to begin the year, but he can only continue to develop and get better from here.  Moves very well, is strong in the contest and doesn't look to bad with his disposal.  One to certainly keep an eye on.

Agreed. Although if he gets off the rookie list I suspect he'll play before others. Looks the goods. Strong overhead, strong at the contest and used the footy pretty well ... only an upside for mine.

it will be interesting to see if he'll play ahead of guys like Jetta and frost.

Random musings for you to think about: 

• Gawn played 59% game time and Spence 48%. So basically they were rarely on the ground together. Max will play around 80-85% game time in the season - does this mean that we wont play two rucks because effectively we didn't yesterday? 
• Our leading contested possession winners were Viney (12), Oliver (10), Brayshaw (9), Salem (9), Smith (9) - great signs that Salem is getting a hard ball. 
• O-Mac took 9 marks for the game. Which was more than Cloke and he is a marking machine. 
• Salem had 4 clearances. Which was more than Jones or Oliver. 
• Melksham was blowing out the cobwebs but had more rebound 50's than anyone else in the game. He also had 3 1%ers. While I'm not convinced he is playing round 1, not a bad effort from him. 
• Brayshaw had 5 inside 50's which was only behind Dalhaus for the match. 
• Jones (6) and Viney (7) led the way with tackles but not to be outdone were Brayshaw (7) and Stretch (6). The boys are adding a defensive mindset as well. 

What this all means? We moved Lewis, Jones, and Vince out of the fire and the young boys stepped up. Specifically Salem and Stretch who are outside mids, who showed a little more balance. Our top performers are becoming our under 23's and that is only going to make us better. 

In a day full of positives the biggest worry for me is how putrid Tom McDonald dosposal is still.

2 hours ago, Webber said:

Joel Smith was the big turn-up for me. Laid the best three tackles of the game, read the ball well and was constructive with his disposal. Dare I say his athleticism reminds me of Easton Wood. I think the brains trust have big plans for him. Sam Frost might be the one to make way. 

Actually totally agree here. I like Frost's athleticism - however I think smith has this and more footy brains/read on the game. Tackling was outstanding!

21 minutes ago, Dee-licious said:

Random musings for you to think about: 

• Gawn played 59% game time and Spence 48%. So basically they were rarely on the ground together. Max will play around 80-85% game time in the season - does this mean that we wont play two rucks because effectively we didn't yesterday? 
• Our leading contested possession winners were Viney (12), Oliver (10), Brayshaw (9), Salem (9), Smith (9) - great signs that Salem is getting a hard ball. 
• O-Mac took 9 marks for the game. Which was more than Cloke and he is a marking machine. 
• Salem had 4 clearances. Which was more than Jones or Oliver. 
• Melksham was blowing out the cobwebs but had more rebound 50's than anyone else in the game. He also had 3 1%ers. While I'm not convinced he is playing round 1, not a bad effort from him. 
• Brayshaw had 5 inside 50's which was only behind Dalhaus for the match. 
• Jones (6) and Viney (7) led the way with tackles but not to be outdone were Brayshaw (7) and Stretch (6). The boys are adding a defensive mindset as well. 

What this all means? We moved Lewis, Jones, and Vince out of the fire and the young boys stepped up. Specifically Salem and Stretch who are outside mids, who showed a little more balance. Our top performers are becoming our under 23's and that is only going to make us better. 

Interesting stats... the one stat that surprised me was salem's contested possessions. 

I know he is an outside player, but I think he can be soft in the contest sometimes, has opportunities to go in hard and shirks...although the stats don't seem to agree. How did everyone else see this?

Salem should be one of our best mids as he can play inside and out and he's so clean with his disposal as a rule

37 minutes ago, Dee-licious said:

 

• O-Mac took 9 marks for the game. Which was more than Cloke and he is a marking machine.

When you're used as an outlet option in a switch of play passage in the backline, you're going to take plenty of marks. 

Seriously. That is a really useless stat.

Hogan looks so much more relaxed and he seems to have lightened up. Great signs that he has settled and bought in to the future of the team. He really is an imposing figure up forward.

22 minutes ago, Demons2riseagain said:

I know he is an outside player, but I think he can be soft in the contest sometimes, has opportunities to go in hard and shirks...

What ?

Salem's soft ???

This is one weird Sunday morning. 

41 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

In a day full of positives the biggest worry for me is how putrid Tom McDonald dosposal is still.

The disposal I can probably live with for a preseason game. I'm more worried about other parts of his game:

1. Why does he get led to the ball by someone as cumbersome as Cloke?
2. How often does a forward gather the ball in front of him and he meekly reaches for their waist and doesn't lay a big tackle
3. He still gets caught between marking and spoiling a lot of the time. Fly for the mark or lay a clear fist on it.
4. He drops his head and spits chips after every goal conceded by him or the team. Poor leadership.

24 minutes ago, Demons2riseagain said:

Interesting stats... the one stat that surprised me was salem's contested possessions. 

I know he is an outside player, but I think he can be soft in the contest sometimes, has opportunities to go in hard and shirks...although the stats don't seem to agree. How did everyone else see this?

He's not Jack Viney but I wouldn't call him soft. The one thing Salem does is try to win possession with an eye on what he's doing next, so he's protecting himself from contact. Guys like Viney and Oliver don't worry about that because they have the strength, agility and grunt to just deal with what comes. I actually think Jordan Lewis is more like Salem than a big body bull. 

16 minutes ago, ProDee said:

What ?

Salem's soft ???

This is one weird Sunday morning. 

Not his fault he's an ectomorph.

Does anyone know if there is a replay available online?

The AFL website's Smart Replay is gone, that used to be my source for full replays.

Finally got to watch a replay of the game. Videos on the home page wont play so I had to wind my way through all the My Account rubbish to watch premium content. Why can't I just click on the game replay and play it? 

Spencer was a huge win for us. Not just his tap work which was very good, but his 2nd and 3rd efforts on the ground and in packs was focused, VERY physical, and actually had some skill involved. Certainly opens up a two-ruck option in our 22.

Joel Smith. Wow. 

Brayshaw remains my main man for 2017. Balance, aggression ad plays both side of his body. 

The biggest win is the whole body of half forwards, mids and half forwards whom we can rotate through the game. Stretch, Salem, Oliver, Jones, Vince, Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, Hunt, etc... A lot of opposition teams will struggle to cover all of these each week. We seem to have finally risen to be able to match and play modern mid-field football.

Harmes and Melksham were the only two who really seemed to struggle.

However, it is the pre-season. 

3 hours ago, bandicoot said:

Dogs didn't have more than 2-3 players missing from premiership side. The bont is a big out but so is watts for us. I think Liam picken is jnjured and wouldn't have played anyway 

Boyd, Morris, Bont, Wood, Think a few others premiership players, Wallis still injured too

25 minutes ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Harmes and Melksham were the only two who really seemed to struggle.

 

And Weideman and AVB.  Can't see Weideman playing on that form and still think he has a lot of development to go.  He just wasn't in the game other than one contested mark and two Joe the goose goals.

Harmes was a disappointment and I don't know what ANB brings. 

Spencer has really opened up some options for us.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

Am I right in thinking Watts was injured in the intra club last week.  I seem to recall an incident where he appeared to hurt himself but then he stayed on so I ignored it. 

I note the usual debate over Tom McDonald.  I don't understand it but perhaps I'm missing something. I think he's great but like all players makes the odd mistake.

And what of Frost?  Was he injured or just not picked?  I thought he was very good in the intra club match.

 

6 minutes ago, Vogon Poetry said:

And Weideman and AVB.  Can't see Weideman playing on that form and still think he has a lot of development to go.  He just wasn't in the game other than one contested mark and two Joe the goose goals.

Harmes was a disappointment and I don't know what ANB brings. 

Spencer has really opened up some options for us.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

Am I right in thinking Watts was injured in the intra club last week.  I seem to recall an incident where he appeared to hurt himself but then he stayed on so I ignored it. 

I note the usual debate over Tom McDonald.  I don't understand it but perhaps I'm missing something. I think he's great but like all players makes the odd mistake.

And what of Frost?  Was he injured or just not picked?  I thought he was very good in the intra club match.

 

Is it just the 'odd' mistake, though?  I can recall a period in the third term where he made back to back errors, and ones that didn't seem forced either.

I'm a Tom McDonald fan and I like what he brings defensively to the side, but if we can get the ball in the hands of our better users more often so he has to kick less then I think the side will be better for it.