Just now, Lucifer's Hero said:

I actually think we are very good at moving the ball quickly out of opp forward line.  Where we fall down is lack of skill and composure in delivery to forwards so it often goes in high especially in recent weeks without Salem, Watts, Jones, Viney.  Its easy to say not do this but that is how it has been in recent weeks - perfect for Lever.

If we let them lock it in their forward line Lever will have a very relaxed night in the backline rather than 'zone off and pick up easy marks' in defence.  The problem with 'having enough at the contest is that the way Adel play in defence is that there isn't a contest - Lever is allowed to run off his man.   Quite right, Lever isn't going to out muscle Hogan et al that is the job of Talia et al so it frees Lever. 

I still see a need for a specific strategy to stop Lever if we are to win.

Can we drag him away from the contest as you suggest with T Mac, or whoever he matches up on.  Maybe look to keep Lever as much inside our forward 50 as we can and aim to limit his ability to zone off and impact a contest.  Structures don't always allow for that, but I can't see any other way, other than making him as accountable as possible.  

The one thing in our favour is that our tall forwards are all talented enough to kick a few goals and take plenty of marks - Lever simply may not have the luxury of zoning off as much as usual.

3 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Can we drag him away from the contest as you suggest with T Mac, or whoever he matches up on.  Maybe look to keep Lever as much inside our forward 50 as we can and aim to limit his ability to zone off and impact a contest.  Structures don't always allow for that, but I can't see any other way, other than making him as accountable as possible. 

The one thing in our favour is that our tall forwards are all talented enough to kick a few goals and take plenty of marks - Lever simply may not have the luxury of zoning off as much as usual.

To me that is our best strategy with TMac (as a defender) the best person to do it - a bit like the defensive forward but a tall version thereof.  

It is a strategy that has been very effective against Rance in recent weeks and Goodwin used it brilliantly with Petracca and Hurley in the 2nd half of the Ess game.

Will be interesting to watch what Goodwin does.  I'm sure they will dream up something quite innovative.  One thing I'm sure of they won't let Lever roam free.

12 minutes ago, leucopogon said:

BT is a commentator for the neutral fan with nothing invested in the outcome of the game. I can't stomach him when so much is at stake like the last two weeks. He makes you want to throw things at the tellie. 

Notwitihstanding we've had a good run outa 7 recently on fta.tv

Hopefully Jason Bennett is the next bruce.

What i'd really like to see for the rest of the year is 7 admit that lethal,ling,basil,wayne,and ( names escapes me ) that 2 tryhards from Sydney and Essendon are nfg'd .

Just recall the burbling fisherman and stick him on with the Wowee and Brian would be happy to go roaming ! 

3 hours ago, bandicoot said:

Was there training today? Were any demonlanders there?

Would've been been a closed session. Normally the open sessions are on Thursday if you play a Saturday game 

No way Lever will stop Plugger.

Great preview WJ!

We can only hope the heat and ground are levelers and bring the crows down to a standard were we can scrap it out. 

Agree that the likes of Watts and Tyson are likley to be given another week to get right for the more winnable assignment against Port at the G

Cutting off the Crow's center corridor through pressure and closing down space was the primary contributing factor in our last triumph. The Crows will have counter-measures in place, but do it again and we should be sweet. 

How about we pop the ball well up in the air where Lever is under it and have Jesse smash him as he takes the mark. 

The way we have been bombing it in lately this just might happen.

8 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I actually think we are very good at moving the ball quickly out of opp forward line.  Where we fall down is lack of skill and composure in delivery to forwards so it often goes in high especially in recent weeks without Salem, Watts, Jones, Viney.  Its easy to say not do this but that is how it has been in recent weeks - perfect for Lever.

If we let them lock it in their forward line Lever will have a very relaxed night in their backline rather than 'zone off and pick up easy marks' in defence.  The problem with 'having enough at the contest' is that the way Adel play in defence is that there isn't a contest - Lever is allowed to run off his man.   Quite right, Lever isn't going to out muscle Hogan et al that is the job of Talia et al so it frees Lever. 

I still see a need for a specific strategy to stop Lever if we are to win.

Disagree on Jones' and Viney's delivery into the forward line. Jones often bombs it in long, resulting in turnovers. His value is as a tough ball-getter in the packs, as well as clearances, tackling and occasional goals. Viney is not a great kick. He is a great tackler, breaker of packs, general tough player, good handballer and on field leader. 

6 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

No way Lever will stop Plugger.

Lever is the Crows danger man.  The idea is for Plugger to distract and stop Lever not the other way round.

2 hours ago, Skuit said:

Cutting off the Crow's center corridor through pressure and closing down space was the primary contributing factor in our last triumph. The Crows will have counter-measures in place, but do it again and we should be sweet. 

Jones and Viney were pivotal to that and they aren't playing. 

31 minutes ago, Diamond said:

Disagree on Jones' and Viney's delivery into the forward line. Jones often bombs it in long, resulting in turnovers. His value is as a tough ball-getter in the packs, as well as clearances, tackling and occasional goals. Viney is not a great kick. He is a great tackler, breaker of packs, general tough player, good handballer and on field leader. 

Poorly worded on my part.  The Jones, Viney was reference to prior posts relating to controlling the midfield not skill in fwd delivery.  The Salem/Watts was reference to their skill and composure for good delivery to the forward line.

Essentially, this is a very different game to round 8.  Lever didn't play last time and we have a lot of outs who did.  Same game plan, different tactics required.

2 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Jones and Viney were pivotal to that and they aren't playing. 

Essentially, this is a very different game to round 8.  Lever didn't play last time and we have a lot of outs who did.  Same game plan, different tactics required.

True and accepted in regard to my referenced contribution. But my point still stands. Shut down the space and we should be okay. Viney and Jones were big in that but others should be able to step up in this regard i.e. it won't necessarily be won on the back of our clearance ability but our efforts to control tempo and space. And I agree that there should be a Lever-plan in place and that spreading the forward line is a good option.

I'm just grateful we have another game on free to air, we hardly had any but the last month or so have been great (aside from the fact that Channel Seven commentators are putrid).

7 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I'm just grateful we have another game on free to air, we hardly had any but the last month or so have been great (aside from the fact that Channel Seven commentators are putrid).

I can't recall Bruce calling many Sunday 3.20pm games this year but I did notice he called the Pies v Hawks game a couple of weeks ago. I guess he picks and chooses the Speshhhhaaal games.

The Milkshake on Lever 

 

32 minutes ago, Demon77 said:

I can't recall Bruce calling many Sunday 3.20pm games this year but I did notice he called the Pies v Hawks game a couple of weeks ago. I guess he picks and chooses the Speshhhhaaal games.

I think Bruce was the fill-in that day for Gil's little brother who thankfully for everyone is on holidays.

If Jason Bennett can learn the difference between Wagner, Harmes and Oliver there may be the prospect of some half decent commentary.

10 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Yes, ideally, we find targets up forward but in practice we don't have the composure yet and with Salem and Watts (maybe) out we don't have the skill for pin point passes. 

And if as you say we can't dominate the midfield how do we stop Lever?

I know what you are saying, but the previous suggestion of getting McDonald to tag him seems so wasteful of our most in from key forward.  Perhaps useling Pedo or even Hogan in the tagging/defencive foward role you suggested might be more the way to go.

12 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Channel 7 comentry team: 

Omitted - Brian Taylor;

 

This goose has called us the past two weeks now and has given me the complete shiiits both times.  Craps on incessantly.  BT, it's time to go.

He can take Bruuuuce and Johnson with him. 

You can rule Kennedy out as a potential in. His Instagram story is him in hospital getting his wisdom teeth out by the looks of it... Not that many expected him in anyway

Tyson a long shot and Watts ruled out according to Mitch Cleary.

Watts and Salem being put through their paces and doing well at training this morning. Both training with the main group earlier and hopefully will play on Saturday. Tyson not with main group and ran laps. Still seems to be favouring his knee. 

Looking like neither Watts nor Tyson will be playing this week.

From what I saw at training today both Watts and Salem good chances of playing, but not Tyson.

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Lever is the Crows danger man.  The idea is for Plugger to distract and stop Lever not the other way round.

Ok i see....and probably agree, but isnt Lever their key defender? Maybe its time they started worrying about us. Hes never come up against our boy Plugger!

13 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Channel 7 comentry team: 

Omitted - Brian Taylor;

 

This goose has called us the past two weeks now and has given me the complete shiiits both times.  Craps on incessantly.  BT, it's time to go.

 

2 hours ago, Demon77 said:

I can't recall Bruce calling many Sunday 3.20pm games this year but I did notice he called the Pies v Hawks game a couple of weeks ago. I guess he picks and chooses the Speshhhhaaal games.

I doubt very much that BT or Bruce make the decisions as to which games they call or the method they use to call games. They're just the on-air talent. I can't believe I'm coming to BT's defence, but he has shown that he performs as his producers want him to. When they ask him to call seriously (Friday nights) he does so and very well. When he's asked to play the buffoon (Saturday nights in previous years and post game on Fridays) he can do that too. We should save our criticisms for the producers of the programs, not the on-air talent. 

Either way, I'm just glad that this game is on FTA TV. It's been hard to get used to Friday night and Saturday night TV watching. But I'd be quite happy to get used to it.