45 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

I have realised that if we play finals this year, it will be a real bonus

Injuries to key personnel has meant that our depth was seriously questioned and found wanting

You can't have Hogan, Viney and the VIP Lever out of this team and expect high level success

It will be a huge bonus, but it will also be a fail if we don't given that we missed last year (and beat more top 8 teams last year, as well!)

I think we've been unlucky with some injuries (especially Viney and Lever, given that Hogan has played almost every game this year), but that doesn't excuse some of the performances we've turned in, and doesn't explain our games against bottom feeders when we've played with a near full-strength side (like St Kilda).

Then there are teams that have had to deal with constant injuries (often to important players), but they're still making other teams sweat (Collingwood, in particular). Remember Collingwood? They finished wayyy below us last year, have been riddled with injury, but they're playing out of their skins.

Hogan, Viney and Lever (I feel for this one in particular given that he's the main difference from 2017) are notable absences, but they should not define a year.

40 minutes ago, layzie said:

Yeah its a bit of same old same old when you hear that. "oh they weren't ready last week but this week they will be fired up!". Newsflash: This is the week. No more wake up calls this is it make or break. The reward will be incredible, the consequences will be absolutely dire.

Absolutely! I would have thought there would still be lots of fire in the belly from R23 last year! This is definitely the week to bring the goods, and keep bringing the goods. Because the only way we're going to be taken seriously is if we never turn back.

5 minutes ago, RedButMostlyBlue said:

Absolutely! I would have thought there would still be lots of fire in the belly from R23 last year! This is definitely the week to bring the goods, and keep bringing the goods. Because the only way we're going to be taken seriously is if we never turn back.

This has stuck in my craw all season. We were told it was going to burn in the guts but here we are, in the same position. Was all in our hands but we gassed it.

Time is now. By Monday the time will have passed. 

9 minutes ago, RedButMostlyBlue said:

Hogan, Viney and Lever (I feel for this one in particular given that he's the main difference from 2017) are notable absences, but they should not define a year.

Sure, they don't define the year in themselves, but they're an important element to be taken into consideration when looking at outcomes.

(Though you also missed Tom McD, absent for the first 5 games.)

20 minutes ago, RedButMostlyBlue said:

Remember Collingwood? They finished wayyy below us last year, have been riddled with injury, but they're playing out of their skins.

The same Collingwood that are +100 from free kicks this year? The same Collingwood the boss of Channel 7 wanted 'up and running'?

4 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Sure, they don't define the year in themselves, but they're an important element to be taken into consideration when looking at outcomes.

(Though you also missed Tom McD, absent for the first 5 games.)

I agree, they're a big part of the puzzle. But really we've only been without Viney and Lever for the majority of the year (Hogan has been there, and Tom McD has played since R6). Lever wasn't here last year, and we beat (I think 4) top 8 sides last year. So the only difference was Viney? That can't be right.

All I'm saying is that, like the Pies (who were way behind us last year), we should be able to adapt and turn in 100% performances. Not some of the BS performances (like Q2 and Q3 last week) we turn in when we need to bring our A game.

But I hear you, when we get Lever, Viney and Hogan back, man oh man. 2019 will be a very exciting time (unless you're one of the other 17 teams that will have to play us).

7 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

The same Collingwood that are +100 from free kicks this year? The same Collingwood the boss of Channel 7 wanted 'up and running'?

Yeah, the same side.

Yeah, they get some frees here and there, and some suspect preferential treatment. But they smoked us. Twice. Once when our finals were on the line. And the second when we came back for 'vengeance', with fire still burning in our guts from R23 last year. I was there for both games, and free kicks did not cause the spanking we got.

WE are $2.30 to beat WC at perth ?     I hope we win but $2.30 ?   I would have thought $3.00  at least.      Yes I collected the $3 00  last week re the swans.  I wish I bloody did not  (only 10 bucks at $3.00)  Still getting over that one.     Please one more win... please !!!

JFK, Garlett and Pedo dropped.

Hannan and Kent in as well as the other 3 discussed yesterday.

I don't get the title. Is weak 2 something to do with the mentally weak discussion? Its 5 and I need a beer.

Official

Kent, Hibbo, Melksham, Weed, Hannan are in!

JKH, Hogan, Hunt, Pedersen, Garlett out!

Great ins in my opinion! 

Some much speed and strength into the lineups.

 

Glad they dropped Garlett if you don’t lay tackles see you later would be getting close to trade bait now 

Love the ins.

I’m a big Garlett fan, but I like these changes.  The team’s looking a lot quicker and damaging this week.  Melksham, Kent and Hibberd all have long, line-breaking kicks.

Apart from Garlett being dropped, I was basically on the money for this week (although I did have a bet each way with Pedo v Weid as the KPF, since I haven't seen Weid at Casey).

I would have taken Garlett and dropped Spargo instead, but I'm pretty happy with the other ins and outs.

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by Rogue

4 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

JFK, Garlett and Pedo dropped.

Hannan and Kent in as well as the other 3 discussed yesterday.

Would have kept Garlett and not bother with Hannan personally but maybe it could work.

Match committee has selections corrector mondo this week! Very good INs...

Dees beat WC and GWS!

The naysayer commentators go silent! 

Kent and Hannan add much needed tackling pressure and speed around the contest. I also reckon we'll see them both playing more upfield to try and generate quicker ball movement.

Really excited for this match!

1 minute ago, layzie said:

Would have kept Garlett and not bother with Hannan personally but maybe it could work.

Hannan’s long kicking will be a feature this week! Especially when he slots 3 from long range...

4 hours ago, 000 said:

At the thursday training I noticed that we were working hard on defense.
Dean kent and Jay Kennedy-Harris competing in close range. Coaching staff putting ball in between them basketball style. The one who got the ball was instantly tackled, both doing well breaking or sticking the tackle. I thought JKH was a bit stronger and smarter in the contest. 
Christian Petracca was working very hard in the simulations to pressure the opponents. He won or imposed himself in lots of contest. I think he is ready and I'm hoping he can pull it all together in this big game.
At the throw ins to mids they were making sure they got their match ups right. Plenty of communication to cover the opponents. Pick ups, front positions and defending the area were the ball may drop seemed to be emphasized. 
There were plenty of intercepts, punches of high balls, locking the ball in and finding outlets when under pressure during simulations.
Tom Mcdonald was looking very fit and strong (no obvious niggles) and motivated. He will be difficult to defend against (tall, fast, endurance and a rock), hoping we can kick to his advantage and he kicks a bag full.
Jake Melksham was delivering beautifully into the forwards during simulations expecting the same thing during game. I think he is mature enough that a few weeks off won't effect his impact too badly.  

Sam Wiedeman has been doing quite alot of ruck training in the past couple of months. It will be interesting to see how Goodwin uses in the team. He was getting plenty of action on thursday  though looking a bit anxious. He is stronger and bigger now, won't be pushed around. Hopefully he sticks a few marks or at least brings the ball down to front and centre. 

I think Goodwin liked the way Sydney used small kicks to create the overlap or break the lines as he was getting us to do the same thing. Small passes to open players and kicks looping to players at the back of front positioned defenders. I think it is also a strategy that may allow us to clear the opponents pressure area.

 Wouldn't be surprised if we move the ball more by foot and keep them to under 12 goals. A kind of finals approach to this game. Hard, dour and gut running when we don't have the ball and creative ball use so to find an express lane to goals when we have it.


 

 

Thanks for the report. We did a lot of this training in the pre season but we don't seem to use it much in games. Teams that beat us do it a lot.

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Official

Kent, Hibbo, Melksham, Weed, Hannan are in!

JKH, Hogan, Hunt, Pedersen, Garlett out!

Great ins in my opinion! 

Some much speed and strength into the lineups.

 

5 changes

While good to see some of the names is a major departure from the stability bias which has been evident over past month or two

Hope it means freshness, and not blokes struggling with the speed if the game 

Dees kick plenty of goals this week! Plenty of bouncing of each other... ⛹?‍♂️

7 minutes ago, Rogue said:

I would have taken Garlett and dropped Spargo instead.

As would have I. Garlett's always capable of a bit of magic, but I concede his season has dropped off considerably compared to the first half of 2017.

I hope Spargo just had an off day last week as his set shots from 30 metres out were not AFL standard. 

Edited August 17, 20186 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Would’ve preferred Garlett than Hannan. Despite having a poor game against the Swans, he was amongst our most dangerous players the week before and was IMO a key reason we beat Adelaide over there. His 2nd/3rd quarter burst set up our win. 

Hannan has not had any impact on an AFL match in 12 months. Poor selection.

The Ins otherwise are all solid choices. Melksham and Hibberd will make a big difference!

5 changes...signs of almost desperation ...two for improvement and one forced but it does not augur well.

What a disappointment this season has been