Making the finals

[What 18,810]

Is there anyone who thinks we can still make the 8?

If so please explain why in detail.  Am still in denial that the season is over 6 rounds in.    ???

[Nelo 813]

Two chances. 

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Need 13 wins from 16, plus %

[martin 727]

Bottom of the ladder

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

Not sure about finals, but we will beat Hawthorn.

[dees189227 12,441]

Well currently the only way is up. I hope the players are enjoying there 4 day break and someone realises there team that they play for is currently sitting stone motherless last. 

Edited April 26, 2019 by dees189227

[binman 44,201]

Fun thread.

[nosoupforme 3,085]

Don't kid yourself there is no way back the rope is cut we are shot already. It's a pity for all of us who thought differently.

A waste of paying extra for a Grand Final guarantee and it is a scam.  A Member for 35 consecutive years. 

I hope to see the improvement somewhere for faith wise. However we are now on the bottom of the ladder Norf just jumped us on percentage tonight. 

Looking to the club being a big player in the Draft. I am not in denial l am facing the bitter truth.

 

[praha 11,240]

Nah the season is gone. Realistically you only want a maximum of 8 losses to assure a spot. That means 3 more losses for the season.

We are more likely to finish last than to make finals.

[bing181 9,348]

I can see us making the finals as much as anything because the comp is becoming so even.

On the other hand, even if we start winning matches, it will be tight, and the issue we'd have isn't just that we've lost 5  games, but that we have a garbage percentage. That 600 points against is just massive, and will be hard to pull back or balance.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,724]

I hope the Club is smart about this now and doesnt rush May,Lever,Vanders, Jetta etc back.

The season is shot, just quietly manage the rest of the season trying younger players in different positions planning for a real assault on 2020 and beyond.

Get 2-3 low picks, use them on speed and quality ball users.

[What 18,810]

46 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Need 13 wins from 16, plus %

Geez thats a nice reality check.

And to think I'm only on stage 1.  Havent even gotten angry yet.  Lord have mercy

 

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by Petraccattack

[Sydee 4,566]

44 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Not sure about finals, but we will beat Hawthorn.

Really ?? I don’t think so on what basis have you formed that view ? Just taking the p(ss I assume 

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

13 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Really ?? I don’t think so on what basis have you formed that view ? Just taking the p(ss I assume 

Even with some over the top statements lately on here, tipping our team to win a game of footy sounds as ridiculous these days.

No basis Sydee, just a gut feel.

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

We’ll win a few in the back half and finish ahead of Suns, North and probably Dogs. 7 wins with [censored] %age. 15th. Pick 4 in the draft.

[dl4e 5,851]

no.

[Fork 'em 7,010]

Cameron Bruce.

[Deesprate 1,324]

28 minutes ago, Matsuo Basho said:

We’ll win a few in the back half and finish ahead of Suns, North and probably Dogs. 7 wins with [censored] %age. 15th. Pick 4 in the draft.

I love your optimism.

[Little Goffy 14,670]

Alright, here we go, here's how it would, could, might, in theory happen -

Hawks aren't actually that good, they haven't beaten anyone impressive. The four days off trick will work and we will come in with a calmer mind and better focused on what needs to be done. Disposal efficiency climbs, workrate at least reaches adequate. Win number 2 goes on the board. We're 2-5 after 7 rounds.

Suns just barely scraped their three wins against highly variable opposition and have had a bit of luck. They were exposed by an Adelaide side that still isn't really hitting great heights of their own. Their confidence will be down after being belted in Perth by an angry Eagles side. We go 3-5, and start to believe.

I wont make any pretences about our chances against the Eagles at this stage. 3-6 after nine rounds and we are still right on the edge of season over. But just maybe we turn up with some fight and at least show we're still a meaningful team - part of the healing, redeption process.

The Giants are still up and down and massively rely on a few stars to make them potent. Simon Goodwin pulls his first ever genius positional move and somehow matches the right players to lock down on Coniglio and Whitfield. Demons finally rediscover their forward connection and just barely come through in a low-margin shootout game for the ages. We are 4-6 and starting to believe.

Round 11, we return to the Northern Territory to hunt Crows, and just like last season this is the game where things really turn. Just like last season, Adelaide wilts under the weight of lost contests and clearances. Not like last season's hammering, but an important win. We are 5-6 and looking like a menace.

Queens Birthday at the MCG. We've begun to get some players back from injury, even if not stars, May, Smith, Vandenberg and Hannan have all been trickling back into the team and giving us a deeper team capable of holding their end up while the stars do their thing. Headlines start reading "Where were these Demons at the start of the year" and players respond with "we will never be caught napping in pre-season again". Incredibly, we are 6-6 at the halfway point of the season.

With Lever coming back after the long break and the team finding a new solidarity and commitment, and the coaches having learnt a valuable lesson in flexibility and tactical initiative, the pieces come together and the Demons are now a team to take seriously for the second half of the season.

Before you know it, we've knock over four quick wins against the unreliable Dockers, tiring Lions and Blues, and ever-stumbling Bulldogs. We are 10-6 and now the ONLY team in the competition that has managed a consistent run of wins.

Suddenly, it is possible to speculate about our chances against in the Eagles, back up in the NT. It is like a whole new reality has dawned in ten weeks.

 

So, there it is, each small delusion builds into the next. Each one only a moderate madness in itself, but when you get to the end you look back and go... naaaah, that is just total, absolute madness.

If it happens, I expect not only to be given an award for my prediction, but to actually be given credit for the whole thing happening and installed as an assistant coach responsible for miracles.

 

 

[deebug 1,754]

59 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Geez thats a nice reality check.

And to think I'm only on stage 1.  Havent even gotten angry yet.  Lord have mercy

 

 

Still at 2 for me

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

Might spoon it if Goody doesn't swallow his pride during the 4 day break and review/revamp the zone/press part of the game style plus recognize the need for speed off HB & placing our best ball users with a bit of pace out wide.

If he does we can salvage something but finals are a bridge too far IMO as confidence is completely shot with most players.  The situation is that bad many have moved into survival 'flight' mode disposal decisions ie; "Here you have it!  Nah i dont want it, you have it back!".

My amature look at it...

It's time to go man on man for good chunks of a match and see who really wants it.  Zone off only if we get our noses in front by a decent winning margin.

The Ruck / engine room is the only aspect of our game that's showing any resemblance to 2018.  Everywhere else is almost flat lining and on life support.

Start with the engine room.  But no major change.  Just a decent oil change.  A bit of burst speed / agility inside.  Who?  Can Tracc bring a little in place of Viney?  If not who?  Bit of Melk?  But a massive 10 turnovers against the Tiges on Weds eve.  Needs more time?  Other issue.is.he doesnt defend / tackle.

The forward line will only start to click once Pruess is back (98%+ fit) and Jeffy / Lockhart are at his feet with a bit of Jones in the pocket also IMO.  Very small bursts in a mid field relief role only.  The remainder on the bench (eg; approx 20% to 30% to keep him fresh).

Who plays CHF?  I have no idea but maybe T-Smith for a block of 3 to 4 matches In the hope he can eventually play out 3 to 4 quarters.  If that fails maybe Keilty for a similar block.  Weids is so far off AFL right now he needs a solid stint at Casey before his next recall once he finds his mojo.

Hunt returns to HB for a decent block and see if he can get back to somewhere near 2017 form.  We need more line breaking run and pace there.  Forward craft / IQ poor at this point.

Lockhart to stay and play deep sharing the role with chunk off the bench building up his tank and experience for a decent block.

Some pace and good disposal needed off both wings via Salem, Fritschkreig, Melk and Harmes.

Drill disposal skills for the remainder of the year.  Whoever can't get reasonably close to AFL disposal levels (for their role played vs other AFL peers playing a similar role) is moved on at year's end.

Hoping for a turnaround in skills, speed of ball movement, lime.breaking run, effective transistion off HB connecting with our forwards and manic defending / attack on the footy and ball carrier.

Preparing for the worst.

Edited April 26, 2019 by Rusty Nails

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

33 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Alright, here we go, here's how it would, could, might, in theory happen -

Hawks aren't actually that good, they haven't beaten anyone impressive. The four days off trick will work and we will come in with a calmer mind and better focused on what needs to be done. Disposal efficiency climbs, workrate at least reaches adequate. Win number 2 goes on the board. We're 2-5 after 7 rounds.

Suns just barely scraped their three wins against highly variable opposition and have had a bit of luck. They were exposed by an Adelaide side that still isn't really hitting great heights of their own. Their confidence will be down after being belted in Perth by an angry Eagles side. We go 3-5, and start to believe.

I wont make any pretences about our chances against the Eagles at this stage. 3-6 after nine rounds and we are still right on the edge of season over. But just maybe we turn up with some fight and at least show we're still a meaningful team - part of the healing, redeption process.

The Giants are still up and down and massively rely on a few stars to make them potent. Simon Goodwin pulls his first ever genius positional move and somehow matches the right players to lock down on Coniglio and Whitfield. Demons finally rediscover their forward connection and just barely come through in a low-margin shootout game for the ages. We are 4-6 and starting to believe.

Round 11, we return to the Northern Territory to hunt Crows, and just like last season this is the game where things really turn. Just like last season, Adelaide wilts under the weight of lost contests and clearances. Not like last season's hammering, but an important win. We are 5-6 and looking like a menace.

Queens Birthday at the MCG. We've begun to get some players back from injury, even if not stars, May, Smith, Vandenberg and Hannan have all been trickling back into the team and giving us a deeper team capable of holding their end up while the stars do their thing. Headlines start reading "Where were these Demons at the start of the year" and players respond with "we will never be caught napping in pre-season again". Incredibly, we are 6-6 at the halfway point of the season.

With Lever coming back after the long break and the team finding a new solidarity and commitment, and the coaches having learnt a valuable lesson in flexibility and tactical initiative, the pieces come together and the Demons are now a team to take seriously for the second half of the season.

Before you know it, we've knock over four quick wins against the unreliable Dockers, tiring Lions and Blues, and ever-stumbling Bulldogs. We are 10-6 and now the ONLY team in the competition that has managed a consistent run of wins.

Suddenly, it is possible to speculate about our chances against in the Eagles, back up in the NT. It is like a whole new reality has dawned in ten weeks.

 

So, there it is, each small delusion builds into the next. Each one only a moderate madness in itself, but when you get to the end you look back and go... naaaah, that is just total, absolute madness.

If it happens, I expect not only to be given an award for my prediction, but to actually be given credit for the whole thing happening and installed as an assistant coach responsible for miracles.

 

 

This will be the last post I read each and every night before sleep leading into the Hawthorn game.

[Skin Deeamond 339]

1 hour ago, Rusty Nails said:

Might spoon it if Goody doesn't swallow his pride during the 4 day break and review/revamp the zone/press part of the game style plus recognize the need for speed off HB & placing our best ball users with a bit of pace out wide.

If he does we can salvage something but finals are a bridge too far IMO as confidence is completely shot with most players.  The situation is that bad many have moved into survival 'flight' mode disposal decisions ie; "Here you have it!  Nah i dont want it, you have it back!".

My amature look at it...

It's time to go man on man for good chunks of a match and see who really wants it.  Zone off only if we get our noses in front by a decent winning margin.

The Ruck / engine room is the only aspect of our game that's showing any resemblance to 2018.  Everywhere else is almost flat lining and on life support.

Start with the engine room.  But no major change.  Just a decent oil change.  A bit of burst speed / agility inside.  Who?  Can Tracc bring a little in place of Viney?  If not who?  Bit of Melk?  But a massive 10 turnovers against the Tiges on Weds eve.  Needs more time?  Other issue.is.he doesnt defend / tackle.

The forward line will only start to click once Pruess is back (98%+ fit) and Jeffy / Lockhart are at his feet with a bit of Jones in the pocket also IMO.  Very small bursts in a mid field relief role only.  The remainder on the bench (eg; approx 20% to 30% to keep him fresh).

Who plays CHF?  I have no idea but maybe T-Smith for a block of 3 to 4 matches In the hope he can eventually play out 3 to 4 quarters.  If that fails maybe Keilty for a similar block.  Weids is so far off AFL right now he needs a solid stint at Casey before his next recall once he finds his mojo.

Hunt returns to HB for a decent block and see if he can get back to somewhere near 2017 form.  We need more line breaking run and pace there.  Forward craft / IQ poor at this point.

Lockhart to stay and play deep sharing the role with chunk off the bench building up his tank and experience for a decent block.

Some pace and good disposal needed off both wings via Salem, Fritschkreig, Melk and Harmes.

Drill disposal skills for the remainder of the year.  Whoever can't get reasonably close to AFL disposal levels (for their role played vs other AFL peers playing a similar role) is moved on at year's end.

Hoping for a turnaround in skills, speed of ball movement, lime.breaking run, effective transistion off HB connecting with our forwards and manic defending / attack on the footy and ball carrier.

Preparing for the worst.

Our main problem has bee an inability to get the ball between the two bigger sticks at the end of the ground. Our forwards have been abysmal, as has the delivery to them.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

3 hours ago, dees189227 said:

Well currently the only way is up. I hope the players are enjoying there 4 day break and someone realises there team that they play for is currently sitting stone motherless last. 

Hate to be a pain, but its a pet hate.....their!

But yeah, i agree.

[Skuit 10,031]

5 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Geez thats a nice reality check.

And to think I'm only on stage 1.  Havent even gotten angry yet.  Lord have mercy

 

 

The strangest thing is the number of posters on here who have just skipped straight to 7. There's the usual suspects at 2 - some of those who have managed to blend their 2 with the comfort of 7 - a very low-level all-pervasive 5, a few nut-jobs at 4 who feel guilty for some self-bathwater fan-influence notion and project that onto the players,  and then the majority who are stationed somewhere between 6 & 7. Technically, 'blame' falls under anger and bargaining, but I believe casting for culprits, or searching randomly for answers (is it you God?) deserves its own grief stage, and that it's otherwise a step toward acceptance.

As for me: a mix of denial and acceptance without any of the interim stages.

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by Skuit