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Gawn In Doubt for Crows?

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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1 hour ago, Skuit said:

I don't know mate. I don't know how many teams have had the four-day break so far. Finding it hard to watch. It's obvious everyone wants to be grumpy at the MFC. And I've made it clear I'm upset with the AFL scheduling and don't think the condensed rounds are cool at all. I'm still annoyed with our series of six-day breaks and travel and accumulation of injuries in the back half of 2017. 

But in saying that I also think it's too simplistic to look at the number of soft-tissue injuries across the league as a measure. Some players are more susceptible than others. Gawn has had soft-tissue issues before. The AFL has increased the risk to those players. It's okay to say toughen up but football isn't the EPL or NBA. The players also don't have the regular experience of backing up from short breaks.

Hard to watch us, or the competition overall?

I'm not finding the comp hard to watch at all. It's odd, and it's different, but it is still a competition with meaningful games and meaningful results.

The condensed rounds are tough, but whenever I hear players quoted on the topic they talk about being grateful for their chance to keep playing and being ready for the challenge.

Yes, it's tough, but I'm not sure there is currently sufficient evidence that these shorter breaks are detrimental to the look/feel of the game, the quality of the game, or player health.

Happy to revisit in two weeks as we see how it unfolds, but right now I'm comfortable with it all.

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    1 minute ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    I’d play Preuss if fit. That’s what he is on the list for. Otherwise trade him out for both his sake and our list. 

    I can’t see how he would be fit, he hasn’t played any competitive game since March 

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    Still nothing from the club on this. Hopefully it’s just a rumour that he’s out.

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    2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    loved me some of the #pedomyths. He was a lion hearted player who gave his all every game. I'd easily have in the current side over fumble jumble in Tom McDonald. 

    fumble jumble made me laugh

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    7 minutes ago, ben russell said:

    Still nothing from the club on this. Hopefully it’s just a rumour that he’s out.

    They'd certainly be holding it off until tomorrow afternoon when the sides are named. Don't want to give Adelaide's MC too much a chair ride.

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    2 hours ago, jnrmac said:

    We haven't won clearances in the last two weeks I believe so it could hardly be worse.

    You don't know that.

    Gawn's influence isn't just in clearances. Even on one of his poorer days, he is an elite runner, making position and dragging opponents with him as they're scared of his ability to control the air and provide an outlet for us.

    Neither Preuss, nor Jackson, nor anyone else on our list, can command the field like he does.

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    3 hours ago, A F said:

    I love your posting mate, but I feel like a single (potential) injury to Gawn is a cop out for our ordinary showing. Okay, the Port game may not be emblematic of the rest of our season, I certainly hope not, but at the moment, we haven't got the job done this year and it has less to do with fixturing and more to do with coaching and decision making IMO.

    There's probably an element of confirmation bias here - as I had been concerned about the four day break leading into the match (and had quietly questioned our approach) - but within about two minutes it looked exactly to me like a completely flat team against one which had had a longer break. It's a sport of such tight competitive margins. 

    But I get why everyone is angry. It looked like the same stuff we've served up in the past. It was. But partly in my mind because the short break exacerbated our obvious issues. Such as poor skills. We also made it worse at the selection table - another reoccurring theme. And we've definitely had games in our past where the players have showed zero effort.

    The reason I'm accepting that the short break had an influence however was because effort hasn't been one of our recent issues. Our structure is shot and almost all of our senior players haven't offered a thing. But I don't recall a lack of effort being spoken of once this year. People can be [censored] at those other things - but I feel anger towards the players is unwarranted.  

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    Might cost him  his 4th AA selection unfortunately and maybe the Brownlow too.

    And before you say who cares about individual awards, well they are the only things we will ever win so I celebrate them. 

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    Gawn has confirmed himself that he will play against the Crows.

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    6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

     

    Phew! I’m glad that’s sorted. Let’s move on ?

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    Hang on. I thought a certain poster had inside info and he was going to miss two games? Someone forgot to tell Gawny. 

    Edited by Ethan Tremblay

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    More detail  AFL website article

    I find this comment attributed to him, troubling  "He said the Demons knew what they did wrong but were still trying to discover the reason for it".

    Not sure if he was referring to the lethargy or why we keep making the same mistakes.  Either way if we don't the reason we don't know how to fix it! 

    Echoes of Goodwins vague comments of 'working on the 'problem'' but we don't see results.

    Edited by Lucifer's Hero

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    9 hours ago, Skuit said:

    There's probably an element of confirmation bias here - as I had been concerned about the four day break leading into the match (and had quietly questioned our approach) - but within about two minutes it looked exactly to me like a completely flat team against one which had had a longer break. It's a sport of such tight competitive margins. 

    But I get why everyone is angry. It looked like the same stuff we've served up in the past. It was. But partly in my mind because the short break exacerbated our obvious issues. Such as poor skills. We also made it worse at the selection table - another reoccurring theme. And we've definitely had games in our past where the players have showed zero effort.

    The reason I'm accepting that the short break had an influence however was because effort hasn't been one of our recent issues. Our structure is shot and almost all of our senior players haven't offered a thing. But I don't recall a lack of effort being spoken of once this year. People can be [censored] at those other things - but I feel anger towards the players is unwarranted.  

    Port only had an extra day I believe.

    But this is part o fthe problem when the heat is not applied to the players. They are let off the hook.

    It was a dismal performance. Totally unacceptable.

    The same as last year when we gave the players an out because of our 'injury list' We let our players and coaches off so often for garbage performances.

    And the weird thing is that It seems the only time they really perform is when the blowtorch is applied.

    Yet here we are with a full list and Goodwin still can't coach.

    And Epstein didn't kill himself.

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    12 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    Port only had an extra day I believe.

    But this is part o fthe problem when the heat is not applied to the players. They are let off the hook.

    It was a dismal performance. Totally unacceptable.

    The same as last year when we gave the players an out because of our 'injury list' We let our players and coaches off so often for garbage performances.

    And the weird thing is that It seems the only time they really perform is when the blowtorch is applied.

    Yet here we are with a full list and Goodwin still can't coach.

    And Epstein didn't kill himself.

    Short break did not seem to worry port last night.

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    14 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

    Hang on. I thought a certain poster had inside info and he was going to miss two games? Someone forgot to tell Gawny. 

    It came from one of Max's best mates, the info was solid. Clearly he is injured given he didn't train and went for scans, but he has decided he is right to play despite the medical advice. Should he play then we just have to hope it doesn't make it worse for the games where we actually really need him.

    Good troll though.

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    12 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    It came from one of Max's best mates, the info was solid. Clearly he is injured given he didn't train and went for scans, but he has decided he is right to play despite the medical advice. Should he play then we just have to hope it doesn't make it worse for the games where we actually really need him.

    Good troll though.

    ethan trollblay?

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    Max put a qualifier on playing the Crows: " … but my scans were relatively good this week, so it's all systems go at this stage."

    My guess he will nominated in the team tonight and the leave it to the last minute tomorrow to decide.  The clue will be in whether Tomlinson and TMac are selected and/or who is the nominated emergency.

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    4 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Max put a qualifier on playing the Crows: " … but my scans were relatively good this week, so it's all systems go at this stage."

    My guess he will nominated in the team tonight and the leave it to the last minute tomorrow to decide.  The clue will be in whether Tomlinson and TMac are selected and/or who is the nominated emergency.

    When we have so many games in a reduced time period why would you risk him against the Crows?

     

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    • Like 1
    14 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    Max put a qualifier on playing the Crows: " … but my scans were relatively good this week, so it's all systems go at this stage."

    My guess he will nominated in the team tonight and the leave it to the last minute tomorrow to decide.  The clue will be in whether Tomlinson and TMac are selected and/or who is the nominated emergency.

     

    8 minutes ago, old dee said:

    When we have so many games in a reduced time period why would you risk him against the Crows?

    He loves the club, and being captain at a time when it is under fire makes it no surprise really he's declared himself fit to play. Doesn't mean he is though. It's understandable from Max's point of view, but you're right OD, in the context of who we play as well as our current clearance/midfield connection issues I hope he's not risking himself.

    Edited by Lord Nev

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