My observations:

• Our first crushing win.
• Our fwd line was excellent:
  • While opps were paying close attention to Fritsch in the 1st qtr, Brown had 1 vs 1, got good separation and kicked 2.1. 
  • When opps paid more attention to him, Fritsch had 1 vs 1, got off the leash and kicked 7.0!! His separation from Kelly was helped by Kelly being almost concussed earlier in the game but that does not diminish his excellent leading and his goal kicking was brilliant.
  • Fritsch isn't leading to the pockets.  Most of his marks/kicks were a fair way from the boundary and closer to goal.  Hence his accuracy.
  • Delivery to the fwd line was vastly improved.
• Our final quarter defence was a masterclass in how to defend a lead. 
  • At one stage Lever was waving players to the boundary to ensure his kick to the pack would go out rather than come back.  Not only did we keep the opp score down to 1.1 we managed to kick 4.1.  Brilliant defence.  We've learnt from poor 4th qtr defense vs Crows, Hawks and Eagles.
  • Goodwin said before the game that what he wanted to see was improvement in our defensive mechanisms. He would have been rapt with the last quarter.
• We have now rested:  Viney, TMac, Hibberd and May without missing a beat.  
• Their replacements have enabled us to have a good look at alternative players/structures should the need arise.

Our whole team clicked yesterday.  Great rehearsal for the month ahead.  Just wish I and the rest of DL's and fans could be there to see it.

Edited August 15, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

  On 15/08/2021 at 11:51, faultydet said:

 

Our time has finally arrived. Not only are we playing the best style of finals winning football of the entire top 8, but also injuries and form of the others is working for us at the right time of the season.

If we play to capacity, we are 4 games from a Premiership.

It's not even embarrassing to say it out loud now.

Don't tell Jaded.

  On 15/08/2021 at 10:49, Earl Hood said:

Great wrap up. Interested in the wingman in this game. Did Langdon actually play on Seedsman, that is on the same wing? Not that wingman should play defensive.  The commentators were speculating for the first 3 quarters and a bit, wondering why the game was played exclusively along the southern wing. So Langdon was in the mix all day and played well but alternatively that was one reason why Gus had stuff all possessions for most of the game, yet we had many posters wondering what use is Gus. If the ball is elsewhere, what can you do, if you follow the game plan of course. 
 

interesting observation from the commentators because when I used to sit in my reserved seat in the Northern Stand, I am sure 90% of the game was played on the opposite wing! 

I sit in the AFL members on the Southern Stand wing and it feels like the entire game is played on the members side of the ground!

Fritsch kicks a lot more goals when we don’t play 2 talls plus LJ. I’d be interested in the stats on this. I reckon he has less room to lead when T Mac is there as well

How good is Bowey? 3 games in and so composed, such a good user. Another Jason Taylor gem.

  On 15/08/2021 at 12:56, dazzledavey36 said:

Exactly the feeling I got.

We rested a heap of our senior players more then we have in a game. I don't care how we won today, the bigger win is that we had no injuries. 

Can someone also tell me where we rated in terms of age and game experience for the round? Reckon this could have been the youngest side we have put on paper for the year also.

Average age 24 years 6 months, average experience 86.2 games.

Adelaide was younger and less experienced (24 years 4 months and 66.3 games - they had 14 players with less than 50 games yesterday, compared to our 8, and only 6 players over 100 games compared to our 12).

The entire comp from Round 22 in order of age:

1. Essendon: 24 years 0 months, 79 games
2. Gold Coast: 24 years 1 month, 68.2 games
3. Fremantle: 24 years 2 months, 64.3 games
4. Adelaide: 24 years 4 months, 66.3 games
5. Collingwood: 24 years 5 months, 95.3 games
6. St Kilda: 24 years 5 months, 88.3 games
7. Melbourne: 24 years 6 months, 86.2 games
8. GWS: 24 years 7 months, 90.1 games
9. North: 24 years 9 months, 85.9 games
10. Hawthorn: 24 years 10 months, 100.7 games
11. Sydney: 25 years 0 months, 92.3 games
12. Carlton: 25 years 3 months, 97.8 games
13. Bulldogs: 25 years 6 months, 101 games
14. Port Adelaide: 25 years 7 months, 104 games
15. Richmond: 25 years 9 months, 111.4 games
16. Brisbane: 26 years 1 month, 115.4 games
17. West Coast: 27 years 0 months, 131.2 games
18. Geelong: 27 years 6 months, 143.8 games

Edited August 15, 20213 yr by titan_uranus

  On 15/08/2021 at 22:33, Lucifer's Hero said:

Our whole team clicked yesterday.  Great rehearsal for the month ahead.  Just wish I and the rest of DL's and fans could be there to see it.

We played an Adelaide team without Walker, O’Brien, Milera, B Smith, Brown, Crouch, Talia and down a tall early and we started awfully then didn’t finish them off until very late.

I know these type of games are tricky with everyone in self preservation mode but it was still far from the perfect rehearsal. There were large patches of the first 3/4’s were we couldn’t stop their transition game and we couldn’t hold on to the ball either.

We haven’t played a proper side for 3 weeks now and only done a real number on 1 of 3. I think we need a true rehearsal against the Cats to sharpen us back up.

 

  On 15/08/2021 at 23:24, DeeSpencer said:

We played an Adelaide team without Walker, O’Brien, Milera, B Smith, Brown, Crouch, Talia and down a tall early and we started awfully then didn’t finish them off until very late.

I know these type of games are tricky with everyone in self preservation mode but it was still far from the perfect rehearsal. There were large patches of the first 3/4’s were we couldn’t stop their transition game and we couldn’t hold on to the ball either.

We haven’t played a proper side for 3 weeks now and only done a real number on 1 of 3. I think we need a true rehearsal against the Cats to sharpen us back up.

Sure, but we were without May, Viney, TMac and Hunt, with top 4 locked up, a near dead rubber game, and playing in front of an empty stadium.

We didn't play well for 4 quarters but in those circumstances I essentially don't care.

Also what does "we haven't played a proper side for 3 weeks now" mean? West Coast in Perth might not be the force they've been in previous years but they're all of a sudden not a "proper side"?

  On 15/08/2021 at 23:23, titan_uranus said:

Average age 24 years 6 months, average experience 86.2 games.

Adelaide was younger and less experienced (24 years 4 months and 66.3 games - they had 14 players with less than 50 games yesterday, compared to our 8, and only 6 players over 100 games compared to our 12).

The entire comp from Round 22 in order of age:

1. Essendon: 24 years 0 months, 79 games
2. Gold Coast: 24 years 1 month, 68.2 games
3. Fremantle: 24 years 2 months, 64.3 games
4. Adelaide: 24 years 4 months, 66.3 games
5. Collingwood: 24 years 5 months, 95.3 games
6. St Kilda: 24 years 5 months, 88.3 games
7. Melbourne: 24 years 6 months, 86.2 games
8. GWS: 24 years 7 months, 90.1 games
9. North: 24 years 9 months, 85.9 games
10. Hawthorn: 24 years 10 months, 100.7 games
11. Sydney: 25 years 0 months, 92.3 games
12. Carlton: 25 years 3 months, 97.8 games
13. Bulldogs: 25 years 6 months, 101 games
14. Port Adelaide: 25 years 7 months, 104 games
15. Richmond: 25 years 9 months, 111.4 games
16. Brisbane: 26 years 1 month, 115.4 games
17. West Coast: 27 years 0 months, 131.2 games
18. Geelong: 27 years 6 months, 143.8 games

Thanks Titan.

Looking at that list it's interesting that we are the only top 4 team that was down the bottom area for youth and games experience.

Doggies, Geelong, Brisbane and Port were in the top 6.

Just shows that our youth and talent is making a huge contribution to our success so far.

  On 15/08/2021 at 23:26, titan_uranus said:

Sure, but we were without May, Viney, TMac and Hunt, with top 4 locked up, a near dead rubber game, and playing in front of an empty stadium.

We didn't play well for 4 quarters but in those circumstances I essentially don't care.

Also what does "we haven't played a proper side for 3 weeks now" mean? West Coast in Perth might not be the force they've been in previous years but they're all of a sudden not a "proper side"?

Top sides are expected to be able to carry a few outs. We were still picking our primary depth players, the Crows were just about going with whoever was available.

I’m not upset with the performance. Got the job done, move on. But we certainly didn’t play well in the first quarter and we’re in need of a test I think. 

Everyone complains about the fixture when you have more games against better sides. I actually think it helps the best teams stay at the top. If you play the battlers more weeks than not - as we did for years on end - you’re up against it when the heat comes on.

West Coast just gave up a 50 point first quarter to Freo. We played well against them until the lightening delay but they’re cooked and have been for weeks.

  On 15/08/2021 at 23:12, Dr. Gonzo said:

I sit in the AFL members on the Southern Stand wing and it feels like the entire game is played on the members side of the ground!

I sit on the opposite wing in the MCC and 90% of the game seems to be over  there so Go figure 

I suppose its a matter of perspective

  On 15/08/2021 at 12:28, Jaded said:

Today was a performance of self preservation. Do enough but don’t get hurt. We are a week away from finals. Top 4 secured. Why would you risk injury or suspension against a team sitting 17th on the ladder?

We won by 41 points with the handbreak firmly sitting in neutral. This is what professionals teams do. 

My father told me when I was a boy that good sides win when they look average. A good side has the ability to get the job done when they are not at the top of their game. If we keep winning I don't care how we look. When you win the record book does not say played poorly it just says won by X amount. 

Edited August 16, 20213 yr by old dee

  On 15/08/2021 at 23:23, titan_uranus said:

Average age 24 years 6 months, average experience 86.2 games.

Adelaide was younger and less experienced (24 years 4 months and 66.3 games - they had 14 players with less than 50 games yesterday, compared to our 8, and only 6 players over 100 games compared to our 12).

The entire comp from Round 22 in order of age:.

...

1. Melbourne: 24 years 6 months, 86.2 games

I realised this morning that only 5 of our team on Saturday were 26 or older (Hibberd, Melk, Gawn, Brown, Salem).

Yes, another 5 in our nominal best 22 are over 26 and didn't play (May, TMac, Tomlinson, Viney, Hunt) but we covered them pretty well.

In the next 4 years, Gawn, Brown, TMac and May are the only "retirees" we really need to worry about replacing and with Petty and Jackson we've got a good start on two of those positions.

I can see that key forward for 2023 onwards would be the thing keeping our list managers up at night.

The game felt like we got a lead took the foot off the throttle, they came back we increased our effort until we broke them in the last qtr.  How good is it having Bowey and Salem playing off Half Back, they seem to wax a bit, Bowey just looks to have a lot of time and makes really good decisions, not a bad time to break in the team and play well.

I reckon the big correction in the last half was our players stopped kicking the ball to Brown and I think Brown lead to pockets drawing out 1-2 players opening up space for Fritsch.  To me Fritsch has struggled a bit with Brown in the side, they seem to lead to the same spots, the last half though it clicked.  Helps when you have mids hitting you lace out.

Our forward setup, in Goodies words, is ‘building cohesion’ and is starting to look threatening.

BB was so dangerous early, that he had to be double teamed after quarter time. This gave Fritta more latitude,  and we all know what happened there.  With TMac likely to return next week, containing all three, together with Max and Dogga from time to time, could be a September nightmare for the opposition.  No doubt Nibbler, Spargs and Koz will maintain their pressure roles to a high level, as they have for almost all of our big games this year.

We have a lot of variety and flexibility in our forward half, and it seems to be coming together at the right time.  Prospects are looking bright for Fuchsias in the Spring.

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched.

Disgraceful really.

  On 15/08/2021 at 22:22, Webber said:

Wasn’t directed at you specifically, AF (tbh I forget who says what), just a more general vibe that Fritsch is bizarrely maligned. He isn’t perfect, much like every one of his mates. Clarrie is a horrible set shot, Tracc murders a good amount of his field kicking, Kozzie overruns the ball a fair bit, Dogga runs under it, Harmesy tries to take on too much, Nibbler can be fumbly. Fritta sometimes lacks a defensive edge. I think they’re all great, in a wabi-sabi kind of way. But here’s the thing. He is, by any measure anyone can use, our most potent, effective forward. For this reason I have no doubt he’s the first member of our forward contingent picked every week, and he should be. That his worth continues to be questioned, despite his shared flaws, is utterly baffling to me. He’s the first forward I want playing every week, because he is our best forward. 

He's certainly our most potent forward and he is a elite. I reckon Brown is on par with him for his position, but each to their own.

And you're right. No player is perfect, but all players can work on their deficiencies and thankfully Fritsch seems to be, because his defensive game yesterday was solid.

  On 16/08/2021 at 01:01, dazzledavey36 said:

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched.

Disgraceful really.

The thing was you could even see it wasn't touched in the blurry vision.

It is surprising how many times blurcam shows nothing at all conclusive either way, yet the third umpire manages to make a definitive decision.

  On 16/08/2021 at 01:01, dazzledavey36 said:

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched.

Disgraceful really.

It was a bit silly of the coverage to do that, just makes it look more messy. I understand the decision not to overturn it because really there has to be concrete evidence that it needs to be reversed. The mistake was that they only look at it in slow motion, frame by frame, therefor you get motion blur. By looking at the slow mo at a speed you actually see that it was hand on foot not hand on ball. 

That’s a misuse/misunderstanding of the system and technology, not so much the decision. The evidence they had/used told them “insufficient evidence”. 

He got the goal he deserved from the kick in only 30-40 sec later so I wasn’t too fussed. 

  On 15/08/2021 at 22:22, Webber said:

Wasn’t directed at you specifically, AF (tbh I forget who says what), just a more general vibe that Fritsch is bizarrely maligned. He isn’t perfect, much like every one of his mates. Clarrie is a horrible set shot, Tracc murders a good amount of his field kicking, Kozzie overruns the ball a fair bit, Dogga runs under it, Harmesy tries to take on too much, Nibbler can be fumbly. Fritta sometimes lacks a defensive edge. I think they’re all great, in a wabi-sabi kind of way. But here’s the thing. He is, by any measure anyone can use, our most potent, effective forward. For this reason I have no doubt he’s the first member of our forward contingent picked every week, and he should be. That his worth continues to be questioned, despite his shared flaws, is utterly baffling to me. He’s the first forward I want playing every week, because he is our best forward. 

I was after him earlier in the year. And he does very well when there are players who can attract a better defender like Brown. So ironically he may be the best forward but he isn’t the most important.

You say that all players have flaws and that is true, but defensive intent is not a flaw, it is a mindset that he falls out of too easily. 

The team is built on that and creates his opportunities when ANB pressures the footy or we get an interception further up the ground.

Fritsch is a big part of us winning but there are three stages of footy and what he does when we don’t have the footy is a big part of our success - more so than Brown because Fritsch’s opponent is more likely to be involved in counterattacks.

He keeps up the defensive work rate we will be hard to beat as there will be one less weak link in that defensive chain.

  On 16/08/2021 at 01:01, dazzledavey36 said:

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched.

Disgraceful really.

Even poorer than that decision was the next one where the ball hit the point post (or didn't) with both the goal umpire and the boundary umpire within 3m of the ball. Ridiculous it even went upstairs for review. 

Maybe they were afraid we were going to lose by a point due to an umpiring mistake.

#wouldneverhappen

Edited August 16, 20213 yr by In Harmes Way

  On 16/08/2021 at 01:01, dazzledavey36 said:

Ben Brown should have had 3 goals next to his name. The ball wasn't touched at all. They showed vision where it was blurry AF then next minute when they gave the decision they showed a much clearer version that showed that the ball wasn't even touched.

Disgraceful really.

  On 16/08/2021 at 01:16, loges said:

The thing was you could even see it wasn't touched in the blurry vision.

Part of the problem was the field umpire calling it touched - it's impossible for the umpire to have seen the touch off the boot, so he's gone off the Adelaide player calling it touched.

That shouldn't happen. There also shouldn't be an "umpire's call" option for these sorts of kicks, because the umpire's call is just a guess. It's very different to the goal umpire standing on the goal line and seeing a touch.

The ARC was never going to definitively say that wasn't touched because of how blurry it was - unless they were forced to by removing the umpire's call.

Edited August 16, 20213 yr by titan_uranus

Max dropped 6 marks he should have easily taken.  The last of which led to the cry of anguish at the boundary line.  He certainly stepped up in other areas, but his marking was way off.

  On 15/08/2021 at 07:08, Dee Zephyr said:

Haven’t seen Gawn move like that ever before, some of his movement in and out of traffic lately is crazy for a big guy. Thought Spargo was excellent in the first half, high footy IQ, reads the game so well and had a lot of scoring involvements.

Langdon and Fritsch probably best on for me and pity there was no crowd out there today, imagine the noise cheering Fritsch’s kick through on the siren for a career high. 
It looked like we’ve had a rough fortnight at times out there  but job well done in the end.

Gawny moved well quite often snatching the ball and using it (most times) somewhat beneficially. His across-the-body hook kick goes a long way and he seems to direct it fairly well - although it gains metres and metres, it is next to impossible to interpret, predict and even for him to direct accurately. Maybe he will get this right in a cuppla weeks? He certainly looked the Captain against the Crows, with a stern and determined expression and very little happy chat with the opposition.