Welcome to Demonland: Luke Dunstan

[Lucifers Hero 39,991]

9 minutes ago, A F said:

Also, his poor kicking is being overplayed. He won't improve our ball use, but he's no worse than our current mids.

Agreed it is overplayed.

As odd as it may sound our ball movement (especially overlapping hand ball chains) do not need accurate disposal skills.  

Our ball movement depends on players getting to space rather than accurate delivery by hand or foot.

[spirit of norm smith 16,478]

“you can’t have enough tough inside mids in the your team “.  Only sensible thing out of Rendell’s mouth in a week. 

[Demonland 72,271]

 

[Tom Dyson 1,633]

 

Not a bad get! 

[picket fence 17,181]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I'm calling it.. a steal!

Another feather in the cap to @goodwindees 👏

LURVE IT JUST LUUURVE IT WELL DONE GOODWINDEES. I'll look forward to introducing myself to him next year whilst doing Casey Training reports!!😁

[deelusions from afar 1,810]

Like this pickup - but he will be forced to improve his two way running before he can break into the side.  Remember when average players left a side and joined a successful side and looked 10x the player - now is our turn to do that.  

[binman 43,141]

5 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

The biggest change this season is we stopped all trying to win the same ball and used speed and spread with our contested work.

The over the top focus on being the best contested footy side should be relegated to history alongside Neeld’s ‘hardest team to play against’ 

I agree with the first paragraph quoted above DS, but with respect, I think your last paragraph is well of the mark.

We are the best contested team in the AFL - the numbers and watching us tell us that.

Winning contested ball is arguably the very foundation of our game plan and goodies philosophy.

It's just that as you say it is now about less players at the contest to win them.

So Oliver has to beat 2 or 3 players to win a contested ball. As does every other player, even smalls like kozzie and spargo.

Compare us to the dogs who also have a model based on winning contested ball. A key difference is they win lots of theirs by creating an outnumber at stoppages. 

And on top of the need for players who can beat 2 or 3 opponents in a fight for a contested ball, winning post clearance contested ball is critical to our model.

As is the fact we are happy to kick for territory, as opposed to  hitting a target, so our games are always going to involve lots of contests and the ball being in dispute a lot - particularly in finals.

All of which places an even greater emphasis on the need for players like Dunstan who can win contested ball. 

I suspect it is why Sparrow got the nod ahead of JJ come finals.

[picket fence 17,181]

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

Reminds me of Stephen Powell..

 

Welcome aboard Luke.

download.jfif 10.63 kB · 6 downloads

Well if he plays anything like Stephen Powell then in my book he will already go down as the Heist of the year.... If not the decade!😁

[layzie 33,865]

Luke Dunstan went into this year not in the Saints 22 and next year will be the same with the Dees.

A smart move however and gives us that depth in the engine room. Happy for us to become a club that turns water into wine. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,816]

23 minutes ago, binman said:

I agree with the first paragraph quoted above DS, but with respect, I think your last paragraph is well of the mark.

We are the best contested team in the AFL - the numbers and watching us tell us that.

Winning contested ball is arguably the very foundation of our game plan and goodies philosophy.

It's just that as you say it is now about less players at the contest to win them.

So Oliver has to beat 2 or 3 players to win a contested ball. As does every other player, even smalls like kozzie and spargo.

Compare us to the dogs who also have a model based on winning contested ball. A key difference is they win lots of theirs by creating an outnumber at stoppages. 

And on top of the need for players who can beat 2 or 3 opponents in a fight for a contested ball, winning post clearance contested ball is critical to our model.

As is the fact we are happy to kick for territory, as opposed to  hitting a target, so our games are always going to involve lots of contests and the ball being in dispute a lot - particularly in finals.

All of which places an even greater emphasis on the need for players like Dunstan who can win contested ball. 

I suspect it is why Sparrow got the nod ahead of JJ come finals.

"An outnumber at stoppages" - this sounds more like a Western movie title than an AFL game strategy.

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

There were times in the past 5 years that we would get carved up in the middle and at stoppages by a select few teams. St Kilda was one of them and i remember Dunstan was always one of the main culprits. Glad he is on our side now. This will put the focus on one of Sparrow / Harmes /  JJ / Viney though in the team. But a bit of competition for spots is always a good thing. 

Our midfield talent / depth is becoming very enviable at the minute. 

[Redlagged 813]

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

Reminds me of Stephen Powell..

 

Welcome aboard Luke.

download.jfif 10.63 kB · 8 downloads

That's a good analogy. Hope he's as good a player for us as Powell was. We've got a player capable of multiple best/second best on grounds (including against Richmond this year) for nothing. Can't see anything but good. There will be fierce competition for spots, and in any event injuries need to be covered. He is a better player than Jones (at this end point of his career) and Vandenburg, who we have lost. 

[picket fence 17,181]

7 minutes ago, Redlagged said:

That's a good analogy. Hope he's as good a player for us as Powell was. We've got a player capable of multiple best/second best on grounds (including against Richmond this year) for nothing. Can't see anything but good. There will be fierce competition for spots, and in any event injuries need to be covered. He is a better player than Jones (at this end point of his career) and Vandenburg, who we have lost. 

Amen! Now for benediction!

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

1 hour ago, A F said:

Haha, I see you've already backflipped on this within the one thread, but just letting you know I'll be watching your next best 22 to see if you've managed to put in the guy who makes no sense. 😉

He won't be in my best 22.

[Guest]

Time to change the thread name?

[picket fence 17,181]

4 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

He won't be in my best 22.

He will go very close to mine!!!! 

[Click_Bate 182]

How many years did we sign him for? Does it say anywhere?

[Guest]

Just now, Click_Bate said:

How many years did we sign him for? Does it say anywhere?

Two

[D4Life 2,476]

Seems like we are keeping & building a good coverage across ground for injuries next year:

Dunstan - inside mid

Majak - Ruck

Tomlinson - Backline tall

Hunt - Backline small (he was stiff this year)

Jordan - Wing/Outside mid

Baker - Wing

Weideman - Forward tall

Brown - Forward tall or at stretch mid

Melksham - Forward mid

Bedford - Forward small

Chandler - Forward small (if he stays)

Very solid coverage most with reasonable experience!

Then we have a few younger guys and some new draft picks.

Demon list management has been great!

[Turner 1,516]

18 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

This has surprised me. I thought he wanted more game time. Good get as he is a quality VFL player. Hopefully he doesn't get games ahead of Sparrow and Jordon.

this is a very outdated 2012-15 type opinion. we need to be arrogant and maintain high standards, we're the best side in the comp, but if someone is not on form regardless of their age, how they joined the club, their wage/contract etc we have to be prepared to drop them, its good for a players career to go back and be the number 1 mid in the 2s instead of always playing spurts through there if theyre low on confidence or not performing, and i have absolutely no issue with those boys playing less simply if dunstan is playing better and contributing because he's out there to help the team win just like the other 21 blokes

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

14 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Seems like we are keeping & building a good coverage across ground for injuries next year:

Dunstan - inside mid

Majak - Ruck

Tomlinson - Backline tall

Hunt - Backline small (he was stiff this year)

Jordan - Wing/Outside mid

Baker - Wing

Weideman - Forward tall

Brown - Forward tall or at stretch mid

Melksham - Forward mid

Bedford - Forward small

Chandler - Forward small (if he stays)

Very solid coverage most with reasonable experience!

Then we have a few younger guys and some new draft picks.

Demon list management has been great!

They have coverage for everything except a developing ruck

Here is my long awaited best 22 and Casey players

 

B: RIVERS, MAY, LEVER

HB: BOWEY, PETTY, SALEM

C: LANGDON, PETRACCA, BRAYSHAW

HF: NEAL-BULLEN, JACKSON, SPARROW

F: PICKETT, B.BROWN, FRITSCH

IC: HUNT, SPARGO, HARMES, MCDONALD

SUB: TOMLINSON

CASEY

B: HORE, TURNER, J.SMITH

HB: HIBBERD, TOMLINSON, D.SMITH

C: BAKER, DUNSTAN, DECLASE

HF: MELKSHAM, M.BROWN, ROSMAN

F: BEDFORD, WEIDEMAN, CHANDLER

FOLL: DAW, JORDON, LAURIE

IC: DRAFT PICK, DRAFT PICK

Edited October 6, 2021 by WERRIDEE

[Yarra Valley Demon 127]

11 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

They have coverage for everything except a developing ruck

Here is my long awaited best 22 and Casey players

 

B: RIVERS, MAY, LEVER

HB: BOWEY, PETTY, SALEM

C: LANGDON, PETRACCA, BRAYSHAW

HF: NEAL-BULLEN, JACKSON, SPARROW

F: PICKETT, B.BROWN, FRITSCH

IC: HUNT, SPARGO, HARMES, MCDONALD

SUB: TOMLINSON

CASEY

B: HORE, TURNER, J.SMITH

HB: HIBBERD, TOMLINSON, D.SMITH

C: BAKER, DUNSTAN, DECLASE

HF: MELKSHAM, M.BROWN, ROSMAN

F: BEDFORD, WEIDEMAN, CHANDLER

FOLL: DAW, JORDON, LAURIE

IC: DRAFT PICK, DRAFT PICK

Are we missing something in the senior team? 🤔

[Demon trucker 1,800]

On 10/4/2021 at 6:50 PM, 2021 Premiers said:

I think we could do with a decent backup midfielder Werridee. Jones and vandenberg are gone. Outside of our grand final team all we have is Baker, DeClase and Rosman as midfield depth. If we get a few injuries Dunstan would be more than handy

The time is now to win 2 or three flags in the next 3 to 5 years, never can have enough depth, history tell you when a side has a great injury run like we did this year, they are  bound to get a few more injuries the next season.

[BoBo 2,941]

On 10/4/2021 at 9:06 PM, Skuit said:

 

“For me it’s just about being in a happy environment where you feel valued as a player and as a person, and just feel a part of something would be the biggest thing . . . I wouldn’t put any limitations on it, I’d be happy to go anywhere. I’m really keen to try and go somewhere else and get a bit of a new lease on life.”

Geez, that is not a ringing endorsement of how he feels he was treated at St. Kilda. Can’t really extrapolate out to a broader culture as he might only feel this way because he is on the outer but boy… that’s a slap on St. Kilda’s man management. 

[1964_2 2,357]

2 hours ago, binman said:

I agree with the first paragraph quoted above DS, but with respect, I think your last paragraph is well of the mark.

We are the best contested team in the AFL - the numbers and watching us tell us that.

Winning contested ball is arguably the very foundation of our game plan and goodies philosophy.

It's just that as you say it is now about less players at the contest to win them.

So Oliver has to beat 2 or 3 players to win a contested ball. As does every other player, even smalls like kozzie and spargo.

Compare us to the dogs who also have a model based on winning contested ball. A key difference is they win lots of theirs by creating an outnumber at stoppages. 

And on top of the need for players who can beat 2 or 3 opponents in a fight for a contested ball, winning post clearance contested ball is critical to our model.

As is the fact we are happy to kick for territory, as opposed to  hitting a target, so our games are always going to involve lots of contests and the ball being in dispute a lot - particularly in finals.

All of which places an even greater emphasis on the need for players like Dunstan who can win contested ball. 

I suspect it is why Sparrow got the nod ahead of JJ come finals.

Agree with this. If we didn’t dominate the contested ball (particularly centre clearances) towards the end of 3rd qtr, dogs most likely would have had too big a lead going into three quarter time. 

but, the difference this year is we had the other required complimentary elements (2 way running, def structure, genuine wingers etc)  to our contested strength vs 2018 when we didn’t.