Jump to content

Featured Replies

  On 08/07/2022 at 04:34, Fat Tony said:

Having two talls up in packs is deliberate and part of the game plan. 

Strange gameplan having two talls flying for the same ball spoiling each other

 
  On 08/07/2022 at 04:41, Neil Crompton said:

Please tell me why that is. 
Here’s an idea - what if they spread out instead and offered a choice of 2 targets rather than one dirty big pack, where our mids and smalls never seem to prosper from the failed pack mark?

For a fast break we obviously want to kick to leading players one on one and play checkers.

But, for a slow play (when the opposition zone is set) having only one up means that the opposition can block our tall out and have their third man up take the mark. A lot of our set up is long kicks to our giant talls and having Petracca, Oliver, Viney and/or ANB at the front of the pack for the gentle crumb.

Going inside 50 (when they have numbers back) the coaches obviously feel there is too much risk if we target a one on one with a short kick. (The risk is conceding a counterattacking goal.)

I'd put Max in the forward line for most of the game and let Dogga ruck the majority.

Whilst Max gets a lot of taps, the oppo mids are used to working off them. We were less predictable when Dogga and even Weid were leading the ruck.

And for God sake can we please lower the eyes going i50. Geelong showed that either scrubbed, chaos entries or low, precision kicks prevent damaging intercepts. If we only have BBB as a tall target (usually with 2 or 3 opponents), what's the point of long bombs to their kpds?

Out: Bedford, Bowey

In: Hunt and Chandler (or if they want a taller forward line, Weid)

 
  On 08/07/2022 at 04:49, Fat Tony said:

For a fast break we obviously want to kick to leading players one on one and play checkers.

But, for a slow play (when the opposition zone is set) having only one up means that the opposition can block our tall out and have their third man up take the mark. A lot of our set up is long kicks to our giant talls and having Petracca, Oliver, Viney and/or ANB at the front of the pack for the gentle crumb.

Going inside 50 (when they have numbers back) the coaches obviously feel there is too much risk if we target a one on one with a short kick. (The risk is conceding a counterattacking goal.)

My thoughts too. So much of our gameplan is based around the playing percentages. We clearly value kicking to the pack and backing our mids and smalls to win any groundballs rather than risk kicking to one-on-ones and having it marked by an opposition player who can then begin to counter attack through the corridor. Same when we kick to the pocket - we would rather have it spill out of bounds than risk allowing the opposition an easy mark in the centre of the ground. This works when we are fit and firing, but when we can't lock the ball in our forward 50 and aren't applying pressure around the ground, it can be frustrating to watch.

Time to try Rivers on ball or forward for Casey. When Smith and Turner return there is backup for defence. Maybe Smith or Petty get a run in the forward half until Macdonald returns.


  On 08/07/2022 at 04:34, Fat Tony said:

Having two talls up in packs is deliberate and part of the game plan. 

The problem with that last night was Geelong had a player in front of the contest facing the marking players and one roughly behind/side of the contest. 

Time and time again their tall would knock the ball down to the player in front, he got it to the player behind/side, who then turned inward and they were off, usually down the middle and our players had not time to set up the defence and they were often still over near the boundary line where the contest had been.

What surprised me is that our coaching box didn't adjust for this tactic, or much else that wasn't working from what I saw.

Edited by Lucifers Hero

If Oliver is out, it will continue the long tradition of Geelong players doing whatever bodily harm they please to our players with zero consequences. I could scream with rage at how much I despise that club! 

  On 08/07/2022 at 05:09, demoncat said:

My thoughts too. So much of our gameplan is based around the playing percentages. We clearly value kicking to the pack and backing our mids and smalls to win any groundballs rather than risk kicking to one-on-ones and having it marked by an opposition player who can then begin to counter attack through the corridor. Same when we kick to the pocket - we would rather have it spill out of bounds than risk allowing the opposition an easy mark in the centre of the ground. This works when we are fit and firing, but when we can't lock the ball in our forward 50 and aren't applying pressure around the ground, it can be frustrating to watch.

 

  On 08/07/2022 at 05:28, Lucifers Hero said:

The problem with that last night was Geelong had a player in front of the contest facing the marking players and one roughly behind/side of the contest. 

Time and time again their tall would knock the ball down to the player in front, he got it to the player behind/side, who then turned inward and they were off, usually down the middle and our players had not time to set up the defence and they were often still over near the boundary line where the contest had been.

What surprised me is that our coaching box didn't adjust for this tactic, or much else that wasn't working from what I saw.

Both excellent posts.

We back our system.. Great but it would be nice to see another system every now and then if only to keep the opposition guessing.

 

 
  On 08/07/2022 at 05:28, Lucifers Hero said:

The problem with that last night was Geelong had a player in front of the contest facing the marking players and one roughly behind/side of the contest. 

Time and time again their tall would knock the ball down to the player in front, he got it to the player behind/side, who then turned inward and they were off, usually down the middle and our players had not time to set up the defence and they were often still over near the boundary line where the contest had been.

What surprised me is that our coaching box didn't adjust for this tactic, or much else that wasn't working from what I saw.

I would have to re-watch (which I won't because we lost) to see if there is a solution other than Gawn taking more marks. 

I think some options would be to kick short down the centre occasionally. Or for a long option we could put Petracca and/or Oliver one-on-one on the opposite wing, with Kossie and kick that side and try to get off to the races.

  On 08/07/2022 at 05:57, Diamond_Jim said:

 

Both excellent posts.

We back our system.. Great but it would be nice to see another system every now and then if only to keep the opposition guessing.

 

Good point and the rest of this year will be a real test of our 'system at all costs' strategy. We've all seen what our system can accomplish when all players are fit and firing - and I'm still firmly of the belief that should we play that way come finals that there is no team that can stop us.

Having said that, we have to make the top four first, and the risk of this strategy is that we cost ourselves too many games during the home and away season. I'm still backing us in, but we're going to have to show our class and hopefully time our run in the last three or four games like we did last year.

If we crash and burn, we'll have to reconsider how we approach both individual games and the entire season in 2023. But until that happens, we do what we did so well in the first place.

Edited by demoncat


  On 08/07/2022 at 06:07, Fat Tony said:

I would have to re-watch (which I won't because we lost) to see if there is a solution other than Gawn taking more marks. 

I think some options would be to kick short down the centre occasionally. Or for a long option we could put Petracca and/or Oliver one-on-one on the opposite wing, with Kossie and kick that side and try to get off to the races.

Or occasionally switch to JJ's side of the ground which Geelong wouldn't have expected then caught on the 'wrong' side, limiting their defensive set ups on the JJ side.. 

  On 08/07/2022 at 06:15, Lucifers Hero said:

Or occasionally switch to JJ's side of the ground which Geelong wouldn't have expected then caught on the 'wrong' side, limiting their defensive set ups on the JJ side.. 

This... You think you would split your talls to both sides of the ground.Kicker can give coded signal as to which way he is kicking.

In the modern day you would think most players could kick both feet. In the old days the high level players would use their other foot for a year or two at junior level to develop the skill

  On 08/07/2022 at 06:40, Diamond_Jim said:

This... You think you would split your talls to both sides of the ground.Kicker can give coded signal as to which way he is kicking.

In the modern day you would think most players could kick both feet. In the old days the high level players would use their other foot for a year or two at junior level to develop the skill

Or do it with short kicks and some run down the boundary. 3-4 kick/handballs and it is in the hands of Fritsch 40m out!

Edited by Lucifers Hero

  On 08/07/2022 at 01:54, Sydee said:

M Brown kicks bags in the VFL regularly - gets promoted and can't deliver at AFL level 

There is a trend here - the leap is huge from VFL to AFL listen to any debutant such as Turner recently 

agreed which accounts for Weid


Hard to believe this break into the Port game is the same length as our mid season break.

In - Weid, Rivers, Dunstan

Out - Bedford , Bowey, Oliver, Hunt (sub)

Haven’t totally written off Clarry due to the long break.

Laurie just played a ripping game, must be close

IN: Hunt, JVR
OUT: Oliver, Bedford

Brayshaw to the GUTS


  On 08/07/2022 at 12:05, Lord Nev said:

IN: Laurie, Dunstan, Weid, JVR

OUT: Spargo, Clarry, Ben Brown, Bedford

 

Dropping Ben Brown for Weid off the back off Weids pretty poor performance tonight?

Laughable. 

JVR and Laurie just played blinders for Casey (didn't see the first half) - could we risk debuting two players in an important game?  

JVR actually took contested  pack marks in the forward line in the wet - maybe we couldn't cope with that?

  On 08/07/2022 at 12:09, dazzledavey36 said:

Dropping Ben Brown for Weid off the back off Weids pretty poor performance tonight?

Laughable. 

Poor performance? Catch Benny's last 3 quarters yesterday?

Tell me how we'd be worse with Weid and JVR instead of Brown and Bedford. (Rhetorical)

 
  On 08/07/2022 at 12:12, Lord Nev said:

Poor performance? Catch Benny's last 3 quarters yesterday?

Tell me how we'd be worse with Weid and JVR instead of Brown and Bedford. (Rhetorical)

Brown played his best football in months in the first half last night.

I'm not suggesting a half of football is sufficient, but it's finally a trend in the right direction, so if we've stuck with him to now, I suspect we're going to give him another game at least after last night.

  On 08/07/2022 at 12:15, titan_uranus said:

Brown played his best football in months in the first half last night.

I'm not suggesting a half of football is sufficient, but it's finally a trend in the right direction, so if we've stuck with him to now, I suspect we're going to give him another game at least after last night.

Yep, that's what I suspect Goody might do, but we're putting the changes we'd make yeah? For the sake of pressure and contested marks I'd be dropping Brown this week personally. Gives us a change up and gives Brown a chance to get some form before finals when we'll need him.

Edited by Lord Nev


Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Essendon

    As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie?  Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Essendon

    Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

      • Thanks
    • 489 replies
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 05

    Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • Thanks
    • 179 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Geelong

    There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Geelong

    I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 04

    Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

      • Thanks
    • 273 replies
    Demonland