8 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Season is hanging by a thread if he misses the next few weeks. 

What a ridiculous overreaction hahaha.

I've got to say, with comments like these, our supporters majorly over- rate Oliver. 

Season hanging by a thread lol.

2 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

What a ridiculous overreaction hahaha.

I've got to say, with comments like these, our supporters majorly over- rate Oliver. 

Season hanging by a thread lol.

This.

 

Just now, beelzebub said:

Do we...

Where has it been ??

Only for spesh ?? 🤔🤔🤔

I don’t know if we have another gear or anything like that, but I do know that clubs regularly hit better form in the second half of a year. 

Last year Collingwood was 4-5. No one would have expected them to have lost only 4 more games in more than a year. 

And of course last year Geelong was 5-4 and showed no signs of running the table from then on to win the flag. 

3 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We have enough bulls in our side to lift us at the contest. 

Max, Petracca, Viney, Sparrow and Brayshaw are quality and they know what it takes to win. Let's just start with Freo. We've got them at home and we start by beating them.

Where have they been ?

Theyll just flick the switch next week ??

Couldnt  be bothered Friday... was only a kick in it after all ....

All of this is plainly ridiculous.  We are over rated.  

1 minute ago, JimmyGadson said:

What a ridiculous overreaction hahaha.

I've got to say, with comments like these, our supporters majorly over- rate Oliver. 

Season hanging by a thread lol.

If we lose 2 of the next 3, which is possible, we will likely miss top 4. The season is a waste if we don’t win a flag. This is just where we are at with our list. Making up numbers isn’t a pass mark anymore. 

Our supporters majorly UNDER rate Oliver. He is a once in a generation midfielder. Supporters don’t know how good we have it because he’s rarely missed a game. You take him out of our shallow midfield, and we go from an A grade midfield to a C grade midfield. Viney is a good player, but without Clarry and Trac who are A++ players, our depth is significantly tested. 

Even with Oliver in the side dominating weekly, we are struggling to beat top quality midfields. You think without him it’ll get easier? 
We are playing an in form Freo, an under the pump Carlton and the goddamn Pies in the next month. We lost to Freo this time last year with Oliver and haven’t beaten the Pies in years.

I was already worried about the next month, especially after our poor first half against a quality side in Port. Now it just got that much harder because our best player is out injured. 

7 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

What a ridiculous overreaction hahaha.

I've got to say, with comments like these, our supporters majorly over- rate Oliver. 

Season hanging by a thread lol.

Over rate Oliver ??

Hmmm

Premiership  Player

Twice AFLCA  winner

4 x Bluey...

Checker Hughes Medal

Daniher Trophy

Career avg 30 d a game ffs

On

On

On

Pretty funny stuff there Jimmy. 

He's not over rated...he's exactly what he is...a brilliant unique player.   Absolutely required for our success.

10 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Where have they been ?

Theyll just flick the switch next week ??

Couldnt  be bothered Friday... was only a kick in it after all ....

All of this is plainly ridiculous.  We are over rated.  

It's ridiculous to suggest we didn't turn up on Friday. Sure our first half was ordinary and I blame the coaches for that as much as the players. We showed in the third what we're capable of, we destroyed them in that quarter. The fourth was ordinary but only 4 goals were kicked and we had Fritsch and Petracca blow realistic goal chances and a couple of howling decisions not go our way. It's not panic stations with regards to the players, the coach worries me which is why I'm not afraid to miss Oliver for a few weeks. These things galvanise teams and I've no reason to think it won't do the same for us.

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by Roost it far

12 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

If we lose 2 of the next 3, which is possible, we will likely miss top 4. The season is a waste if we don’t win a flag. This is just where we are at with our list. Making up numbers isn’t a pass mark anymore. 

Our supporters majorly UNDER rate Oliver. He is a once in a generation midfielder. Supporters don’t know how good we have it because he’s rarely missed a game. You take him out of our shallow midfield, and we go from an A grade midfield to a C grade midfield. Viney is a good player, but without Clarry and Trac who are A++ players, our depth is significantly tested. 

Even with Oliver in the side dominating weekly, we are struggling to beat top quality midfields. You think without him it’ll get easier? 
We are playing an in form Freo, an under the pump Carlton and the goddamn Pies in the next month. We lost to Freo this time last year with Oliver and haven’t beaten the Pies in years.

I was already worried about the next month, especially after our poor first half against a quality side in Port. Now it just got that much harder because our best player is out injured. 

Thankyou

Reason and sense

Unfortunately some are in for a rude shock.

5 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Over rate Oliver ??

Hmmm

Premiership  Player

Twice AFLCA  winner

4 x Bluey...

Checker Hughes Medal

Daniher Trophy

Career avg 30 d a game ffs

On

On

On

Pretty funny stuff there Jimmy. 

He's not over rated...he's exactly what he is...a brilliant unique player.   Absolutely required for our success.

Probably meant overrated in terms of the impact on a 22 fielded team. It's not the NBA where a missing superstar will derail your playoff series. Our season isn't hanging by a thread without Oliver, because we can win the matches coming up. We just have to get creative.

Just now, John Demonic said:

Probably meant overrated in terms of the impact on a 22 fielded team. It's not the NBA where a missing superstar will derail your playoff series. Our season isn't hanging by a thread without Oliver, because we can win the matches coming up. We just have to get creative.

Of course we can win without him. But to say that he isn’t an enormous loss is frankly admitting that you don’t watch Melbourne play. 
If tomorrow was the grand final and Oliver was out, would you feel confident of winning? 
 

25 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Of course we can win without him. But to say that he isn’t an enormous loss is frankly admitting that you don’t watch Melbourne play. 
If tomorrow was the grand final and Oliver was out, would you feel confident of winning? 
 

Well you're just putting words in my mouth there. Never said it wasn't an enormous loss. And frankly I don't feel comfortable speaking for anyone else anymore.

I just made a guess as to why someone would say he's overrated. He's clearly not overrated on an individual level. The point is just that "season hanging by a thread without player x" or "season is over without player x" are comments that have been proven to be melodramatic and overrated in the past. Richmond couldn't win the flag without Rance in 2019 right? 

(Edit: IF its a hammy tear) he's out for a month, not for the GF. Maybe just calm down. We made it through without Gawn

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by John Demonic

17 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Over rate Oliver ??

Hmmm

Premiership  Player

Twice AFLCA  winner

4 x Bluey...

Checker Hughes Medal

Daniher Trophy

Career avg 30 d a game ffs

On

On

On

Pretty funny stuff there Jimmy. 

He's not over rated...he's exactly what he is...a brilliant unique player.   Absolutely required for our success.

Yes agree agree and agree 

i hope we can at least come up with an in-game plan b

sick of not seeing any radical mid -game changes, just all the predictable, repetitive plays even when not obviously working

43 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Do we...

Where has it been ??

Only for spesh ?? 🤔🤔🤔

I reckon the players and coaches think we do, but I’m not so sure. Surely we would’ve seen it for more than just half a quarter here and there during games this season. I reckon our fitness levels are poor, as is our attitude.

2 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

He's out for a month, not for the GF. Maybe just calm down. We made it through without Gawn

All rhetoric aside.. all thoughts just with where we are, who we've played well against. Combine with our problematic areas...clearances.. wet weather... opposition pressure. Where do you see us in a month ?

Personally I think Ollie is much more critical to our fabric than Max. Max has understudy(s) .... but extremely useful when fit and on song.

Ollie is a unique animal. 

Our season doesn't so much hang by a thread should Ollie not play....it becomes precarious because Clarry has a unique way of bringing his team mates into play. That's not reflected on a stat sheet... Thats partly why stats are [censored].

We are just... JUST hanging onto 4th presently.. it wouldn't take much to slip yo 6th.

6th..7th...8th...  same same....you're stuffed.

Im not enjoying some misguided role as a doomsdayer...   i just look at footy realistically.  I discount the footy speak as garbage. I seriously question the ability of our coaches to provide wisdom and direction. We seem stuck in a rut. What gets us out of that rut is players like Oliver who doesn't fit a mould. He just does Ollie stuff.

Take that stuff away and were more mediocre/predictable than before. 

 

 

 

We won without him last year against Port in Alice. Rozee got 33, Boak 29 and 2 goals, Houston 28, Butters 20 and Robbie Gray and Drew had 23.  Sounds a bit familiar doesn't it? For us Viney had 28, Trac 30, Langdon 24 and Brayshaw 20. Sparrow played quite well with 18, 6 marks and 6 tackles and of course Kozzie kicked 6.  Port were in not bad form at the time either. Freo's midfield is pretty good but not as good as Port's.  

3 hours ago, RedFox said:

Why the f did he get the green light to go back out there in Q4?

Own goal by us if it's significant

 

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Why did he even go back on? I would rather risk Bowey blowing a calf, than Oliver getting a grazed pinky. 

Do any of the armchair experts KNOW that he or anyone else actually knew that had anything other than cramp, at the time?  
Just asking.  
The game was on the line at the time and he was needed and presumably was thought to be ok by himself and those able to assess him on the spot. 

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by monoccular

44 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

All rhetoric aside.. all thoughts just with where we are, who we've played well against. Combine with our problematic areas...clearances.. wet weather... opposition pressure. Where do you see us in a month ?

Personally I think Ollie is much more critical to our fabric than Max. Max has understudy(s) .... but extremely useful when fit and on song.

Ollie is a unique animal. 

Our season doesn't so much hang by a thread should Ollie not play....it becomes precarious because Clarry has a unique way of bringing his team mates into play. That's not reflected on a stat sheet... Thats partly why stats are [censored].

We are just... JUST hanging onto 4th presently.. it wouldn't take much to slip yo 6th.

6th..7th...8th...  same same....you're stuffed.

Im not enjoying some misguided role as a doomsdayer...   i just look at footy realistically.  I discount the footy speak as garbage. I seriously question the ability of our coaches to provide wisdom and direction. We seem stuck in a rut. What gets us out of that rut is players like Oliver who doesn't fit a mould. He just does Ollie stuff.

Take that stuff away and were more mediocre/predictable than before. 

 

I still feel pretty optimistic about where we are at and think people are underrating Port Adelaide. They're back to being a preliminary finalist capable side and one of the toughest assignments over at Adelaide Oval. The only rut we're in was Ports incredible forward half pressure and they're the best at it in the comp right now.

Fremantle and Carlton on our home deck? We'll be fine. I have a lot of faith in our grit and our coaches to make the right changes and for us to get those done without Clarry. 🤷‍♀️

Edit: Obviously Collingwood and Geelong will be tricky. But I wouldn't think losing both makes our season hang by a thread either - we might still be in the top 4. 10 more rounds after that. It's a long season and every club around us will also have their stumbles

Edit 2: Yup. Squiggle Ladder Predictor has us in the top 4 in round 16, after going 2/2 in the next month.

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by John Demonic

If we lose to Freo the short dynasty is over. If we are going to figure in the finals it's a must-win game.

That looks like a decent hammy to me 😮‍💨

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdECm5rujL/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Probably wont see him until Geelong after the bye. Anything earlier's a bonus.

... But then again, he played on so maybe just cramp?

Idfk

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by RedLegs23

14 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

If we lose to Freo the short dynasty is over. If we are going to figure in the finals it's a must-win game.

And I'm sure 95% of the forum will echo that sentiment. However a win 2 weeks later against Collingwood would then have the opposite effect. Footy is a funny game isn't it. Sometimes lose the games you should win, and win the games you shouldn't.

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by John Demonic

22 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

That looks like a decent hammy to me 😮‍💨

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsdECm5rujL/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Probably wont see him until Geelong after the bye. Anything earlier's a bonus.

... But then again, he played on so maybe just cramp?

Idfk

That passage of play is so nice to watch on loop.  You'd have to be a rock to not feel something joyous from it!

(Okay, silver lining interlude over.  Go back to your worry stations, everyone)

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Over rate Oliver ??

Hmmm

Premiership  Player

Twice AFLCA  winner

4 x Bluey...

Checker Hughes Medal

Daniher Trophy

Career avg 30 d a game ffs

On

On

On

Pretty funny stuff there Jimmy. 

He's not over rated...he's exactly what he is...a brilliant unique player.   Absolutely required for our success.

You completely misread my post. 

So I can't be bothered responding to this. 

21 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

And I'm sure 95% of the forum will echo that sentiment. However a win 2 weeks later against Collingwood would then have the opposite effect. Footy is a funny game isn't it. Sometimes lose the games you should win, and win the games you shouldn't.

I've been posting on demondland on and off for a reasonable amount of time, but I feel like this place is at its worst now that we're a contender. Seems like everyone expects perfection 100% of the time; as if it's out God given right to be a dynasty team that wins multiple flags. Fmd

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

If we lose 2 of the next 3, which is possible, we will likely miss top 4. The season is a waste if we don’t win a flag. This is just where we are at with our list. Making up numbers isn’t a pass mark anymore. 

Our supporters majorly UNDER rate Oliver. He is a once in a generation midfielder. Supporters don’t know how good we have it because he’s rarely missed a game. You take him out of our shallow midfield, and we go from an A grade midfield to a C grade midfield. Viney is a good player, but without Clarry and Trac who are A++ players, our depth is significantly tested. 

Even with Oliver in the side dominating weekly, we are struggling to beat top quality midfields. You think without him it’ll get easier? 
We are playing an in form Freo, an under the pump Carlton and the goddamn Pies in the next month. We lost to Freo this time last year with Oliver and haven’t beaten the Pies in years.

I was already worried about the next month, especially after our poor first half against a quality side in Port. Now it just got that much harder because our best player is out injured. 

You're a doomsdayer. 

You've basically said our season is on the line over the next three weeks if Oliver is out. 

Firstly, we're 7-3. So it's simply a gross exaggeration given we'd still be well in touch with the top four even if we lost all three (which won't happen). Secondly, you're talking up Freo and Carlton for silly reasons. One because they're in form and the other because they're under the pump? Haha. What about us? 

And nobody underrates Oliver. But people sure do overrate him. 

Luckily for us, his strength as an individual is something we can cover. And his absence will also unsettle sides as we won't be so predictable. 

One thing he does that supporters do miss is that he turns the ball over a lot both in congestion and on the run. So for all of those amazing hard balls he wins, he gives up his fair share by hand-balling to nobody/ flicking it out aimlessly. Or blindly kicking when he has more time than he thinks. Let me he clear. When he has space and time, he still bangs it on the boat as though he's in congestion. 

Not only that. We've been smashed from pillar to post from clearance this year around centre bounce during games in certain quarters. We have been unbelievably inconsistent in our midfield method this year which is why our form is so patchy and Oliver has been apart of that. Has he not? 

Every good side covers for their good players. If Oliver misses, we should be able to cover for him. If we can't, we'll we're not nearly as good a side as people think and it won't be because 'we didn't have clarry'.

We have an abundance of inside mids. Clarry can be covered and I genuinely think it will be more unpredictable for sides to match up on us. Bring Gus back in for a bit, Rivers and Sparrow to share more load. 

Everyone needs to relax. 

I'd you think Clarry being out is going to make or break us, then you're at the same time saying our team is not good enough to win it this year. We're more than one player, especially a mid. Regardless of how good his ball wining ability is. We are specialists in that area as a mid group.