Round 1, 2023 MCG - Demons vs Bulldogs

Clarry opens his 2023 salvo with the No.1 mantle.  Not sure i would agree with that after watching the match but then again you do miss alot of what's happening up the opposite end when you're sitting behind the goals

Thought CP5 & Kozzie were close to BOG.  Kozzie's pressure in our F 50 and even higher up the ground was super all night.  Track lifted from about the 20 minute mark of the second and the Dogs couldn't go with him afterwards continuing his fabulous pre-season form

Great result for BBB with four snags.  The one from the pocket was a beautiful bender

The defence looked a little shakey at times but settled after half time and held up nicely with some lovely connection happening later in the match.  Thought Melk's goal in particular was team poetry off HB.  The Bowser handball in traffic out wide to Claz... wowsers!

Top 5 Meters Gained > Tracc 661 (Doggy's best...Smith with 623),  Clarry 488 (drive those legs Mr Choo Choo!),  Lever 484, Tomlinson 424 & Rivers 388

Thought this was an excellent result given the key outs we had.  Grundy slotted in very nicely ty.  Had a few iffy moments but appeared to improve as the game progressed

Bring on the Bears!

Player	Score	Rank
C Oliver	5.575	1
K Pickett	4.825	2
Trent Rivers	4.450	3
A Brayshaw	4.150	4
Max Gawn #	4.125	5
Jake Lever	4.075	6
A Tomlinson	3.800	7
C Petracca	3.675	8
J Harmes	3.500	9
H Petty	3.425	10
Jake Bowey	3.175	11
C Spargo	3.100	12
Ben Brown #	3.075	13
K Chandler	3.000	14
B Grundy #	2.675	15
A N-Bullen	2.550	16
T McDonald #	2.250	17
Judd McVee	2.250	18
T Sparrow	2.250	18
Ed Langdon	1.850	20
L Hunter	1.750	21
B Laurie*<	1.150	22
J Melksham*>	0.650	23
Team Score	70.68
Top 6	27.20
Bottom 6	11.50

# Hit outs to advantage not counted

*< Subbed out TOG 47%

*> Subbed in TOG 17%

Stats courtesy of footwire.com

Edited March 18, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

7 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Round 1, 2023 MCG - Demons vs Bulldogs

Clarry opens his 2023 salvo with the No.1 mantle.  Not sure i would agree with that after watching the match but then again you do miss alot of what's happening up the opposite end when you're sitting behind the goals

Thought CP5 & Kozzie were close to BOG.  Kozzie's pressure in our F 50 and even higher up the ground was super all night.  Track lifted from about the 20 minute mark of the second and the Dogs couldn't go with him afterwards continuing his fabulous pre-season form

Great result for BBB with four snags.  The one from the pocket was a beautiful bender

The defence looked a little shakey at times but settled after half time and held up nicely with some lovely connection happening later in the match.  Thought Melk's goal in particular was team poetry off HB.  The Bowser handball in traffic out wide to Claz... wowsers!

Top 5 Meters Gained > Tracc 661 (Doggy's best...Smith with 623),  Clarry 488 (drive those legs Mr Choo Choo!),  Lever 484, Tomlinson 424 & Rivers 388

Thought this was an excellent result given the key outs we had.  Grundy slotted in very nicely ty.  Had a few iffy moments but appeared to improve as the game progressed

Bring on the Bears!

Player	Score	Rank
C Oliver	5.575	1
K Pickett	4.825	2
Trent Rivers	4.450	3
A Brayshaw	4.150	4
Max Gawn #	4.125	5
Jake Lever	4.075	6
A Tomlinson	3.800	7
C Petracca	3.675	8
J Harmes	3.500	9
H Petty	3.425	10
Jake Bowey	3.175	11
C Spargo	3.100	12
Ben Brown #	3.075	13
K Chandler	3.000	14
B Grundy #	2.675	15
A N-Bullen	2.550	16
T McDonald #	2.250	17
Judd McVee	2.250	18
T Sparrow	2.250	18
Ed Langdon	1.850	20
L Hunter	1.750	21
B Laurie*<	1.150	22
J Melksham*>	0.650	23
Team Score	70.68
Top 6	27.20
Bottom 6	11.50

# Hit outs to advantage not counted

*< Subbed out TOG 47%

*> Subbed in TOG 17%

Stats courtesy of footwire.com

Gus is a bit of a surprise, DD (nice to see though) Possibly the 'behind the goals' effect for me, too.

Match stats are now available my site:

https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_match_stats.html?ID=20230105

Centre Bounce Attendance %

Ruck Contest %

Edited March 18, 20232 yr by WheeloRatings

I thought Harmes was quiet last night so surprised by his score. 

9 hours ago, Demonsterative said:

I thought Harmes was quiet last night so surprised by his score. 

Yes a tad quiet although he didn't do too badly if compared to say Tracc, where he had only two less effectives with 10% less game time (84% vs 74% respectively).  Also the scores don't always reflect the quality of those possessions.  Better to trust in what we witness on the day i think.

I think Trent Rivers is our next midfielder to compete for time there with CO13, CP5, JV7, JH4, and KP36. Ahead of Sparrow in my eyes.

15 hours ago, WheeloRatings said:

Match stats are now available my site:

https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_match_stats.html?ID=20230105

Centre Bounce Attendance %

Ruck Contest %

I thought this is where TMac made a contribution beyond the 'classic' stats last night.

5 hours ago, rpfc said:

I think Trent Rivers is our next midfielder to compete for time there with CO13, CP5, JV7, JH4, and KP36. Ahead of Sparrow in my eyes.

Agree, though an 'outside' rather than 'inside'?

2 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A&#x27;Blew said:

Agree, though an 'outside' rather than 'inside'?

I think he’s both. Our midfield doesn’t lack much but if you said to me; let’s put a quick witted and footed skilled ball user (Pickett) and a strong body with an excellent line breaking long kick and good vision (Rivers) in there, I would say…

 

4 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I think he’s both. Our midfield doesn’t lack much but if you said to me; let’s put a quick witted and footed skilled ball user (Pickett) and a strong body with an excellent line breaking long kick and good vision (Rivers) in there, I would say…

 

...And the best thing about modern times for an old fart like me?

Gifs, memes, and all them other whatchamacallits!

On 3/19/2023 at 12:31 AM, Demon Dynasty said:

Round 1, 2023 MCG - Demons vs Bulldogs

Clarry opens his 2023 salvo with the No.1 mantle.  Not sure i would agree with that after watching the match but then again you do miss alot of what's happening up the opposite end when you're sitting behind the goals

Thought CP5 & Kozzie were close to BOG.  Kozzie's pressure in our F 50 and even higher up the ground was super all night.  Track lifted from about the 20 minute mark of the second and the Dogs couldn't go with him afterwards continuing his fabulous pre-season form

Great result for BBB with four snags.  The one from the pocket was a beautiful bender

The defence looked a little shakey at times but settled after half time and held up nicely with some lovely connection happening later in the match.  Thought Melk's goal in particular was team poetry off HB.  The Bowser handball in traffic out wide to Claz... wowsers!

Top 5 Meters Gained > Tracc 661 (Doggy's best...Smith with 623),  Clarry 488 (drive those legs Mr Choo Choo!),  Lever 484, Tomlinson 424 & Rivers 388

Thought this was an excellent result given the key outs we had.  Grundy slotted in very nicely ty.  Had a few iffy moments but appeared to improve as the game progressed

Bring on the Bears!

Player	Score	Rank
C Oliver	5.575	1
K Pickett	4.825	2
Trent Rivers	4.450	3
A Brayshaw	4.150	4
Max Gawn #	4.125	5
Jake Lever	4.075	6
A Tomlinson	3.800	7
C Petracca	3.675	8
J Harmes	3.500	9
H Petty	3.425	10
Jake Bowey	3.175	11
C Spargo	3.100	12
Ben Brown #	3.075	13
K Chandler	3.000	14
B Grundy #	2.675	15
A N-Bullen	2.550	16
T McDonald #	2.250	17
Judd McVee	2.250	18
T Sparrow	2.250	18
Ed Langdon	1.850	20
L Hunter	1.750	21
B Laurie*<	1.150	22
J Melksham*>	0.650	23
Team Score	70.68
Top 6	27.20
Bottom 6	11.50

# Hit outs to advantage not counted

*< Subbed out TOG 47%

*> Subbed in TOG 17%

Stats courtesy of footwire.com

Great work DD and your thoughts definitely match my own. It wasn't all perfect but a good side has the ability to make it look easier. 

It's intriguing that Langdon and Hunter, our two prized permanent wingmen, scored the lowest of the non-sub players.

Are we now playing through the middle more? Are they playing too wide to be as effective in this new(?) style?

Early days and there may be other games where our tactics change. But still a mystery.

Tomlinson a pretty good effort.

Generally more than reliable  when asked to play a role down back.

The Bulldogs tall forward line looked dangerous on paper pre game.

1 hour ago, tiers said:

It's intriguing that Langdon and Hunter, our two prized permanent wingmen, scored the lowest of the non-sub players.

Are we now playing through the middle more? Are they playing too wide to be as effective in this new(?) style?

Early days and there may be other games where our tactics change. But still a mystery.

Yes interesting point tiers.  Be nice to see some sort of hot zone map where it shows where the ball was tracking

Not really a surpirse and will change with each match depending on who's in / out for us and the oppo of course.  Nonetheless makes for positive reading...

https://www.zerohanger.com/every-afl-clubs-backline-ranked-part-iii-2-134095/

3 hours ago, Dockett 32 said:

Tomlinson a pretty good effort.

Generally more than reliable  when asked to play a role down back.

The Bulldogs tall forward line looked dangerous on paper pre game.

Yep he made me eat humble pie Dockett.  I thought he may have been passed any kind of performance like that when i watched him in the warm up against the Saints...

17 effectives, 6 one percenters, 8 rebounds, 1 inside 50, 2 tackles (one of those inside 50), 4 score involvements, 5 intercepts and 424 meters gained.  4 turnovers

Edited March 20, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

Round 2, 2023 GABBA - Lions vs Demons

Would you believe Grundy had a massive 45 hit outs...would love to know how many of those were to our advantage.

A number of players here had decent scores but it always comes back to what they did with their ball use and finish on the night.  And i suspect most of the boys were well off their best and stats also don't record fumbles.  And boy did we fumble alot tonight.

Some indication of how far off this performance was is shown by the team score which is a weighted average of the top 22 rated players.  16% lower than against the Dogs and 13.5% worse than our 2022 season average.  It's only one match but that's some seriously poor numbers in anyone's language.

Player	Score	Rank
C Oliver	4.550	1
A Brayshaw	4.325	2
Jake Lever	4.150	3
C Petracca	3.850	4
L Hunter	3.725	5
Trent Rivers	3.725	6
T Sparrow	3.500	7
Jake Bowey	3.150	8
B Grundy #	3.025	9
Jack Viney	2.950	10
Ed Langdon	2.900	11
ATomlinson	2.725	12
T McDonald #	2.725	12
A N-Bullen	2.650	14
Ben Brown #	2.525	15
B Fritsch	2.200	16
K Chandler	1.925	17
H Petty	1.850	18
C Spargo	1.625	19
J Harmes	0.950	20
Judd McVee	0.875	21
J Melksham >*	0.250	22
Max Gawn <* #	0.000	23
Team Score	60.15
Top 6	24.33
Bottom 6	7.48

# Hit outs to advantage not counted

*< Subbed out TOG 3%

*> Subbed in TOG 70%

Stats courtesy of footwire.com

Edited March 24, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

Thanks DD those stats really reinforce our poor output 16% down on the Doggies game is huge Harmes, Melksham and McVee will be lucky to play next week based on those numbers.!!

13 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Thanks DD those stats really reinforce our poor output 16% down on the Doggies game is huge Harmes, Melksham and McVee will be lucky to play next week based on those numbers.!!

Yes those numbers were right off DZ.  Didnt come to play at all.  As a bare minimum there should have been a response after half time.  But what did we get...more of the same till their mindset finally changed when the game was well beyond winning.  Crazy stuff.

We should know more about how we are travelling at as a team by round 6ish

Being a rookie Mcvee will have these ups and downs but i really like him with ball in hand.  Smooth mover & lovely user.  So yes he might miss this week but i reckon he's shown he's ready for more time in the big league and may well come back shortly after or he may even get a reprieve and go around once more.  Think the FD would be out of their mind to not go with Hibb this week though.

Harmes a likely out for one of Jordan or Dunstan?  Needs to gain some form/confidence, better ball use and some run/carry back in the Mcgoos for mine.

Melk's been a great servant but imho Goody needs to look to the future here and the future is surely JVR ...and not in a few weeks or waiting for him to kick a bag at Casey.  I'd be bringing him straight in for Melk this week.

We've lost 3 of our last four games.  Two of those were finals.  And two of them against a team we smacked on their home turf just 4 matches ago by nearly 10 goals.  Alot's gone wrong since.

Reckon Goody, the FD and boys have some real soul searching to do to get to the bottom of what is a recent form slump.  We aren't coping with pressure too well at all is what im witnessing and the only bloke that continues to pop his head up in those losses under pressure is Clarry with the odd cameo from others.  And even Claz hasnt quite hit his usual top line form in some of those last four matches.  Too much left to too few it seems.

I reckon we also really struggle without Maysy so that aspect needs addressing also.  He aint gonna be around for much longer.  Will need to find another general down back pretty soonish.

Edited March 25, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

Agree on all points DD JVR is ready so is JJ and Dunstan must reward effort and also send underperformers back to Casey to find form.!!

Key stats round 2 

1. CLEARANCES LOST 30-60

Centre clearance 10-20

Stoppages 20-40

this was probably the worst mauling our midfield has had in the last 7-8 years

2. HANDBALLS 150 Kicks 200

Clearly overhandballing issue again, seen not as overlap running handballs but by players in close deciding to do a 30cm handball to another teammate under more pressure or in fact when free choosing to handball to someone under pressure !! When we move the ball quickly often by kicking and running and playing on, we look dangerous. Slow overuse of handball is a weakness evident in many of our recent losses through 2nd half of 2022 

 

11 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

We should be good at this - but when our best players just fall back into kicking down lines it’s going to fall apart like it did on Friday.

23 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Key stats round 2 

1. CLEARANCES LOST 30-60

Centre clearance 10-20

Stoppages 20-40

this was probably the worst mauling our midfield has had in the last 7-8 years

2. HANDBALLS 150 Kicks 200

Clearly overhandballing issue again, seen not as overlap running handballs but by players in close deciding to do a 30cm handball to another teammate under more pressure or in fact when free choosing to handball to someone under pressure !! When we move the ball quickly often by kicking and running and playing on, we look dangerous. Slow overuse of handball is a weakness evident in many of our recent losses through 2nd half of 2022 

Those clearances NS my gosh.  We looked like the Hawks... sometimes worse if that's possible 😄

Now you highlight an issue with handball to kick ratio.  I actually don't mind that ratio but as you say it's the type of handball in question.  Ok so no team is perfect.  Dinky pressure / sell into pressure handballs happen even with great handball exponents / teams.  It's a tough game and always looks easier.from the sofa. 

However, if we could fix a fair % and go over the top or out wide to free players or players on the run more often i dont think we would be questioning their use at all.  But as you say, we don't do the latter consistently enough from match to match and tend to revert back to the Clazza dink donk versions under pressure.  And as much as i loooove Clazz...he's one of the main offenders that starts and continues the rot here.

If you watch the Pies they use alot of handball in tight.  Ring around the rosie whip arounds but theyre usually to the outer rings of congestion....not going to players 2 feet away or about to get crunched (as often).

Once they connect with a free runner or he sees an opening (they almost always look to go corridor first!!) theyre off to the races launching quickly i50 with a low raking kick often to favoured sides or a shorter one out in front allowing leading forwards to run onto them.

Quick smart ring a rosie handball use without going over board shouldn't be a factor if we were better at it!

Also in the middle bounce i'd much rather see a quick kick around the cormer to HF then a defensive handball going backwards to a player under pressure or to a 50/50. 

And there lays another problem of ours.  In the two games this season we've done that on a few occasions, only to see the oppo's HB take an easy grab and rebound quickly most of the time.  Who is playing this role and why aren't they presenting often enough?? (Structure???)

Edited March 26, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty

Round 3, 2023 MCG - Demons vs Swans

How about that for a win folks!  We knock off our recent nemesis of late and last season's No.2 team... convincingly!  Well done to everyone involved at the club on a tremendous result from the trainers up to the head coach.

One of the best H&A wins i've seen in some time and we did it on Clarry's 150th.  Who yet again ends up topping this table.  Talk about blood and guts.  This bloke rarely lets anyone down.  Let's take a look at some key stats from our champ on his big day...

20 Effectives @ 80% efficiency, 5 clearances, 5 rebounds, 5 inside 50s, 7 tackles (the most for anyone on the day), 9 score involvements, 5 intercepts, 475 meters gained (only bettered by Tracc), 2 goals and only 1 turnover!

The Debutante Van Rooyen... 8 effectives @ 89%, 2 marks inside 50, 6 tackles, 4 score involvements, 3 goals and Zero turnovers.

Grundy... 17 Effectives @ 81%, 3 one percenters, 4 clearances, 6 Rebounds, 6 inside 50s, 3 tackles, 9 score involvements, 3 intercepts and only 2 turnovers.

MFC Top 5 Meters gained...Tracc 572 (best on the day), Clarry 475 (2nd best on the day), Rivers 468, Jordan & Hunter 467 a piece.

Player	Score	Rank
C Oliver	6.425	1
C Petracca	5.675	2
B Grundy #	5.025	3
Ed Langdon	4.225	4
J Jordon	3.650	5
Steven May	3.650	5
L Hunter	3.650	5
J McVee	3.425	8
J V Rooyen #	3.125	9
H Petty #	2.925	10
Trent Rivers	2.900	11
K Chandler	2.875	12
A Brayshaw	2.850	13
Jack Viney	2.500	14
Jake Bowey	2.400	15
B Fritsch	2.350	16
Jake Lever	2.250	17
T Sparrow	1.750	18
M Hibberd	1.700	19
A N-Bullen	1.625	20
C Spargo	1.325	21
B Brown < 46%	0.500	22
J Melksham > 34%	0.325	23
Team Score	66.80
Top 6	28.65
Bottom 6	9.15

# Hit outs to advantage not counted

< Subbed out / TOG %

> Subbed in / TOG %

Stats courtesy of footwire.com

Edited April 2, 20232 yr by Demon Dynasty