PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Sydney

[YearOfTheDees 3,223]

Sydney play the MCG very very well " well not the grand final" But if we can't cover Gawn for a few weeks we don't deserve to be a finals side. 

[rpfc 27,863]

1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Football is a funny game and it certainly plays tricks with your brain. Only a week ago most were predicting a comprehensive win against the Lions on their turf. Now, a few days after a poor display people by our high standards and the loss of the skip people are salivating at Sydney's odds. I'm expecting a big response.

Umm, welcome to Demonland.

We have no idea about how to follow a good club nor the expectations around how a good club would respond after a bad loss.

(rpfc talking to the glassy eyes of the most of Demonland)

Yes it’s pronounced ‘good’ club. GOOD.

What’s that? 

Yes, layzie, like the cheese. Like the cheese…

FMD’

End Scene./

[radar 1,865]

9 hours ago, Left Foot Snap said:

Do you mean Nick Smith (426)?

Nope. 
early teens we had tall forward, Casey regular. First game v Geelong, I think Jamar went down. 
Kid had to ruck. 
Sure it was a Smith. 
Brother in law taught him, up Belgrave way

[Left Foot Snap 2,281]

43 minutes ago, radar said:

Nope. 
early teens we had tall forward, Casey regular. First game v Geelong, I think Jamar went down. 
Kid had to ruck. 
Sure it was a Smith. 
Brother in law taught him, up Belgrave way

Fair enough, don't recall him. I only recall Nick and Tim Smith from the recent past.

[leave it to deever 17,369]

This weekend will be interesting to see what we are made of. 

I believe our club will win in a close one with a complete turnaround and dominance in the midfield.

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by leave it to deever

[Demon Dynasty 17,001]

1 hour ago, YearOfTheDees said:

Sydney play the MCG very very well " well not the grand final" But if we can't cover Gawn for a few weeks we don't deserve to be a finals side. 

They are one of the best disposal teams going around, especially that last kick into 50 and love to run & carry as well.

You don't want an open free flowing game against this mob imv.  Don't give them an inch of space.  The Cats mauled them  and worried them out of it in the first two quarters of the Granny and it worked a treat.  They never recovered.  Anyone not using that footage as a reference as to how to beat them would be pretty foolish.

Might be too old style and off the mark but if it was me coaching this week i'd be seriously considering asking the boys to play back of shoulder (heavy pressure man on man) and make sure they get no clean ball or run &  under constant pressure for at least the first half of the match.

Make it a massive heavy hitting scrap with no easy possessions then possibly reset back to a slightly more open / rolling zone style afterwards depending on scoreboard / results of first half lock down strat.

Cover the guts from their kick ins as they love the FB to run it straight up the guts and also make sure there's an extra number defending the wings as they also love to go wide with medium kicks looking for a free out there, then they link up run & carry into 50 for the angled pass.  Not unlike a soccer play down the L/R chanels before crossing the ball in.

Edited March 27, 2023 by Demon Dynasty

[Docs Demons 1,746]

2 hours ago, layzie said:

If T-Mac is healthy keep him in. 

I'm with you Layzie and keep him in IF fit however, as with Brownie I also was at the Gabba and TMac certainly has a problem somewhere. He looked very slow and awkward, got man handled out of marking and rucking contests and just did not look right to me. If there is a issue they must rest him to get him cherry ripe for the long season ahead.

[WalkingCivilWar 38,923]

13 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Definitely not the worst MFC player to have changed colours over recent years.

I wonder if it was more us wanting him out or the other way around?

LOL him sitting by himself crying at our B&F and saying, “I don’t want to go” might answer that question. Yes he was probs drunk but he was shattered. I got a pic with him and commented that we both look sad in it. I told him I was heartbroken that he was leaving us and he said, “so am I, so am I.” And he meant it.

And if I hear even one Dees supporter boo him when we play them, I won’t be the sweet, shy and quiet little mouse I usually am. 😁

[dazzledavey36 52,154]

Watched Hunty yesterday. He played on the wing and played it well. Kicked 2 goals and looks extremely happy there.

Really wish him well! Had it not be for that unfortunate foot injury on the eve of finals 2021 we'd be easily calling a premiership player.

I really hope he feels he can walk back into the club with no hard feelings.

Edited March 27, 2023 by dazzledavey36

[WalkingCivilWar 38,923]

16 hours ago, rpfc said:

Also, how is the crowd going to be this Sunday? I was there last year and it felt like an away game. 

Over/Under on excuses at 5.5 @ $2.

Thats money for jam.

It’s Clarrie’s 150th game. For all the love and praise he gets from our supporters one would think many of them will turn up. Kinda like a big “thank you.”  What a shame if that’s not the case. 

[loges 6,766]

7 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

LOL him sitting by himself crying at our B&F and saying, “I don’t want to go” might answer that question. Yes he was probs drunk but he was shattered. I got a pic with him and commented that we both look sad in it. I told him I was heartbroken that he was leaving us and he said, “so am I, so am I.” And he meant it.

And if I hear even one Dees supporter boo him when we play them, I won’t be the sweet, shy and quiet little mouse I usually am. 😁

Can you do a like and a thinking emoji at the same time re last paragraph 

[WERRIDEE 5,329]

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Laurie was hugely underwhelming in his first game and needs a bank of good form at Casey before being considered for a call up!

It was his first game you gotta give him a break. I personally think Laurie was a bit better than Jordon in the VFL and deserves a second chance. 

[WalkingCivilWar 38,923]

13 minutes ago, loges said:

Can you do a like and a thinking emoji at the same time re last paragraph 

Methinks you need a “be afraid, be VERY afraid” emoji. 😤

[Vipercrunch 2,820]

Another tricky selection week coming up.  I don't think we'll see wholesale changes like some are hoping for.

JVR for Gawn - With Schache going down, I don't see any other option and I think it's time to unleash him for a minimum 2 weeks.  After that it will depend on his form and the form of TMac and Schache at Casey.  But it's Roo time!!

May for either Tomlinson or Petty - Two weeks there's no way I would consider that, but Thommo has exceeded my expectations and Petty seems to be out of form, especially one on one.  Add to that his jarred knee, perhaps he will be the one who makes way for May.

Melksham to be replaced by JJ or Laurie - I lean towards JJ

I think McVee will get at least one more week.  

[Deemania since 56 6,530]

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Laurie was hugely underwhelming in his first game and needs a bank of good form at Casey before being considered for a call up!

I actually reckon that JJ is ahead of Laurie. Great game from him at Casey against Footiskry. Goodwin needs to let him break loose for his development - a little like Chandler - otherwise, he'll be a lost cause, once again. 

[Demon Dynasty 17,001]

20 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Watched Hunty yesterday. He played on the wing and played it well. Kicked 2 goals and looks extremely there.

Really wish him well! Had it not be for that unfortunate foot injury on the eve of finals 2021 we'd be easily calling a premiership player.

I really hope he feels he can walk back into the club with no hard feelings.

I reckon him coming into form during that season was a bit of a catalyst for us doing so well in 2021.

Still see him as part of that Premiership as he played his role to aplomb throughout the season and stepped up from his previous ordinary one.

In 2020 i had him ranked (statistically) as the 33rd player out of 35 that played that season

In 2021 he moved up a massive 19 places to finish in 14th from 34 that played.

Albeit off a low base, his average weighted score in 2021 was up 127% on his previous year (2.59 vs 1.14)

Very sad to see him go.  Personally would've signed him for at least one more season.  Great young fella and fabulous to watch in full flight off HB.

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,291]

3 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Not sure after Weid leaving we didn't find another big fwd as insurance.  We seem top heavy with mids for some reason.  Given Tmacs age and foot issues and Bbbs end of year dip in form, it may have been prudent to find an experienced chf. Maybe nobody was available. 

we went out and got Josh Schache....

[Kick_It_To_Pickett 3,291]

34 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

It’s Clarrie’s 150th game. For all the love and praise he gets from our supporters one would think many of them will turn up. Kinda like a big “thank you.”  What a shame if that’s not the case. 

will be lucky to be 30k there and 20k will be Swans...our supporters don't show up anymore. Don't know what happened, you'd think the Premiership would have sparked a resurgence, but it feels like some have just become content. Not expecting a big crowd at all, happy to be proven wrong. 

Edited March 27, 2023 by Kick_It_To_Pickett

[Demon Dynasty 17,001]

25 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

It was his first game you gotta give him a break. I personally think Laurie was a bit better than Jordon in the VFL and deserves a second chance. 

Everyone sees things diff W.

Laurie, Jordan were both ok to good in patches y'day but also went missing at times.

Jordan only racked up 1 possession (or thereabouts) in the third I believe?  Very good either side of that though. 

Laurie wasn't very influential prior to half time, good contribution afterwards.

Dunstan i thought showed something in terms of possibly replacing Harmes ... however there's the disposal.  Bit of a Jekyll & Hyde here.  Clean that up a little more and go a bit longer at times i reckon he should get a call up at some point.  Having said that the FD may see it diff and he might get the nod this week!

Edited March 27, 2023 by Demon Dynasty

[Fritta and Turner 4,098]

1 hour ago, radar said:

Nope. 
early teens we had tall forward, Casey regular. First game v Geelong, I think Jamar went down. 
Kid had to ruck. 
Sure it was a Smith. 
Brother in law taught him, up Belgrave way

The Smith who was thrown into the ruck when Jamar went down in 2006 was Nick

[Demon Dynasty 17,001]

12 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

I actually reckon that JJ is ahead of Laurie. Great game from him at Casey against Footiskry. Goodwin needs to let him break loose for his development - a little like Chandler - otherwise, he'll be a lost cause, once again. 

 

[layzie 32,381]

15 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

I reckon him coming into form during that season was a bit of a catalyst for us doing so well in 2021.

Still see him as part of that Premiership as he played his role to aplomb throughout the season and stepped up from his previous ordinary one.

In 2020 i had him ranked (statistically) as the 33rd player out of 35 that played that season

In 2021 he moved up a massive 19 places to finish in 14th from 34 that played.

Albeit off a low base, his average weighted score in 2021 was up 127% on his previous year (2.59 vs 1.14)

Very sad to see him go.  Personally would've signed him for at least one more season.  Great young fella and fabulous to watch in full flight off HB.

It was the best year of his career bar none. The intent he played with off HB and some of the crazy good efforts in 50-50 contests at pivotal moments really helped set the tone for our season. Incidentally it was the round 8 game against Sydney at the G that I remember so vividly when it comes to Hunty's season. It was a real tough game and there was a real question about whether MFC would step up or step down in those last 5 mins and he had about 2 or 3 'all-in' commitment moments that could have gone either way. It was that moment I knew that our club was fair dinkum and our mentality was set. 

Very much a crucial part of our success. 

[Deemania since 56 6,530]

5 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

 

You get the drift, DD. Perhaps not as prominent a characteristic these days, but stuck in the memory across probably three decades. :-)

[Demon Dynasty 17,001]

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

It was the best year of his career bar none. The intent he played with off HB and some of the crazy good efforts in 50-50 contests at pivotal moments really helped set the tone for our season. Incidentally it was the round 8 game against Sydney at the G that I remember so vividly when it comes to Hunty's season. It was a real tough game and there was a real question about whether MFC would step up or step down in those last 5 mins and he had about 2 or 3 'all-in' commitment moments that could have gone either way. It was that moment I knew that our club was fair dinkum and our mentality was set. 

Very much a crucial part of our success. 

Yes as old blue eyes sings... "it was a very good year".

Sometimes you have to reward effort and the run/carry off HB was super handy for quick transition into 50 for the forwards to get better 1 v 1 looks. 

Goody has to be careful we don't end up with a stack of dour defenders that defend really well but can't rebound quickly enough. 

Enough to give more looks to our forwards and worry the oppo anyway.

[radar 1,865]

12 minutes ago, Jontee said:

The Smith who was thrown into the ruck when Jamar went down in 2006 was Nick

Ok - someone above corrected me - I had similar (wrong) memory of TIM Smith