On 11/04/2023 at 03:14, Sydee said:

I don't waste my time with that usually - but thanks

From my limited experience of the game day thread few if any comments tend to age well

Absolutely. But they are said

It was touched FCS.

  On 11/04/2023 at 03:00, Sydee said:

Gus did have one or two moments but overall, I thought he was one of our best players. Surprised if there are people potting him here.

And just to put that into context, most of our players (Sunday & all of the first 4 rounds) have had way more 'moments' than Brayshaw

Especially our onballers.  And a moment can include forwards playing from behind in the forward line thus allowing the opposition an easy clearance ... happens all too frequently although our forward line this year has been much better performed this season (aside from the Lions game)

Although we won the game against the Eagles quite easily, we made numerous errors against a team that made errors all game (the Eagles were crud)

And Brayshaw was not even close to being a chief offender.  DE rating of 88% with a season DE rating of 84% ... that's elite

  On 10/04/2023 at 22:09, picket fence said:

Judd Mc Vee is the coolest half back flanker we have had since Brett Lovett!

Agree PF but Salo at his best is also pretty cool. Lucky we have both!! Plus Riv and Sparrow. 

Viney's issue is that of ego rather than footy IQ. I think he typically knows what the right/first option is, he just chooses to ignore it a fair bit unfortunately!

Viney plays as defensive mid at the CBs to allow Oliver and Petracca to attack.  That role requires a high level of "footy IQ"

 

  On 10/04/2023 at 11:28, Macca said:

He is at the back of the stoppages in a fail-safe role.  A trouble-shooter positionally where the ball is often kicked away from where he is (by the opposition) Almost a decoy role at high half-back

When obtaining the ball he is quickly dishing off short (either diagonally or forward) to a player who can advance the ball longer.  And his efficiency is first rate despite the utterings from the naysayers

Remember 2021 when he copped no end of criticism?  It stopped when it was calmly pointed out about his role as a defensive wingman

By the time we got to the GF everyone could see what his role was .... that 3rd quarter was a beauty!

 

Saw every 3rd quarter minute of Gus's heroics from 20 rows back in front of me. We saved that game only allowing 2 goals to the Dogs in the first 15 minutes.

From Harmes's prodigious pass to Fritta, bang bang bang etc we won the game in the next 15 mins three goals each side of Gus's dead eye shot. That third quarter by Gus ( and all our players ultimately ) contained every good quality in life and sport that the Brayshaw family have given their offspring and we as Demons are bloody lucky to have them as a family taking home care of our high draft picks and others in development.

Gus is a product of course and his care of his teammates on and off  the field is also exemplary. He is without doubt in our Top10 player category every year for all these reasons snd probably plenty more.

As if a slower (than the best mids), smaller midfielder with an ok kick who has dominated finals would have no ‘footy IQ’…

I scoff at the notion 

Watching the replay it was interesting how many of the weagles goals were the direct result of a free.

Did anyone else find that Kozzy looked a bit flat on the weekend?

Understabily he's not going to be over the moon kicking 5 behinds and the two he did kick were after the fact. But I did think he just looked less emotionally engaged then usual.

Still so effective and will be so so important against the best teams to give us an edge. I understand there's a lot going on for him at the moment and hope he's coping ok.

  On 11/04/2023 at 05:58, leave it to deever said:

Watching the replay it was interesting how many of the weagles goals were the direct result of a free.

The umpiring was disgraceful

We even got awarded some woeful decisions. But the second qtr for the weagles was about the worst you will see

  On 10/04/2023 at 12:16, Macca said:

It was the moment wasn't it?

30 seconds that changed everything

Who knows?  If the free kick isn't paid then the Cats might have been able to kill the game with all 36 players hemmed in that forward pocket

It's just as well Gus got pinged in order for the chain of events to then follow.  Another deliberate, the kick to Gawn, the Gawn goal, top of the ladder etc etc

Amazing memories which led to the drought-breaking flag

And now we want more and we've got the team to do it

I found myself sitting next to a Cats supporter yesterday (I drifted in to watch a non MFC game for only the second time in 50 years of football attendance).  He asked me if I remembered the last quarter of the last round of 2021?  Remember? Remember?? I nearly choked on my cheese platter!!

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:21, Young Blood said:

Did anyone else find that Kozzy looked a bit flat on the weekend?

Understabily he's not going to be over the moon kicking 5 behinds and the two he did kick were after the fact. But I did think he just looked less emotionally engaged then usual.

Still so effective and will be so so important against the best teams to give us an edge. I understand there's a lot going on for him at the moment and hope he's coping ok.

I would love to see the H/F start out wide same with the pockets, it would be a nightmare for the likes of Kossie to run in to open space but they keep lining up like ducks in a row.

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:21, Young Blood said:

Did anyone else find that Kozzy looked a bit flat on the weekend?

Understabily he's not going to be over the moon kicking 5 behinds and the two he did kick were after the fact. But I did think he just looked less emotionally engaged then usual.

Still so effective and will be so so important against the best teams to give us an edge. I understand there's a lot going on for him at the moment and hope he's coping ok.

yep, same thing crossed my mind too.

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:26, demon3165 said:

I would love to see the H/F start out wide same with the pockets, it would be a nightmare for the likes of Kossie to run in to open space but they keep lining up like ducks in a row.

might be that if you start on the boundary there is only one direction you can move - start in the middle you can go two ways 

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:21, Young Blood said:

Did anyone else find that Kozzy looked a bit flat on the weekend?

Understabily he's not going to be over the moon kicking 5 behinds and the two he did kick were after the fact. But I did think he just looked less emotionally engaged then usual.

Still so effective and will be so so important against the best teams to give us an edge. I understand there's a lot going on for him at the moment and hope he's coping ok.

I felt like that is what missing two games of footy looks like; ever so slightly off the pace. He will star on the weekend!

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:29, Sydee said:

might be that if you start on the boundary there is only one direction you can move - start in the middle you can go two ways 

but you have the other forward and pocket moving as well, it cuts down on pack mentality in the square after all it would really only apply to centre bounces.

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:26, demon3165 said:

I would love to see the H/F start out wide same with the pockets, it would be a nightmare for the likes of Kossie to run in to open space but they keep lining up like ducks in a row.

Interesting concept - sort of Pagan's paddock.  Our guys do have the leg speed to take advantage.  Wonder why it hasn't been tried (unless it has).

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:34, monoccular said:

Interesting concept - sort of Pagan's paddock.  Our guys do have the leg speed to take advantage.  Wonder why it hasn't been tried (unless it has).

To be in the best position for quick dump kicks would be my opinion as to why they don't.

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:34, monoccular said:

Interesting concept - sort of Pagan's paddock.  Our guys do have the leg speed to take advantage.  Wonder why it hasn't been tried (unless it has).

Something similar the secret in the forward line is run your opponent around drag as many as you can open space for people to lead in, but now it's about contested football lock it in trouble you can do both I am amazed when the ball gets kicked in from the H/f line everyone just stands waiting, forwards standing behind their man you see it all the time, Nick Riewoldt was asked why he ran his opponent even around when he ball was not near him, answer I wanted to tire him out and start my lead on the run straight away think he was pretty damm good at that.

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:44, demon3165 said:

Something similar the secret in the forward line is run your opponent around drag as many as you can open space for people to lead in, but now it's about contested football lock it in trouble you can do both I am amazed when the ball gets kicked in from the H/f line everyone just stands waiting, forwards standing behind their man you see it all the time, Nick Riewoldt was asked why he ran his opponent even around when he ball was not near him, answer I wanted to tire him out and start my lead on the run straight away think he was pretty damm good at that.

TMcD does this quite a bit - runs his opponent all over the place, diverting them from the core, then breaking away to gain possession especially later in the game when less aerobically fit opponents waver.  Not all of his hard yakka is recognised on the stat sheet.

  On 11/04/2023 at 07:04, monoccular said:

TMcD does this quite a bit - runs his opponent all over the place, diverting them from the core, then breaking away to gain possession especially later in the game when less aerobically fit opponents waver.  Not all of his hard yakka is recognised on the stat sheet.

Yes, but the trouble with Tom, injuries have affected his speed and ability to turn back quickly and it's a pity but it is what it is

  On 11/04/2023 at 06:21, Young Blood said:

Did anyone else find that Kozzy looked a bit flat on the weekend?

Understabily he's not going to be over the moon kicking 5 behinds and the two he did kick were after the fact. But I did think he just looked less emotionally engaged then usual.

Still so effective and will be so so important against the best teams to give us an edge. I understand there's a lot going on for him at the moment and hope he's coping ok.

Yes, I and a few with me thought the same. 

I am a little scarred here - we now know Jackson visited Perth/Freo facilities over the mid-season break and when he came back he was never as engaged again. I don't think any of us really picked up on the cues but he was a far less emotive player than Kossie. His form certainly declined. 

There were discussions that Pickett was meeting family to discuss his future over the period of his suspension. I hope the look on his face doesnt reflect an outcome of that discussion, but I'm not at all filled with confidence.  

  On 11/04/2023 at 07:22, fr_ap said:

Yes, I and a few with me thought the same. 

I am a little scarred here - we now know Jackson visited Perth/Freo facilities over the mid-season break and when he came back he was never as engaged again. I don't think any of us really picked up on the cues but he was a far less emotive player than Kossie. His form certainly declined. 

There were discussions that Pickett was meeting family to discuss his future over the period of his suspension. I hope the look on his face doesnt reflect an outcome of that discussion, but I'm not at all filled with confidence.  

And if it is, so be it get the best you can for him, the world won't cave in, this year we have a big hand with draft picks it will be interesting,  I hope he stays myself but it's a business now clubs move on contracted players so why should they be the same.

ANB played a blinder