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POSTGAME: Practice Match vs Carlton

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in Melbourne Demons

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2 hours ago, seventyfour said:

There was a lot of positive offseason commentary from the club around Laurie, and he was getting games last year even though he wasn't standout in the VFL. Does anyone else see it?

He reminds me of Jordon, in that he is not bad, but there's no standout element sof his game. You've gotta have something. Be quick, tall, an elite ball user (smarts, decision making or skills), tough as nails, an elite endurance runner... I don't see any of that.

Depth at best.

I'm in the same boat. I think.

The reason I say that is I feel like I have developed a bit of a set against him. Perhaps because I was surprised they picked him ahead of spargs late last year.

So, I wonder if I sub consciousness underrate him.

For instance I was really surprised he had 17 possessions against the tigers.

Less surprised that he got 17 yesterday, but he seems to have the knack good players do of accumulating disposals unobtrusively.

And crucially, he doesn't waste them. A neat kick who reliably hits targets and makes good decisions.

I think he is competing with spargo, who is also a good kick but probably doesn't get enough of the pill.

The other thing about Laurie that makes me think I maybe underrate him is the coaches, and goody  obviously think highly of him. And of course have all the gps amd orher data we don't have access to.

On the gps data, Laurie looks really fit and had slimmed down.

We saw last night how effective our all team defensive grid is.

The blues looked stuck st times- even when they were desperately trying to get speed on the ball.

That defensive grid (which by the by seemed to be set up to invite the corridor kick) requires many players getting to the right spot and heaps of unrewarded running - particularly from the utility types like Laurie, nibbla, langdon, Sparrow etc.

Such players need a good tank  ability to cover the ground at speed and discipline. All hard attributes to "see".

I'm guessing Laurie has developed them.

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    2 hours ago, seventyfour said:

    There was a lot of positive offseason commentary from the club around Laurie, and he was getting games last year even though he wasn't standout in the VFL. Does anyone else see it?

    He reminds me of Jordon, in that he is not bad, but there's no standout element sof his game. You've gotta have something. Be quick, tall, an elite ball user (smarts, decision making or skills), tough as nails, an elite endurance runner... I don't see any of that.

    Depth at best.

    Is he quick ? Not overly but has worked hard at his fitness and is quicker than last year and seems to have built a tank

    Is he an elite ball user? Maybe not yet but he is way better at disposal than half of the regulars in our team 

    Is he tough as nails? He is a solid unit and harder than he looks, difficult to tackle and can lay a decent tackle too

    Is he smart / good decision maker ? Suggest you take another look at the Windsor goal where Laurie delays a handball (left handed btw) and releases Windsor to run into goal - smart footy IMO

    Is he a lock for the team each week ? Probably not yet but he is closing in on that status IMO so long as he keeps improving. We need to remember that these young guys can take a little bit of time to adjust

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    31 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    McKay  
    Height:204 cm Weight:99 kg

    Verrall

    height: 199cm. weight: 95kg    probably 1-2 kgs more as that was last year.

    McKay is 200cm

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    Only a practice, but great to see some of the changes they have been working on over the summer.   The trick is can we maintain that lower flatter kick into the forward line under real pressure?  Hope so.

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    Interestingly, Nibbla’s and Tommo’s babies were born on the same day (last Thursday).

    Our father/daughter stocks are building nicely, thank you very much. 🤗

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    3 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

    And for Petracca, the halo effect - the assumption that everything he does is magnificent because in general, is such a high quality player 

    I have a mate who is a big cats fan.

    He reckons Dangerfield is a shocking kick, but is amazed that he get so little flack from cats fans or the media for his kicking skills.

    I'll let him know I've found the reason why.

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    2 minutes ago, binman said:

    I have a mate who is a big cats fan.

    He reckons Dangerfield is a shocking kick, but is amazed that he get so little flack from cats fans or the media for his kicking skills.

    I'll let him know I've found the reason why.

    Dangerfield would be pretty much identical to Trac in his kicking skills.

    That's why I have Dusty ahead of both. His kicking skills are sublime.

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    25 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

    McKay is 200cm

    Not according to AFL.

    He is now 204 cms and is taller than his  twin Ben who is 202 cms.

    No way he is only 1 cm taller than 199 cm Verall.

     

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    Just now, Redleg said:

    Not according to AFL.

    He is now 204 cms and is taller than his  twin Ben who is 202 cms.

    No way he is only 1 cm taller than 199 cm Verall.

     

    Not sure where your getting this info but it's incorrect 

     

    image.thumb.png.e04e80050e6e9456a2608bffadb189d2.png

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    2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

    Not according to AFL.

    He is now 204 cms and is taller than his  twin Ben who is 202 cms.

    No way he is only 1 cm taller than 199 cm Verall.

     

    This is why Verrall is not 199cm but closer to 196cm

     

    Take a look at the team photo, he is the same height as Adams 196cm

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    41 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

    This is why Verrall is not 199cm but closer to 196cm

     

    Take a look at the team photo, he is the same height as Adams 196cm

    wouldn't that make adams really 199cm  😂

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    6 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

    I’ve recently praised ANB for the way he has improved his skills and, as a result, the great season he had last year.
    When ANB is pressuring a player, he is great, however, when ANB is under pressure, too often he fumbles or gives a poor disposal and the forward flow is haltered or we turnover the ball as a result. This happens too often to just be an occasional occurrence, and as such, until he can consistently improve this area of his play he will continue to not receive the recognition he should by the demon faithful. 

    ANB was guilty of the weaknesses you point out but imo that was pre 2021, has worked hard to eradicate his flaws and I believe he's no worse than anyone else.

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    1 hour ago, Binmans PA said:

    JVR is too good 1v1 for middle of the road defenders like Kemp. As he gets stronger, he'll become more of a handful for the likes of Weitering.

    A pure footballer who will be one of the competition stars in 2-3 years.

    My call that he is arguably the best  21 and under key forward is looking better by the game.

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    4 minutes ago, loges said:

    he's no worse than anyone else.

    Not only is he ‘no worse than anyone else’, based on last year’s stats, I’m not sure there’s anyone ‘better’ at the club. 

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    1 hour ago, binman said:

    I have a mate who is a big cats fan.

    He reckons Dangerfield is a shocking kick, but is amazed that he get so little flack from cats fans or the media for his kicking skills.

    I'll let him know I've found the reason why.

    Interesting how little bits of terminology can unlock explanations in different things

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    27 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

    wouldn't that make adams really 199cm  😂

    Love your logic haha

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    1 hour ago, Redleg said:

    Not according to AFL.

    He is now 204 cms and is taller than his  twin Ben who is 202 cms.

    No way he is only 1 cm taller than 199 cm Verall.

     

    Fun fact: Ben and Harry both have one foot a shoe size bigger than the other. Fortunately for them it’s the opposite foot, so when they buy shoes they get two different sizes of the same shoe and swap. 😃

    PS round zero can’t come quick enough 🙃

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    1 hour ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    Dangerfield would be pretty much identical to Trac in his kicking skills.

    That's why I have Dusty ahead of both. His kicking skills are sublime.

    Dusty is one of the best kicks of a footy I've seen. 

    I agree with the Trac and Danger point. I don't think they are horrible but just average kicks who can occasionally do the damage. 

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    2 hours ago, Sydee said:

    Is he quick ? Not overly but has worked hard at his fitness and is quicker than last year and seems to have built a tank

    Is he an elite ball user? Maybe not yet but he is way better at disposal than half of the regulars in our team 

    Is he tough as nails? He is a solid unit and harder than he looks, difficult to tackle and can lay a decent tackle too

    Is he smart / good decision maker ? Suggest you take another look at the Windsor goal where Laurie delays a handball (left handed btw) and releases Windsor to run into goal - smart footy IMO

    Is he a lock for the team each week ? Probably not yet but he is closing in on that status IMO so long as he keeps improving. We need to remember that these young guys can take a little bit of time to adjust

    Sorry to be late to this discussion, but I have thought for a couple of years that Laurie was overrated and wouldn't make it, but last night I thought he showed a lot of creative thinking and the skills to back it up. He completely changed my opinion.

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    5 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

    Two words: Joey [censored] Montagna! 🥳

    thats 3 words

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    12 minutes ago, layzie said:

    Dusty is one of the best kicks of a footy I've seen. 

    I agree with the Trac and Danger point. I don't think they are horrible but just average kicks who can occasionally do the damage. 

    I reckon Trac has Danger well covered for footskills as he occasionally can hit a ridiculously good field kick.

    What’s amazing, is that both are just that good at the things they do well, that it hasn’t impeded their ability to influence games.

    Trac will be regarded more highly in time because he kicks more goals but both are exceptional players with a major, fundamental flaw

    Edited by BW511

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    I just hope that Carlton look as modest against every other team this year.

    And the corollary is that I hope D's lood as good against every other team also 

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    Wanted Bill to make it as an afl player but sadly cant see it happening ,good kid great attitude but just lacks that X factor

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    I think the Team has a point to prove this year. 
    They didn’t want to lose Angus, but were forced 

    Look out AFL

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