Don’t know what’s happened to Chandler. 
His form early 23 was terrific. For a short period he became a real excitement machine. Yet he went off the boil late 23 and so far this season has been underwhelming. He needs to cement his position this year or may well fall by the wayside. Hoping to see some of that 23 form but beginning to have serious doubts. 

  On 29/02/2024 at 23:36, hemingway said:

Don’t know what’s happened to Chandler. 
His form early 23 was terrific. For a short period he became a real excitement machine. Yet he went off the boil late 23 and so far this season has been underwhelming. He needs to cement his position this year or may well fall by the wayside. Hoping to see some of that 23 form but beginning to have serious doubts. 

I don't think he has the tricks to be a mainstay in the best 22

  On 29/02/2024 at 22:37, binman said:

I think tracc is safe from becoming a whipping boy.

Of course he is a star. One of the best six players I have seen play at the dees.

His score involvements is terrific evidence of how good he is, and how important he is.

But that isn't particularly relevant to kicking skills (all players in a scoring chain are credited with an SI).

And doesn't change the fact he is a terrible kick.

“And doesn't change the fact he is a terrible kick.”
 

Terrible on occasions or not, two magnificent kicks (first goal and “that” goal) in the 2021 GF are the ones that will remain in my brain and in my red n blue heart forever. 🩷💙🩷💙

Edited February 29, 20241 yr by monoccular

  On 29/02/2024 at 08:09, stinga said:

Windsor's 2 goals.    Last time I remember having a wingman who kicked goals was Robbie Flower at 1.1 per game.   No way making a comparison, but it was great to see.

Your namesake wasn't bad Stinga! ...and Travis Johnstone. 

  On 29/02/2024 at 23:33, Fromgotowoewodin said:

I think this is the most promising sign out of the game. In wins last year we averaged 14.9 marks i50, in losses 9.1 so to get 20 is solid - obviously no Weitering helps there.

20 marks allowed us to get a goal from 23% of i50s (25% in wins last year, 17% in losses), and convert at 58% (goal from scoring shots, 58% in 2023 wins, 45% in losses). If we can play that way this year we will be in a strong ladder position at the end. 

We also held them to 8 marks i50 which is strong given they’ve got Curnow, McKay, TdK but I’m less worried about defence in general, hasn’t been our issue last 2 years, hitting the scoreboard has. 

Agree with all of this - Carlton seem to be playing the same style that we have employed for a long time, just with better forwards.  For the record I think they will be very very competitive this year.  Good onball contest bombing forward to those three (TDK, McK, Curnow - with some good crumbers in Fantasia and Motlop) will stand up in the pointy end. 

Agree Weitering accounts for maybe even spoiling of JVR's contested marks - but hopefully let's see if he can continue this form. 

I think a byproduct of the way we are playing (Ie to the corner, and then looking inboard for the handball to the overlapping runner) is that the original contest (ie from the 45 degree kick to the corner of the centre square) has the positive effect of drawing in a half back or two creating a space inside 30 and at a good angle to goal.  I've watched the tape a couple of times - and you can see this effect, especially where JvR and Schache lead to the pocket (usual pattern) which stretches the space a bit more.  Would love to see the HFs mark a lot here - granted it does take a good kicker on the run to be able to hit that up - good thing Salem is playing in the midfield lol. 

  On 29/02/2024 at 23:35, Fromgotowoewodin said:

My issue is that he’s not, or at least not all the time. When he gets it right he can literally put it on a 20c piece but he gets the ball drop wrong too many times in front of goal and shanks too many for a player of his quality. 

Yes, that is very true - he can be a brilliant kick, particularly those penetrating 60 metre bullets that can be so damaging and set up so many scoring chances. His vision is also brilliant.

Those kicks are incredible when they come off (but as we saw against the blues, can give the opposition good turnover  scoring opportunities when they don’t).

Few players in the AFL can hit kicks like that - a factor in the halo effect no doubt.

And you're right, his technique, in particular the ball drop, is the issue.

Ironically those 60 metres darts are often off one step and slightly accross his body. And his technique is heaps better. He should stick to those kicks.

People have talked alot about our forward 'connection"  - weird footy speak for the critical last kick inside 50. 

Tracc acknowledged that kick is an issue for him in the interview posted a few weeks back.

And it is - for average kick to score ratio for the kick inside 50 tracc was dead last for us last season. Nibbla was #1.

With better kicks like Windsor and billings we will be less reliant on tracc kicking inside 50, which will help with our 'connection' issues.

But I'm not really wanting to bag tracc. My initial point was that nibbla is held to a different standard than say tracc.

Nibbla is a much better kick than generally given credit for. The data and eyes bear that out. 

Yes, like tracc and every other player, he miss targets. But also like tracc he is capable of brilliant kicks that set up gilt edged scoring opportunities.

Edited March 1, 20241 yr by binman

 

I see Anna Pavlou of channel 9 wide world of sports writes that Oliver was "sent back to vfl level" for the practice match.

Couldn't she have managed to write "champ stars in vfl practice match".

I have had a complete gutful of football media. Big cull coming in my consumption of this garbage.

I think on the whole the young men playing AFL/vfl football are a fine group of people. There will be stumbles. And many come from difficult backgrounds. But overall, great.

Always looking for a error from any player from any team.

So, Anna, no Pulitzer prize for you but you are in the running for the Kane Cornes Award . Prize is a dictionary.

Anna graduated in media (football) from Latrobe in 2022 so there is a fair chance, along with  Kane, she would struggle to spell "cat".

 

  On 29/02/2024 at 23:36, hemingway said:

Don’t know what’s happened to Chandler. 
His form early 23 was terrific. For a short period he became a real excitement machine. Yet he went off the boil late 23 and so far this season has been underwhelming. He needs to cement his position this year or may well fall by the wayside. Hoping to see some of that 23 form but beginning to have serious doubts. 

He’s been playing fairly deep the last two weeks which has impacted his disposal totals, with Laurie, ANB and Billings in the side.

Our best possible side probably has McAdam, Pickett and Kossie all moving deep which does put Chandler’s role in jeopardy, but also would allow him to move around.

  On 01/03/2024 at 00:20, binman said:

Nibbla is a much better kick than generally given credit for. The data and eyes bear that out. 

Yes, like tracc and every other player, he miss targets. But also like tracc he is capable of brilliant kicks that set up gilt edged scoring opportunities.

I think ANBs biggest strength is he’s aware of his limitations so he takes a lot of care to overcome them. When kicking he always works to get his body lined up to kick properly and is generally trying to hit a 30-40m kick rather than biting off too much. 

Trac knows he capable of anything so goes for the harder options and doesn’t pay enough attention to body position or ball drop. He puts in work on it but doesn’t apply it every time in games. 
 

I don’t mind connection so much as a term, it covers both sides being the kick and also the movement by the forward. It’s easier to hit a fwd moving into space (and there’s more margin for error) than trying to pin point a stationary target in a crowded area. As @Altona-demon has pointed out it seems like we’ve made some changes to the forward movement to create space, this makes it easier for the kickers and gives fwds a better chance at a mark. 

  On 01/03/2024 at 00:40, Bystander said:

I see Anna Pavlou of channel 9 wide world of sports writes that Oliver was "sent back to vfl level" for the practice match.

Couldn't she have managed to write "champ stars in vfl practice match".

I have had a complete gutful of football media. Big cull coming in my consumption of this garbage.

I think on the whole the young men playing AFL/vfl football are a fine group of people. There will be stumbles. And many come from difficult backgrounds. But overall, great.

Always looking for a error from any player from any team.

So, Anna, no Pulitzer prize for you but you are in the running for the Kane Cornes Award . Prize is a dictionary.

Anna graduated in media (football) from Latrobe in 2022 so there is a fair chance, along with  Kane, she would struggle to spell "cat".

 

“Um… K.A.T…?”

  On 01/03/2024 at 00:12, Altona-demon said:

 

I think a byproduct of the way we are playing (Ie to the corner, and then looking inboard for the handball to the overlapping runner) is that the original contest (ie from the 45 degree kick to the corner of the centre square) has the positive effect of drawing in a half back or two creating a space inside 30 and at a good angle to goal.  I've watched the tape a couple of times - and you can see this effect, especially where JvR and Schache lead to the pocket (usual pattern) which stretches the space a bit more.  Would love to see the HFs mark a lot here - granted it does take a good kicker on the run to be able to hit that up - good thing Salem is playing in the midfield lol. 

Noice analysis.  Lets hope we can keep this up quite often and reduce the 22/23 'bomb it to the pocket' or 'on top of the forwards heads' alternatives.

Note that i'm not saying we should never choose the pocket option either.

Obviously if you can't do the former, the pocket option (if player can get it there) is better than a shallow up and under kick directly in front (around the arc).  A fair chance it will be rebounded quickly through the corridor resulting in quick goal to the oppo.

Edited March 1, 20241 yr by Demon Dynasty

  On 01/03/2024 at 01:14, DeeSpencer said:

He’s been playing fairly deep the last two weeks which has impacted his disposal totals, with Laurie, ANB and Billings in the side.

Our best possible side probably has McAdam, Pickett and Kossie all moving deep which does put Chandler’s role in jeopardy, but also would allow him to move around.

Did you just clone Kossie Pickett? Works. 

  On 01/03/2024 at 00:40, Bystander said:

I see Anna Pavlou of channel 9 wide world of sports writes that Oliver was "sent back to vfl level" for the practice match.

Couldn't she have managed to write "champ stars in vfl practice match".

I have had a complete gutful of football media. Big cull coming in my consumption of this garbage.

I think on the whole the young men playing AFL/vfl football are a fine group of people. There will be stumbles. And many come from difficult backgrounds. But overall, great.

Always looking for a error from any player from any team.

So, Anna, no Pulitzer prize for you but you are in the running for the Kane Cornes Award . Prize is a dictionary.

Anna graduated in media (football) from Latrobe in 2022 so there is a fair chance, along with  Kane, she would struggle to spell "cat".

 

Pretty good chance she has at least 2 cats 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 meow 

For all the knockers.

NSFW @binman

  On 29/02/2024 at 23:20, leave it to deever said:

Chin was ok in the practice match for me.

When he came in last  year, he looked like a gun. 

It's been a while though since we've seen that form.

He will be struggling to get a game this year of he doesn't lift. Some great new talent competing for his spot.

 

Yep. I thought he was very good up until he up until he landed awkwardly on his back in the 1st or 2nd quarter after which he dropped off

  On 01/03/2024 at 05:16, Demonland said:

For all the knockers.

NSFW @binman

Those last two kicks!

  On 01/03/2024 at 00:40, Bystander said:

Anna graduated in media (football) from Latrobe in 2022 so there is a fair chance, along with  Kane, she would struggle to spell "cat".

Anna is a Geelong fan so spelling cat would be no challenge. Rising above industry groupthink about us though..........

  On 01/03/2024 at 08:57, Clintosaurus said:

Anna is a Geelong fan so spelling cat would be no challenge. Rising above industry groupthink about us though..........

It would still be a big effort

  On 01/03/2024 at 02:49, Sydee said:

Pretty good chance she has at least 2 cats 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 meow 

Dont read any media stuff in papers its mainly fiction,get enough [censored] on DL

They were all great.  Every player has strengths and weaknesses.  None of them will miss out on best 22 because they are not good enough.  So different from all those lean years we had.

Beating us in a semi really meant a lot to this Carlton supporter…

😳

  On 02/03/2024 at 06:29, WalkingCivilWar said:

Beating us in a semi really meant a lot to this Carlton supporter…

😳

The above is the first bit of footage I’ve seen from that game since walking out of the G that night. 

Edited March 2, 20241 yr by Dee Zephyr

  On 02/03/2024 at 06:34, Dee Zephyr said:

The above is the first bit of footage I’ve seen from that game since walking out of the G that night. 

I don't think that's his foot.

This Blues supporter not as committed (or brain-dead). Just went as far as a coffee mug…

Edited March 2, 20241 yr by WalkingCivilWar