18 hours ago, 3KZ is Football said:

What I took out of Yesterday’s game, was that our new Coach has been able to implement a new Gameplan within a matter of weeks, that the players are obviously all on board with.

Something our previous Coach could not do over 4 Seasons

It stood out like Dogs Balls

You should meet my great dane named Jerry (after Jerry Lee Lewis) - Great Balls of Fire.

Just watched it again and one bloke that impressed me with his kicking skills and pin point passing was Bailey Laurie, absolutely sublime.

Might see him get more of a go this year as a half forward link up player

On 20/02/2026 at 22:02, bing181 said:

Sacking Clarkson would be a shock to the system, but there are already murmurings.

When he became Hawthorn coach his tactics and philosophies were revolutionary, but he's no longer able to do anything new

4 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Too much emphasis on this idea that we're suddenly moving the ball quickly.

We've been moving the ball for 12 months.

We had overlap last year, we tried to move the ball quickly, where we'd fall down is on entry.

So in that respect the quick chipping and trying to get to the fat side before entry is main difference and will improve entries. But that said, it's a small sample size and many of our entries were fast and quick to the 20m danger zone at the top of goal square, very similar to last year...

100% agree.

As i have previously noted, we were one of the fastest at moving the ball from our back half last season.

And despite people still banging on about us being a long down the line team, that was simply not the case last season.

Which by the by, is not some abstract point as it's not as if King is having to completely reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and implement a brand new game plan in the way, say, Mcrae had to do at Collingwood when the pies went from a defence first system under Buckley to Mcrae's fast transition game plan.

From what i've gleaned from training reports, the intra club game and Friday's game, the key differences this year to last year in terms of game plan are:

• Whilst we def were using overlap handball last year (we were the fastest at playing on after a mark or free kick, and that often involved a handball release) they look like they are really trying to run in waves and provide a handball option and look to hanball often (by the by, I watched most of the Eagles freo practice match and both teams seem to have a similar approach to us in terms of their use of handball) - less a big change, more taking it up a level

• Our defensive line often pushed up high last season, but they look to be pushing even higher now

• The forward line also look to be pushing up the ground high when the ball is in our defensive 50 (funnily enough we were doing thatt in 2021 - 2023 when we had a defence first system)

• The three points above, combined, mean all players will have to cover more ground in total, and we'll have a much greater need for, and emphasis on, players who can cover the ground at speed (which, leaving aside any of the cultural question marks on Tracc and Claz, a benefit of them leaving is both are treacle slow, particularly claz, and if they are replaced in our best 23 by two quick players, eg latrelle, we get an immediate big improvement in our overall leg speed)

• Agree with the fellas comment that we look to be switching more often, and looking for the tricky short to medium kick on the 45 (apparently a factor in why we selected Taylor was his ability to hit those kicks)

• Apart from agressively pushing up the ground, I haven't really been able to work out what our defensive system will look like - but leg speed in defence will be critical as defenders will need to sprint back when we turn the ball over- even if May was not having off field issues and an interrupted preseason, I honestly think he's too slow for our method (and was last year too for that matter ) and i worry Lever and Tmac are in the same boat (I can't see both in the team when Petty gets back)

• As you note ATG, I reckon the biggest change is the way we enter 50 - except when they kick deep to the hotspot (which as you note we often did last year, so again, it's not like that's a new thing) they seem to have a big focus on kicking to space, even if the forward is not yet leading there, and looking for players in space - not having claz and tracc kicking inside 50, koz playing more midfield and the addition of Latrelle, who looks like he'll play a high half forward role, means we are more likely to hit those critical 20-30 metre kicks on the angle to an open player - something have been woeful at for years (and like the speed factor, replacing two bog average kicks in our best 23 with 2 elite kicks, for example Latrelle and Taylor, means we get an immediate big improvement in our overall kicking skills - the game is now all about winning the turnover battle, and even a statistically small reduction in the number of turnovers and missed scoring opportunities has a significant impact on a team's chances of winning)

• Another related change, albeit a minor one, is they seem to have a real focus on really punching their kicks, and kicking low drillers, particularly inside 50 kicks

ATG, any thoughts on King's midfield set up and system (I always find it hard to work out midfield method)?

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by binman

Also noticed that there’s lots of space being created in the forward line for midfielders to run into .

Hence the goals from Tholstrup, Steel, Kozzie, Langford, etc

On 20/02/2026 at 19:55, Fanatique Demon said:

Latrelle looks very exciting. Can someone tell him that you can run 15m, not 5, before bouncing it?

I think it’s got something to do with Relativity.

If he starts bouncing the ball as soon as he gets it, by the time it hits the ground, he has already ran 15m.

Thought he also looked a little red when he’s running away from you.

Maybe Trellativity??

34 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

And yes both of those led to a lot of pieces of play that ended in bombs inside 50 not to advantage. I agree that they would’ve influenced the speed of ball movement stats to some degree

I would say to a high degree

Some here are hanging on that obtuse stat as if to say "See, we are doing some things right"

But it's a nonsense

For the most part, we were a team that kicked long for territorial gain. Often down the line and often to create a stoppage

But the tactic became obsolete when counteracted by the opposition

Goodwin tried to change it up but apart from a few fleeting moments (the Freo, Lions & Doggies games as pointed out by @Adam The God ) for the most part, we were a hoof it long outfit

I reckon that old habit cost the team 4 or 5 wins last season. If we'd just taken a lot more care, we win those encounters

It's a bit of a half-truth that we weren't far away (as pointed out by Goodwin last year) Closer to winning more games but not as a genuine threat

So instead of 7 wins it should have been 11 or 12 wins

Ban the Bomb

It's lazy football

Unofficial practise match stats:
https://dreamteamtalk.com/2026/02/21/match-simulation-fantasy-scores/

Chandler managed to get a hit out 🤣

1 hour ago, Macca said:

That's not my point

Did you read what I actually said?

I'll say it again ... from an overall perspective, we have previously moved the ball quite quickly, all based on a long bomb game

No. It was based on overlap and getting it inside as quickly as possible.

1 hour ago, Macca said:

So in effect, with all those long bombs often eventuating in turnovers, we were wasteful (constantly)

And we more often than not kicked long down the line from half back

So the stats say we moved the ball quickly but it's another rubbish stat

And again, it doesn't tell us how we were moving the ball from back with overlap, which remains similar to what we witnessed against North.

As I said, what we saw more of was more thought from the middle of the ground with our entries. We also saw plenty of long and direct kicking straight to the 20m hotspot. Something we did a lot of last year too...

56 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Being as how I was always more of a Tarax kid than Marchants, how could anyone not be, after

The Marchant's lemonade song. Perhaps second only to Aeroplane Jelly in its fame.

Yes younger ones there was a time when Coca Cola was an expensive occasional treat

Try and imagine 5 or 6 possessions covering 50 or 60 metres. And then imagine those possessions moving at a rapid pace

It's still going to take a lot longer than one kick covering 50 or 60 metres

We had Petracca, Rivers, Sparrow, Oliver, Viney and Gawn often hoofing it long, gaining lots of territory in a short space of time. And our backman often kicking long from half back

So that's the reason the stats say that we move the ball quicker. It's not because of slick ball movement by hand or by foot

In fact, if we were moving the ball in a slick way by hand or foot wouldn't we be praising the way we move the ball? Huh?

Those clinging on to this supposed quick movement are clutching at straws

20 minutes ago, DiscoStu17 said:

I think it’s got something to do with Relativity.

If he starts bouncing the ball as soon as he gets it, by the time it hits the ground, he has already ran 15m.

Thought he also looked a little red when he’s running away from you.

Maybe Trellativity??

Very good. But to seriously treat the issue of "why does he bounce the ball after only a few steps":

I expect it gives a little time to steady, look ahead when not yet under pressure and then take a full 15 before the next bounce or disposal. Of course it could also just be a bad habit.

2 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

No. It was based on overlap and getting it inside as quickly as possible.

And again, it doesn't tell us how we were moving the ball from back with overlap, which remains similar to what we witnessed against North.

As I said, what we saw more of was more thought from the middle of the ground with our entries. We also saw plenty of long and direct kicking straight to the 20m hotspot. Something we did a lot of last year too...

One if the main reasons why we lost 16 games last year was that we were wasteful with the ball

We were boring to watch for the most part as well. So much so that we ended up sacking the coach along with a number of others in the FD

And the 2 chief protagonists with regards to the long bombs have been let go

Was Viney missed yesterday? (With his wasteful kicks)

Our game style last season stunk to high heaven. We were a rubbish outfit

Yesterday was a big step in the right direction, albeit in a scratch match.

Just now, Diamond_Jim said:

The Marchant's lemonade song. Perhaps second only to Aeroplane Jelly in its fame.

Yes younger ones there was a time when Coca Cola was an expensive occasional treat

Was it Marchants jingle " spark-a-lark-a-lark-a-lark-a-ling, just say Marchants, please!" or was it Tarax's "hi-bubble, hi-bubble, hi-bubble, hi-bubble lemonade, get a lift with Tarax, hi-bubble lemonade!"

Always preferred the hi-bubble black labelTarax 'lift' although Marchants had the rubberised screw top to keep keep it "spark-a-lark-a-lark-a-lark-a-ling".

over

Coca Cola as favoured by Yankee imperialists or Fanta das Fuhrer's favorit

Serve sizes were healthier though.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Tarax Club

18 minutes ago, sue said:

Very good. But to seriously treat the issue of "why does he bounce the ball after only a few steps":

I expect it gives a little time to steady, look ahead when not yet under pressure and then take a full 15 before the next bounce or disposal. Of course it could also just be a bad habit.

I reckon you're right, he bounces the ball early to steady himself. Once he's bounced it, he's bought the time to use the ball in a few different ways

But isn't it a pleasure to be commenting on a player who has the ability to create separation in order to bounce the ball!

In his first hit-out for the club. Impressive

Tommy Hafey had a rule that the players needed to sprint 10 metres with the ball before bouncing the ball ... but the game was much more open, back in the day

49 minutes ago, binman said:

ATG, any thoughts on King's midfield set up and system (I always find it hard to work out midfield method)?

I find it hard to track when I'm not at the ground, but going by CBAs, Steele was playing a disciplined defensive/extractors role and around him we had speed (Windsor and Kozzy) and spatial awareness (Langford).

But the big improvement seemed to be just having better ball users at the coal face. Steele is very solid. Langford is a beautiful kick, but the really impressive guy in the midfield mix outside of Steele was Sparrow. I thought he was an important link up player as well as providing good pressure around the stoppages.

Otherwise, not enough of a sample size for me.

I also think we'll probably hold our tricks back for the real stuff.

20 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

Was it Marchants jingle " spark-a-lark-a-lark-a-lark-a-ling, just say Marchants, please!" or was it Tarax's "hi-bubble, hi-bubble, hi-bubble, hi-bubble lemonade, get a lift with Tarax, hi-bubble lemonade!"

Always preferred the hi-bubble black labelTarax 'lift' although Marchants had the rubberised screw top to keep keep it "spark-a-lark-a-lark-a-lark-a-ling".

over

Coca Cola as favoured by Yankee imperialists or Fanta das Fuhrer's favorit

Serve sizes were healthier though.

The memory is of the little girl on the swing singing the Marchant's song

18 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Thank you DZ.

I only got to watch the final 15 minutes or so of the Casey match which shows how busy we were, but I watched the replay today and I’m very happy with what I saw.

I’m so proud of my boy Luker. His on-field qualities complement his great off-field qualities. He’s an absolute delight off-field, he takes everything in his stride, even wearing the mask doesn’t bother him. He said playing with it is no different to playing without it. And he doesn’t dramatise anything, quite the opposite… he was gravely ill 14 months ago but he doesn’t think it was so big a deal. He sees it as I was unwell and now I’m well again. Watching him develop as a player and a person is a joy.

I have said a few times, I think we have a good one in Luker.

15 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I find it hard to track when I'm not at the ground, but going by CBAs, Steele was playing a disciplined defensive/extractors role and around him we had speed (Windsor and Kozzy) and spatial awareness (Langford).

But the big improvement seemed to be just having better ball users at the coal face. Steele is very solid. Langford is a beautiful kick, but the really impressive guy in the midfield mix outside of Steele was Sparrow. I thought he was an important link up player as well as providing good pressure around the stoppages.

Otherwise, not enough of a sample size for me.

I also think we'll probably hold our tricks back for the real stuff.

I predict more Langford CBA's in the next praccy game

15 hours ago, bing181 said:

"And for the first time in a while, Melbourne doesn’t look like a side trying not to lose ..."

Oh so true, and has been true since the moment the final siren sounded in the 2021 GF. Winning the flag and the weight of expectations that came with it became a millstone around our necks. Right through the club.

Playing to win vs playing not to lose is a big issue for many teams, clubs! Collingwood until they unfortunately won the flag in 23, played to win, going for it until the very end of games!

Man U under Ferguson played to win until the end of games often scoring late. Celtic did the same under ANG P often grabbing a late winner! Arsenal have started playing not to lose, will be interesting if they can reset their mindset, after 3 years as runner up and everyone saying they are bottling it again!

The Demons as you rightly point out started playing not to lose in 2022 and hopefully with new style instituted by King, or at least having more players with speed and or skill, we can go for wins till the end of games with little expectation!

Petracca, Oliver and Viney often kicked poorly into the forward line, with the Picketts, and Steele better skilled, indications from one practice game is this should improve!

Jiath and Latrelle certainly add speed , it feels we are better equipped in handling the speed, skill and defensive spread needed to succeed in the modern game! Combined with better leadership from Steele and Mihocek, things are looking up!

Go Dees with fingers crossed in 2026!

4 minutes ago, adonski said:

I predict more Langford CBA's in the next praccy game

Hopefully.

But it'll be interesting to see if Richmond can pressure our mids better.

Ball use under little pressure is always better.

1 hour ago, lorn said:

When he became Hawthorn coach his tactics and philosophies were revolutionary, but he's no longer able to do anything new

Let's not forget they tanked and hit the jackpot landing Hodge, Franklin, Roughead, Rioli and Lewis etc in a short time.
Good recruiting maybe.
Revolutionary tactics .... Not so sure.

But I do know he hasn't got those fellas at North.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Fork 'em

38 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I find it hard to track when I'm not at the ground, but going by CBAs, Steele was playing a disciplined defensive/extractors role and around him we had speed (Windsor and Kozzy) and spatial awareness (Langford).

But the big improvement seemed to be just having better ball users at the coal face. Steele is very solid. Langford is a beautiful kick, but the really impressive guy in the midfield mix outside of Steele was Sparrow. I thought he was an important link up player as well as providing good pressure around the stoppages.

Otherwise, not enough of a sample size for me.

I also think we'll probably hold our tricks back for the real stuff.

I know bang on about it, but for all the talk about game plan etc, our single biggest weakness in the last 5 years has been our kicking - which has coincided with good kicking becoming ever more important.

Its important all over the ground of course, but having mids who can hit targets after winning a centre and/or around the ground clearance is just so so important in footy now.

If our mids are better by foot this season, we'll see an immediate improvement in our capacity to score from stoppages, and more importantly we'll turn the ball over less often.

Speaking of kicking after winning a clearance, how many players in the AFL could kick a goal from the centre square uner pressute and of (barely) one step the way The Bison slotted that goal on Friday - wow.

On a less positive note, as much I think Windsor will be a star, his kicking worries me.

40 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

But it'll be interesting to see if Richmond can pressure our mids better.

Interesting tactic playing the 2 worst teams in the comp during preseason.

Hopefully for confidence building

16 hours ago, Macca said:

In his final year with us Harmes wasn't getting a regular game and then the Bulldogs offered him a 3 year deal

But there are a number of ex Demons playing elsewhere and quite a few are very good players ... LJ, ANB, Hogan, Oliver, Petracca, Bedford, Jordon etc

The list has undergone a real transformation since the flag year

It's like we're back at Paul Roos' 3rd year as coach again (which was 2016)

Thanks Macca that is roughly where I had us 2016-2017, but with the bonus of having 12 Premiership players still on the list, six 1st rounders being bedded in with another two up our sleeve next draft, if JT nails both those and our list stays healthy, who knows how quick we can rise.