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How about we not try to manufacture scenarios and just play the bloke if he's ready and makes us better ?

Ok, let me say I have a pathological hatred of the Hawks that stems back to the days when Lethal wiped out Steve Smith, Peter Giles and Allen Jarrot - all three concussions on days when our men were doing super jobs. I reckon my fondest memory was watching the Dees finally break though against the Hawks at Princes Park in 1984 - Peter Tossol played the game of his life that day with two goals - that was the equivalent of Matt Jones getting two goals nowadays! But having a couple of best mates, who support the poohs and wees, continually remind me of how the Hawks have won more flags since 1964 than Melbourne has won in their entire AFL/VFL lifetime, hurts bad. For that reason I want us to pull off the upset this week and for that reason I hope Roosy and his team are working overtime to select the right side this week and to do the necessary adjustments to our press. Dear Roosy, I have 10 keys to selection: 1) Have a player tag Sam Mitchell. When the Swans did so, it worked. He is their best distributor and also best at clearance work, so please Roosy, don't let him run free like you did to last year's players' MVP Robbie Gray last week. With Viney out, there is only one qualified tagger left to use - Bernie Vince. That means he doesn't play back this week unless Mitchell gets sent forward in desperation. 2) Re-educate the players on the press. I am not asking for it to be thrown out in the bathwater, because most of us with sound minds can see it has benefits when it functions, but please stress the importance of forcing lockdowns when the break starts even if it means giving away free kicks in our forward half - the good thing is that the Hawks only have four genuine quicks in their line-up to hurt us on the switch - Smith, Hartung, Hill and Rioli. So it will be harder for them to exploit us over-pressing. Please also stress that once the diamond centre square ball-up is completed, players have to run hard back to their opponent. Talk is the key - communicating down back is essential. 3) Play Nathan Jones down back instead of Bernie. Why. Because every week we need to think about doing something that mucks up opposition plans. With Viney out, Shiels will tag Jones. Playing him down back ensures our defence talks, gives us another leader down there and forces Shiels to wonder who he goes to. 4) Play Chris Dawes. I'm sure Roosy is across this already by now, but not having a third tall up forward means that when Watts rucks and Gawny rests we have only one viable tall option to kick to - Hoges. And that means when Hoges gets it, he has to turn around and hit up ... Petracca? There is a reason why every other side plays three talls. We all have criticised Dawes for not clunking his marks in the past, but at least he makes a contest and the ball usually spills and I thought the whole point this year is that with Kent, Garlett, Harmes and Kennedy we had an abundance of crumbers. By the way, Watts can still play as second ruck - it seems to be keeping him more honest at the contest, although Ceglar may try and hammer him, but it's worth risking and the umps love Wattsy because they know he's a ball player. 5) Tell Petracca he's on his last chance. So far his training form has been the best thing about him. It's time he stood up and showed why we were all raving about him. And please Roosy, explain to him that when he takes a mark, he has to get back quickly to give himself space to launch his kick. He's still playing school footy at times thinking he can pinpoint a pass off one step - he can, of course, except the AFL guy on the mark is a little bit smarter and can get a hand on it. 6) Play Jack Grimes. Yes I know half the D'Lers don't like him, but the same guys don't like Tom Mac because they didn't quite understand that in previous years the defenders were under pressure - almost all the time - when they went to kick it. I also get that you and Goody have decided he's for the chop at year's end. I realise that you have ended his defensive days. But Grimesy is persistent - he keeps churning out inocuous 30-plus possy games in the twos and then when you make him 23rd and give him false hope that he's close, he backs up the following week and does the same thing. He also scores goals from his wing and doesn't miss from anything under 40m - this is despite the fact that you don't rate him. But sometimes coaches get it wrong - look at Luke Beveridge and his no ruckman policy at the start of last year. Eventually he had to back track and realise that a decent negating ruck is a godsend to a side that prides itself on clearances. Grimes is the second fittest bloke at the club and despite all the rhetoric that he's a turnover freak, his disposal efficiency remains mega high. He gets to contests and he links up - he's not a star but he's a role player and you need it. 7) Play Lynden Dunn - Yep I agree, he's getting slower and older and at some stage soon Oscar will be better at nudging his opponent under the contest. But at this stage Oscar is just a development player. It's been great that you've got a few games into him, but his visual awareness of what's around him is still development league stuff, even if his tank and running ability is top-end. Go back to your senior player - yes he'll be slower but in the next few weeks Dunny can play on McEvoy/Ceglar and Cloke and Tippett. He might even be quicker than them. And with Salem out, you get a reliable kick from full-back kick-ins every time. 8) Play Trengove - Yes I know your marketing guys wanted him to return for a home game, but the Hawks at the MCG is huge. They are nothing like previous years and provided we don't let them get to play keepings off down back (ie: we need to get off to a good start) then we will force them to attack and they will be exploited by us on the break. Most D'Lers know Trengove isn't quick, but nor is Neal-Bullen, and Newton is probably the slowest player at the club, so giving him a go at their expense, will actually speed us up. And the difference is that Trenners is smart - he keeps presenting and he's a good kick. He's like Jack Grimes, except he's tougher in a contest. Start him on a flank and then give him a run through the middle. 9) Play Vandenburg. Sure he's only had the one game in the VFL on his way back, but we need his presence and in particular we need him to take Smith's wing and hammer him. Some D'lers don't realise that he's the second quickest player over 50m at the club. Now that he's over his ankle injury it's time to unleash him on their main attacking weapon. It's either him or Harmes and while Harmesy has been great, he still is a bit hit and miss. There's nothing wrong with sending young guys back to the reserves, it's what all club's do for their development from time to time. And because Vanders will be blowing, have him swap with Grimes midway every quarter. Grimes may not be flash but he will stick to a task. 10) Play T-Mac on Gunston. With Roughy out, he's their go-to man and that's means T-Mac gets the job. We all know that Jetta gets Rioli, so that means Hunt goes to Breust which ain't easy but he's got to stand up and not be bumped off him. And personally I'd have Jones (see earlier rationale) on Puopolo because when Jonesy tackles, they stick. Yes I know there a lot of changes and way to many for you to cope with in a normal week. But it's time you went back to your senior players (plus Oliver). Big bodies, extra experience and hopefully a better chance. And if it doesn't work, you can say in your presser that you were playing the three-time premiers. One more thing. I'm sure you are thinking about axing Kent as well and, given his rush of blood when kicking most weeks, then I can understand that. But your whole pre-season was based around a fab four forwards - Hoges, Garlett, Watts and Kent - who are dangerous on the break. Give Kent another go and show him the tapes of what he did against Richmond and how he baulked and settled before he kicked it. My seven changes and opponents Out: Garland, Viney (inj) Newton, Neal-Bullen, Kennedy, Harmes, O.Mac In: Vandenburg, Dawes, Dunn, Oliver, Grimes, Trengove, Michie B: Jetta (Rioli) Dunn (McEvoy/Ceglar) Wagner (O'Brien/Sicily) HB: Jones (Puopolo) T-Mac (Gunston) Hunt (Breust) C: Vandenberg/Grimes (Smith) Vince (Mitchell) Stretch (Hill/Hartung) HF: Trengove (Burgoyne) Dawes (Gibson) Kent (Birchall) F: Garlett (Duryea) Hoges (Frawley) Watts (Stratton) Ru: Gawn (McEvoy/Ceglar) Tyson (Lewis) Oliver (Shiels) Int: Michie (defensive rotation), Petracca (offensive rotation), Grimes/Vanders, Bugg (midfield rotation)

I once baked a cake for 40 minutes when the recipe clearly stated 45 minutes. Yeh I live on the edge and consider myself pretty crazy, so what.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/video-jayden-hunt-completes-chase-down-tackle-on-port-adelaides-karl-amon/news-story/ac8930838f600c92338f43988e4bf79f A great video of Jayden running down Amon. He gives him at least 4mt head start and lays a perfect tackle to drag him down. Look forward to seeing those after burners in a lot more games over the next few years.

I must be getting deluded but blind hope has let positive feelings creep in. Last season the Bulldogs were 5/5 at this stage of the season and starting to attract some doubting scrutiny yet rallied in the second half. To go back further, Brisbane in 2001 were 5/5 also before commencing their unrelenting charge to 3 consecutive flags. This is kind of a watershed moment for us given the missed opportunities mixed with encouraging highs of earlier in the season. Will we suddenly become fairdinkum or fade away like the last two seasons? I have rummaged through the house and pulled out all my lucky charms and icons. Currently I am rubbing a statue of Blesssed Mother Mary hoping for divine intervention.

Spewing from a personal pov if it is this weekend. I've said from the start that I would travel anywhere to see his return but with my young blokes Auskick gala day this weekend which he's been looking forward to, I'll unfortunately have to switch priorities and make it over for the QB game. Will get just as much joy watching it on the Tele.

I loved Balls. one of my favourite all time Demons, he was a much better player than he is given credit for

Your optimism disgusts me.

Steve, as a species we include crazies, nutters, loonies, demented, bonkers, daffy, daft, screwball, psycho silly, insane and you and me. I have never attempted to jump over a charging bull in a black devil suit with a pitchfork. (me, not the bull). I did attempt to water ski naked through flames at midnight, on the Murray river. We used too much fuel and set fire to about 1km of shoreline, it took us about half an hour to put out spot fires, but that's not crazy, .....is it? Oh, and I rode my motor bike down the wall of the Thompson river dam, well rode is a bit strong, perhaps a graceful sliding elongated crash. And there was.......... no that's another story but I'm not crazy.

Human beings are a unique animal.

Triple M saying Trenners will play this week.

Blood and Bath come to mind when I think of this game. Fair to say I'm not at all the least bit optimistic for this one. It's going to be a high scoring game, I fear the high score will all be one sided though. Sure we'll come out firing for a few minutes but then the Hawks will get on top and control the game. Hawthorn by 75 pts. McAvaney to have multiples whenever Rioli gets near the ball.

Dees by a gallop, gawd! Or was that gored?

Thid is just my opinion obviously. But the diamond would be but one of many structures employed. I cant comfirm without watching hours of footage and most of it wouldn't show the structure. Back to the orginal quote I agree we are a work in progress but the eagles web has been found lacking in 2016. Bad application doesnt mean it doesn't work, teams need to master it eg Cats, hawks u get the drift Our problem is iur talent is young and with youth will come error and inconsistency. Im.not ready to call this a failure yet. In the grand scheme of 2016 alone it may fail. It doesent make it a failure imo

I think this week we will see a big influx of experience in the side, but I'm worried we will see the reason why Roos is hell bent on playing the youth ahead of them.

Give Frost a run down back for a few weeks.

Agreed. It's also about how the opposition gets the ball back, and where. We are committing far too many turnovers across half-forward which gives our opposition the best possible chance to rebound straight back through a zone which isn't properly formed. At our best, we don't turn it over across half forward, we go inside 50 and we either score, or we lock it in, force repeat contests, prevent easy rebounds. That happens when our forwards and, in particular, our half-forwards are "on". By locking it in, pressuring the ball carrier coming out, our zone is then well-set to get the ball back at half-forward/wing and rinse/repeat. Instead, by turning it over across half-forward or, just as bad, by applying no pressure when we get it inside 50, we let the ball pivot and come straight back out. It's no surprise, then, that when we play poorly we almost always see bad games from Harmes, Kent, Kennedy and Garlett.

Awesome to see Nev finally getting some well-deserved love... Max Gawn: Gawn leads the AFL in hit-outs (40.7 a game) and has greatly improved his ability to cover the ground. His battle against reigning All Australian big man Todd Goldstein in round three was one of the best individual ruck duels in years, according to Demons coach Paul Roos. Jesse Hogan: Has had some poor games but has absolutely lit it up in a few as well. The powerful young forward has bags of seven and five and sits equal fifth on the Coleman Medal table. Tall forward spots will be hard to come by this year, so Hogan will need to finish the season with a rush to secure a spot. Neville Jetta: Goes about his role with a minimum of fuss but is rarely beaten. The best lock-down defender at the club has also improved his attacking ability, averaging a career-high 15.7 disposals per game. He also has an underrated side step, which allows him to burst clear out of traffic. Jack Viney: The young midfielder has become a genuine star in his fourth season at AFL level. Viney leads the League, comfortably, in centre clearances and is ranked fifth in overall clearances. Puts his head over the ball instinctively and has the ability to lift his team. AFL: Who’s in the mix for All-Australian?

Correct, I was going for the academic look, apparently women these days prefer nerds. It was quite a tough transformation as I'm naturally quite rugged and handsome with a bit of a rough edge. Other people who have seen this photo have compared it to 'The Colonel' from KFC.

Was lucky enough to play a couple of seasons with Balls as East Burwood. Ripper bloke.

Not only that but I don't think it would have mattered if we had H/Pedersen/Frost/Grimes/whoever in place of OMac/Garland/Hunt/Wagner on Saturday because the ball was rebounding out of our forward half too quickly under no pressure. Personnel changes in defense wouldn't have altered this - what may have is pressure from Garlett, Kent, Kennedy, Harmes etc to stop the ball coming out of our forward line so quickly.

I'm somewhat disappointed, but I'm not surprised and I'm not pessimistic.

Depends on what you call a "false dawn". We may not premiership material at this stage, but we have solid foundations and are a long way from the team of flat-track bullies with pretenders like McLean, Sylvia and Moloney steering the ship.

Lumumba would be in but I think he's sitting out with concussion. I agree we need some experience, I don't know why Dunn isn't in. But even with he or Lumumba in to replace OMac it won't change the fact that we are falling down across half forward and midfield which allows the opposition to get the ball down quickly and score. You can change personnel or gamestyle but unless we decide to flood back it won't make a difference.

Nearly forgot one very important requirement in last post. Leadership/character also needed in defense with any future recruit of experienced player. This is why I believe H is a must selection in this team if/when fit. Might not be the greatest player but he is the most experienced defender we have going atmand a premiership one. He knows more than most how to organise and rally and where players shld be at any given time etc. Invaluable and something that cant be measured with stats.

One thing that should be remembered about Grinter was that he was an excellent kick. His foot disposal is comparable to Jack Watts both for field and goal kicking.

Who is this bloke named after me?

Yes, Clarry swallowed the red and the blue pills. ??

I've been thinking about this for a while now... With the tanking of clubs like Collingwood, Hawthorn and West Coast in the past and the current situation we now find ourselves in with EFC and Fremantle I think it's time something was done. The current situation where the draft order is worked out on ladder positions at the end of the season is inadequate. I also think the lottery system some have called for really doesn't help the clubs who need the most help... I propose the draft ladder should be worked out over a 3 years floating period. In other words at the end of each season the draft ladder positions would be calculated based on results of the previous 3 years. Why 3 years? Well my reasoning is that should give an accurate indication of where a club actually sits and will take out the anomalies of a situation where EFC find themselves this season and the possibility of Freo having a bad one and just bouncing back next year ala WC. Also I very much doubt a club would tank over a 3 year period, the damage to a club would be too great. Maybe there could be a trigger point built in for a priority pick as well. I don't like leaving it up to the whim of the AFL...

I am starting campaign to bring back Jack Grimes. At the moment only Nev Jetta seems to have clue about how to play properly in our backline. Jack may have suspect disposal but he is courageous & knows how to stick close to dangerous forwards - time to bring him back.

Just got an email from New Balance, there's a 50% off sale for 24hrs. The indigenous guernsey is down from $130 to $65. Only guernsey they have at the moment unfortunately. www.newbalance.com.au/pd/mfc-2016-indigenous-adult-guernsey/MFMT6325.html#color=Blue

An example of problems encountered when going backwards and landing flat on ones defensive area.

There were few players that would take him on man to man. He was also very resilient. He hit hard and even took hard hits better. He was the target of some huge hits and he always bounced up quickly. Not one to lie around groggy while getting his senses back.

Whilst I don't think they ever came into contact (physical bruising contact) in the heat of battle. Brereton looked sideways several times in Grinter's presence. I sort of always hoped they had crossed paths just to see what would happen.

I like the work of NB as our apparel sponsor. However, it would be great to see them stock a bit of our merchandise in their stores. I go to the shop down at South Wharf, which is a tourist hot spot and also the one at Chadstone. Neither having one bit of MFC apparel. I note that they do sell a heap of discounted Liverpool FC stuff, which is heavily purchased by tourists. It would be great if they could get some MFC stuff in these stores. Even the last years clearance items would be good. They used to do that but not in recent times.

With a leaky, unsettled defence it won't be pretty.

********* BANANA ALERT ********* $1.50 Kg at Woolies

Whenever they gave us decent time slots we blew it with pizz poor years. Only have ourselves to blame. As for the plicks getting either 1st or 2nd pick ...... We should be rioting in the streets now.

Agreed, mate. This year has been a bit funny for me. I go into the game thinking we'll lose or we should win and then no matter what, I usually end up completely frustrated (white-line-fever-Adam). However, the major difference between other seasons is that within an hour or two of the disappointment, I am quickly reminded of my own expectations for this season of 10-12 wins. I always thought we'd he up and down and even more so when you consider how young the team's we've put out have been. We're going to crack 10 and we may go past that, but I'm convinced we'll get to a minimum of ten wins. I expect finals next year, not this year and I think these are perfectly reasonable expectations.

I don't agree that this is what is happening in 2016. We're conceding too many easy goals out the back, no doubt, but that's not the same as being "easily bullied and pushed aside". To me, we have a structural problem that, for large portions of games, isn't working. In 2010, we had a systematic down-hill-skiing, bruise-free gameplan which, when it didn't work, meant the entire park was littered with embarrassment. This year, we are structurally being opened up as opposed to physically being brutalised. Big difference, IMO.

Incredible analysis

It's the worst thing I can remember seeing on the field. It goes against everything our great game is meant to be. This knee dropping arm raising rubbish needs to be stamped down on asap. Serial offenders should be suspended and shamed. Weak sacks of sh*t.

Sooooo bitter sweet. I cried like a baby and I was 30 at the time. Poor Jimma............ but then I think of Simon Eishold, Ricky Jackson and Tony Campbell............. ugh We forget, what a huge effort it was just to get there. The present day players could take a leaf out their books written by blokes like Dean Chiron, Jamie Duursma, David Flintoff, Brett Bailey, Graeme Yeats and David Williams. Honest doers, but not overly gifted

He played one game last weekend, but I think his game time was managed, so I doubt he'll be included this week. I don't see Roos and the selection team hitting the panic button and rushing him back in.

I am surprised how many Demonlanders are willing to keep Dean Kent in their 22. His disposal against Port was not even VFL standard.

For proper balance and so as not to demonise a minority it seems sensible to also have a spell on the sidelines for the nice guys. That will keep everyone on their toes and posters will ensure that they are not either abusive or agreeable. Nice guys could even out themselves if they think they have stepped over the niceness standard. Perversely you may have the volatile, violent and abusive cats trying to get outed for being nice. Everyone needs a holiday from DL from time to time why have the moderators impose penalties on the feral cats. There are are lot of guys on here that are so nice that they could be friends of mine but not beside me in a bar fight. By the way, where is Old Dee at the moment? I think he is taking a well earned holiday. Take out to many ratbags and the threads will be full of nice folk saying nice things. They may as well be on a dating site not a radical and controversial site as DL.

The problem is not the 'diamond', or the zone defence. The opposition simply are allowed uncontested possession from their half back, through the middle and this allows them in behind us as we press up to waltz into goal. what is meant to happen is that we spread hard at half forward (hopefully locking it in for a repeat entry) and create a contest, or the next kick to the midfield zone is also contested. Even if they get the ball, the contest allows time for the zone to push back and defend. If the ball is transitioning uncontested in 10 seconds coast to coast, even Usain Bolt is not getting back there. So when our half forwards and midfield fail to spread or make a contest, we could have the 'triple sapphire' defence and we would still be a screwed pooch. Who had a poor game this last match? The half forwards and most of the midfield. The diamond defence is a good, aggressive way to start at the centre bounce, putting outside runners available for exit, or crash-bang extra bodies to thump the contest. How it shifts to create positioning for the incoming opposition ball - to press up and ensure that there is a significant contest - only works if it can roll into position based upon contested exit of the opposition slowing things down and making adequate time. The system itself is just a system. It absolutely demands commitment to make repeated contests, and gain repeat entries or slow the opposition exit. If we don't do this, our backline has no hope. They will get in behind us and kick lots of goals from inside 30. I would be having a hard conversation with the half forwards and midfield who simply didn't push to the next contest, or cover the spread, adequately enough. Do that, and I think we will challenge most teams and have a functional defence. We could also consider a Westoff style sweeper as a plan B if we aren't coping mid game.

Someone needs to.

Agree and I know it has been said before I think the biggest errors have been at selection. Take this week. The half back line was Hunt, O. Mac, and Wagner. ANB & Newton to hold the midfield with Harmes and Petracca running around the forward line. So in order that is Hunt 7, Oscar 5 & Wagner 8 games across half back. 13 & 17 for ANB and Newton. Harmes a veteran of 18, Petracca 5 and Billy Stretch is in there with 16. There is some serious talent in the group but not a lot of match hardened warriors, in fact it is a credit that they have performed so well thus far, but clearly moving into the second part of the season as they tire we need some muscle and hard bodies. I would love to know the match committee thinking behind team selection right now. A lone ruckman, a bunch of kids (8 players who haven't played 20 games yet) means a lot falls on the senior group Van den berg, Grimes, Trenners, Dawes, Lumumba, Dunne, Pederson, Matt Jones and Salem represent a much harder bunch albeit not as promising. You could even add Melksham when he is available next year. Roos promised changes last week of a 6 day break, that didn't happen and he declared they didn't want to change a winning team. Well this week opens up all sorts of possibilities but as Casey didn't play, there is still question on the match fitness of the mature group. I would hope, given Roos wants competitors that we will see a much different team in the second half of the season