Lil_red_fire_engine

It amazes me how little people get that Gus is playing the skinny side defensive wing and is actually playing it well and still learning, The right way to continue to reinforce that we are rewarding team footy and role footy wins is to maintain an unchanged side. If there is no VFL practice this week just take Milkshake and he could get time as medisub if needed. Which if you consider he offers good flexibility forward, back and mid if required.

I always find it interesting how uncomfortable Demonlanders find it after a strong, injury free win to be able say “No Change”. We almost go hunting for one coming up with some great reasons why they are required. Teams with stability are always the teams with the best chance come years end. No one outside the team that is injury free is a guaranteed in. I would argue Benny Brown the only one once fit without question. No one inside the side did not play their part in our win. I will admit some like Jones and Jetta I believe may be passed by at some point this year and some like Hunt I dont have full faith in but they all deserve their spot. I will also admit that the good teams have roles that are not defined by Dream Team Points but what it means for the structure or intent see Brayshaw, Sparrow, Spargo and ANB I reckon. It’s no change for me bar the who you choose as medisub. And it should stay that way whilst we win playing team footy knowing there are some strong players and up and comers to take out away from you if you dont.

That game could be the making of us where the players get what it means to play your role for the win and the rest will follow. - Rarely did our mids go for the same ball. Trac in particular once he saw it was closest to Oliver at times stepped out of the contest for the receive but maintained a defensive position just in case. - Our half backs were dominant I dont think I have seen Salem or Hunt play better games of balanced defence and attack. Rivers was al,so instrumental. - I can only recall one occasion where our defenders were all up in one contest. Generally they trusted their mate and looked to minimise others joining the contest (sometimes with May too obviously). - A bunch of lesser lights showed they can play high quality roles not just make up the numbers, particular mention to Tomlinson, ANB, rejuvenated TMac and old man Jetta. - Our forward pressure was manic which meant even when they weren’t pressured they panicked. 66 pressure acts between ANB, Spargo and Kozzie (Higgins, Lonie, Butler had 37). The Melbourney thing to do now would be to get ahead of ourselves and drop our bundle against the Giants. I look forward to being proven wrong.

The only unforced change will be Baker out as sub for someone else likely Vanders I suggest. I am not a Hunt fan but that was the best half back game he has played in 4 years. His balance of attack and hard nose defence was excellent. Brayshaw is playing possibly the most important team role in the skinny side defensive wing. I didn’t see much switch tonight or fast movement from half back from the saints which is their standard. Even when we needed a mid rotation we preferred Jones to him. Maybe we should consider that his role is not about possessions but structure and maybe he is actually doing it well? With Viney I would argue there is no one other than Benny Brown that is a definite 18 starter,. Whilst we we are winning we deserve to maintain a winning team and those banging the door down can wait their turn.

6, Salem 5. Oliver 4. Tomlinson 3. Pickett 2. Petracca 1. ANB

It’s not some of the good things Jones does when he gets the ball. It is his inability to do the “without ball” things like tackle, block, shepherd and defensively rung that is the concern. Such things will kill us at Marvel with the saints run.

Us being willing to develop Brayshaw there over Baker I think says a fair bit about where he is currently at.

I was dubious on him in both pre season hit outs and these were reinforced round1. The only thing that should save him this week is the saints small forwards and a fast track. He makes too many errors does not get enough ball as a rebound to be dangerous with his speed and lacks defensive awareness. He has great speed so I hope it comes together but he on borrowed time with Hibberd on the improve and Bowey likely to develop quickly.

If Harmes is out then it’s unfortunate but can be simpler. Out Harmes, Jones In Viney, Chandler I really worry about Jones ability to handle the speed at Marvel and to pressure at all their running defenders.

So do you review a 2nd year key talls draft standing on output or attributes? He has shown the attributes that validate why he was and should have been taken as a top 3 pick. The last quarter is an example of that. Other than Serong who I reckon has the lowest ceiling for the quality player he already shows he is who would you out of the below be more sure will be an elite player in 3-5 years time? Note that we took Pickett next who I will back over McHenry and Rivers who I would suggest has shown more than Ash or Young at this time. Ash, Stephens, McCasey, Young, McHenry, Flanders. His game is coming together but he shows things in his agility, aggression and contested marking as a second year that few can do. I would not even be surprised as a second year tall that he does not play all year but he is an outstanding package that will only get better.

The naysayers are already gone.

Did we not draft for run and polish? We by all reports tried to trade for Hinds but he chose elsewhere. It was pretty well reported we met with Philips (unsure who opted out) and wanted Smith but missed to the Cats. My view is we attempted to address it. We need to be fast tracking those that can like Bowey, Laurie, Bedford, Chandler as soon as we are confident they can play out a senior game.

In Viney, Hibberd Out Sparrow, Hunt

6. Lever 5. May 4. Oliver 3. TMac 2. Langdon 1. Spargo

There will be plenty of chances to be critical when we lose. Whilst that was not a complete performance it was a 4 goal win, which never felt in doubt against an emerging side. That is before you get to us missing likely 5 of our best 18. So being you would think we lost if you read this thread I will just focus on three bright spots as the bile in some of these posts already highlights the areas that need improvement and plenty that I just shake my head at, 1. May and Lever gave one of the more complete performances you will see from 2 defenders. They are our number one weapon. 2. Jimmy Jordon is a no frills worker with footy nous who I can already see is an upgrade on recent AVBs, Wagners etc... Will complement Oliver and Trac and co the more he plays. 3. We finally saw some consistently strong forward pressure from both our smalls as well as Tmac, Fritta and others forward,.

I never said I was confident. On paper this team should win. However I will never trust them to do what they should do.

Agree but our big recruit is injured so unless we want to play first year kids who have not played a full game of any meaningful footy for 18 months let a lone an AFL debut in a full length game as their first up what do you do. We actually should not be seeing much change for where we are at. The improvement should come from Second and third preseasons into LJ, River, Koz, Jordon, Sparrow Another year of May and Lever on the park together. Changes in our game and execution via Yze and Choco. Last of all a return to full length quarters and the inclusion of reduced rotations which I believe suits us better than most and minimises some of our flaws in pace and giving up runs of goals. I wish we had a second winger and worry we are a touch tall down back against their forwardline (wonder if we will see a late change). I also wish that kids would push passed Jetta and Jones to give us more pace but they need to deserve to be there and we need to be confident they can play the long game. This team should win today.

No one forced Jones out of his half forward role in the two games we saw. I would have played an extra small with Chandler as well, particularly if Pickett plays more wing time as expected but had no doubt that Jones would play on the two games played. Someone will need to go past Jones for a spot as he will do enough to maintain it until they do.

Has Chandler suddenly become an on baller? Team is pretty much right I would personally play Bowey ahead of Jetta and Chandler ahead of Spargo on form but its a good balance for who is available.

Seriously. F&ck I hope he proves you wrong. I assume your opinion is based on a detailed view of the growth in his game over the last 3 years and not based on him playing second mid against the dogs first string midfield last week. Allegedly works his butt off. Allegedly team first. Allegedly plays his role. For every Martin and Cotchin you need your Broads, Caddy’s and McIntosh. Does not need to get a heap of ball just work hard and do the job set for him. Best of luck Jimmy J. Do what got you a game, work hard and play your role and hopefully its the start of a long career.

I am very surprised that anyone would be against this. They need to remove any pressure to return a player to the field with any form of head knock. You cant feign this to get a competitive advantage because if you sub out you are not just subbing out of the game but the next 12 days. Concussion is completely different to any other form of injury and needs to more seriously addressed and this is another good step in the right direction.

Back Rivers May Lever HB Hibberd ATom Salem C Langdon Oliver Baker HF ANB Tmac Pickett F Fritsch Jackson Chandler R Gawn Trac Harmes IC Brayshaw Bowey Jones Spargo Emerg: Petty Hunt Jordon Petty in if no May Hunt if no Hibberd or Salem Bedford if no Pickett. I am not convinced with Baker on a wing but I dont see an available improvement at this time. I have assumed Viney, B Brown, Weid and Melksham as returning but unavailable.

Did you note I did not mention Brayshaw, Salem, Hibberd, Picket, Brown, Weid..... Our one wood was more like a nine iron in the middle of the ground which was my point. It’s where the game starts and usually won and lost. Plenty of disappointments but let’s be real with the disparity in the middle.

I wonder if our centre bounces yesterday were Gawn, Trac, Oliver, Viney against English, Westerns second best mid in McRae, 7th gamer Rhylee West and first gamer McNeil how much different the whole game would look? Very disappointed that none of the kids really showed high hopes. Very disappointed that none of the B Graders other than ANB stepped into the breach left by those missing. Very disappointed that we could not lay a tackle and refused to lock onto Caleb Daniel. But really how could anyone get a read on that game with the imbalance in the middle of the ground.

6. May 5. Lever 4. ANB 3. Fritsch 2. Jackson 1. Langdon