Red and Blue realist

Were entering round 14 - and at worst will finish this round in 2nd place on the ladder. To put it into context, last year we were sitting in 1st place; in 2020 (a Covid shortened season) the Tigs were sitting in 4th; in 2019 the Tigs were in 9th (yes 9th!); in 2018 WC were in 3rd; 2017 the Tigs were 6th; and in 2016 the Dogs were 7th. So from the last 6 years (I couldn't be bothered going back any further) only 1 team - and that was us!!!! has been on top of the ladder and their game in June. You don't win premierships in June. The road to success comes from not panicking - too many want to throw the whole team around or implement new systems.

Hopefully it might even force the issue. We have to lower our eyes, rather than bomb it in. It would be better to have either Kossie or Toby stay back closer to goal all the time as well, all our small/mids forwards seemed to have been sucked up the ground lately, so they don't have to be the main target, but make one of them hang around closer to goal. Neither Andrews or Adams would have the speed to go with them.

I don't mind Weid having a little more game time in the ruck, he's done pretty well at Casey when given extra game time there, but will he be able to do it for over 30% of game time at AFL level and still have some sort of impact forward? It could well be the making of him, a known extended time at AFL level. Often the rucks at VFL level are either developing or undersize, which is why I think Daw sometimes looks like he dominates - he so strong, but he won't have that luxury at AFL level - but I don't think Jackson should be doing anymore that 60 to 70% of the game in the ruck either. I think for Brisbane we might go with Weid as the backup ruck, with the extended break and maybe even do that again against Adelaide but Daw might come in as well against the Cats off a much shorter break. So this week I'd go, In Weid, May and Bedford while out would be Gawn, Turner and M.Brown. We'd then run a smaller forward set up.

Could be no change this week, while many disagree I think Weid will be the longer term option over M.Brown, but they might want him to dominate in the 2s again, the same as giving Rivers another run through the midfield to get some confidence back up. Hibberd while better in the 2nd half still looked a little off so another week will do him good at Casey. Maybe we could try Bedford in the starting 22 and have M.Brown as the sub, to cover any loss of a tall (either end).

If TMac is really done for the season then bring in Weid and play him for at least the next 6 games. He's been better than BBB, and offered more than M.Brown, but time to see if he will really make it and not change him in and out all the time.

The beauty of the way the team is there's no doubt around the belief in the game plan, we've nearly gone at 'half rat power' for the first half of the season and have still dropped only 1 game. I know the draw is going to get harder, but the transition should be fairly straight forward I would think, we might not fully click in a few games but I fully expect by finals the pressure will be back off the chart, all over the ground, while our implied pressure will continue to cause teams all sorts of issues. Once our pressure is back up it'll create holes in the opposition that makes that transition to our front half so much easier.

I agree, we seem to be reliant to an extent on implied pressure - that opposition teams seem to spend more time 'mucking around' with the ball against us when moving forward than other teams. like you said we look to be sitting back more, letting them over use it and then back ourselves in the back half to turn it over then move forward. I actually think this would be one of the easier tweaks to make, and nearly then comes naturally in finals, when the pressure goes up so will the urgency and we'll nearly be forced to move the pressure up the field rather than letting other teams come to us. If by design I think it's perfect and, as we saw in last years finals, we have the players that can adapt to bringing pressure all over the ground - to mine that still makes us very scary.

I think we'll be giving Salem a run at VFL level and Hibberd at least another run (or 2) there as well. So Tomo comes in for May, then TMac for Weid, Langdon for Melksham and Harmes for Bedford (back to sub role).

C'mon Werridee, Hogan and M.Brown have only played each other once at AFL level - back in 2016 in Jessie's 2nd ever game. Every game he's played for us and from memory every game for the last 2 seasons at the Bombers he played as a forward. So it's not like McDonald who's been asked to go back to fill in when required, that's not a role he's done for us or for a long long time.

I don't think weid will come out after yesterday. Tomo will clearly come in for May but even if TMac comes back and Petty is cleared, I'd be doubtful that both would be 100%, so he provides some additional coverage if we had issues down back again.

All the Tigers supporters I know and talk footy with, all agree that our team is much more talented (outside of the Dusty love of course!), and I think we play a very similar system to what they started - not just manic pressure around the ball but more so the massive implied pressure without the ball - the inability for opposition to get out of trouble because they think they are going to turn it over all the time. The defensive structure and trust our backs have are amazing, but really so were the Tigers in their best years, then with the small/mid forwards creating turnovers and locking the ball in, it's the formula to winning - breakeven or win the middle contest and take opportunities in front of goal. The thing we'll have to stay on top of is the evolution on style that happens all the time, there'll be a move away from this style of footy over time and we want to be at the forefront of this, which is where good coaching comes in so valuable.

I haven't read the article but that list is pretty flawed - only us, the Saints and the Lions really play a ruck duo (maybe the Tigers). I know that one will sit forward (or back) if both are on the field at the same time. Whereas a lot of the others mentioned have 1 main ruck and the other is an 80% forward and only offers ruck relief - not as a true ruckman themselves. Some of the teams Dogs, Crows, Eagles, Pies and Bombers only ever play the 1 ruckman so no point mentioning their injury replacements?

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/05/25/star-dee-likely-to-stay-the-team-to-watch-in-the-trade-period-and-more/ Leading AFL journalist Callum Twomey has provided an update on a number of curious trade and contract situations around the league. Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw, North Melbourne forward Cam Zurhaar, Gold Coast’s strong draft hand and more all analysed. See his update below: Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne) “He’s put off talks for the first half of the year, but obviously been really good for the Dees in that role across half-back,” Twomey told SEN Breakfast. “He’s looking forward to getting it out of the way, because that’s all anyone wants to talk about. I think that’s a pretty good sign in what lies ahead for him at the Demons. “Still no timeline, but I think there’s a strong likelihood that he’ll be at the Dees next year. He’s a restricted free agent, but Melbourne has its bye in Round 14 … I’d expect some movement by then.”

The thinking seems to be if Viney, Oliver or Trac are out then Dunstan comes in to directly replace them. If Harmes, ANB or Sparrow are out then it's Melksham. BBB, TMac, LJ and maybe Fritta (we haven't seen that yet) then Weid gets a go. Kossie or Spargo then it's Bedford into the 22. One of the tall defenders goes out then it's Tomo. However, if one of the running/smaller defenders goes out then shuffle Brayshaw or JJ back - so I can't wait for Salem and Hibberd to be available to see what the plans with the team are then? My guess, Salem comes back in, probably for Rivers or Hunt depending on form or even if we need speed or stronger defence more. The Salem, Gus and JJ all play a hybrid wing/half back roles, rotating with one on the bench the whole time. Salem might stay closer to the backline initially but as he builds back to full fitness have the same licensee to run as the other 2 do at the moment. Of course Langdon just does his thing on the other wing.

Hurn was by far their best player last week, he's a big out for them. Agree with Gaff, guys gone down hill big time over the last few years.

Do they teach them how to brew beer as well? Neita's little brewery knocks out a few tasty treats!

I think this is in the same category as changing game style based on your opponent. We saw Port try a whole different game style against us earlier this year and they looked lie they had no idea how to play. So you'd by and large back in your game plan/style and the team to pull that off no mater the opposing team. I think as a front running team it's a luxury we have, I always thought when we were performing badly we'd be bringing in guys just for the match up and as soon as you do that you go away from really trying to win and just minimising the damage the opposition do - it's funny but if I was in charge of Nth, WC, GWS or the Suns I'd be setting up the game plan and going with that even if it means massive losses. I think that's why Adel, Hawks and Carlton have looked better this year, they've gone away from focusing on the opposition match ups.

I don't think we'll win by anywhere near as much as what people think, it'll still be comfortable but I'm sure the coaches will press home playing to the system rather than trying to destroy them. After every win, we're still hearing the players and coaches talking about 'learnings', 'structures', 'game plan implementation' etc. So I think they'll value a player committing to their role, more than running forward so we get another goal. Of course WC might be that bad that it turns into a thrashing, but I don't think that'll be by design.

Teams would be better off to go a full ground hard man on man structure rather than just tagging 3 guys. Not sure if any other teams have the fitness, but it'd be a better bet than removing 3 of their own mids to at best break even but then leave the rest of their mids against Viney, Harmes, Brayshaw etc.

There was vision of him getting the corky strapped (left thigh) and taking pain killers at the same time. Not sure that strapping helps a great deal with a corky either, but that's what he came off for and the treatment he got.

I wonder if this is also semi selective - by this I mean that in nearly every game we've had the match pretty much done by 3 quarter time and then seem to just coast in the last quarter. Other teams can't afford to do that, so I'd love to see the stats up until 3 quarter time and see if there's a massive drop off in the last. As much as they might think it's a mental thing, or not by design, maybe it is - we look like we've got so much better control over the game than other sides at the moment, and that doesn't mean we have to thrash or beat up on teams - just get the win and move into the next week very comfortable.

He's married or at least involved with Chocco's daughter - which is where I think the Gawn joke came from. Don't read too much into it!

Long term I think this could have merit, but most major changes like this require at least a summer or decent training block to implement. No point him coming back up forward, not really knowing his role and losing confidence. What he could do is actually play as a higher defender - so he gets more chances to deliver into the forward 50. Somewhere between the wing and half back? I know we've nearly got an attacking winger (Langdon) and defensive winger (Brayshaw or JJ) at the moment, and he doesn't need to fill their role, but have a licensee to run more freely forward to do that delivery. No idea what that means for the overall team set up, and if that would cost us too much defensively??

I hope they also have the team song in the indigenous language as well - they did this when we played at Alice Springs a few years back (can't remember when exactly) and I thought it was great, but haven't noticed that they have done that again? I'd love it if they incorporated it after every win actually, 2 or so renditions of the normal song then another of the indigenous version - although I know there are over 200 different languages they use, so not sure if the one at the Alice Springs game was more for that area?

But we're missing 4 due to the virus, Hibberd is just returning from injury, Salem is still injured and the rest are kids so we've still got a pretty solid squad of 32 or so, our depth is significantly better than anyone else in the comp.