deanox

Our percentage increased tonight. We had the best percentage in the competition after 11 rounds. But after tonight it increased further. I know it felt like we could lose at any moment, but we won by higher than our average win % for the year. In fact we won by higher than the average win % than any other team for the whole comp. Scary to think that we only kicked 8.13.

He got away a copy of times, but overall Harry got good service and also Tomlinson was often left one out in those situations. I think sacrificial isn't a bad description, even if not entirely true. It's almost as if let that match up be the free one at times, making sure everything else was covered.

Agree completely RE Thomlinson. I'd like anyone who thinks he played poor to explain which situations, which passages of play etc. I watched him pretty closely and felt that most of McKays marks werent the fault of the defender.

The shepherding in every marking contest is outrageous.

While it isn't super pretty, I'd add a couple of comments: 1. Despite only 13 wins putting us in 8th place during that time, we have the second highest percentage in the comp, indicating potential under performance. 2. If we win clinch only two close games that we've lost, we jump to 3rd on the ladder. Freo by 7, PA by 4, Collingwood by 7, Dogs by 10, Sydney by 12 were all close games. Technically Brisbane by 11 as well. That's 6 games lost under 2 goals. (Conversely we've only won 2 close ones: GC by 5, Carlton by 5. With only another couple under 20 points) 3. Last year we all think we went to hard early and fell in a heap late. This year, we hope they have learnt from that, and are going through the motions now so that they are primed for finals. That means this ladder reflects the worst of last season and hopefully the worst of this season! If we won 10 straight to start this year we should have been asking "what have we learnt, are we going to fall over again?"

And yet we are the highest scoring team in the competition, and have the fourth best defence. The actually results don't reflect a team with no strategy and ineffective effort do they?

So that great practice match gamestyle and form against Richmond. Do we think we are trying to play that now, but being forced through opposition playstyle and pressure to do something different? Or do we think maybe we are trying different things tactically on match day? In terms of team selection, we were playing 3 talls down back. And TMac and Brown were out forward talls (with Fritsch injured). If it's the former (opposition tactics and pressure)what do we need to change up? If it's the later (our coaches trying things) it could be a combo of keeping our powder dry and experimenting with other set ups, positions, formations etc. so that we have practice when we need to switch things up (ie when we threw Petty forward against Brisbane in the semi, it looked threatening but we didn't have the team synergy with that set up, but this year we have lots of practice at it). Personally I think it is more likely the later. Compounded with May/Lever injuries, Max injury, Ben Brown injuylry, Petty injury, now Oliver injury.

This is the combined records of the teams that were in top spot, and 14th spot, before each round this year. So after 11 rounds the top side has won 6 out of 10 times (obviously no one was in top spot before round 1) and the 14th side has won 7/10 times.

@A F I'd like to see us adjusting this set up as part of better implementation of tempo footy and in response to our on field structures. If the backline is working, it's intercepting and looks comfortable, if we have the match ups right (no. of talls, etc.) then the attacking option is good. But in games that isn't always the case. Sometimes the back 6 has spent a few minutes under intense pressure. Perhaps the interchange and match ups put us at a weaker point. Perhaps the opposition have scored a couple in a row. In those cases, I'd really like to see us take a more defensive posture at the clearances, to take the pressure off and regroup. I think we have tried to "fight through it" at times this year, but the pressure of the game (at that specific moment) combined with adding "pressure to score" has resulted in us being more fumbly. We are at our best when we are able to play the game on our terms. We become devasting, making smart decisions, and using the ball well. When confidence is up they back themselves in. So I think we need to find a better way to control the game tempo, to wrestle back control, and get the confidence up again.

We do have a kind fixture in the last 12 games. 2 X top 4 sides (Collingwood, Brisbane @ the G) 2 X 5-9 sides (currently on 24 points and above) (that's St Kilda @ Marvel, Adelaide @ the G) 6 X 10-15 on the ladder (Carlton X2, Geelong at KP, GWS, Tigers, Swans away) 2 X bottom 3 (Hawthorn and Nth in Tas) That's only 4 more games against teams placed 9th or higher, 5 including Geelong. Our last 5 games are against teams who will be out of contention. 7/12 @ the G, 1 @ Marvel. Add in short travel to Sydney, Tas and Geelong, it's a much gentler back half of the season. Even if we only win the 8 against sides 10-18, we finish the year with 15 wins with a good percentage. Which in an even year is possibly enough to sneak into 4th. I also think games against Brisbane and Adelaide at the G and St Kilda, are winnable meaning we could drop other games (ie Geelong in Geelong,) and still be in top 4 contention. Given how we ran out of steam last year, I really expect a lot of our focus of the the footy department this year will have been about peaking at the right time. So as long as we get to top 4, I think we'll be in a good position.

I've thought similar things this year. Even Hawthorn aren't as bad as they appear at times. Enjoy this short moment of competition. Tassie will stir that up again.

Well if he isn't in the 22 with Hunter and Oliver out, then I'm sure he'll be rethinking his position once again. My guess is with Salem a game in, Brayshaw is moving to the wing / midfield, Sparrow to play midfield /forward like usually, and Harmes to split across mid/wing/forward as needed. We knew Sparrow was ahead of him for midfield minutes. The cements what @DeeSpencer was saying about forward traits. I still think he is a very handy player to have on the list. And I'd probably rather lose Harmes at his age and on his money, than Jordan, as I think he can be a role player and good cover for a long time.

Pretty sure it's because they accredit the media who can attend games, and who get access to press conferences, releases, and embargoes. And I'm sure it must be in the contract for the broadcast partner. Probably that they must not overly criticize the establishment or the organisational leaders. No problems gunning for the club's or a coach, but never any significant criticism for the AFL or the games administrators. I read a report that the NRL had raised objections with channel 9 that they weren't featuring the NRL enough on the Today show. I think that tells us everything we need to know about these relationships.

I think he is considered one of the best though isn't he?

Hunter: There comes a point in which my version of contesting the ball is stopping Connor Rozee's tap from going on to the next person ... I think I can gain possession by stopping that tap and winning that secondary contest. ... Hunter: The intention is always to get the ball, but there's always going to be dangers involved ... Connor Rozee's approach in this example is extremely dangerous. AFL: One of the things you could've done to avoid this impact was to step either to your left or right prior to impact. Hunter: No, because you're asking me to concede the ball to Port Adelaide. Gleeson (Tribunal chair): It's an interesting question. Contesting the ball, if it becomes too remote from the act of trying to gather the ball, then almost everything is contesting the ball, including just bumping your opponent out of the way so you can pick the ball up. ------------------------ That is the crux of the argument there. I don't think Hunter is wrong. He decelerated as much as possible. If Rozee picked the ball up Hunter could have tackled. But Rozee chose to try to knock it through Hunters legs, while lunging head first. If Hunter isn't contesting the ball, because he isn't trying to take possession, then I think there is a very reasonable argument that Rozee isn't trying to contest the ball either, because he is trying to knock it away, not take possession.

To be clear this is "contesting at the tribunal" not "appealing" which was the second JVR hearing.

Oliver out means we will be a lesser side for those weeks, sure. But it is also a really good opportunity to practice an extended period of alternative set ups. It's been great that Oliver and Petracca and Gawn have played almost every game together for 4-5 years, but that also leads to lack of alternative set ups. This year we have really focussed on mixing this up a bit vs the last couple of years where we played best players in each positions permanently. It has seen Kossi, Rivers, Jordan, Sparrow all rotate through the midfield in significant minutes. With Max out, Grundy had a long period of time to gel with the midfielders. If Clarry is out, it will give more game time minutes to set ups without Oliver, helping us find tune the team and develop those synergies. It might hurt our top 2 chances, but if we are good enough we should be able to still win enough games to finish top 4. Peaking in September is what we want. Not May.

I think it's a single top knot in those photos, but occasionally the pigtails come into play!

I suspect this is one of the parts of the game that we deliberately targeted two top tier ruckman for.

Meet Teddy. Loves watching footy on TV (that is the 2021 GF he is watching). Very good corralling defence work. Can be selfish with the ball, doesn't share it around.

To add to this: I absolutely love the ****housery. I just think it needs to be against the rules.

Any ideas for dog friendly pubs in the south east of Melbourne that show the footy? Unusually head to the Great Northern, but looking to meet up with some Bayside mates.

If he was already warming up around the boundary line, I reckon a heckle is ok. But running at the player like this doesn't sit right to me, as it makes it "feel" like there is an extra defender. I don't think it's appropriate. But as said above, exposing another player on the field should be a more significant penalty than this!

It's sexual assault and should have been suspended. No player should have their underwear removed by an opponent, exposing them to supporters and tv cameras. This can't even be justified as "a joke between mates" as they were opposition players.

I think this is what I was trying to describe about "different pools". I might not be technically correct in my description but they are effectively playing other punters not the house. You and I can always lay bets at the TAB, but they block the pros, and only accept their bets if another pro is willing to take that bet.