deanox

Wouldn't be because the AFL own 49% of champion data and Andrew Dillon (the AFLs chief legal counsel) and Simon Lethlan (former AFL GM of broadcasting, and Football Ops Manager, now St Kilda GM) were directors of CD would it? https://www.afr.com/technology/how-the-afl-could-crush-an-aussie-tech-success-story-20150904-gjewar

Seriously good analysis. I really wish AFL stats were public!

Crazy how much the intention of the rule has changed yeah? That reads like you were not meant to run with the ball. You were allowed to run to find balance before disposing of it, but not run and carry unless you were constantly bouncing. Basically while running you had to be constantly either in the action of bouncing or the action of kicking/handballing.

Interesting take. I can see the value of Brown pushing up as you suggest, but also he is so good one out that having him recieve a deep kick in is pretty deadly. In previous weeks it has been Fritsch playing the last in attack role hasn't it?

Yeah we were doing the mothers/women/pink thing on mothers day against them but that seems to have disappeared.

For clubs with white as one of their primary club colours, I really think that when playing against a team without white, then wearing white shorts should be the norm. For example Swans wearing white against us looks normal and creates no clash. But usbwearing white introduces uncertainty. It's similar for us v Saints. With the socks, instead of us wearing blue and red, simply making the top of their sock white instead of red would solve the clash, and keep the uniforms very close to normal.

I cant recall seeing red and blue hoops before, but I have recollection of red socks with blue tops (no idea if a true recollection though).

Who else would replace Brayshaw on the wing though?

That's the first I recall seeing it, so though it was much more extreme that game. Goodwin obviously liked something about it because he is still doing it.

Oliver has been standing wider, and I think it's so he can hit the ball at speed when hunting the clearance. I think in the tactics thread, someone talked about our conversion from clearances: apparently we're winning less but scoring more from them. I can't pull those stats anywhere but if true it looks like we're playing high risk high reward footy, and backing our defence to intercept and win the ball back if we lose the clearance (to mitigate the risk).

Great call. Was interesting to see how we tried to handle it, initially trying to force Hunt onto Hayward, then at times letting them just 2 on 1 Lever and having a loose man running around further afield.

10 disposals, 5 contested, at 90% efficiency in the last quarter was massive.

I think when we are 8-0 we only make changes on two basis: 1) Injured/forced change (includes overly cautious resting of sore players who are walk up starts) 2) "it's your spot to lose". Once a player is in, and we're winning, you need to play pretty poorly to lose the spot. We didn't get enough from Fritsch or Hunt but neither were dreadful enough to cancel out re ent good form. Others could improve, but not enough to get dropped from someone who didn't play in the VFL. No change unless forced for me.

Salem TMac May Jordon Oliver Langdon Apologies to Spargo.

I think they will, but I reckon they might not want to do that while TMac is on fire up forward. Let him have an average game then swing him to the wing and bring Weid in.

And the same commentators who bang on about the head being sacrosanct and duty of care in bumps also give it a "ho ho ho that's a bit of a tickle on the ear to make him earn it ho ho ho.". It's really strange.

The difference in speed and quality between VFL and AFL is so great that it takes time to adjust. Mitch Brown took 3 quarters to find the pace. It took Baker a while as well. I'm not sure he will make it, but I think where possible players coming in should get a few games to find their spot (unless a best 22 player dislodges them).

6 Fritsch 5 Pickett 4 Oliver 3 Jackson 2 Langdon 1 Salem Apologies to May, Jordon and Rivers who I could have stuck in, and perhaps Petracca.

How is that not in the back to Lever?

Melksham is having a shocker. Unless he drastically changes his game, no chance he plays next week. TMac is giving us nothing.

Agree about how underrated he is. Does not get enough credit for what he does. Most of it is too quick to see. He has worked on his kicking, and started to extend his vision from in close to long range. I know disposal count isn't the most accurate stat for how good someone is but he has averaged the following number of disposals per game since his debut year: 19.2 (in 2016), 30.0, 29.4, 30.0, 25.1 (2020, equivalent to 31.4 pro rata for shorter quarters). For context, no other Melbourne player has ever averaged 30 disposals per game over a season. If he hit the scoreboard directly a little more often (ie kicked those goals against GWS when he went forward) I think the media conversation would be a bit different. Also he has a bit of lip on him, and I think he is one of those players that opposition supporters love to hate. Which probably adds to the downplaying of how good he actually is.

Carlton took Lachie O'Brien (pick 10) and Liam Stocker (pick 19) after Adelaide handed them off as part of the Bryce Gibbs trade. We got Petty (pick 35), and traded the 47 (with a pick 36) for 27, which got us Sparrow. So it's almost: Lever, Petty, Sparrow For Bryce Gibbs, pick 35, pick 67!

I actually think that Lever is an outstanding reader of the play. Sitting up high at the G, it is amazing how many times Lever leaves his man well before it is kicked, to run 35 m, and end up making the spoil. He also directs a lot of the traffic and positioning down back.