deanox

Down back Petty is currently behind May, Lever and Tomlinson, and they are considering Hibberd ahead of him tonight. So while I absolutely agree he is a defender first, he is also a quality, developing player stuck in the reserves, and we have 3 of 4 main forward targets out, presenting an opportunity. If we are weighing up the opportunity for exposure and development of Petty (and his ability to probably go ok) vs Mitch Brown playing a game, I'd rather Petty gets the nod.

What is good is that there are actually heaps of options. -Gawn forward, LJ more ruck. -Petty forward, Hibberd back. -Melksham forward, Sparrow in middle. -Mitch Brown or Majak Daw. All are real options, and all come before Weid and Brown return from injury. Also May is out, and we've got Petty and Hibberd as potential replacements. We've got Sparrow waiting in the wings for the midfield. Harmes is a few weeks away. Bowey and Laurie may be a way off but they are a chance to get games if needed as a rotation. Lockhart will come back from injury and put pressure on Jetta. When a team plays well it looks likenit has depth. Our risk is needing too many of these depth players at once.

I'd consider Petty forward and Hibberd back for May. We'd still have the flexibility to throw Petty back if we need the extra height. Petty won't play there long, but I'm expecting Brown back for the tiges.

80 career games for 70 career goals and only once kick more goals than games in a season while at Melbourne.

I thought it looked like he was deliberately bringing the ball down at times. He would contest from the side and palm towards our crumbers. Contested pack marks in the wet are difficult and rare, so it's the % option.

Melbourne traded out: picks 2 (GWS used it on Kelly), 22 (on-traded to Brisbane, who selected Gardiner) and 72 (passed) in exchange for -picks 9 (Salem), -57 (Hunt) and -Dom Tyson (94 games) who was traded for pick 62 (unsure who that was) and Preuss (who we got 2 years back up, then traded for pick 31. Then 31 (plus 43) became 25 (Caleb Poulter). 25, 68, 69 and our 2021 1st (currently 17) became 18 (Bowie at 21), 19 (Laurie at 22) and Brisbane's 2021 2nd (currently 21). (That's currently a win of +700 points, or the equivalent of pick 27).

The "Spargo Ratio": Score involvements divided by disposals.

You're probably right, I used the wrong words. I think he has the capability to kicks those. His field technique is not bad, but set shot looked horrendous on the weekend.

Exactly. In fact if he kicked 2 or 3 goals we'd actually have the media carrying on about how dangerous he is and how he can't be shut down etc. And to be honest, I reckon he kicks 2 of those most weeks.

He was well held, but had he kicked those goals forward it would really be another string to his bow. The ability to rest him forward and be damaging while breaking a hard tag would make us very versatile with Petracca in the team also. Oliver has the strength and marking ability to do this, so I hope he tidies his set shot kicking.

These are the two changes that are on. This week? Maybe not, but they are the hard calls. Geelong may be slow enough that Jetta (and Jones) stay safe. Sparrow didn't do enough, and as one of the last picked that always places him on shakey ground. Spargo wasn't as good tonight as the first 2 rounds, but I think he did enough to hold his spot for now. TMac is on thin ice when Brown or Weid are ready.

I've double checked and the Diamond Defence started in 2016, not 2017, which is actually supported by the change in ratio from 2015 to 2016.

Does that count as 3 score involvements on the stat sheet?

This was actually a big part of our game plan in 2017/2018. The Diamond defence? All based around protecting the areas where it was easy to kick goals and forcing opponents to shoot from pockets and flanks. Up forward we also went through a period where we constantly played on or gave off inside 50 to try and find a player in a better position.

My problem with the hit outs to advantage, is that they rarely report hit outs to disadvantage. My bet is that on average they are close cancelling each other out on average over the league. I think rucks need to neutralise the opposition ruck (so that the they don't get a free ride), and then it is more about how do they use their bulk to assist clearances, and height around the ground to mark both offensive and intercept balls. For that reason, an athletic ruck like Jackson has the potential to be a force around the ground, but also an athletic ruck who doesn't make use of their height does risk being just a slow, worse midfielder.

I feel personally attacked by this content. I'm pretty sure I joined the original board in 2002. That's 19 years of my life in one place!

Need to get past freo first but I am happier to be in Adelaide's side of the draw than Brisbane's.

When it comes to contract we should give him the length he wants, and the salary that puts him top 3 at the club. Gawn as captain and games no. 1 ruckman, and Petracca as a the explosive forward/mid are both up there. The next tier down would have May, Lever, Brown, Viney, and maybe Brayshaw (TMac and Brayshaw based when they signed the contract). Agree with bush demon that it mgiht be a bit tight at the top, so we may not be able to match the big splash to keep him, but it wouldn't surprise me if that is why we've resigned Lever and Gawn now as part of a restructuring of the salary to bump the offer.

I know it's only 2 games in this year but after those 2 games he has 76 disposals (3rd in the league) and he is 60th in the comp in meters gained (4th for Melbourne), so that is not an unreasonable ratio. He is leading the comp in contested possessions (36 vs next best of 30), and also has the most ground ball gets in the competition (22), two stats which why he has such a high handball top kick ratio and also lower meter gained than some others. His disposal efficiency this year is 77.8% and his KE is 74%, so his kicking doesn't seem any worse than handballing. For comparison, Jack Mccrae who has 76 disposals this year has 881 m gained, DE 80% KE 63%, 20 ground ball gets. Oliver's performance is elite, there is no two ways about it.

Looks a real likely type, doesn't he?

Adelaide beat Collingwood by 1-2 points in a low scoring game could work.

Collingwood is the only top 6 side we didn't beat in the 9 round season. Given we also played the dogs who will finish 7th, we only played 3 teams in the bottom 7, so have had a pretty tough draw. I have a feeling home finals will make a difference here. Unfortunately it looks like we might travel week 2 regardless (if Collingwood win v Adelaide we'll finish 3rd and play 2nd (Brisbane) week 2, if Adelaide win we'll finish 4th and will play 1st (probably Adelaide or Brisbane) in week 2. The is a chance that Adelaide win and the percentages will fall our way, so that we finish 4th but Collingwood finish on top, but it would need Collingwood to lose by a small margin in a low scoring game.

But he did play according to his stats

If Chandler was credited as playing a game last week, then surely he should be listed as an "out" this week?

I wish the AFL would say: "All coaches at all clubs have 4 interchange players available to help them manager player fatigue and injuries. These 4 players are not selected on the field, they do not need to enter the field except at the discretion of the clubs. It is the responsibility of the clubs to use these resources in a way which manages player fatigue. If a club designs it's game plan using these 4 players, but does not build in reserve capacity or contingency in case of injury, then it is failing it's duty of care to the players selected."