deanox

I might change my tune in 5 hours, but Brisbane have had a pretty easy run so far, beating Adelaide and Freo, out of form GWS and WCE (we got them at the wrong time!) and being smashed by Geelong. All of their wins have been at the Gabba (except GWS ALat Giants Stadium). They did beat the 2nd place PA which sounds good, until you realise PA have basically beaten the same teams: GCS, Freo, Adelaide, Eagles and GWS (and stuck in against Carlton). It week be interesting see how they go against us, Collingwood, Richmond, saints and dogs.

I think Vanders is an enigma. In some ways similar to Viney in that his most valuable contribution is intangible and not quantifiable. Toughness, leadership (by physical example), persistent effort, aggression, perceived pressure. Heart and soul? These things matter to the way that everyone else around them plays. Few players have these qualities in abundance. And I think that they only lose their spot when a) someone more skilled knocks on the door and b) the rest of the team has developed / can bring these traits in sufficient quantaties that they are looked upon foldly but not missed. So I agree he struggles and will be replaced eventually, but we are a while away from that yet.

Just a little joke Saty

How dare you actually talk about football in this thread.

Sorry, the quote marks were me putting emphasise on the idea of "just an accumulator" not meaning to only that was your words. I think my post was in two halves: the first responding to the accumulator discussion, and stating that I beliebr be is much more creative and damaging than that, the second discussing his stats with respect to the claims that he gone backwards. I think we just set high standards for him.

Is Goody happy that you've told everyone he is unhappy? Or should that have been kept quiet as well?

I think we see this in the lack of free kicks he gets despite being scragged and held constantly, and how fast they are to pay very soft frees against him for illegal contact or holding. When they talk about protecting the ball players, he is exactly the type that should be protected, because talk away the holding and he would single handedly open the game up.

It might mean a player like Tomlinson is actually more valuable at the MCG, because his strengths outweigh his deficiencies.

While I understand where you are coming from I think this is a bit harsh and he has a long way to fall before realising this risk. Oliver is super damaging in a less overt way. His extraction and creative, fast hands, means that he sets up a lot of past that wouldn't have happened otherwise. While Trac bursts through and kicks long, Oliver did under and squeezes out to advantage. To become "just an accumulator" I think he need to lose that ability and be more loose, uneventful outside touches. He is still one of the best and most creative extractors in the game, and is probably playing more well rounded footy than in the years he won the bnfs. He is averaging 25 disposals this year (4th in the comp), equal to 31.25 in full length quarters (he has a higher kick to handball ratio than Petracca this year too) and 5th in ave contested possessions. He is 7th in ave clearances (3rd in centre clearances) and 25th for tackles (only half a tackle off being 15th). His turnovers are up by one per game (2 when factoring in shortened game time) which is sight concern but it is also a symptom of kicking more, which we've asked of him. On those numbers he should right in the frame for AA discussion. Unfortunately he gets marked very hard by umpires and media for some reason (vs their favourites).

My assumption is that those types of supporters don't actually understand "emotion". To them you are either calm or violent/angry, and any subtly between them is lost. Those supporters don't want to see Goodwin smile, laugh or cry. They want to see him yell and scream and break things and lose control. Pretty toxic, if that is your only measure of "emotion".

An aspect could be time to tell people who need to know ie family before publicising something that sounds as bad as fractured cheekbone.

Cards, I agree with this (despite describing rotation above). What I was trying to point out was that in the situation where fatigue due to multiple, repeat, shortened gaps between games, is going to cost us games or injuries, we only need a small handful of players to throw in the mix and everyone can get a sightly extended break by bidding a round. Especially given we "already had our bye".

We're going to need to rotate, but I'd do it as little as possible. Rivers, Hibberd, Jetta, Lockhart, Salem to all miss one game each in the next 4. Out of Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Langdon, Tomlinson, and Jones, 2 miss each week. Out of Melksham, AVB, Bennell, Fritsch, Hannan, Pickett, ANB, and Bedford, 2 miss each week. If we keep Jackson in, we won't need to rest the rucks. It's unlikely we'll be to rest any of the KPPs but TMac would come in the mix for any except Lever, who Smith should cover. So that's only 5 and maybe up to 7 players rotating through over the 4 weeks as needed to cover, while letting every player miss a single game. Keep the core team as stable as possible, and try to only have 2 of the "rotating" players in at any one time, for consistency.

I don't understand when it is suggested this year has an astrix. In fact, this year is potentially the fairest year ever. You play everyone once. Everyone is travelling, moving, on notice. Interstate teams aren't disadvantaged with travel and advantaged with big home crowds. Vic clubs aren't getting cushy rides based on the crowds they draw to the G. The fixture is being drawn a few weeks in advance, so yes some clubs will have it better but it will largely be by chance not by design. All clubs will come up against it at some point. Winning this year proves you're the best in the comp over the season.

Clarry received 5 coaches votes this weekend, 3 from one coach, 2 from the other, making him the 3rd best player on field according to the two coaches. He could be *more* damaging but it is clear he is still very damaging. Trac standing up helps because he isn't the only one they need to worry about in the centre and he gets an extra milisecond off space.

It's almost like he isn't stubborn and in fact is willing to make tactical changes her thinks will help win?

Harsh. Was a very good player before his foot injury crippled him.

Even if Jones plays down back (which he won't because he is too slow) he would play a different role to Lockhart who is playing the lock down / nullify / tag role. Lockharts absolute commitment to the contest around the ground, hard two way running and throwing himself in and on any thing he can was fantastic. I think he'll get the first chance on Charlie Cameron next week, with Jetta being a bit more free. VDB was our "worst on" today but even he wasn't that bad. The options to replace him are Hunt, Spargo, Tomlinson so I think he gets another few weeks. TMac should be "best 22". But on form he isn't. Statistically and in impact, Jackon had a better game today than TMac has had all year. Given Goodwins reluctance to play 2 KPFs, I can't see him now playing 3, unless he employs TMac as a fulltime wing (the Tomlinson role). For me, no change unless forced.

It's only a watershed moment for the people who were saying tripe like "he shows no emotion" "he talks in coach speak instead of real terms" etc. He hasn't changed. Their perception of him has.

Average but not terrible. And id probably go 6/10 because he hasn't lacked for effort

I wouldn't pick him next week.

Does TMac get back in?

Should have been htb to lockhart then

He doesn't get it much but doesn't get beaten often

I think he really goes in hard, chasing, throwing his body around etc. He isn't playing a possession needing position, so it's very hard to judge on tv.