Gator

I would rather nail my scrotum to a bull-ant infested park bench than watch this rubbish.

Four max. Don't care who, as people pick themselves.

Most people don't, which is why it should be called 'rare sense'. Although I appreciate a self-effacing comment when I see one. Melbourne, like Richmond (and unlike West Coast), play a high pressure and chaotic territory game. But even then, the better teams, despite their differing styles, are in the positive when it comes to 'metres gained differential'. Fast ball movement, high pressure, out-number at every contest possible, play on quickly, and get the ball into the F50 is our 'one wood'. We had the most inside 50s in 2018 and the best inside 50 differential, as well as being no.1 in countless other stats. And if we can't mark in the F50 we at least want to bring it to ground. It's no accident we're the highest scoring team in the AFL by 25 goals. Here is a stat I found very interesting and it confirms that our manic game-style has its advantages: Being no.1 in 'metres gained differential' obviously was a large reason we were no.2 in 'points gained differential', as you can see above. To retain the ball in the F50 and to out-number at every contest isn't helped by having a second lumbering ruckman. West Coast play a different game-style (precise kicking / retain control of the footy) to us that is more conducive to a second ruck. And it's also worth noting that Vardy is a very mobile and athletic big man with decent pace. He's as much a forward ruck as a ruckman, so a different type of ruck to Preuss. It's also worth noting that turnovers are the no.1 scoring source for scoring shots in the AFL. Generally speaking, mid-size players force more turnovers that 206cm giants. Gawn, Tom McDonald, and Weideman for me is enough talls to provide an aerial forward threat. Gawn won't be needed to fill the hole down back this year, so when he does need a rest Weideman can pinch hit in the ruck and Gawn can prowl the F50. And occasionally McDonald might get a 5 minute ruck burst. They'll most definitely try the Gawn/Preuss combo and if it works great. But for our game-style and strengths (outlined above) I'm not keen on it. We need to build on what works, not strip it back. There's plenty of room for improvement, which will come from hopefully Viney playing more than 7 games in the H&A, Weideman progressing, May/Lever controlling D50, Kolodjashnij and Fritsch up around the wings, for once a fit vandenBerg, and the natural improvement from over half the best 22 due to their age. I know we'll tweak our game-style. It doesn't need reinventing, just some improvement. The foundations are very strong. But I'm not convinced a second 206cm ruck helps our game-plan. For me it hinders it. You occasionally have to give something up to take a step forward, but playing Preuss gives up too much in my mind and I don't see the benefits of him playing with Gawn as any great panacea to where we're deficient. A wingmen has to be able to deliver inside F50 with precision. Smith on a wing is a diabolical suggestion. If you read training reports you'll see that Kolodjashnij has been playing this role well. He's the prototype wingmen and I suspect it's why we got him to the club.

Use your common sense.

Of course they'll try it. Not often though.

I'm a sucker for some of his attributes: aggression, courage and speed. I also liked his first quarter in AFL footy against St Kilda at Etihad before he was injured over the boundary line by Riewodlt. But I've seen enough now to be very concerned by his decision making and kicking. I think he's one of those boom or bust footballers with little in between. I see too many polished footballers ahead of him at the MFC.

I'm just not a fan of playing Preuss and Gawn. I very much doubt it's sustainable. I see it only happening on the odd occasion and it will largely depend on matchups. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. I won't be. I've also gone from being a Joel Smith advocate (look at my posting history) to being dubious. He's a scatter brain with poor foot skills. I don't think his incredible athletic prowess, courage and attack on the contest will overcome is low football IQ and decision making under pressure. I watched his game again recently at the Adelaide Oval in round 19. It would have done Tom Gillies proud it was that bad. Sure, it's just one game, but I'm no longer confident he's best 22 in a top 4 team.

Slightly left-field Back : Jetta May Hore Half Back: Salem O McDonald Hibberd Centre: Kolodjashnij Viney Brayshaw Half Forward: Petracca Weideman Neal-Bullen Forward: Melksham T.McDonald Spargo Rucks : Gawn Oliver Harmes IC : Jones vandenBerg Fritsch Hunt EMER: Hannan Lewis Frost Stretch Obviously Lever not considered Without Lever's intercept marking I'd be looking at playing Hore as a third tall. His trick is intercept marking, much like the similarly sized Langdon at Collingwood and I think he can complement our two tall defenders. I like Hunt's attributes, but concede he may find it hard. We'll be playing over 30 players, so plenty will get their go. Needless to say, it will change before round one.

Improving our defence one goal per a half of footy, plus natural improvement from Weideman and our multitude of other goal-kickers renders this a reasonably easy achievement I would have thought. Just having Viney's ferocious tackling and attack on the footy around the stoppages for 22 rounds instead of 7 also improves the balance between scoring and defending. Yes, Hogan kicked 47 goals, but we won't be playing a man short. I see no issue.

More Pavlich for me.

I take more out of a quality photo than the anecdotal evidence of someone I'm not sure I can rely on.

Thanks. Demonland is a fantastic site and we're lucky to have it, but the amount of nuffies on here is incredible.

Why don't you explain it to me, Chuckles ?

You think I'm going to waste more time discussing someone I have on ignore ? Good one.

Well there you go. We couldn't disagree more.

Your post appears contradictory. That said, no-one is telling you what to "think".

I blocked this unsavoury clown eons ago. It's a waste of time.

I'll have to tell premiership captain Shannon Hurn he's too heavy at 187cm and 95kg. Just have some faith in the footy dept. A player's ideal weight is pretty simple for conditioning coaches.

Have you seen his frame ? 90kg for Petracca would not only be counterproductive it would be ridiculous. You think he should weigh 3kg more than Viney ? 96kg is fine for Petracca's physique.

I sort of agree, because I really value when he touches the footy and I don't agree. As I stated earlier, 48% of his possessions are contested possessions, which more mirrors an inside mid than an occasional midfielder and flanker. I'd like to see his disposal rate go from an average of 20 to 25, which will happen if he's able to increase his uncontested possessions. Paradoxically, I think he's becoming underrated due to the criticism he receives, while at the same time I think he can become a much better player. I expect a significantly better 2019. And he's the sort of player that if he takes that next step he takes us a step closer to a flag.

I fully agree except I believe Jones was a very good junior triathlete before he came to the club, so I think he was always pretty strong in his running. Petracca's weight is his strength. It's his size that can potentially make him a competition powerhouse. He does need to improve his running and if he's a couple of kilos overweight then sure he needs to lose it, but I doubt his weight is an issue. I reckon Petracca is 25-30% below his optimum and much of that will come with finding easier ball. He averages 20 disposals per game and 48% of his possessions are contested, which is very high and more in tune with an inside mid. He needs to find easier footy on the outside through smarts and work ethic and lift those uncontested possessions. If he can do that he'll make great advances.

A-grade summation.

It looks like he's moving on...

Seemingly, unlike others I'd rather Preuss in the VFL until he's (hopefully not) needed. I suspect they'll experiment with the two rucks early in the season and I also expect it will be a short one. But it's great having a backup.

More on ACLs, which I found interesting. It's from Demonland's own star resident expert in these types of things @Webber - posted some time ago: "There is no greater incidence of hamstring injuries post ACL reconstruction where the hamstring is used as the graft. The hamstring 'group' (3 muscles) compensate as a collective to take over the progressive loads imposed during rehab. The surgery is a very elegant and efficient process. The graft length is computer calibrated to be anatomically correct, and anchored to the bones top and bottom of the knee (femur and tibia). That graft is initially dead tissue, but over the period of 5 to 6 months, the blood supply re-establishes through the bony attachments, such that it becomes fully vascular, and therefore a self-regenerating tissue. It is 'living' and able to absorb the stresses applied. Fully competitive, full speed multidirectional sport is allowed at 9 months. At the elite level, there are seldom variations to this timeline, and the outcome is as if the ACL had never been damaged."