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deespicable me

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Posts posted by deespicable me

    I reckon he's great and although he's never been AA and is rarely in medias minds when they talk about all Melbournes good players, he is one of the best mid forwards in the league.

    The two others that maybe he could be compared to are Heaney from the Swans who is a star and Rosey from Port who is being talked about as AA and would have to be given a HFF if he was to make it even though he spends most of his time now in the midfield.

    Oliver is a definite lock for AA, Petracca probably as well, then Max probably still holds the ruck but English is a chance (not much), I think Brayshaw and Fritsch are the next Dees players in? May is a chance, as is Langdon  and Kossie but they may miss and Lever won't make it this year.

    15 minutes ago, von said:

    I reckon we just don’t want it enough. Happy with one. The stars have all signed their big contracts and are just going to coast through to retirement now. Brayshaw is about to sign but it will only result in him settling in to mediocrity for 5 years before moving to Perth. Jackson is gone and we will get nothing back but a Brent Grgic type. Can’t see us being relevant moving forward. You’re right with the bulldogs and look at the wins losses and percentages for the year. Backs it up perfectly. Strong observation. Not to mention how well they stacked up against us last year when it mattered. Bevo is clearly a mastermind, not the unhinged madman some have claimed.

    Oh, I didn't realise I was being so negative. I really like the reference to Brent Grigc. I don't think it's all doom and gloom though. I just think that we've more than come back to the pack and we need to re-invent ourselves a bit. We have a good list and yet we are going through a period where our weaknesses and inefficiencies are being exposed.

    As to Luke Beveridge I think tactically he is superior to Goodwin. Goodwins major move in the last 5 minutes was to send May forward. Dogs couldn't win this year, they over-achieved last year, but they were an improved side on Saturday night from what we have seen. He has done a good job to keep them relevant while they improve their list.

    I have a theory that isn't on here so I'll opinionate and if wrong happy to be pulled up.

    Firstly I don't believe we are in a loading phase. I think we have held on to a game plan far too long that has been dissected and beaten and we refuse to change.

    Secondly the major difference for me is mental fatigue. We are not handling being the "hunted". All our losses we have been trying to hold on and our opposition has run over the top of us. It's hard work. It's not as much fun and all we feel after a win is relief. Not a natural uplifting joy. Well certainly not as much as last year. We are not "loading" we are tired. Mentally fatigued. This is easy enough to fix but Goodwin and co. are super slow to do anything at this point.

    Thirdly "Jimmy's wing is Broken". Our defensive wing has been picked apart and is not working anymore. We are slow and predictable and our turn-overs here are killing us. Jimmy Jordan whenever he gets the ball stops and props then kicks down the line to a tall. There is no speed or dare. Jimmy is a lovely bloke but in the words of Jack Elliot he is "a good ordinary footballer". He needs to be re-invented. This wing is the source of the problem with other aspects of our game including Salem, Bowey and Brayshaw. This brings me to number four

    Brayshaw is not being used to his capacity. Goodwin said he was reluctant to move Brayshaw. He should try the opposite. Every position he has played he has mastered. He is a GUN. Look at the way Dogs use their midfielders. Duncan is played everywhere. Bont goes wherever he feels he is needed. They are much more flexible. Brayshaw being stuck in the backline is stupid. No wonder he wants to leave. He should be played in a variety of positions as required from forward to back. His marking is a weapon. His strength is similar to a Dusty. Leave him one out in the forward line and he'd win every contest.

    Furthermore if we lose Brayshaw I'll be ropable. We need to sign him up and promise him the next Captaincy when he and Max think it appropriate.

    So for a start Jordan out. And move Brayshaw. 

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    11 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

    I was being highly facetious.

    The potting from me is at those who convince themselves loading is a main contributing factor and go on to provide the evidence they believe supports the theory. When really, nobody has a clue. I've never said that those in support of it think it's the only factor in a win or loss.

    Nobody has a clue because there are too many factors to take into account from the outside looking in.

    Posters have been guessing at which games we might have a dip in vs which ones we might look to have more energy in and from there it becomes confirmation bias for them. But really it could be any number of things. 

    Example, a player has a shocking couple of nights sleep before a game due to a sick child.

     

    Here are the facts we know:

    This time last year we had a healthier and more settled squad.

    This time last year our game was in far better order, especially defensively even though we lost to the dogs at the G.

    This time last year we had a far easier run home with less travel and more time to recover between games.

    This time last year, teams weren't as prepared coming up against our system vs this year.

     

    To me, that's all the evidence required when looking at where we are right now as a side. 

    The loading thing is such an overblown nonsense imo. And if it really is so significant come september and what we're seeing now is fatigue which is in part a result of loading, I'd argue that the risk vs reward is simply too great given we're likely to slip out of the top four if we don't improve quickly.

    I would really love to know from someone in the field, (not athletics because AFL is a contact sport), how much loading you can actually be doing at this time of the year with so much travel and so many short turn arounds. And how much impact it would actually have come september. Surely it can only be minimal gains if any given the taxing nature of every game played. Players pulling up sore constantly and the premium on recovery between games. It just doesn't compute.

     

     

    Maybe you should head back over to the Fritsch needs to be dropped thread. 

    You were very opinionated on that thread about how Fritsch needs a good telling off and aligning yourself with all the ex Afl players etc. Hows that worked out.

    You'd think maybe you'd be a bit more humble this week. Take a week off.

    But no here you are with your inflated opinions on everything.

    I'll probably get a ban but fair dinkum Gadstom some posters should get banned from having an opinion for a week when they get it as wrong as you did

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    I'm a leave him alone fan.

    Some people on here just have it in for him. Last year it was he has to be dropped because he doesn't chase or tackle.

    Now it's he's too selfish.

    I say f### all the nay sayers. It's in his genes. It's why he got to be a player who kicked SIX in a GF. He loves kicking goals. You people that want to change him are #######. ANB clears a path for Trac so Trac can be the best player for our club.

    You give Bailey the ball and he's going to kick a goal. For the team. That's how he works. 

    Embrace him. He's a gun. Stop criticizing him you f####.

     

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    9 minutes ago, 1964_2 said:

    If Laurie is as slow as you suggest, we should be prioritising Chandler for AFL selection?

     

    I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic, but Chandler is clearly one of our top performers at VFL level. Laurie is a year behind Chandler in the system and last year he had a bad injury. He is having a great year at VFL level and still improving. He is probably equal with Chandler now and they are just below Bedford who is coming off a poor showing against Geelong. Spargo as a 50 gamer and Premiership player is well ahead of these 3 but at times goes missing. I would love one of Bedford, Chandler or Laurie to put their hand up to take Spargos spot or alternatively go with a taller classy player like a Salem, Hunt or Rivers even. It's all still a work in progress. Spargo has the runs on the board. It's his spot.

    Just for the record I think Moniz-Wakefield has the best chance of owning that spot in time.

     

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    Just a couple of cautionary tales about Laurie and Van Rooyen.

    Laurie probably shouldn't debut this week. He reminds me of Brock McLean who was also slow but had very good games on wet decks. The only proviso to this is if the game in the heat slows down. But early on the game will be too quick for him. Just a note on this . The medi-sub becomes very important up in Alice and should be chosen and used wisely.

    Van Rooyen who I'm a huge fan of was possibly earmarked for an earlier debut but played in the early game at the 'G' against the Swans and fair dinkum hardly touched it. Was hugely dissapointing. Given that he is just a kid, that is entirely excusable, but I think he was pumped up for a big game, seemed to be played as the key forward and the coaches looked at that and thought he needed a fair bit more time in the VFL, maybe even the rest of the year. 

    Happy for either to debut but they are both players that need and should be given circumstances as much in their favor as possible. Someone suggested that Port and Dogs have weakish back line talls so this may be a good week for Van Rooyen but I'd rather see us in winning form and they force their way in as opposed to when we have come off a loss and just want to see something different.

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    Out; May doing kick-ins. We are that predictable it's not funny. 

    Out; The complete lack of connection between Salem, Bowey and Brayshaw. Salem is lost out there. He was completely non - effective tonight. Give him the kick ins might help him get into the game and stop our predictability going down the line to Max. Or drop him. He needs to get involved, he just floats.

    Out; Bedford, Spargo and Jordans ability when the heat is raised. 

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    2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

    Is the team best served by sticking with last year's plan and personnel, where possible, and just making minor changes? Or do we make significant changes which moves us away from the 2021 model? Is the 2021 gameplan out of date? Or do we stick with it and trust the players to pick up their game? 

    Great questions. I think this is the crux of the dilemma facing the coaching panel.

    To make matters worse we are playing Brisbane next and we are desperate for a win, which means they will probably want to keep change to a minimum. When we probably need change. Anyway, it's about time they earnt their money. I think everyone has been on cruise control. Time for everyone to get to work.

    We are missing run. In the 3rd quarter we kept bombing it long, and Cox or Moore intercepted every entry. But no-one was moving.We need Brayshaws attack further up the ground. He is great. Give him the money. I don't think we can win another premiership without him.

    The players I would consider are Rivers, Hunt, Baker and Moniz-Wakefield. Keep Hibberd in and free up Hunt to be more attacking. Rivers has done a good stretch in the twos and deserves a recall, he or Brayshaw would be a better option than Harmes on the wing, Baker has built a better tank and a strong body and Moniz-Wakefield could be a classy HFF, something we are missing.

    Take Trac out of the centre and put in another ball getter to work with Clarry and Viney. 

    Its hard to say Goodwin should stop trusting in players, coz thats been a cornerstone to his success as a coach, but there are too many fringe players gone backwards from last year. ANB, Harmes and Sparrow should be dropped to find a bit of form and fitness.

    I'm a bit panicky but gee we look awful. I think we've fallen off a cliff and haven't hit the bottom yet. Might be very hard to turn around.

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    I think with some of these decisions there is consideration being given to the player going out.

    With Melksham taking his spot there is no argument that as soon as Harmes is fit he goes straight back in. We have Salem coming back soon as well. I don't want Hunt just cast aside. I don't think the FD will either. I dare say if Bedford plays there is just more selection angst in weeks to come. Melksham is filling a gap. He's a gap filler.

    I'm not sure I agree with myself.

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    1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

    Returning to Perth for the first game since the GF should get the players in a good mood.

    Fair chance we'll have more supporters in the stands than Eagles fans. We had a lot for the GF, surely some will barrack for us now. The Eagles should fold.

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    2 hours ago, Garbo said:

    Interesting if Weid does go out, tmac went back for one game and played well in the two's gets in on back on covid changes and plays just ok. But Weid who despite flaws in his game has kicked goals and even helped in the ruck last week. Not sure what message that sends 

    The message might just be that it's a [censored]kin hard job fitting 26 absolute guns into 22.

    Went along mainly to watch Moniz-Wakefield and Van Rooyen.

    They are a good team, Casey. Good mix of Casey players, especially Jimmy Munro who never takes a backwards step and was close to BOG and the Captain Mitch White who was also in the votes, and AFL elder back-up players in Majak Daw and Mitch Brown. Majak didn't have much of an opponent so ran riot in the ruck and around the ground. Also the AFL youngsters are a very good bunch and are developing well at this level.

    Just on that Laurie and Rosman in their second years have really improved from last year. Laurie was injured for a fair chunk but is having a good season and is almost ready for AFL duties although he probably won't get a go for a while. Rosman is the other who can definitely come up to AFL level. He can play tall enough to mind a mid range forward, or a third tall in the backline, he has fast closing speed and some of his spoils were excellent. He probably isn't far behind Joel Smith, which means there is a chance he could be brought up in the next 12 months. Deserves a go at AFL level.

    Moniz-Wakefield is showing great promise for a first year player. He is quick and has a good kick and wins a lot of one on ones. Not much defensive side to his game just yet but has great offensive weapons. Will be good to see him develop, but is another who will have to bide his time as he sits behind Bedford and Chandler in the pecking order. That doesn't matter though this year as he isn't ready for AFL just yet.

    Van Rooyen though is definitely in my eyes the pick of the bunch. He has the most upside and can possibly even rise to the heights of becoming a great centre half forward. The first time I saw him I was a bit underwhelmed, down at Willy Oval a few weeks ago. He looked ok but had very little influence on the game and flew in packs where he didn't look likely. But yesterday he showed a lot taking six good marks and kicking a the goal of the day. Four of his six marks were from leading up the ground and taken on the wing. They were mostly uncontested but that was because of his speed to put distance on his opponent and they were still good marks, taken high and at pace. His kicking is a thing of beauty, he is balanced and can kick over 50 metres easy. One of his marks was from a kick out and a good pack mark.

    His goal was similar to a young David Schwartz, where he picked up the ball swung around and put it through from 50 metres. It was all class. He is tall enough and big enough for his age and with natural growth over the next couple of years will get to over 100 kg and good strength. He again didn't do much close to goals as he gets jostled out of position and has a lot to learn in this area but once he got out on the lead and up the ground he came into his own where he could time his run.

    Already blessed with riches, the recruiting team would be very excited by all the new kids, but Van Rooyen is the ace in the pack.

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    With Covid it depends how sick you get. I know they are fit athletes and in most cases it is nothing more than an inconvenience where the time out doesn't justify the level of sickness, but some of the players, not necessarily ours, will get next level sick and develop a cough that may take a bit of time to clear.

    People here talk about Covid like it is a week off and back to full output and while we certainly have seen that with Viney (warrior spirit) I will be very happy to see each of those players, fit and healthy and back out there. It's just not a given.

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    It may be that they adjust the bench to always include a tall. That way you probably don't need to see Brown, Weeds and TMac in the forward line together. TMac could really have to swing on Sunday night, potentially giving a chop out in the back line, forward line and even ruck.

    I would like Weed to stay in. I thought his game against the Giants was one of his best for the club yet.

    He presented well and took marks and was involved in the spoil down to Spargo, to ANB for a goal among other things. He doesn't deserve to be dropped and needs consistent game time to see how far his upside is.

    Having said that Tarrant will be too strong for him, so .......

    8 hours ago, Jjrogan said:

    It was a bad decision pay the free. But stiff shizzle. People make mistakes.  It was the correct decision to pay 50.  There's a difference.  

    How many times in history has an umpire overturned his or another's decision based on viewing the replay? (Not video replay). 

    Its a dissenting act to ask an umpire to look at a replay.  Mitchell nodded his head when told. I'm tipping he wont do it again.

    Okay. So I'll give you an analogy. A bad one I'll admit but something akin to what you're saying.

    Son comes into the room and poops on the floor. Father says "son, that was wrong, I'm going to rub your nose in it to teach you a lesson!"

    Son says "no Father, don't tell me what is and isn't wrong, I'm now going to rub your nose in it"

    See. Now we've got a situation where umpires are doing doo doos all over the place, then whenever a player says maybe you should stop defecating all over the place the umpire says "no, Don't tell me I'm stinking it up! Now I'm going to rub your nose in it so as to teach you a lesson."

    Clearly the game has turned to sh*t.

    9 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

    Hawkins 50m was clearly there. 

    The rule is if you ask the umpire to look at the scoreboard (replay), that is dissent.  Made clear as mud in the preseason. Tom Mitchell looks at the scoreboard and ask the umpire to look. 

    50 metres under the new rule all day long.  Players, especially captains and senior players, would do well to learn the rules of the game.  

    Come on, it wasn't even a free. Then 50. No-one wants to see that. That was bad umpiring. And everyone is meant to sit in their seats and shut up. 

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