fr_ap

I must be in the minority on this one but I think it is a clear 1 match suspension. Lachie had plenty of time to bend down and try to win that footy with his hands and head down...he didn't and elected to lead with his hip. Yes, Rozee ran into him but Hunter elected not to contest the footy whilst Rozee chased it the right way Take the week and move on, I'm pretty far from in love with what Hunter is bringing anyway. Valuable width and positional stuff but he continually asks too much of his teammates by handballing to their feet or kicking scrubbers not to their advantage. Further, he has a gawn-esque hook from a set shot and very hit and miss distance wise.

They've played mostly the same teams as us but got close to Collingwood and port Adelaide. Honestly we have had a softer draw

Should have had you ready to go tiers

The answer is spread over the 3 pages of this thread. Those saying we are a forward half team or slow movement intercept team are drinking Goody's Kool aid and stuck in 2021, fixated on what we once were. I suspect the club hopes many opposition coaches are thinking the same way. We are now a turnover & transition team that can on it's day, win contest and clearance. But we don't have to. See GC17. When the whips are cracking at the end of the year, you may see us revert to type. Or flit between Plan A and Plan B. The FD is coaching flexibility, adaptability and multiple ways to win. I think they're showing great maturity and reflection after a very dogmatic approach in 22. In the meantime as the season progresses, we are: -Rotating more players through the midfield, keeping players fresher for longer (Goody couldn't care less about Rowell/Anderson - he more or less suggested a fresh Clarry & Track won us the game as we rotated when they did not) -Deliberately conceding outnumbers at centre clearances (our wings no longer tuck in - even if their opponents join the centre to handball receive, ours rarely follow), stoppage clearances and drop of ball, in so doing training our clearance players (across a broader player cohort) to deal with outnumber situations and punch above their weight whilst also leaving other players open for effective turnover scoring, as we've shown so far -Relying on our defensive strength, 1v1 ability and nature to limit the impact of conceded clearances on the scoreboard (this is risk/reward - Essendon the example of how it looks when our defenders aren't up to the task) I agree it's not entirely comfortable to watch as a supporter, but we all said we needed change to succeed again. This is a change that still relies on our ability to win contests - perhaps more so by emphasising winning contests despite outnumbers - whilst also weaponising it into an effective and highly accurate scoring method, rather than a means to keep the ball forward in a predictable, clogged and ultimately ineffective way (It was once effective (21) but has been worked out) Conceding slightly more scores is a byproduct and there will be weeks that look ugly - but there is always a give to get. The FD are banking on us winning say 35-40% of the contests we're outnumbered in, for a far greater scoring yield as we can move the ball quicker / less contested post-clearance - instead of 60% contest wins for stagnant field progression and lower scoreboard yield. There are analogies to financial markets - less trades for bigger wins rather than more trades of smaller value. Every trade comes with a cost & an opportunity cost. The world is full of subscribers to both schools of thought - the best are the ones who understand which style suits their strengths and weaknesses.

Fair enough, appreciate the long explanation. I can see the scope and I mentioned he has timing and poise, but I think by comparing to Fyfe / Bont etc you're affirming your own preconceptions of an absolute optimum scenario for his body type. If Cale Morton was getting drafted this year, I've no doubt he would be getting Bont comparisons as well. I try to watch draftee vids with no archetypes in mind as pretty simply, what makes champions champions is more often between the ears, and from afar I don't have the means to assess that. In this area, Duursma could be streets ahead of Reid...but that's not for me to judge. What I can judge from footage is what, should their mentality be high level, a potential ceiling on their play could look like given a certain physical profile and playstyle. From what I see Reid's physicality and authority could provide a higher ceiling. But of course no guarantees either way....Zane could develop such authority (as Fyfe and Bont did) & Reid could flounder against bigger bodies!

How can you possibly watch those two videos and prefer Duursma? Looks to have some time, reads the play well and a good team ethos, but nothing he actually did with the ball was impressive. Reid was far more impactful, powerful and looked too good for the level already tbh. Given the choice (yes we may not have it), it's Reid every time.

We talk about us needing to capitalise on our list and win multiple flags while we can.... This should be said about Geelong far more than us. There probably hasn't been a better key forward pairing than Hawkins & Cameron in the last 200 years. Throw in all time great/club legends Dangerfield, Stewart, Duncan and a team full of fantastic role players with the best home ground advantage in the league - if they don't win at least 2 before Hawk retires it's a huge failure. Curnow and McKay can be this good too, but they're early-mid 20s and need to prove themselves over the long haul, which both Hawkins and Cameron have already done. As close to a cheat code as you'll ever see at the professional level

Wasn't his best, his handballing was below standard as well hitting either grass or a metre behind his opponent. He makes up for it with sheer hard work and for a slower player his defensive pressure is very good

The tigers fans I know were reasonably philosophic about the loss. They didn't expect to win, but could (arguably should) have if they kicked even 1 or 2 of the 3 shots they missed when they were on top in the last. They were very happy with how their pressure and speed showed up, which really really hampered our ball movement

We didn't run him through the midfield because we didn't have Spargo in the side staying i50. Certainly wasn't kossie's best night - the free against him for dumping Baker was at a very very crucial time

Not sure I agree. I see a lot of cale Morton and a little Xavier Duursma. I see a lot of traits that wouldn't stand up at the level. Won't be on JTs list unless there are some actual competitive highlights floating around

Yes, I and a few with me thought the same. I am a little scarred here - we now know Jackson visited Perth/Freo facilities over the mid-season break and when he came back he was never as engaged again. I don't think any of us really picked up on the cues but he was a far less emotive player than Kossie. His form certainly declined. There were discussions that Pickett was meeting family to discuss his future over the period of his suspension. I hope the look on his face doesnt reflect an outcome of that discussion, but I'm not at all filled with confidence.

Why are you all at each others throats? Its literally a discussion forum. Viney isn't perfect but I'd rather have him than play against him. That said, it's also not heresy to question his spot and worth to the team, same as any other player in the side. Just chill - we are sitting in a good spot, playing well but not too well, whilst a number of our apparent competitors have had spluttering starts. Our splutter will come....enjoy the footy while we are winning and stop ripping into each other about selections you can't influence in any case

What you've described is exactly why Carlton are 3rd favourites. They've not played particularly convincingly and are 3 wins and a draw from a reasonably tough opening month. Good maturing teams stack wins when they aren't humming, and the Blues are showing some good signs of maturing. They were easily top 4 on quality last year...as odd as it was for Collingwood to win all those close ones it was equally as odd for Carlton to lose as many close ones as they did. They'll be top 4 this year and a serious serious chance. I would not want to play them in a final. If they Breakeven in the middle, Charlie and Harry win them games and pretty much no team can mark them both. Their flanker types are developing around them, and their defence is very good with Weitering and Young taking the next step. They have every piece in place IMO and just need to manage their year, manage their timing and find momentum at the right time. Easier said than done but they will be absolutely thrilled to be unbeaten with very little fanfare or noise.

The way he's going, he will. Far more fashionable and kicks more goals

Think that's a very interesting point and potentially underappreciated in and amongst all of this. Certainly wouldn't have helped. The other thing is it probably really illustrated that it's just a job - any team can travel any place and footy is footy. Bit of perspective they perhaps otherwise wouldn't have gained

He has family on Adelaide. I'm not sure who or how close he is to them, but it's been mentioned in other places a few times. Wouldn't think anything of the fact that the article omits it. I can only assume either 1) Kozs manager is telling him to hold out, have a career year as a mid-fwd and get an extra $100-200k p.a.; or 2) He (as reported) isn't in love with Melbourne (the town) and just doesn't see himself settling here. Byron aside. Driving to Casey every day would do that I think. But some people, particularly those from remote locations, just never take to the bigger city. Koz might be one of them and that might just be our lot. He'll be well paid wherever, he's got family all over, and it's not his concern what PA or Adelaide have to offer. That's for the club to worry about and frankly, they'll take what they can get like they did with Freo last year.

We had an extra defender in the squad on the weekend and whilst I like it, if Hibbo's Achilles is not ready he's the clear out for kossie - with perhaps rivers not coming as high up the ground as he did against Sydney (which would be a shame as I really like him further up, was terrific on the weekend and is going under the radar)

Pretty clearly says hopefully mate

Nah we got given some too. People who say umpires don't influence games have NFI. In the 2nd and early 3rd when they were coming, the free kick count was disproportionately in their favour and they were getting some really questionable ones. In the first and last, we got quite a few very impactful and questionable frees. When they're given consecutively it does really change the momentum of games. If you get 3-5 in a row it's as if you won 3-5 key one on one contests - like a hard ball in a pack, a contested mark i50, or a 1v1 win in D50. It's not the reason we won or the reason they lost, but it does have an influence.

Pretty rich tbh of some of you to talk nonsense about the saints being rubbish forever. We were in the same position only 3 years ago and should have sympathy. They're playing brilliantly with an enormous injury list. To the point where I'm not sure I would be bringing players back (other than Steele) once they are healthy...this collective buy in and balance is so hard to capture. Their only concern would be how early it is to be humming this well. But in the very least they should now be aiming for top 6. If we don't win it this year, I hope they do.

He's also coming off 12 months of no footy & it was commented on here a number of times in pre-season how far behind the other big guys he is in running drills at training. Like labouring really far behind. His 2nd half was much improved against Brisbane but again, we need to temper expectations. He's not Gawn and won't play like it - either on the ground, in transition, in the ruck or in the air. Pies fans were very clear at the time of the trade that his major shortcoming is that he is very limited in the air (let alone taking marks, he really struggles to contest to bring it to ground as its a different type of strength profile to down-low). This can be overcome if you have enough contested marking players elsewhere around the ground to make use of BGs different strengths elsewhere. It can't be overcome if you expect him to provide the same presence that Gawn has provided as nigh on the best contested mark in the league over the last 5 years.

Watch Hayden McClean take his mantle...I can feel it

He's not a marking player, I don't know how many times this needs to be repeated. Collingwood fans know it all too well. Any expectation that he's going to take 5+ marks a game with a good % contested is just wrong - he's not that player and at 28 he's not going to be.

Not sure I entirely agree with this logic (bolded part) If we had come out and smashed two middling/lower teams we'd be loving life and super confident right now. Fact is - only the very good/best teams consistently smash the teams they should. What would make it more difficult to get a read on their form is if they beat both by 10-20, which would indicate they weren't functioning at a top 4 level. But that's not what happened. As it is, the magnitude and manner of their wins are indicative of their quality - which is that of a top 4 side. It's not hard to tell how good they are - they're clearly very good, as they were last year. They may even be better now, as a young side with continued growth and very few veterans getting to the feared 31/32 mark other than Buddy (who they were without in any case). Without Buddy, Mcdonald and Amartey combined for close to 10 goals. We know how tough, dynamic and accountable their midfield is. We should not be taking any confidence from them 'only' smashing GCS and Hawthorn. It's what the best teams do. Separately on us - I have a niggling concern that something we have changed - game plan or mindset wise - has resulted in far less accountability from our mids both at stoppage and in transition. I thought it was very obvious in the Dogs game that Treloar/Mcrae/etc were running relatively unchecked in transition. Repeatedly. It was extremely obvious during the period they were on top. For whatever reason, it ultimately didn't hurt us too badly as the Dogs were hesitant with the ball. It then clearly happened again vs the Lions - even worse - the Brisbane midfield appeared to play entirely unchecked for the majority of the night. At clearance, at stoppage and in transition. At different times, neither felt like Dees games and I felt more uncomfortable (yes, including the Dogs game even though we got on top) than I have since 2020. I can't quite put my finger on it but I wonder if in trying to have a little more dare and respond to the flavour of the month - attacking footy, Collingwood etc. - we've lost the balance that's served us well now for some time. If I'm right, the Swans (who have the most accountable midfield going round) will be a big reality check (and potentially, a really sizable loss). Don't hate on this btw - sky is not falling, far from it - but I can just feel something is a little awry...