stinga

Watched the casey game and whilst JVR kicked 5 and Johnson kicked 3 (he should have had at least 7), Johnson was the more impactful player. He led to the ball and was quick off the mark. JVR still wants to wrestle and slow to react.

We won last week by kicking straight. Hope we do it again

it seems most sides after the 6x6 start at a bounce, they use the high half forward as another on baller. This tends to leave the extra defender loose (one reason Bowey gets so much of the ball). But it also means extra space and the other defenders have to play tight, which is why I don't think Adams is there yet.

They played Jefferson as a defender at Casey because with May's injury they needed a tall to fill a key defensive role if another tall defender went down. Howes did as good as he could filling in for Turner, but it meant Max had to play a defensive role (He even said so in a post match interview). Adams is not there yet, so I think Jefferson will take Turner's role. It also gives the option of swapping with Petty if needed. Otherwise no change for a winning side.

Sparrow has been doing a lot of run with roles

Isn't it amazing that with two tall forwards the opposition do not get to intercept mark and allows our smaller forwards to go to town. Great win. Just hope Turner can play next week. He was pivotal in defence. Not only physical but fairly quick as well.

When you look at the lists of other clubs, they have 6 or7 players 200cm or more, and the better clubs have 4 or more in the actual first team. Most take years to develop and our only 2 (Gawn and Campbell) will probably not play beyond 2 years. Fullarton and Verall are close to 200 but neither show much sign of making it at the moment. It will probably take 4 years to get the 6 or 7 200cm players, so the damage on recruiting smalls is already done. We used to say we had a lot of talls but they were all only 195cm or thereabouts apart from a couple of ex basketballers that didn't work out as Category B rookies.

It's a running game Not kick, mark, stop look around for a target. If you want a tall in you have to drop one, don't slow us down. Pity we've lost 3 good running players in Bedford, ANB and Jordan.

Forget all the [censored] about turnovers, pressure, midfield and defence. Most of that we are as good or bad as any other. It just shows up more because we can't score and the ball keeps coming back multiple times. At the start of the year I asked where our goals were going to come from and said we had to score 15 goals a lot of the time. But we struggle to kick 6. Turner will occasionally kick 2 and the same with JVR and Fritsch. Langford and Petracca are the only midfielders who kick goals. Kossie on ball robs us of small forward goals. None of the other smalls are going to kick multiple goals. Chandler is brilliant at pressure and getting up the ground, but will only kick multiple goals 1 in 5 games. JVR has concrete hands, and generally finishes up lying on the ground. Turner is just not tall enough for how he plays. We don't have a 200cm forward, and for the reason there is nothing else available, we need to see what jefferson (who has good hands and height) and Fullerton who has height, can do. Leave them there for a month to see if they develop. You can't have 18 marks(opposition) to 5marks (us) inside 50 and expect to get a different result each week with the same personnel. The season has gone so we need to see what we can develop. As much as I like Melksham and TMac there's just no point in playing them as the season is gone. Forget about winning games - it ain't going to happen. If we don't win another game which is on the cards we will finish up with picks 1,2 and 19 - so develop our younger players now. So with Windsor, Tholstrup, Lindsay, Langford and the 3 mentioned and Kalani White, you have 8 high draft picks as a core to build a side around.

I think there is some light at the end of the tunnel. We have 10 players listed on the AFL site melbourne injured list which doesn't include Windsor and Kossie who should be back this week. Lever and Spargo are listed as injured but there is a probability they will be available. 5 of the other eight will be returning within 2 weeks and of those 5, 3 are considered in our best 23. Tholstrup, McVee and Lindsay. That's a 3rd of the side back in 2 weeks. It's not only getting the better 7 back it also means you take 7 off the bottom of talent (a 14 person turnaround).

He'll be a 200+ game player, but just needs a bit more time. He's got all the size and mobility basics, just needs more instinctive see ball, get ball and quick disposal

We will go with the 4 talls (TMac, Lever, Petty, Howes) in the backline which rules out Adams on the bench. We need the 3 talls in the forward line as JVR will help out Max, So Turner takes one bench spot. Two of the other three bench spots will go to runners who can kick goals - Sharp, Spargo The last spot will go to relief for midfielders which is Rivers. It then comes to Langford, Laurie and Woewoden for the sub spot. They will probably play Langford at Casey to get a full game in as he only had a quarter last week. Of course they might think it's too rushed to put Spargo back yet and give Langford a full game. It really hurts when you have 12 unavailable due to injuries/suspensions.

I'm struggling to find the high half forward who is going to run the corridor defence to Forward and back again (ANB role). I guess it has to be Sparrow. Sharp has the tank but not really hard enough in defence.

you forgot sparrow

I'd swap sharp for chandler

A bit tough on Woe. 25% GAME TIME for 9 possessions (same as for Pickett). A full game would reach 36 possessions at that rate. At least he is hard at the ball unlike some, and can use both feet. One of the good things to come out of the second half.

It's hard to know with Bowey Even though he got a bit of the ball he butchered it and was ineffective against their smalls who created havoc. He is small and not very aggressive but usually highly skilled. Maybe with TMac and Petty back in the backline, it becomes more contested and strong, less reliant on him contributing to that, so it doesn't show up so much in his game and he then has more time to deliver properly. We won't know until they all play together. Windsor also becomes a better player with those two back. A strong suggestion by others is that Rivers needs to take Bowey's defence spot now that Langford will hold down a midfield place, Langdon has gone to the midfield and Sparrow is going well. Especially when Kossie comes back. That is 7 major midfielders.

hard to know what to believe. Tmac, Campbell Brown and Jefferson named in 30 players listed on AFL website for WA game. AFL website>matches>fixtures>Freo v Dees>Lineups.

Apart from Jefferson(forward line a bit top heavy) the first 22 pick themselves as you've got them. The Pickett replacement and sub are the only other doubtful spots.

Great to see a local peninsula boy make it. Not many tall midfielders are very quick. Bontompelli, Petracca and Cripps are not and doesn't look like Langford will be. I don't see pace as a problem for him as long as he gets the ball.

4 Things stood out for me from the new guys 1. Langford turned sideways in a run and took the contested ball one handed so he could break away and give a beautiful pass which led to a goal - created what he wanted to achieve and believed he had the ability to do it. 2. Lindsay spun in a tackle so he could give a clear slick hand ball for a goal - presence of mind and belief in skill 3. Sharp front and centre one grab and a goal -more than just a running wingman 4. Campbell strong mark in front of goal - more than just a ruckman

interesting the Lambert analogy

I've a different view. Not all forwards are the same. Weid always got trapped under the ball and was easily spoilt. JVR jumps and takes the ball above his head. With Jeffo you've got to look at Hudson or Lockett. He has big shoulders and long arms He takes the ball out in front which makes it incredibly difficult to spoil from behind. He's leaning to use his body more and you saw some of that in the ruck duels he did on the video of the last match sim. I think it's all about confidence now. Might be one of those guys who needs a smack on the ear in a game to get angry and take things on.

The combinations of Langford/Petracca will take one of those spots

After watching the match sim on the MFC website I looked up the team to get a few player numbers right. When you look at the individual players, not only do they have their height, weight etc, they also have their relevant average stats per game and whether they are below average, average, above average or elite. It makes some interesting reading.