stinga

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.

haven't heard comments for AMW for a while?

I think we will have a different set up forward but not sure what option we will follow. Petracca and Langford will share a HFF and midfield role. There will be no role that ANB filled because Langford is the extra midfielder so you don't need the defensive forward to go on the ball. Fritsch and Picket will take a HFF and a Pocket. Do they go for 3 talls or 2 and another small pocket. (probably Chandler) Johnson is the spanner in the works. They might rotate Johnson, Turner and JVR through the 2 main positions and resting ruck (ie one on the bench resting of them or Max) That then allows another smaller defensive forward. The trouble is that takes up one of the 4 bench spots that usually they like to keep for running players. You would think Sparrow, Rivers Salem and McVee would be the players alternating through the bench, given a backline of TMac, May, Lever, Petty, Windsor and Bowey. It looks like a contest between Jefferson, Johnson and Turner for either 1 or 2 spots. Its a good problem to have with lots of choices and then a huge amount of depth as well.

Yeah I don't know why they haven't given him time as a key defender. He is probably the only one who has the bulk in the Casey side to take over May's spot if he becomes injured, now that Thommo has gone. All the other defenders at Casey are lightly framed. Not only is it Will's height but you watch Max run his opposition off the park every week. If Will bulks up too much he won't be able to keep up

I hope you are right. The first 4 or 5 games will see if we get at least 2 with high numbers each game. If we do we should be on our way.

If you have 4 players averaging 25 or more then at least 2 will be in the 30's each game in most games. I said capable of it, so 5 of them would fit that.

To have a top midfield you need at least 2 players capable of amassing 30 - 40 possessions a game. A fit Oliver is certainly that but not sure there is a second. Viney is a mid 20's player and Tracc spends a lot of his time forward so doesn't amass huge numbers. The big hope is that Langford becomes another Ashcroft.

thanks

Just saw on the website that they are in fact closed