needafullback

You've got to distinguish between centre clearances, where numbers are always even, and clearances from other stoppages around the ground, where generally they are not. For stoppages away from the centre square, we will generally allow the opposition a + 1, while our spare player will be behind the ball. Our wager is that enabling the intercept mark behind the ball will more than make up for any advatnge they get from winning clearance at the stoppage, particularly given the quality we've got in the ruck and around the ball means we think this advantege will be minimised across a game. When we get beaten out of the centre, the explanation has varied, I think. If we're not just getting outplayed there (like last night), the opposition has done their homework and operate on the basis that Gawn and Grundy will win most hitouts, and set up accordingly. I still reckon our rucks should often just belt the ball forward, allowing our mids to swarm in that direction, Clark Keating style.

Nice diagram Elegt. Sounds like too much to ask but we really need two out of three of those other results to go our way. West Coast looks to have 5th spot locked away, and our chances of beating them over there are negligible. We need to finish 7th and play one of the Dogs, Saints or Pies. Arguably there's little point limping into 8th spot, really. Go Suns tomorrow night.

Um, managed to pick that up from the link I posted. I'd wager, still qualifies as obscure

Tom Kavanagh. Left the Demons in 1990, after playing in 2 games for 2 wins. The last of those was against the Eagles at Subiaco, round 8, 1989. We overcame a 14 point deficit at 3/4 time to win by 2 points. Kavanagh kicked a goal. http://demonwiki.org/Tom+Kavanagh

What a great project. Daniel Bell's game v Adelaide, round 10 2007 would also be appreciated when you get the chance.

Players who rely on their spring to take contested marks, like Fritsch and Jeremy Howe, often don't make it as forwards despite seeming to have great potential in attack. For defensive units in modern AFL teams, it's too easy for someone to block their run or get some body on them. Howe takes a lot more marks in defence than he ever did in attack because he doesn't have one or two players devoted to stopping him. Same with Fritsch. In defence, he will often be able to float across packs whereas up forward he would be blocked or knocked off his line. So half back might actually be a better use of Fritsch's marking ability than up forward. I agree with what others have said about it being a better use of his kicking skills aswell. Having said all that, I hope he can sneak forward a few times during games from half back/wing - would be a headache for opposition coaches.

I think that's a very good prediction for selection. I think Sam Frost could excel in this format with his pace and athleticism, and I'd be suprised if we didn't see Oscar Baker get a run. Apart from giving fringe players a go, and building some fitness, I wonder what the coaches would be planning to get out of it?

Great post Key Dee. This is so bleak I hadn't seen the potential for silver lining, but it is there. There was no point making finals if we were still at risk of playing like we did in the first quarter on Saturday. Missing finals is the best way of giving the players the message about the price you pay for those lapses. Hopefully they carry that with them for the pre-season, and for the whole of 2018. We were probably kidding ourselves to think 'what if?' History shows that teams that fall into the 8 with 12 or 13 wins don't threaten. The Dogs last year, even though they finished 7th, still had 15 wins (and a percentage of 115). Saturday's loss, while particularly painful, was just another illustration of a vulnerability which emerged on multiple occasions throughout the year. Deal with it, and we get 15 wins plus and contend. Fail to deal with it, and we needn't bother. Surely they know that now.

The ultimate riposte to that tedious 'going to the snow' nonsense we cop so often. Our club's marketing department should set about mining this for all its worth: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/dees-supporters-are-afls-most-passionate-supporters-study/news-story/0a941fef2e6e555912f1214342a9a6e4 "Far from popular belief that they’d much rather be hitting the slopes than attend a game in the midst of winter, new research has found that Melbourne supporters are more likely to go to the footy than any other team... 48.7 per cent of Dees supporters attended AFL matches, followed by Tigers fans (38.7%) and Giants supporters (37.6%)." Next thing is to get a survey done up at Bulla, find out that it's full of Collingwood and Hawthorn supporters, and publicise this fact

Every now and then, instruct Gawny to thump it out of the centre bounce straight toward goal. Get CHF out of the way and get all of the inside mids to run at it like rugby forwards. Sometimes there's something to be said for just getting the ball going your way. If the opposition picks it up we should have plenty of tacklers. Get the outside or goal kicking type mids and half backs (Brayshaw/Hunt/Melksham types) to run wide to receive the handball and take shot at goal. Think Clark Keating and the Brisbane midfield. The game's probably past the use of this tactic regularly, but I doubt it should be forever forgotten.

In case you're not being facetious, I was alluding to the 2009 Grand Final. The stats might jog your memory somewhat, but it's what happened in the key moments that really matters.

This discussion reminds me of a recent conversation I was having with someone who had sat on a selection committee to pick a grand final side. This person was himself a four time premiership player. In the argument over the last player selected, who was skillful but of questionable hardness, he said he didn't want him in the side, because on Saturday there will come a moment - just one - where we need him to go and he won't, and that's enough. I've watched enough finals football to know that this philosophy is correct. Who do you want in your forward line - Stephen Milne, who kicked hundreds of home and away goals, or Max Rooke, who kicked bugger all? No contest. You need 22 who will all go when it's their turn. It's a culture we need to start building now.

I was there. I was pretty close to it actually. Immediately afterward I was looking for the runner.

For once I think Barrett is right. Garlett definitely shirked it, and was dropped as a result. I was surprised at the time he wasn't dragged. If anyone doubts it watch this again from 4.30: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-06-06/this-dee-failed-the-moment Does anyone seriously think a player of Garlett's ability misjudged that ball? Why weren't his arms extended further? He was clearly worried about what was behind him (and let's face it, he tends to avoid heavy contact in aerial contests). I don't expect players of Garlett's build and type to throw themselves into physical contests regularly - they are more dangerous hanging back for a loose ball. But the incident on Saturday in the first quarter was simply a case of not going when it's your turn. It was a critical moment and a scoring opportunity missed. We had no hope of beating Hawthorn if any player did that. The fact that Jeff otherwise had a bad game wouldn't see him out of the team for this week. But the coach/selectors have done the right thing sending this message. What would Kennedy/Michie/Grimes/ANB and others think if Garlett remained in the side? Standing firm under the ball in that situation must be a non-negotiable at our cub, and I for one am glad that it seems now that it is.

Not even the most pessimistic supporter could argue that we're not heading in the right direction after Neeld. 7 wins and a percentage of 77 is a lot better than 2 wins and 54%. People who continue to have this attitude in the face of undeniable improvement should stop pretending to be Melbourne fans at all.