titan_uranus

You can mount an argument that every game we play this year is a danger game. Two of our four losses last year were to non-finalists, plus we drew with Hawthorn. Essendon can look a million bucks when they get going. But the reality is they play unaccountable football and don't work hard enough in defence. They were never any good last year, making the finals off the back of just one win against a top 8 side and 11 wins in total. Like with any opponent, if we're off our game we can lose. But I would absolutely love to see us "on" this week. The original plan was that the AFLW Grand Final was going to be on Saturday afternoon and they wanted to give it clean air, so they had to move a Saturday afternoon game to another timeslot. COVID ruined that plan though. Demons missing: Lever Salem Petty Hibberd

Wasn't sure where to rant about this but a thread called Stats Files might be right. Last year the AFL released a whole load of stats on players on a site called AFL Stats Pro. You could look up a player's career and season averages for pretty much all stats, and you could compare up to five players. This year - gone. Not replaced, or changed. Just gone. I cannot stand the stranglehold Champion Data has on statistics in our game.

Wait what's with all the posts about Howes debuting? Is he really in line to play? Wasn't in the named bests for Casey on the weekend and doesn't appear to fill any sort of need in our side?

We did it in Round 1 too, throwing Fritsch behind the ball from centre square bounces in the fourth when the game was very much done.

Good post and I don't really disagree with your comment on our defence and the need for Lever to come back. But out of interest I had a look at the stat for scores conceded from inside 50s against. The Dogs scored from 31% of their inside 50s, and Gold Coast 32%. Those the two lowest rates in the 17 games played so far. Next worst was North vs Hawthorn in Round 1 at 34%.

In May's post-game interview, he mentioned Bowey copped a couple of injuries/knocks, and also that Rivers probably came back "early" from his knee injury. Probably keep a watch on those two this week.

I thought this thread was going to be about how we now are on a 10-game winning streak against Gold Coast.

Jackson's first quarter goal came because he was able to capitalise on the short throw in!

Hawthorn had a day out vs Port. If they can kick 13.0 from set shots each week props to them, but history tells us they can't and won't repeat that weekly. Collingwood's two wins are nothing to write home about; pedestrian wins over St Kilda and Adelaide. To be fair, Carlton's beaten a top 4 and top 8 contender, and Hawthorn's beaten...well...I don't know what to call Port Adelaide this year. Sydney probably has the best resume so far, with wins over GWS and Geelong.

I probably worded it a bit strongly: I thought Smith was OK defensively but poor with the ball, had four clangers I think and I recall two really loose kicks which led to turnovers.

Wouldn't be too harsh on TMac, wasn't really the night for him to dominate. Some mail around suggests Lever won't be fit for a while. If Hibberd's fit I'd bring him in for Hunt who IMO struggled. Smith played poorly IMO but doesn't go after one bad game. Without any injuries, I doubt we'll see more than one change tbh.

I'm sure everyone expected Hawthorn to be on top of the ladder and Port to be on the bottom. Wonder what happened in that game.

6 - Petracca 5 - Jackson 4 - Bowey 3 - ANB 2 - May 1 - Oliver

Yeah we didn't look amazing but if you think that was a poor performance I think you're underrating Gold Coast. And the weather. Not sure the last time we played in hot and humid weather. I reckon the game ends quite differently if we nail one of those many misses in the fourth quarter. And don't forget we've again held our opponent to 19 scoring shots despite missing four premiership defenders. The risk with that backline was evident tonight though. Tomlinson was just OK and whilst Hunt and Smith did some good things defensively, they also turned it over a number of times each. We sorely lack Lever and Salem back there. Jackson and Bowey were unreal, Petracca is the game's best player, and I was really impressed with how Sparrow, Jordon and Pickett worked into the game after each struggled a bit last week. Wasn't the best night for Brown, Fritsch and TMac but we've pocketed a road win without injuries and I'm happy with that.

To be fair, at least Carlton have wins of some substance, beating a top 4 contender (Dogs) and a top 8 contender (Richmond). Collingwood's beaten what look to be a bottom 4 certainty (Adelaide) and a side who would probably do well if they escape the bottom 6 this year (St Kilda).

Adelaide started 3-1 last year, then only won 4 more games for the rest of the year. Richmond started 2-0 and missed the finals. Brisbane started 1-3 and finished top 4. Essendon started 1-4 and made the finals. GWS started 0-3 and won a final.

Sydney is a premiership contender this year. A seriously good side. I can't help but feel Geelong are pretenders. Many were fooled into thinking they'd made major strides after Round 1. In reality, I suspect that was just a case of Essendon being putrid. Up against a genuine side, they went to water.

I love 1.45 when Langdon spoils Schache in a one-on-one at full back, and then clears it.

For so long as we are going into games with four first choice defenders out, including Lever and Salem, we are going to be at risk of conceding scores when we otherwise wouldn't. We did great against the Dogs last week but that was in prime conditions, not in slippery tropical conditions. And although we have come off one of the best seasons any side has had in the last 21 years, we dropped games to Adelaide and Collingwood and drew with Hawthorn, as roaring favourites each time. There's no objective reason to be concerned. We're the best team in the competition. But we won't get through this year without losing games.

I just came on here to post that I'd heard the same thing from someone who has a relatively good connection to the club.

So I suppose it's Rivers in for Salem, TMac going back to the forward line.

Yes. Those are total games at the MCG. The continuum is right there.

Wasn't that Nathan Vardy?

Interestingly he was for a long time the AFL's preferred advocate for Tribunal hearings. This year he was appointed by the AFL to sit as its sole chairperson for Tribunal hearings. So they took their advocate, planted him into the Tribunal seat, and then on their first real test he found against them. It's kinda funny in a way, but not because I think he's got this one very wrong.

OK. 2017 - 11 2018 - 14 2019 - 13 2020 - 4 Total = 42, but to be fair it was 38 in three years prior to 2020 being wrecked by COVID. We had 35 in 2017-19. So only a gap of three. How does that reflect a lack of integrity? And I know you think Hawthorn's three flags were significantly harder won than Richmond's. So compare with Hawthorn 2012-15: 2012 - 13 (plus 4 at UTAS Stadium) 2013 - 9 (plus 4 at UTAS Stadium) 2014 - 11 (plus 4 at UTAS Stadium) 2015 - 9 (plus 4 at UTAS Stadium) Total = 42, but 58 games at the G and UTAS Stadium.