Jumping Jack Clennett

Our point kick-ins(and defence of them) were abysmal last Sat. I think we need to put some serious thought into adopting different tactics.

Good post ,Barrie Vagg. It doesn't worry me when ephemeral supporters throw in the towel after one game . Such fickle people will shamelessly jump back inboard when we have a surprise win! And that might not be too far off. When our moment of triumph eventually comes,the faithful, loyal supporters will derive more joy than those who mercilessly pan our young team in adversity.

[quote name='Inner Demon' I think he meant to say "who WOULD walk into our top 22." Otherwise the post makes no sense.

Well summarised, "Master".

Nostradeemus. Thanks for replying to the topic(though not to me). I don't get your point. Are you saying that you agree, our tactics on point kick-ins are not good, or are you ridiculing anyone who dares to suggest that with such excellent coaching, our tactics aren't professional.? Whatever, at least you took the trouble to reply to the topic. It interests me that no learned posters on this forum consider it worth discussing. And they never have! I pray that the coaching staff don't think the same way, or I reckon we're doomed to the cellar!

Spot on, "Fishardansin." I have made the same suggestion before on this forum, but Demonlanders are either too apathetic, or perhaps, paradoxically, too religiously obsessed, to see the logic in your suggestion. Before long, there WILL be footy on Good Friday night(ARL dominates this now, and we must compete ). Let's get in there before Collingwood or Essendon pinch it. Versus the Saints! It's so logical!!! Go for it in 2011!!!!

Just a minute!!! This is MY topic! I've been whingeing for years about our kick-ins and defence of them. I thought Demonlanders were sick of this topic because they think it's too difficult or not significant. (see "POINT KICK-INS" in "search".) But no-one ever takes any interest in it. (especially the coaching staff, though "bomber" Riley once sent me a personal email , defending our methods, when he was defence coach. He boasted about how good our kick-in stats were, though in my opinion, it was glaringly obvious our tactics were amateurish, watching them in practice. By the way, Carlton are now facing similar criticism.) I've made suggestions for different tactics, and I've suggested copying our opposition when I've seen how well they do it. I've requested suggestions from other Demonlanders. But no-one ever seems the slightest bit interested!!!! I reckon modern teams need to be innovative in their tactics in such absolutely CRUCIAL matters as point kick-ins. One of the keys is RUNNING. Players tend to want to have a breather when the ball's out of play after a point. This is when they must RUN and provide many leading options. We've lost Whelan and Wheatley, our two best kickers-in. Don't give up, "Johann"(Strauss). There will be clangers, but get your mates to run, run, run, to give you options. Kick long to a Melbourne cluster , running forward ,between wing and the centre.This could be your chance to establish yourself a niche in the AFL. Does anyone else think this is important?

Just shows I should check my facts before trying to talk about trivia! I made a mistake with each of my Brownlow Medallists! Saw another look-alike at Player Sponsors' night tonight.....Luke Tapscott reminded me of "Diamond Jim" (John) Tilbrook when he arrived at Melbourne.Poor bugger's on crutches after hip surgery.

Well done, Fellas! The three who reminded me of Medallists were.... Jordie McKenzie (Murray) Tom Scully....(Stewart) Jamie Bennell.....(McLeod) Let's hope they all win Brownlows!

Sorry, I do mean Kevin Murray....I thought he was the oldest.Sorry, I've made it hard getting my facts wrong!!! He must have been surpassed by Barry Round. But Jack isn't the Demon who reminded me of him. This guy throws himself fearlessly at the ball like Murray did, but I can't see him ever being a CHB....perhaps HBF and midfield.

When this oldest Brownlow winner received his award, he deliberately wore a long-sleeved jumper to hide his tattoo!. Our youngster who reminds me of him is tough and hard , under the packs. Similar hair colour, but a lot more of it, at this stage! I'll be interested to see if any other more senior(in age) posters agree.

Yes, my mate reckons Jamie's like a young McLeod. How'd it be if he develops disposal like his!(a long way to go!)....but he knows how to get the ball. But who's the third one, who reminds me of the oldest player to win it(when HE was a yougster).?

Yep. That's one. Anyone else notice it? Tom Scully reminded me of him the way he got the ball in packs, got it out fast, or ran in a wide arc on to his left foot. It'd be great if he ever turned out as good overhead as Stewart was. If he turns out half as good he'll be a star.

Actually, one of them won 3(sorry 'bout that!....makes it hard when the facts are wrong!!), 2 at one club, one at another. The recent one plays for Adelaide. The other one was the oldest player to win it. By the way the resemblance was in the way the players move,and their style, rather than their facial appearance.

One of the Brownlow winners won 2, at different Clubs. I'm a bit worried that no-one else will see the resemblance(I am talking more than 30 years ago!) But there was a THIRD young Demon , also likened to an interstate Brownlow Winner by a mate of mine on Saturday. I hadn't noticed it till he pointed it out. This third one is more recent!

At Prince's Park on Saturday I couldn't help noticing the similarity in appearance of two young Demons with two old-time Brownlow winners in their youth.(from other Clubs.) Can anyone guess to whom I'm referring?

Thanks,"Tatu".....I'll have to pracTiSe that!!!!

Did anyone else notice this? I thought it was glaringly obvious.

I don't think it's silly to praciSe anything you do badly. But each to his own opinion.

40 sec. to go in the first half. We've fought back to within 16 points, and are starting to look confident. The TV commentators said that Melb. must be satisfied with the 16 pt. margin at half time , so they've pushed everyone back into the back half. Oh no! I thought. Just when we're on a high, with a chance of reducing the margin to 10 points, and Freo. beginning to look shaky, we go defensive. We get the centre break, there's no-one to kick to, lose possession, turnover , 9 pointer to Freo with a millisecond to go. Heartbreaking, avoidable morale-buster. What a lesson! Once you go ultra-defensive, you open it up for the opposition, esp. on a big ground like Subi or the G., where there's lots of space despite flooding the backline. The opposition can take risks going forward,with "long bombs", or early "corridor" entrance, knowing a turnover won't be costly.

WE MUST stop dropping chest marks!!!! 5 were dropped in this game by talented players. It seems ridiculous, but we need to practise this basic fundamental repeatedly until we're confident that NO-ONE will drop an uncontested chest mark again this season. When a chest mark goes down, it not only catches all the players out of position( as they move into attacking mode, assuming we're about to gain possession), but it makes us look untalented and amateurish. Confidence drops.Morale drops. Overall performance worsens as a consequence.

I suspect it's the rain washing the colours out! We want a drought like yours! Gale one day, deluge the next!

Thanks, Jack. It's amazing how one's memory plays tricks. Come to think of it......I think he also played some good games as a "ruck-rover" as we desperately sought to replace RDB. Do you remember his funny kicking style?