FlashInThePan

Dreamers gotta dream ?

Here’s how I think this is going down. GC will get the priority pick and 2 becomes 3, not ideal but they probably need all the help they can get just now. Anderson is out of reach and so we do the following: Langdon for pick 21 Tomlinson as FA option 1 (left field): We get Jamie Elliot as FA and we take pick 3 to the draft for Young option 2: We trade 3 to GWS for 12 and 15 and go for players like Ash and Cody Weightman.

Having awesome tall forward(s) is one way to go, but it isn't the only way to go. Bulldogs had little more than a resting ruckman in their premiership year, Richmond had Riewoldt as their only tall forward. For large parts of that year they did it with no recognised tall forward at all. I don't think our problem has been not having a power forward, it has been the way we have structured up, pressing very high and crowding out our forward line. Not only has this made it next to impossible to lead into space or create a 1 on 1, it has meant that teams get over the back of us regularly and undo all the pressure we created in our forward half. All that crowding in our forward line makes it very hard to score even from stoppages. Almost every game I watched this year our forward line looked super crowded and then when the ball went back the other way there was all the space in the world for the opposition to lead into. We can fix this by backing off on the press and backing ourselves to intercept and slingshot the ball back quickly. I agree with Macca, I think we should move Jones to a forward pocket. He can pressure well and is a good kick for goal, it will be easier on his body and will help the team. Along with Fritsch, Melksham and possibly Joel Smith all good at ground level as well as being able to mark I think we will be fine. TMac will be there and one of Weideman, Preuss or Tim Smith (maybe even Tomlinson if we trade well) we have a forward line that could really work. We just need to deliver it in there better and stop choking up our own forward half of the ground with all 18 players (plus most of the opposition).

We've made some picks and traded others to get to this window that we are in right now. A bubble of players in the 22-26yo range. This year should have been the beginning of some thing awesome... whoops. The last couple of years we were trading to fill gaps not going to the draft for rising stars. If we trade in Langdon that will be another in that same bracket, Lever was certainly that. I think the strategy is to go back to the draft in the middle of that window to refresh the list with kids while using the lure of more silverware to top up with free agents. Let's hope this year was just a blip.

He'll go for a 3rd round or below probably, can't get a game at AFL level. If Hibberd and Melksham were 2nd rounders that values him at 3rd or 4th I'd say. Particularly if it isn't Dodoro doing the valuing

I can see this playing out a bunch of ways that could be good for us, here is my favourite. We take Tomlinson as a free agent on moderate coin, they get roughly a late second round compensation pick for that. We trade them our pick 2(3) and 38 for their 11(12) and 13(14) and Hately. They end up with Green (and enough points to afford him) and pick 3. We end up with 12, 14, Tomlinson and Hately. Obviously we trade 20 for Langdon and either go to the draft with 12 and 14 or trade them to another club that wants to split in order to get high enough to pick up Ash... I love fantasy drafting, when reality doesn't get in the way everything looks rosey

GWS are going to do what it takes to get our top pick. The up side for them is massive, 2 top 5 draft picks guaranteed and one of them Green. We should get 11 & 13 plus anyone we like not in their top 15, possibly even Hately. That might be a stretch but we should push hard, we have the whip hand.

Yes, it is going to be interesting to see how this evolves over the coming year. Both Lever and May are good on field leaders and help organise those around them. I can't help but think our problems around the stoppages have 2 causes. 1) The simplistic 'see ball, get ball' contested possession messages they have been given for most of their time developing. This message is great for simplifying things and getting a strong basic contested possession game going but falls down when you try to advance into more sophisticated play. 2) Lack of leaders to help organise stoppage structure and spread around the stoppage. I guess there is a third aspect detailed in that Roar article by Josh Elliot, that we have so many players who's natural game is inside, contested and so few outside runners and users. I'm not sure whether Viney has the football brain to be the leader/organiser around the stoppage. Maybe it could be Max or maybe it could be Gus? Someone needs to step into that role and help us structure up more effectively and spread better from the stoppage, preferably more than one someone. With Macca leaving the 'see ball, get ball' message development style may drop off a little as well. It was interesting how his departure from the Bulldogs changed their game style without killing the contested element he built. I guess the last point can only be fixed in the draft or if players like Baker and KK come on. I must admit I had high hopes for KK at the beginning of last year but unfortunately they have not turned into reality.

It won't be pick 2 for 11 and 13, it will be 3 for 12 and 14 once the GC compo pick is awarded. If that is what happens it is a win / win, GWS need a pick above Green to get value in the draft and 12 and 14 give us good value in a draft that has a good even spread below the 1 & 2 picks. If we could get Rowell or Anderson that would be different but once GC get the compo and they are gone I'd do this trade in a heartbeat.

Are there any other Rioli's out there??

https://www.google.com/search?q=man+bun+wolf&client=ms-android-samsung-gs-rev1&prmd=isnv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDkI7Yi6PkAhUXU30KHcndCNUQ_AUoAXoECA4QAQ&biw=412&bih=718&dpr=2.63#imgrc=8BNq7Xm84a0D7M

There was a clear change in the game plan. We played a sweeper out the back and -1 in the forward press. It worked for us on multiple occasions and is a far safer way to play when team form is variable. We are still sending too many into the contest and not having anyone at the spread or minding opposition players ready to spread. What is going on with TMac? Was such a reliable mark last year but is struggling big time ATM. Can't seem to get himself into it or do anything right when he is the target. It is going to make . big difference for us when he finally starts firing again.

Okay, that wasn't the best game we have played but things seem to be starting to click again. It is not surprising we have been struggling to defend since we actually have more than half our first choice backline injured. I am really looking forward to seeing this team with May, Lever and Jetta down the back. I think our forward structure would work way better with Joel Smith and Hannan there. They are both really hard to match up on and can mark well above their heads and be dangerous at the drop of the ball. They spread the defence and make room for our talls to lead into. When you think about it, this team is pretty much the walking wounded, People have been ragging on them and complaining about lack of depth but look at the injuries: May, Lever, Jetta, Viney, VDB, Hannan, J Smith, Preuss, KK. With the possible exception of the last 2 they are all starting 22 players. No team can cover those kind of injuries. We just need to hang tough and rack up the wins we can during this period.

Fritsch didn't have his best game but that is the first time he has been below par. He always looks a level above those around him in terms of skill. As for Lewis, Goody has made his feelings on the subject very clear: His value as an organiser is worth the occasional clanger. Until May, Lever and Jetta come back I can't see him being dropped.

I'm more annoyed about the clear 50m penalty that didn't get paid to TMac. Hard to swallow in the face of the others paid

Surely this is a joke. This is not a rebuild, we have already rebuilt. We are looking at a team that under prepared in the preseason with a massive injury list that has now also lost some confidence. How could this be a rebuild?!

Let's just eat the meal that's in front of us

Yeah, I try not to get too emotional about it but the membership department communications have always been pretty poor. You really just have to keep ringing back until you get someone who actually knows what they are doing. I assume there are a lot of volunteers trying to do their best but who don't really know how to do much

I think Spargo may eventually be a bit Caleb Daniels like, he is generally a good user of the ball, but 7 possessions and 1 tackle really doesn't cut it. Garlett to get one more chance based on his BOG performance at Casey. Any other changes will depend on injury and fitness. Stretch needs to do better though of he wants to keep his spot .

Funny, this is the exact opposite of what most people were saying preseason. I believe ProDee was leading the charge on how Preuss as a 3rd tall could never work. The scorn for this structure was quite strong. Just sayin

He is tall but he has great closing speed, provides pretty good defensive pressure and is pretty handy below his knees. I don't think he would be left out for the reasons you list. That being said he is a little too inconsistent still and could not be considered a certain starter regardless of his groin.

Preuss seems to be getting a lot of hate mail on DL lately. He is a journeyman ruckman with a completely different style to max. He is certainly a work in progress but even though he is nowhere near max's level he does some good things. He gets to train with the best and max gets to train against a man mountain. I think everyone is a winner and I suspect at some point we will see the two play together and the coaches will take a look at how that works. I suspect there will be more minuses than plusses but it is possible that it will click and surprise us all. If max goes down you can bet that Preuss will get first look at replacing him regardless of what some people on here seem to think.

As far as opinion from Mick goes, this is about as good as it gets. I don't know about getting over ourselves but we do need to double down on our ruthless side if we want to win finals. I would have agreed with him more strongly but after watching us beat teams by 100+ points multiple times last year, I think we are capable of putting our foot on team's throats and choking the life out of them. I do agree though that we need to do this more consistently and not drop off. I think this is more a function of experience though and hopefully we have that critical mass of games now.

I can't see Adelaide winning the flag but I do think they will be up in the 8. As Demonland mentioned, due to their terrible year last year they have a great draw, similar to the one Collingwood had last year. On top of that they had a horror run with injuries last year and a lot of controversy around their leadership program. I don't know what they have done to address their leadership problems but they will at least get a starting midfield of the Crouch bros and Sloane back on the park and that is likely to be quite potent in the 6-6-6 setup. Add back in Brodie Smith running off half back and Seedsman on the wing and they go a long way to fixing up what was broken last year. I don't like the culture at tAdelaide, the way they treat leavers (or should that be Levers) and the inability to keep talent is a real smell. Even with that I think they are set to correct from last years disaster.

I'll explain it but please don't take this as support for it, the science behind it is not definitive and I am not a dietitian. The idea is to trigger the fasting reaction in your body. Both the 5/2 and the 16/8 attempt to do the same thing. There are some studies that indicate that the body does more cell regeneration when it does not have sufficient calories available to just create extra cells. Both diets attempt to trigger that reaction without total fasting, which most people can't sustain. There is plenty of info on the net if you are interested.