D4Life

For mine: Hunt over Wagner Vince or Lewis out (can’t play both) Garlett over Kent

Just having TMac back in the team made a big difference. Our backline started to look a little better in structure, Jetta, Hibberd and Lever started to find some form, OMac continued his improvement. We looked good in the third, Max giving Jones & Brayshaw some taps into space. The forward line worked well together, and pressured the Bomber defence when the ball was in our forward area. Once Viney is back and Petracca, and if we win the next three games, you will see a team playing with some confidence. Then we can see what we really can do, and how we stack up against the Pies and the rest. Another good win is what we need this weekend, 5 goals plus would be great!

Well said. He has improved out of sight, still has things to improve, but the signs are bright.

Max centre tapping to Jones & Brayshaw in the 3rd was terrific. Can’t wait to see Viney back on the end of a few from Max.

Totally agree. Better than I expected, really adds some class to the forward line.

In a season with a lot of upsets, 3 wins would be great, one big 10 goal plus win amongst them would be terrific. Good to see Tommy Mac come back, brings a lot to the team.

Positives Hibberd back in town Spargo instinctive football & nippy Jetta back in town OMac looking pretty solid Max taps to advantage Brayshaw back to life (2nd half looked good) Frisch class & polish Hannan showed some smarts (just needs to be more consistent week win week out) Weideman definitely improving TMac very good first up There’s 10 for you!

Oscar is holding down fullback and doing pretty well each week. He has improved significantly from last year and becoming reliable. If he continues to improve at the current rate, he will become a top fullback.

ANB needs a spell in the VFL to build some confidence. Tyson fortunate Viney is not ready.

Headed to the game, feeling nervous, but hope to see the Demons take the game on, play on at every opportunity. Fingers crossed for a win any margins will suffice!

Your right. Team looks slow with Vince & Lewis in the starting 18. Vince, ANB & Harmes must be on notice. My interchange would be TMac, Spargo, Frischte & Garlett. All know how to kick a goal, and we have plenty of players who can go in the backline if needed.

Spargo is in for more speed, it will be one of ANB, Harmes or Vince who goes.

TMac probably trained with Casey, because Melbourne are only having a light run during the week.

Opposition have been sharking his taps last two weeks, and he has Missed his connection with Viney. Agree he has also seemed a little careless last two weeks, might also be our midfield a little off!

Agree Tigers speed and willingness to really run, made a big difference. Other big one was look how many easy goals they got due to our backline structure, at least 6, either due to not having someone in the goalsquare or our other favourite, 4 defenders trying to mark or punch , leaving Tiger smalls free. I think Jeffy crumbed one for us, but even then the Tigers had a player on the goal line. Speed on the wings another fast defender would help.

Outs Ins Kent Frischte (Clean disposal) Wagner TMac if available or Smith (speed & athletic) ANB Spargo (speed) Vince. Lewis (FD will pick him & we can’t have two old slow guys) I also want to drop Harmes & Stretch but more than four changes seems too many. Pedersen unlucky, but Weideman showed some positive signs, did ok in ruck. Maybe due to short break Pedo in for Weid, but am ok either way.

The best players in teams who have played finals, or win a Brownlow or other awards definitely get the rub of the green on decisions. Dusty got pinged a few times last night, one great one handed hand pass that led to a goal in the third and a few others. Tigers seemed to throw the ball over their head a lot. But it’s up to the Demons to make finals, win awards etc and we will get better treatment.

I commented to the Tiger supporter sitting next to me in the first couple of minutes, watch our backline structure, in particular the goalsquare and how many players fly for the mark or punch. He said you don’t play footy and can see it, stands out like dogs ....., why can’t your coaches see it? Then you look at Tigers backline, almost someone always in the goalsquare and their players balance going up for the mark or punching the incoming ball, with keeping players down! Doing this doesn’t seem to hard, why can’t we do it. Jetta, Hibberd, Lever & even OMac can all play, Hunt still seems a bit off, but why are we so bad letting easy goals through?

Agree! At least we seem better balanced to play against the Tiggers! Melksham, Harmes & Wagner need to play at AFL level tomorrow. Can only hope we don’t continue with high defensive press, all the defenders don’t jump for every high ball, and some of them stay down including one player 10-20 metres out from goal!

Look at the small forward role over a season, and the very best in that role have quiet days. Garlett is one of the best, they could only leave him out for fitness reasons.

Fair point, but take Martin & any of Cotchin/Rance/Riewoldt out and they wouldn’t have made finals! Look at their results and see how many games they would have dropped last year without two of their 4 stars!

If Martin and Rance or Riewoldt missed 10 games like Max and Hogan last year, they wouldn’t have made the finals!

Tigers field Riewoldt and five smalls, you can’t have Oscar & Frost, so Frost goes, and Wagner has to go with Hunt in!

At the moment our backline is a shambles, always under pressure and no release points! Assuming we start to come together and show a little structure & confidence, Lever will start to standout. Don’t bury the kid, give him some time!

If you put pressure on the Tigers for four quarters and keep Martin to two goals, they are beatable. Not sure we can do it after last Sunday, but they still only have 4 elite players. Take out Martin or Rance and after 3 weeks the holes would show!