Swooper1987

6. Gawn 5. May 4. Spargo 3. Petracca 2.Viney 1. Oliver

Jackson currently at 2.8% hitouts to advantage from a 38.5% hit out win rate. Both rate below average. Gawn 50% hitout win (elite) and 7.5% hit out to advantage (below average). NicNat 53% hitout win (elite) 8.7% to advantage (below average). Tim English 35.5% hitout win rate 5.8% to advantage (both below average). Brodie Grundy 45% hit out win rate (elite) 9.4% to advantage (elite). The margin between elite and below average is obviously minimal (Grundy at 9.4 (elite) v NicNat 8.7 (below ave)) But anyway, Dogga does not have more hits to advantage. That is a complete furphy. Gawn is a far superior tap ruck to Jackson. However Jackson provides a great point of difference with his follow up work. Stats courtesy of AFL app. Petracca only averages 1.8 centre clearances and 3 stoppage clearances. Oliver 3.3 centre clearances (elite) and 5 stoppage clearances. Viney 1.3 centre clearance and 3.3 stoppage clearances. Gawn 1.5 centre clearance and 3.8 stoppage clearance. Our ruckman is our second best clearance player. By comparison Jackson goes at 1.3 centre clearance and 1.8 stoppage.

Congratulations to the winners. Was a very even team performance and I'd say Daisy's consistency is probably what got her over the line. She didn't play any poor games but had the one real standout v Freo and then was amongst the best half dozen or so in about 5 or 6 other games. I liked Birch this year. Thought she really stood out in a May/Lever kind of way. Harris and Hanks were both excellent in patches and Lauren Pearce was consistently good. When only three votes separate the top 7 players it's really luck of the draw.

Just saw it for the first time. Very fortunate indeed. If Brown had done that in an AFL game he's getting 3-4 every day of the week.

Agree. No doubt they were the best 5 on the ground but I thought Jordon was there when the whips were cracking and Harmes probably had the better overall game, but like you, agree that Viney was definitely in the top 5. Of course that was the clearest 10 vote game you are ever likely to see from Gawn.

in 2018 Richmond finished 2 games and 15% ahead of second. 3 games and 16% ahead of third. Third ended up playing second in the GF that year because the Tigers had one off night in an amazing season. In 2008 Geelong finished 4 games ahead of Hawthorn but still managed to have an off day on the one that mattered. We are going ok but the gap is never as wide as it seems and on any given day we can be made to look ordinary.

Agree. The coaches votes will be interesting this week. Gawn's second half was excellent.

May's total of 13 is interesting given both Naughton and Wright were the opposition best player and he was the direct opponent for most of the game against both. Both recorded healthy goal tallies too.

Jordan was actually a pretty decent player in his first year with us (2017). He placed equal third in the Bluey, tied with Jones and behind Oliver and Viney. That was after being suspended for a couple of weeks as well. His 2018 season was mixed but he was an important player in the first couple of finals, and by 2019 he was cooked. Overall, he made a great contribution in his time at the Demons.

Saw it at the ground and just watched the replay to confirm my thoughts. 6. Oliver - his ability to move at speed from contest to contest is remarkable 5. Brayshaw - this move to half back could be a masterstroke. The Bombers showed him too little respect. 4. Langdon - the running man. He was everywhere. 3. Gawn - his best game of the season and his third quarter in particular was leadership personified. 2. Bowey - this guy is just so composed you are almost surprised if he makes an error. 1. Weidemann - He marked almost everything and was our only forward of any effect for the bulk of the game.

I don't recall Gawn ever starting the season well. His shocker against Port in 2019, last year when he struggled against Lloyd Meek from freo (Darcy didn't play in round 1) and only average against Paul Hunter in round 2 against the Saints (neither Ryder nor Marshall played that night). Both seasons turned out pretty well - AA in both. I'm happy to wait a couple more before even slightly being concerned. Plenty of credits in the bank for the big fella.

Gawn is the best ruckman since Cox, who was the best since S Madden, who was the best since Polly Farmer. Gawn is certainly the best Melbourne ruck in the modern era and is worthy of comparison to the greats I just mentioned. As a 5 time AA, twice B&F, AFLCA Player of the year 2018, Premiership Captain he's got most current players in the league covered. He is coming towards the end of his prime years in the game. I expect that Petracca and Oliver will both continue to have celebrated careers a little bit longer than Max's but I don't know that their impact on the club will exceed what Max has achieved as a leader. In my time, Flower is incomparable as a pure footballer. I'd argue Gawn is the most influential.

I rate the Suns. If they can stay relatively injury free they'll win a lot of games this year, especially at home. Can see them pushing around the 11 win mark which will have them near the 8. The midfield is excellent. I thought they defended well. In the fullness of time this will become a much better win than it currently looks.

Was remarkable that only 5 points separated the teams at the end of the game. The Carlton mids were dominant, despite Gawn dominating the ruck. Was a pretty decent hitout from Gawn - 9 marks (6 contested) and mid 20's in disposals in 88% game time. Would have liked to have seen a more influential performance from Jackson. Thought DeKoning was a much better second ruck tonight. Umpiring had way too much influence. We may have been undisciplined but the 50 against Petracca was a joke. Still shaking my head at that one. Fritsch was very good despite a sluggish start. Lever worked his way into the game nicely. Confident it'll be a different effort and result in round 1. May and Salem in particular will make a massive difference.

I coached this young fellow in a couple of junior cricket flags at YCW back in the under 14's. A decent medium pacer, gun slip fielder and a fantastic footballer even then. Not at all surprised Casey are signing him. For those who don't know YCW have long been a powerhouse in the MPNFL and for Roan to take the B&F in his first senior season (albeit abbreviated) is an outstanding effort. He's a very clever player and uses the ball really well.

Just magnificent. Really enjoyed the whole series.

Best non MCG experiences following the Demons - definitely round 22 1987 at the Western Oval tops the lot. Was the most remarkable atmosphere I've ever been a part of at the footy. 31,000 standing shoulder to shoulder, it might as well have been 100,000. Many good games at VFL Park - the night GF wins in 87 and 89, the 1988 elim and prelim wins and in non -Melbourne games was lucky enough to be at the 1986 elim when Fitzroy knocked off Essendon to halt the bombers charge at a threepeat. Also lots of unhappy memories there, none moreso than the greatest Demon I've ever seen play his last game there in the 1987 prelim. Didn't mind Windy Hill, other than the old ladies with their umbrellas which they used like some sort of martial arts staff. Princes Park was ok, saw a few wins there, the most memorable being 1998 against Carlton. Beat Hawthorn there when we weren't expected to a couple of times as well. Love the AFLW out at Casey Fields. It's a ripper home ground advantage.

Back to Geelong again! 2 trips to Perth, away games against the Suns and Lions and both Adelaide sides away as well.

A resounding yes. I still have a bit to do with Cam occasionally. His favourite time in footy was his early days at the Demons in the early - mid 80's when he was instrumental in the recruitment of some outstanding players in the Barassi/Northey era. His heart beats true and he couldn't have been more pleased for the club.

Reminds me of Stephen Powell the way he moves. Might be the left side bias but I reckon he's got a bit of Powell about him. If he turns out as good as that I'll be pretty happy.

He's a good footballer, with excellent leadership qualities. Highly regarded by Richardson and Aaron Hamill. He'll be an excellent addition.

It was a horrible day. Lyon withdrew with injury after being cleaned up at training by Strawbs O'Dwyer. The real reason we missed top 3 that year was our 127 point thrashing at the hands of North Melbourne. It blew our percentage apart and despite 16 wins we finished 4th. That year we beat Hawthorn in consecutive weeks and beat top of the table Essendon twice. We beat the Eagles in Perth and as has been mentioned earlier defeated Collingwood in both the 88 and 89 finals series. Such a waste.

My top 10 most watchable: 1. Kozzy Pickett - magic happens! 2. Isaac Heeney - if he's injury free he'll be nearly the best player in the comp. 3. Liam Ryan - pace, leap, execution! 4. Charlie Cameron - the next Betts. 5. Harry McKay - reckon he's in for a 70 plus season. 6. Christian Petracca - who wouldn't want to see more of Norm? 7. Dustin Martin - legend of the game. 8. Shai Bolton - always exciting. Can mess it up but won't die wondering. 9. Toby Greene - mainly just enjoy watching him self-destruct. 10. Scott Pendlebury - my favourite non-demon

Absolute lock we'll get North once in Tassie; Geelong twice with a trip to Kardinia Park; Eagles once only but in Perth. Premiership or not, that is our lot in life!

65,000. Our growth will come from kids who can't yet afford memberships - that'll pay off into the future. If we can grow by around 12,000 with not much guarantee of being able to see a full season that would be a tremendous result.