Swooper1987

I actually like our chances at the SCG. I think we'll defend that ground really well. We should win clearance fairly convincingly without Grundy to contend with. They do play a really good defensive game but I think they may be one or two runners short against us. Adelaide were the much better side after quarter time and should have won quite comfortably. 2.6 to Walker and even Fogarty missed which almost never happens. As I said before the Adelaide game, every game in this competition is a danger game. On their day anyone can win.

After Round 12 the Age Player of the Year Leader board has three Demons in the top 10: 76 Wines 75 Oliver 69 Walsh 62 Gawn, Laird, Bontempelli, Macrae 55 Parish 53 Petracca, Lyons

I've seen all of those, and the Northey teams of 87-91 (5 finals series in a row and at least the second week in all of them). Northey's teams got the absolute best out of themselves. Had we had a little luck we might have pinched 1990, but that years Bluey winner (Lyon) was injured at training before the semi and we lost that game comfortably. 1994 we were good enough to at least make a GF but lost a lot of unloseable games during the year, finished 7th and made our way to Perth for a prelim against the hottest team in the comp. 1998 were stiff with the finals system. It was an ageing side with Stynes, Lyon and Viney on their last legs but we were therabouts. 2000 was a coaching masterclass from Danners. We weren't the second best side in 2000 but we still made the big dance. Nobody was beating the Dons that year. 2018 we really rode on the back of Gawn's magnificent season, ably supported by Oliver. Gawn won the AFLCA award comfortably that year and was 4th in the Brownlow. He carried us through many games that year. We put some good wins together at the back end of the season, but losing Lever mid year and Hogan late hurt us. We got to about the right spot I think We weren't as good as WCE and Richmond, maybe close to Collingwood but not quite there and better than anyone else in the 8. This season, so far, we are a complete "team". We have three of the best 10 players in the competition, another group who are elite in their positions (Lever, May, Langdon, Salem, Pickett), McDonald and Fritsch who are reliable forwards and another group of strong role players. And we have some depth. Competition for spots is critical. It's our deepest list and by far and away our best chance. We have proven we can best the really good sides, with only Port Adelaide to come from the top 6 teams. If we finish top 2 then we'll be very hard to beat. But as we all know, GF's are hard to make and even harder to win. Time will tell.

Jake Niall has had his go in the Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/comebacks-new-blood-and-demons-galore-in-all-australian-mid-year-team-20210605-p57ye0.html Goodwin coach Gawn (interchange and VC) May (CHB) Oliver (Centre) Petracca (HFF) Pickett (FP) Lever (Interchange)

So Petracca moves forward by 18 votes, Oliver by 13 and Gawn by only 2! Interesting counting system.

agree. At absolute worst he may get a fine but most likely this one will go through to the keeper.

The Age agrees with you: VOTES M Gawn (M) 9 C Petracca (M) 8 C Oliver (M) 7 H Andrews (BL) 7 Z Bailey (BL) 7

6. Gawn - where it all started. 5. Petracca - great last 3 quarters 4. McDonald - turned the game in the second half 3. Oliver - great second half 2. Spargo - terrific link game 1. Jordon - solid all game

Had a real soft spot for the old Lions back in the day. Perhaps it was the Norm and Len Smith connection. Their fans always seemed really decent people, unlike some others. I think they knew their footy too and it looks like that hasn't changed. The Brisbane supporters are relatively small in number but substantially more intelligent than most.

There are two points of difference between the sides: 1. They have more goal kicking options; 2. We have Gawn. I expect they'll come hard at Max, as they did last year. How the team handles that will tell us a lot. I like our defensive match ups on their forwards and our system should hold firm against their style.

Adelaide Oval or Optus for mine. I reckon we'd get a big crowd at either venue.

Agree with most of this but harsh on Gawn. According to the coaches he's the 9th best player in the competition at the halfway mark of the season. That's pretty dominant. In a specialist position, he is absolutely miles ahead of the next best - probably Naitanui, who averages about 70% game time, 14 disposals and 1.4 marks and about 29 hit outs per game v Gawn who averages 19 disposals, 6 marks and 34 hit outs. He's absolutely dominant in his position to the mid point of the year, even allowing for a little lull for a couple of weeks against North and the Swans.

Harley Bennell ran into an open goal and missed. Weid missed a sitter as well. That was one we should have bolted in.

Taken for granted by quite a few is Maxy!

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne 9 Max Gawn (MELB) 9 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 4 James Harmes (MELB) 4 Jake Lever (MELB) 3 Christian Petracca (MELB) 1 Tom McDonald (MELB) Leaderboard 61 Clayton Oliver MELB 50 Marcus Bontempelli WB 50 Hugh McCluggage BL 47 Touk Miller GCFC 47 Darcy Parish ESS 46 Ollie Wines PORT 45 Zach Merrett ESS 44 Samuel Walsh CARL 43 Max Gawn MELB 39 David Mundy FRE 37 Jarryd Lyons BL 36 Taylor Walker ADEL 33 Jacob Hopper GWS 33 Jack Macrae WB 33 Christian Salem MELB 32 Tim Kelly WCE 32 Dustin Martin RICH 32 Christian Petracca MELB 30 Travis Boak PORT 30 Mitch Duncan GEEL 30 Cameron Guthrie GEEL 30 Jake Lever MELB 30 Tom McDonald MELB 30 Nic Naitanui WCE Good to see that Gawn was rightfully acknowledged for what was an outstanding ruckman's game. He is now 9th overall. Oliver comfortably in front by 11 votes (61) to Bont and McCluggage both on 50. Gawn 43, Salem 15th on 33, Petracca 18th on 32, Lever and McDonald equal 21st on 30.

Peter Ryan did this game. He knows footy and yes you would be right they didn't go to the game - but I'm certain Peter watched it, and the replay too! And on occasion I've scratched my head at the Demonland selections for best player too.

He is a victim of the position he plays. There'll be some days where it just doesn't work for him. Overall, he's having a very good year. If he kicks 50 goals for the season he'll have done a wonderful job. That's the pace he's on now.

And The Age Player of the Year of the Votes for Round 11: 8. Oliver 8. Gawn 7. Harmes 7. Petracca 7. Spargo Great to see Spargo's game getting acknowledged. Current top 12: 76. Wines 68. Oliver 62. Walsh 54. Laird, Bontempelli 53. Gawn, Macrae, Lyons 47. Parish 46. Miller 45. Petracca 44. Guthrie

I'd be looking at Zac Foot. A mid/forward and knows our systems having been with Casey this season. Can hit the scoreboard. Can never have too much midfield depth.

He struggled without Allen to give him a chop out.

Any of Manuka, Giants Stadium or the SCG would be fine. Staying out of Queensland should be the priority for Pert. Ideally we get to play in Alice but I can completely understand why that may not be possible. It's unfortunate but the most at risk population in Australia lives predominantly in the NT.

Thanks Colin for this sensible and accurate analysis. If we sat to down and analyzed the performance of every ruckman in the league this season, and their influence on their teams performance, and their capacity to assist the midfield, the defence and the attack, then Gawn comes out miles in front. His work rate to move up and down the ground, in comparison to any other ruck in the league is in its own dimension. Despite dropping the odd mark, he takes so many more than other ruck. Last week he took 10 marks - that was one less than Naitanui took for all of 2020. Think about that. He gets back to create confusion in the minds of the opposition trying to enter 50, he provides the down the line option to our own defence, he goes forward and hits the scoreboard. His hitouts to advantage are elite, his score involvements etc etc. And then you add his leadership on top of that - read Michael Gleeson's article from yesterday - then you have just about the most influential player in the competition. He is underrated on here, almost taken for granted. He was excellent again last night. When an opposition ruck breaks even with Max they are lauded (Hickey for example). Imagine that - being acknowledged just because your opponent doesn't dominate you! That's the sort of player Max is. The guy is nearly 7 foot tall, he's going to have the odd skill error and drop the odd mark with 10 players crashing into him at most contests but he is a genuine star of the game and we are lucky to have him.

6. Harmes 5. Brayshaw 4. Oliver 3. Gawn 2. Lever 1. May

There have been many, many better mid fielders than Petracca this season. I think the coaches votes are a more accurate reflection of his season than the views of the Herald Sun / Fox Footy cheer squad. As much as Gawn's form may have dipped a little, Petracca has equally declined. Oliver has been outstanding and is in the conversation right now as perhaps in the top 3 players of the season - and rightly so. Petracca's year has not been in the same hemisphere as Oliver's.

Fantastic effort by Clarry. A consistently brilliant season thus far. Not at all surprised that Tracc doesn't feature on the leaderboard. I think the over the top adoration of Mark Robinson and the crew at the Herald Sun regarding Tracc's season thus far is somewhat misplaced. He's played in fits and starts, has had a couple of truly powerful performances and had many games with the odd moment. That there is substantial improvement in him, and to a lesser extent Gawn, is what gives me hope that this might be our year. But that aside, a great accomplishment thus far from Clayton. A deserved leader!