Gawndy the Great

Hoyney from Champion Data has the game 55/45 Melbournes way. Says the wet doesn’t favour any specific team. Also finals doesn’t favour any specific team (as both styles / brands) are suitable and don’t rely on uncontested, or high kick mark, which is the two biggest aspect which have a statistically significant drop from H&A to Finals. As others have mentioned Salem is really down in form, in particular ball use. Gets enough of it, just hasn’t been using it well. Expecting this to change in a finals series is a bit wishful thinking. On the other hand Rivers is the 6th best kick in the AFL - so we do have a great kick in our team! - and he suggested that one of the smaller CFC forwards needs to make him accountable. No doubt he will get targeted. Another interesting fact was Contested Marking was overrated , doesn’t account for too many goals but it is spectacle. Hoyne is a champion data employee has does most of his analysis through stats and data, which is one way to analyse a game.

How has Hibberd not started a game since Round 15? That doesn’t sound right at all?

Just saw Ash Johnson ruled out. Was unlikely to have played anyway but still remember the bag he kicked on us last year.

Any word on Pettys recovery? I know it’s season, but it was reported as significant lisfranc from memory. I hope he is not impacted longer term.

He is the type of player that would make sense to move. However the forward line with Riewoldt retiring will be bordering uncompetitive if he wasnt there. Richmond are on a slippery slope atm as they transition into a more rebuilding phase. They lack current picks this year so they could surely float some players on the open market to get some picks in the door. Any one of Liam Baker, Jayden Short, Shai Bolton i'd have in a heart beat. The others, meh.

This. Neither of them can take on Gawn on his own. And if it does rain having one in the forward line means one of their smalls is on the bench. It looms as a big decision for Fly. In the end, i think he'll go with Cameron alone and count on his midfield to nullify our tap advantage. Cameron is no easy beat mind you.

😂 That looks a bit too real.

He isn't great, but i don't think Melksham was either. I think his role will be to ensure their intercept game doesn't get going. Given the forecasted conditions, we cannot have Kozzy, Chin or ANB fly for marks in packs. Better to have them on the ground waiting for crumbs - preferably 1 behind the pack and 2 in front / side. Having TMac / JVR lead to different zones will also be important to keep Murphy and Moore apart.

Going to be a huge call. I think TMac has to play Melksham's role. Athletically, i don't think they are too different from each other. Both strong and not super mobile. TMac has good forward craft can clunk em and kick straight. We have to force the TMac-Moore and JVR-Murphy matchups - this gives JVR a chance. Quaynor will probably go to Fritta, which will leave Howe as their key interceptor. That is a pretty tall setup defensively, which means we have to either isolate or get it in chaotically allowing our smalls to do the damage. The wet weather doesnt bode well for them either as they are currently 17th for ground balls (over the ground - not sure defensively).

I thought there was bad blood between Lycett and Gawn?

I don’t think so. It was the 4 day break that was the reason and that solely is in the AFL / VFL fixturing blunder.

When we took Grundy, we took him coming off a 12 month injury and there was speculation that he may never get right and Pies needed to get him off their books. Not suggesting we take a future 1st but it’s going to be more than what we paid for him given he is now fit, proved capable and is in good form and at 650K is a bargain.

That’s the game

This is more like it. Hore and Zanks making a huge difference.

They look flat after starting so well.

Another gimmie goal

How was that a free when the Pies have been diving on the ball all night long

57 years will do that to a team. Win a premiership I reckon we can hit 75-80k next year. But to join the Pies we would need sustained success over a 2 decades. The odd drop off here Ana a mini rebuild there. but at least 3-4 flags in that time.

Butters is a deserved winner. All the respect for Jack as he is tough as nuts. On a seperate note, I like that they’ve named true HBs and wingers in the side. I doubt we will see the HFF side being recognised any time soon.

All good points, except his name doesn’t have ,Craig McCrae’ in it.

there are only so many 3-game and pet memberships i can afford 😂

Unless they go with future picks. Which honestly isn't a bad option particularly if we trade into this year to get GCS pick 4.

The likelihood is astronomically small, but it would require a lot of things to go our...for example Grundy actually wanting to live in Sydney, which appears unlikely atm.

The AA selectors are just plain old idiots. Favoritism and recency bias all plague the selectors judgements. Having said that, i dont think any of our players have had an AA level performance besides Trac. Viney was solid as always, but the AA midfield is always determined on offensive attributes as opposed to raw inside and defensive pressure acts etc so would really doubt Viney gets through to the 22. Oliver was out for half the year, who is usually a walk in. Gawn was played out of position for half the year and missed a month of footy. May and Lever were solid but not outstanding. The ladder leaders will always get plaudits....little do people realize how close in fact the top 4 teams are with how prominent the number of games decided by less than a goal feature in their H&A record.