Altona-demon

It wouldn't be the worst thing to invest in some change at the top to refresh the list, while we still have 2-3 years of the list's peak years. The challenge will be the adjustment cost we will need to pay in performance to manage that change. One possible side-effect of Goody's "great" relationship with all the players is unfortunately this adjustment cost premium will be higher for the club to pay. Similarly, given the boys club network of the AFL/elite football in Australia it's hard to identify a suitable candidate that is capable of taking a list with our shape (experienced and aging top-end with existing beliefs) to the next level. Taking these things together, it's probably time to start planning for life after Goody - although i'd argue it would be hasty to make any more changes in season. On reflection, I believe the changes they've tried to make in-season have backfired immensely. Again, our heavy (3 years +) focus on the defensive phase and so-called "Melbourne Zone" has just meant that the adjustment cost to play a new game-style have been too high, and in fact in a sign of desperation the captain of the ship through them overboard to get back to results. It's not hard to see why version 1 of this list (contested inside heavy) to version 2 (contested inside heavy + strong team based defence) worked well. We have a limited list in terms of speed, skill, and most importantly vision. Trying to evolve the game-plan to play a vision based, skill-based game was a hell of a bet given who we have in our team. Further, such a change in a competition that is SO close, was also a hell of a bet. The far safer (and simpler thing to do) would have been to back the stats in and go with the same gameplan one more time.

Got a mate coming from interstate - is it completely impossible to get two tickets now? I am a club member, not AFL or MCC, they are the same.

Agree with all of this - Carlton seem to be playing the same style that we have employed for a long time, just with better forwards. For the record I think they will be very very competitive this year. Good onball contest bombing forward to those three (TDK, McK, Curnow - with some good crumbers in Fantasia and Motlop) will stand up in the pointy end. Agree Weitering accounts for maybe even spoiling of JVR's contested marks - but hopefully let's see if he can continue this form. I think a byproduct of the way we are playing (Ie to the corner, and then looking inboard for the handball to the overlapping runner) is that the original contest (ie from the 45 degree kick to the corner of the centre square) has the positive effect of drawing in a half back or two creating a space inside 30 and at a good angle to goal. I've watched the tape a couple of times - and you can see this effect, especially where JvR and Schache lead to the pocket (usual pattern) which stretches the space a bit more. Would love to see the HFs mark a lot here - granted it does take a good kicker on the run to be able to hit that up - good thing Salem is playing in the midfield lol.

A couple of summary notes after watching the game on delay last night: 1. Clear desire to make the 45 degree kick to the top corners of the centre square, win the contest, and then (even blind sometimes) play the lateral handball back into the corridor. On numerous occassions the player at the back of the contest would then run that outside (inside) lane on the corridor and pick up the loose ball. Was a very nice pattern - but was a little alarmed we showed it so many times tbh. 2. Inside50 marks - aside from the obvious darting low kicks which were commented on ad nauseam by King et co, there was a clear ability (and willingness) to find the shallow inside 50 marks - which worked well against Carlton who were very set up for Melbourne offence from 2021, 22, 23 (ie deep and to the pockets). Given the ability of our small HFs to kick over 40m quite easily (sans Spargo) this could be quite an effective tactic. 3. Now some personal perspectives on strong games: - Bailey Laurie - wow, I didn't know he had that sort of game on the inside, but his competitiveness and cleanness in the phonebox particularly his ability to get inside and just provide the short handball to Salem was on show repeatedly. Very impressed. - Pickett looks ready to absolutely explode this year - Neal-Bullen consistent again and so good as a barometer for our overall effort both ways. Very impressed. - Van Rooyen is ridiculously good for his age - we are so lucky to have him. 4. Final one - it was interesting how Christian Petracca looked in that midfield set up (Jack Viney too) - it seemed more cohesive to me - sometimes I feel like Christian is in everything a bit much and the group isn't that damaging, whereas it felt like the midfield GROUP was very very damaging and Spaz and Salem got the chocolates. I think the outside/inside balance might finally be getting there after god knows how many years lol.

Tbh we are contested heavy - and the OIiver injury really showed us that Tom Sparrow can step up and provide cover there. I wouldn't be against balancing our list with one of our midfield bulls coming out for some more finesse/tall forwards.

Chandler two misses hurt (and they were both very close). Most times Kosi kicks his two as well (that first set shot was abysmal). So that's four on my count. Plus Nibbler's goal (and set shot miss) - that's potentially six. Finally Petracca when resting forward managed to get two goal scoring shots. That means eight opportunities from smaller forwards in our line. I think that puts the team in a pretty good position. I think one dynamic we need to explore more once Clayton returns, is the impact of Petracca resting forward and what it does for defensive / stoppage / forward structure. He's really like another athletic mid-forward - and a pretty impossible match-up if we can get him one on one or near a groundball.

I think it's pretty hard to argue that Kosi had a good game against Collingwood. Spargo obvs. got subbed, and Chandler was only a bit better. Nibbler really plays as a hybrid mid-fielder anyway - and all our smalls have room to improve. But suggesting that Smith can play as a small forward ignores the fact that he is 1.91 m tall and clearly a third tall option. Fwiw I quite like the look of Petty, Van Rooyen, Smith - and I hope they give it a crack at some stage.

While the defensive aspect of a forward's game is important, so is their ability to crumb and impact around stoppage. I don't think Smith is going to replace those functions.

Let's not gloss over the fact however that the forwards clearly failed the mental test on numerous shots in this game. Fritsch, Kossie, and Smith - all failed to convert under significant pressure. Great practice for what will come in September.

I think Jordy was more making an insight (which I tend to agree with) that the quality of entries into forward 50 suffers because of the lack of connection. Numerous examples of this last night - Fritsch and JVR on the same ball springs to mind, Kossie flying rather than crumbing. As Goody said on AFL 360, this is a young forward line with some new entrants - connection and managing space and leads is going to take time. I agree with you that the quantity is not an issue.

Way off it i'm afraid. Possessions as a measure for a full back is not a good measure. If he scores high on possession the team is not functioning well upfield. The team is functioning upfield, so he doesn't touch it as much. The thing with Turner when you watch him, as I have all year, is that his class/poise and disposal are already elite at the VFL level - and without doubt stand out. You then add to this his clear mongrel bastard attitude and reading of the game, and it's really no surprise that he is in the AFL frame. Speaking of frame - his is one that can really develop in an AFL environment, and while much is said of JVRs weight gain frame etc, I think that ultimately TURNER will be bigger and stronger than him - the gains Turner has made since he came into the club looking like a McGovern type are extraordinary. I have no doubt we are looking at another country kid ala Jordan Lewis who in a professional environment (winning environment) will really really grow well. He's gone past Tomlinson - who also unfortunately has ZERO upside.

Howes is every bit that player tbh. He looks very special in the way he reads the game. Just has a knack of popping up in the right spot. Good over head, good kick - just need to work on the tank.

I selected n14 - and it gave me M14 - grrrrr. Still got my tickets GO DEES!

How many things can this bloke win - it's getting ridiculous.

You are amazing - thanks mate ! So so helpful! GO DEES!