JimmyGadson

I was being highly facetious. The potting from me is at those who convince themselves loading is a main contributing factor and go on to provide the evidence they believe supports the theory. When really, nobody has a clue. I've never said that those in support of it think it's the only factor in a win or loss. Nobody has a clue because there are too many factors to take into account from the outside looking in. Posters have been guessing at which games we might have a dip in vs which ones we might look to have more energy in and from there it becomes confirmation bias for them. But really it could be any number of things. Example, a player has a shocking couple of nights sleep before a game due to a sick child. Here are the facts we know: This time last year we had a healthier and more settled squad. This time last year our game was in far better order, especially defensively even though we lost to the dogs at the G. This time last year we had a far easier run home with less travel and more time to recover between games. This time last year, teams weren't as prepared coming up against our system vs this year. To me, that's all the evidence required when looking at where we are right now as a side. The loading thing is such an overblown nonsense imo. And if it really is so significant come september and what we're seeing now is fatigue which is in part a result of loading, I'd argue that the risk vs reward is simply too great given we're likely to slip out of the top four if we don't improve quickly. Because losses sap energy levels too as well as team morale and momentum. So how the hell do we know what we're looking at? We don't, so look at what we do know, which is the above ^. I would really love to know from someone in the field, (not athletics because AFL is a contact sport), how much loading you can actually be doing at this time of the year with so much travel and so many short turn arounds. And how much impact it would actually have come september. Surely it can only be minimal gains if any given the taxing nature of every game played. Players pulling up sore constantly and the premium on recovery between games. It just doesn't compute.

Awful quiet on this thread.. Can the loaders please tell me what phase we're currently in and when we're about to see a significant bounce? Been waiting. Thx.

Dogs were slick. We had our opportunities to win but didn't take them. Kosi twice. Trac. Umpires got in the way with missed frees and awarding them frees. We were sloppy with ball in hand. Would have been fun to watch as a neutral, but as others have said, defensively speaking there's no way we would have wanted that kind of a game. We're off. No doubt about it and we need to find form soon if we want to contend. Win two more and we're top four. Get it done.

Evidence as to why Harmes is my least favourite player.

Even more of a reason to go for him!

It'll be concerning if we there are any large discrepancies in stats again favouring the dogs. I expect all our 'phases' to be at a good level. We've had enough time to 'work' on forward connection, centre bounce clearance and converting opportunities. As a premiership team, we should be humming right now and we're not. Time is running out for flicking the switch and as history suggests. The teams that win the flag always have their game in order with five rounds to go. We need form and momentum and I'm hoping to see a finals like Melbourne side attack this game with a similar attack from our coaches on their plan. Anything less will be extremely disappointing. Consolidate our spot as equal top of the ladder. Get it done dee's.

Bruhn would be a great pickup. Inside/outside. Has better ball use than most of our mids and an upgrade on Harmes, Sparrow, Jordan in terms of quality. Hope we have a crack.

Corrected. But my point stands.

Hope he grabs the opportunity tonight and I hope our mids give him the chance to grab it. Go Weed.

Lol at people complaining about the draw. We choose to play at Alice. And we won the flag so naturally the draw will be more difficult.

It's a really strange side. And I'm interested and will watch closely at our tactics. @DeeSpencerthought Melksham was solid in his role so I'll watch closely at how much he impacts as a defensive forward. I know the dogs will be bringing something different and will challenge us, they have a very different looking side and I just hope Goody is prepared for that. Got this strange feeling the dogs will bring it and will pick us apart with a bit of that being to do with our selections. I can see us losing by 35 plus and I'm concerned. I don't understand Goodwin's selections. I can't understand why Weid isn't given a shot with the dogs fragile backline. And I don't know what impact Melksham will have on the result if our mids are again smashes at the coal face. Let's see.

As long as we hold firm with what we want, we'll win out. That's my prediction. Even projecting forward. Jackson is great and will be one of the best ruckmen. But I disagree about the generational player stuff. And I have greater trust in our recruiters and that we will land another beauty and have greater trading power for an established gun. We don't lose imo as long as we don't cave to Freo.

We have a very Vanilla forwardline and it's obvious that the more attribute diversity you have across players in lines of the ground, the more trouble opposition have matching those players up. Zurhaar has immense potential and has clearly been stifled by playing in a bottom side who struggle to kick a score every week and would just about be bottom of the table for inside 50 average. (If not bottom three). Assessing his numbers is silly because of the above reason. Clearly he'd have more impact in a forwardline that sees more ball. The question is where would he fit in. He's a medium tall with freakish talent and goal sense. Not dissimilar to Fritsch in that sense except their competitiveness and intensity around the ball is completely different. Zurhaar suits our competitive and combative style more and I could see us getting the best out of him. He's intimidating. Frankly I'd have Zurhaar over Fritsch although I doubt the the FD would look at that. They're both aerial threats but Fritsch applies almost zero pressure when the ball is on the ground whereas Zurhaar at least chases and has a desire to hurt. Can you play both of them on a forwardline with one key tall though? That's the conundrum. I'd almost consider it given we'll see Gawn resting more often over the next few years. One thing for certain is the need to consistently update our game and list. I'd have a crack at him.

Weird gut feel.. He was a key defender in his underage year and has played as a defender almost his entire career with us.. He is a key defender and is becoming a really high quality one.

It's time to gear up. We need momentum running into finals which we'll get on the back of strong form and a swell of excitement from supporters and media. We'll thrive off that because the headlines will be all about how much of a different beast we'll be come finals. But if we don't have form, I think it'll have the complete opposite effect. No momentum, supporter worry, media worry and oppo sides will smell a kill come finals. You can't just turn it on in september. Hoping the players understand what's at stake over the next 5 weeks. 3-2 gives us a top 2 or 3 finish which is a must. We either host a home qualifying final. Or most likely play Geelong at the G for redemption. 3-2 minimum. Please.

Hahaha. It's a chip kick over the top to a free player pretty much in the square. Fritsch is on an angle. Spargo has enough separation on the opposition player and should have been used for a guaranteed goal. Unbelievable what people see.

It's relevant on many levels across many categories. Including footy. I don't care what it sounds like. And if ex-players at AFL level are in agreement, how do you think it makes the forum supporters of Fritsch look? Pretty silllllly.

Yes, this would definitely be part of his thinking and part of why he refuses to look to pass. We're a team playing patchy and desperate footy and Fritsch is trying too hard to take it upon himself to kick the goal, no matter the cost. As I said, it's emblematic of where our team is at presently. I don't think anyone feels that confident at the moment, we're scrapping wins and it's getting to the pointy end with top four we'll and truly on the line.

It's hard to argue with someone who compares Fritsch's isolated blunders with the examples you've given. The differences are so many that I can't be bothered detailing each one. All I know is that if you've played the game to a reasonably high level, you know when a team mate is in the right to take a shot at goal (even with a free player open depending on where they are) and when a player is not in the right position. Supporters miss nuance all the time and footy. And maybe you are in that category. Your examples don't make sense because they lack the understanding and detail of what Fritsch did wrong. And if people thinking I'm upping myself then go for it. But you should remember you're ignoring ex-AFL players talking about this in the media, including Jordan Lewis. If the general consensus from past players at the elite level is that Fritsch's selfishness is a bit of a concern but supporters on Demonland think otherwise, I know who the silly ones are. Fritsch needs to pull his head in. Plain and simple.

Hahaha. Talk about clutching at straws. It was an elementary drop punt to an open player.

Can't be tosh if he's in the media for it. Can it? Unless you have a bias because he's your favourite player.

Yes. We can see that those like you who think it's ridiculous he's being singled out is because he's one of 'your favourites'.

Lol. The joke is on those vehemently defending him. The reason he is in the media is his fault alone. There's a difference between deciding to take a low percentage shot on goal, (high angle) whilst under pressure and burning a team mate who is literally in the goal square on his own VS deciding to take a high percentage (no angle) shot on goal and missing but having a team mate open. (which players do all the time but are never spoken about in the media for what I would have thought were obvious reasons. Clearly not on Demonland). Fritsch is a great player. But those incidents are unforgivable and go against everything the club constantly preach which isn't a good look. It is also symptomatic of the way we're currently playing. Clunky, trying too hard and worried. Of course it's not the end of the world, but it's definitely a problem and a really really bad look. And if anyone has played the game, you never like playing with team mates who are repeat offenders of this kind of thing. Fritsch needs to pull his finger out. Clearly.

Yeh. Game of margins, I'm sure you want the side to finish top four and on current form we won't. So I'm sure you can appreciate the concern. We're patchy as all buggery right now.

How can you question why I didn't value his game and then go on to say youre not sure if he did enough to retain his spot? I think it was a left field choice and unnecessary given we were smashed through the midfield and lost in most key stats and if it weren't for Pickett's individual brilliance we may well have lost. When you lose your best clearance player, you surely replace him with the next best at the level below. We didn't do that and we nearly lost. That's a mistake and we got away with one. We're not playing anywhere close to a top four side let alone the reigning champs and we've been down now for a good while. And when you have players like Fritsch who for three or four weeks in a row have burnt an open team mate, you know that your side isn't in sync. I would drop fritsch just for those efforts and supporters here might laugh but if I keep hearing the club continue to preach that we stand for 'selflessness' and a 'team first approach' yet we allow a player to continue to be so unbelievably selfish, then we have a problem. And problems like that fester away of not dealt with. Max Gawn, Jackson, May, Salem and Fritsch need a rocket. Get moving dee's.