JimmyGadson

Oath. He shouldn't be going near the forwardline. Would rather him floating between the wings and unless the oppo ruckmman pushes forward, Max shouldn't go into our D 50 when not needed. The last three weeks he's dropped more than he's taken back there and has regularly spoiled some of his team mates. When he's on, he's impossible to stop. Some teams play into his hands. But I think we can really conserve his energy as well as protect him from the unnecessary bash and crash for the next block of games. We need him cherry ripe for the last month of the year which will be our toughest run of games pre finals.

What's incredible to me is that we've won all our games, (9-0 what the hell) with plenty of improvement left. Our defence is has been rock solid throughout all games which has to be a sign that we're seriously ready to challenge. We're not flaky. The fact that we've won all games whilst simultaneously tinkering with our forward line is a luxury afforded to few. And that's probably the most exciting thing. We're in the unique position of being able to flirt a little with set-ups with the aim of being cherry ripe toward the end of the year. We're still building and we haven't played our best, only patches. It's almost dream-like. If we finish top 2 which is now a massive chance, think about how influential dees fans will be at the G. 2018 vs Geelong and Hawthorn all over again. We'll come from everywhere and the G will be rocking again. Huge chance.

Mate, my definition of 'look-in' in this context was their first half centre clearance dominance. First quarter especially. Their ability to take the ball away from centre clearance and enter their 50 gave them a 'look-in'. What is so hard to understand about that? I've previously said that we had them covered in all other aspects and thankfully Carlton don't use the ball amazingly well and their forwardline aside from Mackay is hardly a top 10 forward line atm. I don't understand what you're rebutting. Our first real clearance came 5 minutes into the game. Go back and watch the first quarter and watch every single one. Even without their spare man from stoppages, they still got on top at centre clearance and there were many occasions I watched on reply when they won clearance at stoppage without that extra man. Of course it's not the end of the world and we are strong in other facets so it mattered little in the end, BUT, incase you'd forgotten, all the talk was about us rectifying last week's clearance differential from first bounce and even Tom McDonald stated that we were disappointed with our first half. It's three weeks in a row where we've started poorly from the centre bounce. Last week was a smashing, this week Gawn and co were meant to rectify and it took until the second half to get on top. So that, my friend, is cause for concern in my eyes for when we come up against better midfields, with better users and more dangerous forwardlines. They will score far easier from easy ball like that. I doesn't phase me that you don't share that concern. We have a disconnect in there atm and Gawn has been pretty poor in all facets for three weeks. I think most would agree on that, even if you don't.

Brayshaw's skill level by foot and lazy handballing is killing me. Doesn't matter how good he's been positional speaking if he keeps coughing up the ball to oppo. Chocco would be pulling his hair out at some of Gus's execution. Wish players would really value their disposals more.

Oath. I couldn't believe BT. I've never like his commentary but yesterday was an all time low. It was a disgrace.

Yeh. A look in. We had control over them in most aspects of the game which is obviously why we won and why we've been travelling so well. I'm looking at chinks in our armour and if you think that our start and even first half was strong, you're watching something else. Before half time, the centre clearance and clearance count was wildly in their favour again and after Goody's presser last week and the talk of us addressing it and starting well in that area, we failed. Something isn't working in there and we gave them a great look in going forward from centre bounce on many many occasions. Thankfully we have the best defensive unit in the game, but against the dogs, at the dome, with their ball users through the middle, we will be chopped up and made to pay for being asleep and out positioned at centre bounce. That is my point. I don't care that you think we're not worried as much about clearance. The coach said last week against Sydney that the clearance stat was concerning and it was concerning for the first half against the Blues on the weekend again. Gawn has had three shockers in a row and his ruck work is just all over the shop at the moment. Get this right and we will almost have the complete game.

And again we gave an average oppo a great look in. Lose clearance like that to the Dogs and they will absolutely take us to the cleaners given their better ball users. Gawn has been extremely underwhelming for three weeks in a row now.

Since when did the word *certainly* become so fashionable within the AFL?

I have no idea how he's still on the list tbh. Is a mile off AFL. A project player who just doesn't like physical contact to put it simply.

I don't think that's the way to handle it though. There are certain non-negotiables that every player has to adhere to in a team when not in possession of the ball. Fritsch failed at that so badly I can't even begin to spit out the examples. It completely negates any prior credits he has. If his offensive game, goal kicking, marking and possession count were down but his off the ball game was strong, then obviously he shouldn't be dropped. Case in point is ANB over the years. But you cannot excuse that sort of effort off the ball. It's culture killing and sends the wrong msg to the playing group and those working their arses off in the VFL just to get a look in. If I was Goody, I'd drop him for a week and tell the media that to play in our side, there are certain non-negotiables and standards we live by. We play a full team defence when the opposition has the ball and that means full buy-in from all players. Fritsch needs to show the same appetite for defence as he does for the party stuff. I can forgive one bad effort. But not a game full of them. It's not on.

Fritsch's performance was that bad that I'd drop him. If we're a team that now prides itself on playing selfless, team oriented football, then he simply has to be dropped. It's fine for a forward to have a down day as far as goals, marks and touches go, but if you refuse to work off the ball, provide half arsed efforts and chases, what msg does that send to the rest of the group? Honestly, he was that bad off the ball that I would drop him. Those kinds of efforts can't be accepted if we want to be a ruthless football side as Goody preaches.

I don't think it's any wonder that Goodwin has had his best years with strong support staff around him. When they were all off-loaded, we went down hill. We then employ Yze and Choco and we start a year 8-0. Goodwin has some great qualities as coach but to suggest this turn around is mainly thanks to him would be silly and completely discounts the importance of a strong team of assistants. For so many reasons I don't even know where to begin.

I posted a couple of years ago regarding the operation he had after tearing his Plantar Fasciitis and that I had spoken to the head physio at North during that time who mentioned Jack's foot wouldn't be the same and that he'd be constantly battling it from here on. Not surprising. However. We're 8-0 so we have every reason to hold him back on a return date so that we can get a consistent block of games from him. That goes for all players who need management from here on and I'll be keen to see what we do from a selection pov going forward. Listening to David King on Whately this morning, he basically said that from here on it'll be about management for us. It's incredible we've banked so many wins without playing a sing four quarter game. We have the luxury of being able to rest anyone who is sore knowing that we need our core firing toward the end of the season. I'm happy for Vines to take all the time he needs. And I really hope we see some well thought out management of players over the coming weeks. Especially against lesser sides/short turn-arounds/long travel.

Whilst it's obviously an absolute blast to be winning, I think we're still trying to settle a side. Especially that forwardline. Harmes game was perplexing. Got a fair bit of it, did some good things and did some really poor things. It's those mistakes and rushed handballs to nobody that absolutely kill me and the team. They almost take away the good stuff he does. It's the same with Brayshaw, his use and touch can be terrifying. Positioning is all well and good but man he just struggles to do the basics consistently well. Carlton have a habit of sharing Max so centre square really needs to be addressed against them. Give Max a rocket, he needs to stop thinking games are just easy now. Would also love to know why our forwardline pressed so high up the ground last night. Why did Brown not stay inside forward 50 all night? We had far too many talls jump at the same ball on the wing area. Cant believe we're still winning with the mess! Happy days I guess.

Lose a clearance count like that to Port, Richmond, Geelong or West Coast and we won't win so we're lucky it was Sydney. One player that is starting to bug me is Max Gawn. He's been immense for us around the ground up until the North game. But all year and especially his last two games, his tap work, ability to use his body and his physicality at centre square bounces has been extremely disappointing for a captain. Hickey was absolutely all over him, looked much more physical and the same with Goldy the week before. Max needs a serious wakeup call, I'd love choco to get in his ear and show some vision of Max during those contests. Maybe he's injured, sore or tired but one the ball leaves his area he just looks completely out of gas. He needs to be far more combative and aggressive in that D1 area. He's the biggest man on the ground for christ sake. Get angry Max, stop floating about. As for the mids, agree that we're missing Viney, but his addition will not fix a clearance obliteration like we saw last night. This is mostly on Max imo. His around the ground work was poor last night too. Missed marks, spoiling our own players, his touch was off, missed a sitter for goal. Get to work Max, maybe give your podcast a break this week.

Assuming Harmes will be given a specific run-with role.. Can't see how he got a game ahead of mids like Sparrow based on last week's VFL match.. I was really underwhelmed with some of his play last week. We'll find out tonight. If we bring the heat from quarter 1, we've got this mob covered. Anything less and I can see a loss.

Dislike the love for Harmes. Before he got injured he was hardly setting the world on fire.. He plays one game in a non competitive VFL match and posters want him in? If anyone watched, compare the games of Sparrow vs Harmes. Sparrow's was a much more well rounded game. Harmesy just doesn't do the basics well enough atm and for that, he shouldn't be rewarded. I'd bring Sparrow in for Viney. Get Brayshaw back on a wing. Thomo and Baker come out for Petty and Sparrow. Give Brown another week to see how he goes on the G. Something to note was the delivery going inside 50 last week. It was awful for the most part which clearly didnt help Brown. I love Trac like the footballing world, but one thing he definitely needs to improve is his delivery inside 50. At his best, his execution and delivery is top shelf. But he regularly overkicks the ball going forward under little pressure. Needs to become more consistently damaging kicking the ball inside 50. Would be the comps best player if he manages that.

Harmes should not come in based off his game and I hope he doesn't. Too fumbly, doesn't pressure consistently and has been a down hill skier recently.

Different players, never like these comparisons. Rance was a full back who had incredible intercept ability. Whereas Lever is simply a specialist intercept player. Always loved Lever at Adelaide and knew we needed an Adelaide type defensive setup for him to really play to the best of his ability. And finally we have two big gorilla's for that. To think he was going to be able to do what he's been able to with Oscar as a key post was almost comical. That and the fact he's had his first full pre season with us since arriving helps. Rance was unbelievable at his peak and one of the best full backs we've ever seen. Comparing Rance to May would be more appropriate if there's to be a comparison. Both play the same position and have a great ability to intercept also.

Pretty sure Merrett went to Melbourne Grammar. Salem and Hunt definitely didn't.

Harmes is extremely overrated on demonland. Had one good year in 2018 playing as a stopper but he makes far far too many mistakes. Fumbles, miskicks and handballs and tries to take everyone on. Even before his injury, he had a really underwhelming start to the year. Likes his instagram account a bit too much imo.

Yeh. Cause dream team points are the only thing coaches look at when determining whether or not a player had a good game..

Think you misheard him on that one. 56k Amazing win but a disappointing crowd in the end.

I'd be amazed if we get 80k!

Pretty sure that was Sunday's game he was referring to.