1964_2

Ok, no point continuing this discussion then.

Of course they do. The loading/training program of a 10-0 team be very different to the 7-3 team. That is not speculation, but fact.

This is an aggressive assumption. No other team was 10-0, so why would you expect them to load to the same level we have?

Best team on the day, sure. But unless that particular day is GF day, it’s not the main focus.

The argument around “assumptions” goes both ways. Over a two year period now, our best has been the best in the comp by a fair margin. With this in mind, it’s also a very aggressive assumption, to say we were simply beaten because we are not good enough etc. Anyway, at the end of the day we are all guessing, with the benefit in time of being able to look back over old posts and see who’s assumptions were correct.

No sarcasm, was a genuine question. I haven't watched enough of the VFL, for a read on Laurie being fast or slow. But, can obviously get away with a lack of pace easier at VFL level. Have seen enough of Chandler to know that he is not far away, but Laurie more of an un-known for me.

If Laurie is as slow as you suggest, we should be prioritising Chandler for AFL selection?

Many players and coaches said last year, that they strongly value winning form heading into finals. So not showing our cards in a R17 game, only makes sense, if we have confidence that we will be running on top of the ground around R20 and finish the year strongly.

This coaching group has runs on the board. What makes you think you know more than them? It’s not speculation, but actual fact that we didn’t show our cards R19 last year when we lost to the dogs by 20 points. Who knows, maybe if we did we wouldn’t have beaten them in the granny. The cats this year are a similar threat to what the dogs were this time last year :- So sure, I get it’s a new year and things change, but this is a very relevant comparison.

Incredible stat. Would think it be hard to do that if you tried. Surely out of 46 kicks, a few even fortunately hit a target they weren’t aiming for. Equal top of ladder, and our 2 best players are hitting an inside 50 target 2% of the time :- The upside is enormous!

Is that you Lloydy?

Great call. The difference between “careless” and “intentional” is a grey area

Yeah, where we won a flag. Our second home ground

Firstly, it’s guess work for other teams. We have the template from last year that worked perfectly :- with the context of a similarly strong start to the year, banking wins, and allowing us to press the button on the maximum loading program. Even if we were say 7-3, we wouldn’t have had the luxury to risk losing games because of training load. The other factor is that our game style arguably relies on high km’s and work rate, to a greater extent than the other contenders.

Yep, am more confident of our chances to win the last 4, than I am the next 2. Be an absolute bonus, if we did happen to win the next 2 though! Anyone suffering from Thurs night PTSD, needs to watch the lions replay a short 2 weeks ago - If loading has worked, and we are fresh (without injury), I agree that 7-0 and back to back is very likely.

I think we will drop 1 of the next 2, then really start to hit our straps from round 20, winning 3 of the last 4 (despite tough opposition) Top 4 will happen.

Geel might have only done the first phase of the graph from vipercrunch above! Was very encouraged to hear Duckwood say how they had set themselves for this game (exact opposite to his comments after the WCE game, when he said they had been loading) We will know to what extend our loading program has worked by how we play R20-R23 - if it has been done successfully, I would be surprised if we lose more than 1 of these last 4 games (despite the tough opposition). I think we will drop 1 of the next 2. Then 1 of the last 4. Leaving us at 16-6 and a top 4 spot.

Exactly as Nathan Brown said. I remember Lloyd saying the same thing this time last year.

Guaranteed that Hunt will be picked before Rivers

Yep, they always just happen to accidentally injure our best players.

A coincidence that Duckwood just happened to break a bone of the best player in the league? Of course it’s not. Cats are the experts at making malicious acts look like accidents.

Thanks. I use to find Kev reliable, but that was a while ago

My neighbour’s uncle’s friend’s Dad sat next to him at a cafe this morning. He overheard LJ saying he is staying at $650k for 2 years

On last nights vfl game, no chance Rivers gets picked before the dominant Hunt

Spargo definitely been quiet, and lost some of his offensive edge. But think he is still ticking the defensive role playing box, which keeps him in the team. Same with ANB, and Kosy. If we compare to last year, usually at least 2 of the 3 would add some offensive output, to their non-negotiable role playing requirements. Too many games this year only 1, and sometimes none of the 3 have contributed offensively. All of Bedford, Laurie, and Chandler probably have more offensive upside than Spargo, but can they meet his weekly defensive role playing requirements? I don’t know the answer