Skuit

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-21/dees-will-back-up-lever-if-reunion-gets-nasty Looking forward to seeing Oscar get in there to defend Jake if the Crows are being mean.

Radar was out at the start of the season after running hot in the AFLX and a post-bye return of 21.4 last year. Rounds 1-4: 0.7 Rounds 5-9: 12.4 Confidence has to play a part. @Nasher may also note that his minutes were being managed at the start of the year. And while I'm a Goodwin fan it's hard to give full credit to the coach for identifying Milkshake's HFF potential - just about our whole roster has been tried through there now.

I wasn't around for the Robbie Flower royal blue days but felt there was something familiar about our new away colour scheme. It wasn't until the final quarter on the weekend when it finally clicked: Max Gawn congratulates Charlie Spargo on his debut The Demons celebrate another win with recruit Oscar Baker Clayton Oliver releases a trade-mark hand-pass

Pretty straight forward Coaches' votes this week: CARLTON v MELBOURNE 10 Jake Melksham (Melb) 8 Tom McDonald (Melb) 6 Nathan Jones (Melb) 2 Max Gawn (Melb) 2 Jake Lever (Melb) 1 Patrick Cripps (Carl) 1 Alex Neal-Bullen (Melb)

Brayshaw's helmet will certainly get uncomfortable with all that sweaty heat trapped under there. And who knows if it even prevents concussions? I wish there was somewhere I could read a discussion on the topic.

The progressive expressions on Rodan's face throughout the third quarter onslaught are priceless: can't believe I had to play for this same mob in 2013.

Credit it where credit is due then - Eddie working in his favourite cliche during a discussion on Melbourne fans maybe having to reconsider their late-season holidays - just as ANB piles on another goal: A nil-Buller in favour of Neil-Bullen August. I'm certain it came out of his mouth before he was even conscious of it.

I was meaning to update a couple weeks back so it's not just a fair-weather bump - but I do hope others can help to keep the numbers fresh and add their own bits and pieces when they come across them. Anyway, at the end of Round 9: Scoring: 1st Scoring 1st Inside-50s 1st Inside-50 (Differential) Intensity 1st Contested 1st Contested Differential (by a huge margin) 2nd Clearances (1st Center - 3rd Differential) 3rd Tackles (3rd Most Tackles Against) 5th Tackles i50 4th poorest D/E% against/most Turnovers Against/most Clangers Against 3rd (!) Contested Marks! (6th least Contested Marks Against) Space/Territory 1st Least Kicks Against 1st Least Marks Against 1st Marks i50 3rd Metres Gained (2nd Differential) 4th Intercepts (2nd Differential) 2nd Least i50s Against 17th Rebound-50s 18th Bounces Notes - again, most of the stats are telling us exactly what we're seeing - although I don't think we're entirely appreciating the extent of our various multiple areas of dominance (possibly because we're still not consistently and fully capitalising on-field). We're top-notch at the coal-face stuff but we're also forcing the opposition to play our close-in game - i.e high tackles against. We're also putting a lot of pressure on the carrier and it's telling in the opposition turnover/DE%/clanger stats as well as the least kicks against figure. And we're smashing the territorial battle. The big surprise for me is in our continued contested marks statistics - a huge improvement on last year, and we've also properly balanced our kick/handball disposal ratios - another common grizzle from last year. The most pleasing thing for me - we're doing all the hard stuff and proving a dynamic forward threat. If I had to build a team game from scratch from a fan perspective, and could choose aspects of dominance by compromising in other areas, I would probably take contested/high-scoring/forward territory over high possessions and DE%. The Roos to Goody transition may have been an unintended masterstroke. We're both a hard and attacking football team in an aggressive and pressurised modern era. But disregarding my own personal footy fan-boy preferences - is this the formula for success? Manic, contested footy, a high-press, and thrusting the ball forward as the first priority?

So after succumbing to our strange 40 point roadblock again for two weeks in a row this month, we seem to have broken the hoodoo and kicked on with it in the past two consecutive weeks. Coincidence? Irrelevant? Turning point? For me, there has been an obvious intent within the team to do so in these past two weeks, and some of the language coming out of the club suggests that it's an area which has been addressed. Does this put to rest the question re. our potentially unsustainable game-style - or is it something which requires a longer-term measure? Will we be able to crush better teams when we dominate (such as Adelaide last year?) vs. Essendon 43 points (4th Qtr 9.10 mins) 48 points (19.29) 36 points (Final) vs. St Kilda 43 points (3rd Qtr 25.5 mins) 48 points (4th Qtr 4.18) 39 points (Final) ....................................... vs. Gold Coast 38 points (4th Qtr 7.1 mins) 69 points (Final) vs. Carlton 37 points (3rd Qtr 0.34 mins) 73 points (4th Qtr 4.15 mins) 109 points (Final)

Regardless of the MRP, Bernie should still have a case to answer for dabbing a kick inboard from the defensive pocket to a one-on-two 40m out straight in front. I saw it all unfold before it even happened and I'm no prophet.

Match summary: See 2004

'Best' is super ambiguous, 'best team' more so - but I'm afraid that by just about whichever way you want to swing it, our great white hope in Jesse Hogan wouldn't be in the team. Can you say 'great white hope' anymore? I presume not.

As an aside, I live in Europe and have travelled a fair bit in my time. The vast majority of people I speak to overseas, from every corner of every continent, have derived most of their cultural understanding of Australia from Masterchef. And forget official figures - go on an illegal streaming site and you'll often see the show among the 'popular' content. This show is simply huge. For the most part these people will probably never care much about football. But in terms of international exposure, this is a massive coup - in fact, I can't think of a single, promotional effort that could bring as much widespread attention to our football club - especially one as easy and inexpensive as this. Masterstroke.

83 inside-50s seems like a reasonable number of opportunities.

Now I'm conflicted Redleg. Watching Chris respond to a Curnow reprieve is probably worth the sacrifice in facing stronger opposition.

He just engineered his second six-month paid holiday in the space of five years. The man is a strategic mastermind.

No matter how many times I hear Tomald speak I still don't expect that voice to come out of him. Clarry stuck in Qld because he couldn't fill a post-match cup? Ridiculous.

I thought this was going to be an ill-timed thread about Jordan Lewis.

You've racked up nearly twice the dot-points than Weid's disposals Binman. But I like the structure you're bringing to the argument as a developing key poster analyst, allowing our other experts to flourish by halving the disputes - and even though you haven't nailed all the points just yet, I think you have all the tools (Telstra subscription) to really be a top-line defender of Weid like we've seen with Oscar.

And I half agree with this. But developing Weid in the seniors and the reason why is one thing, whereas those arguing his contribution and that it benefits the current team is another. His inclusion is an investment, and as such, one where you weigh up the potential losses and gains. I'm personally concerned that we're not in a position to be investing just at the moment - in the way that many people/businesses do when the economy or figures look rosy due to short-term factors - i.e. playing shite teams for several weeks in a row.

See - I think this was the point that jnrmac was making in the post-match thread rather than simply raining on everyone's parade like a curmudgeon. We beat the lowly teams in front of us, which is great, but I'm not sure it means that our structures are working just fine. There have also been inclusions over this period following omissions subsequent to our poor losses against stronger teams - which makes it difficult to assess best combinations and genuine output/form-lines. E.g. - Garlett was dropped after a 45 i-50 game against the top team, whereas Spargo has had the fortune to play in a 83 i-50 flogging - and done reasonably - against some pretty spent opposition. The same with Weideman - posters are lauding what he brings structurally, and how he allows Tmac and Hogan to score - but (despite your feelings on him), Pedo wasn't given the opportunity to play with Tmac in the team in Weid's current role. It could well be a far more potent combination. I get that you're saying what you believe the footy dept will do at selection this week, but I remain concerned that they'll be complacent or boxed in by our easier wins and that some of efficiency and personnel issues have been papered over.

This is just out and out nonsense.

Weideman is not only taking up space at present but quite often gets in the way. He also lacks confidence in himself around goals - or at least the necessary desire to kick them. He may have a handful of assists (5 for the year) but for most of them should have taken the shot himself. The last players who I recall being continually excused for their limited input due to their 'role' hitting packs and bringing the ball to ground were Dawes and before him Howe. We may need to get games into Sam, but if his role is just to smash into a contest then he can learn that at Casey or in the park. Also - Pedo is/would be better at that role regardless, and even takes pack marks on occasion. The other issue we have - Garlett has never performed at Casey so won't make it back in the team on form - such that the coaching dept will have to live with the hypocrisy to bring him back in. Now is the time. He has way too much finishing class to be left out. With Viney back, I think Trac should spend some more minutes finding his mojo again as a forward target. Out: Weid Spargo In: Viney Garlett

I still think he has depth-perception issues. Maybe we can shift one on the o's on Ooscar's $50,000 contract offer and he won't pick it up?