Left Field

Daniel is a soft target in my opinion. In a team that is recently devoid of players who will "have a go" and "take the game on" he seems to me to have put his own needs second to that of the team. Always does his best to make the hard contest; to carry the ball instead of blazing away off the half back line. Is he Lindsay Gilbee? Well, with respect, no. But he is whole hearted? Yes. Doesn't he launch himself into the unknown for our club? Well, yes. Surely there are other, many other, targets on our list for those seeking to vent their spleen.

We will be rising in 2 years at which time we need more pace and more forward structure. Regardless of the changes in playing patterns, nobody can have have too much pace, too many targets or or too much football ability. So we need more pace and skill through the middle (Blease maybe, Strauss to me looks more like a half back). When was the last time our team went head to head in the middle? It seems like its always a tall and 3 tags to me at the restart. Add Scully. We also need a brute KPF - Watts may mature into a Reiwoldt type (I hope) but we still need a John Brown type pack splitting power forward who makes defenders wary about going for the footy. 1 pacy mid and 1 strong tall forward for me.

Want to trade him?

Yep - that just about nails it. Confidence is the key, not the teaching.

Funny.

Matthew Lloyd is a dullard. To the point though, its clear that we were starting to evolve a game plan until 2 weeks ago, only to take some steps backwards on the bigger stages. Before then, I liked how hard the players were running to receive when we had it, I liked the change of angle in the back half etc. Of course, even then we broke down going past the wing because our tall forward options were (and remain) non-existent. So we can't lose sight of the run and carry that we had as we blood new (long range) tall forwards. In fact, its tougher on them if we do. In the last 2 weeks we seem to have reverted and played careful/selfish footy. Its not uncommon for young lists to produce wildly varying results. Let's hope we can get back into the run and carry game in the back half and give our leading forwards half a chance.

Once again the AFL is virtually accused of being churlish and thuggish in the way it deals with its stakeholders. Certainly I have not seen a less tactful or inclusive organisation in my 30 year business career.

The rule that says (and I have not memorised it in a word perfect sense) "stop feeding the troll!" Seriously people, this idiot has had 10 replies in 10 minutes on both sites and if we stop, he may just put his pants back on and disappear back into the woodwork.

His lack of judgment after the game (HTF could he laugh?) matches his lack of output on the ground. 2 years ago, I led the trade Sylvia fr Wells campaign (although this was not, admittedly, a strong campaign). Who here today would not do that deal? Fast forward to today, I would trade CS for a decent boot studder - and yes, I know they all wear moulded soles these days!

Very well said. Too many people prepared to offer obvious negative commentary - a very slow moving target as the club bottoms out prior to our next upswing. Not enough people, very few in fact, are able to offer positive constructive solutions. Hear hear.

Salvation is different from survival which is different again from flourishing. Nothing will ever replace success on the field when it comes to cross-generational popularity. Maybe we need to stop obsessing with our history and start competing in the world of the footy franchise. Hopefully we can distract attention while our coaching staff find a way to win a flag.....

Watts and Yarran for me.

Not sure if this has been made clear or not. But it is possible to read and write on both sites - they are not mutually exclusive. Both sites are excellent and we are lucky to have them

Given pretty much everyone will have silky skills, I think Teddy will struggle with the physicality of the game at senior level. Also, I have watched these players following for years at junior level up here and offer the following: Will probably make it on to a list: Scott Reed (Coll) Very fast, good aerobically, probably tall enough by now and has a great vertical leap. Question mark over kicking accuracy. Ranga Ediwickerama (Geelong) Ball magnet midfielder who always gets to the right place. Good skills and very good athlete. Could make it on to a list: James Brain (BL) fearless and hard at it, good skills. Footballer more than athlete. Josh Duncan (St Kilda) ditto above. Inside midfielder from Pennant Hills. Max Wilson (Freo) big basketball convert. Will need to be super big to make it. Trent Stubbs (Haw) Good athlete and good body shape. Of the others, either I have not seen them or they will have to work very hard to make it on to an AFL list. Some of the next generation to look out for (currently U15): Jackson Potter - as good if not better than Keiran Jack or Jarrod McVeigh at the same age (ironically, they all come from Pennant Hills AFC). Aaron Duncan - plays outside more than his brother but teams very well with Potter. Damon Steer - has a good footy brain and developing well athletically. Will need to find a yard. Rory Pryor - a massive unit with terrific skills. Just my opinion.

PLUS the keys to sustaining fast ball movement are (i) skill level (to avoid turnovers) and (ii) players being able to read the play and getting to the right spots. Failing either of these, the ball turns over or slows down, making the ball carrier look dumb and slow.

Back then, anyone could hit open outside targets from 30 metres with enough time. These days, "up and under" kicks get found out at any distance anywhere on the ground. Now looking forward,.....

Left Field @ demonology. Agree wrt to footballer v athlete etc and outside doesn't mean quick (and vice versa). And ok (and I know its a close thing ), but most would prefer Brown, Lynch et al inside 50 rather than Neita and Robbo. Here's my thing - I reckon winnings teams are generally first to any ball (loose or otherwise). By virtue of pace & match ups, our current midfield rotation are generally second to the ball (even to our own taps). Our defence always seems half a step behind (most do when you lose the midfield). But, and this is where it gets ugly, when we go forward we only ever seem to be first to the ball about half the time. Delivery, structure or pace - not sure. And when we don't win the ball, the opposition put handpass options behind the ball, switch immediately and take it out the other side of the ground without any contest (hard for Robbo and Newton, who are still regaining their feet). Thanks Jarka - will look forward to seeing him play. Hopefully, someone with half a clue saw something intangible. On this, can anyone here explain why Greg Williams was a great player, and not just another club footballer? No pace, poor kicking skills etc. Maybe it was a mix of basic ability, training, self belief and persistence (suggestion Google - "Calvin Coolidge" & "persistence". One of my personal favourites) Bartel is "footy quick". Ablett is the tag magnet, but is good enough (and will get better) to defeat that. If we played GFC tomorrow , who from our team would play on Ablett? And (secondarily) who would then play on Bartel? Kelly has the easiest job in footy - a slow mid fielder who runs forward because they will probably need someone to give the footy to. That's it for now......................

And we keep Junior for how much longer? Moloney has 6 years ahead of him. JMac has what, 6 months?

Don't know enough Jarka. How do you feel about him?

H I believe we had this discussion at some point of the last 18 months (on demonology). You were all over the "hard at it, in and under types". I recall something like "outside midfielders - consistently inconsistent" or the like. I called for balance in the group. At one stage I proposed swapping Sylvia for Daniel Wells (and I stand by that swap if NM were stupid enough to do it). Anyway. Blind Freddy can see we can't play those 4 together in the same midfield. First in if it comes our way, 2nd in if it doesn't. No runners to receieve. Nasty slow inside midfield we have, huh! CAC and Danners were obsessed with the Brisbane model but the game has moved on.

I cannot see Yze hurting the opposition as anything other than a winger. Up forward his lack of contest and lack of defensive pressure costs on the rebound. Down back his lack of defensive presence/attitude will cost soft goals. His one remaining weapon is playing wide, getting in space and then hurting the opposition with his disposal. Surely he is not in our first three small forwards at this stage of his career???? Not in my starting line up obviously.

Good lord - no wonder we never win flags! CAC should be concerned at the mere perception of a "conflict of interest". And MFC should have the common sense to stand him down. There is a team of recruiters after all and they all know who they rate and in what order. See you Craig - hope you fail miserably in your new job.

6 of the last 7 flags have been won by interstate teams that must travel out of their home town at least 35-40% of the time. Its a national comp folks and the teams with the best traveling record willl win the flag 90%+ of the time. If the argument is about membership access to live games, I agree. But if its about some form of win/loss disadvantage, then I think you are misguided.

I will be there with two of my kids. We will wear our colours, barrack loud and obnoxiously and attend either the before or after function. Function details: Both in the Bradman Stand (Eastern Side) on L2. Contacts: robinbooth(at)msn.com.au - substitute (at) for @ or Phillip (0415 835 551) or Angela (0415 924506). Suggest if you are in town that the before function is usually better (win, lose or draw). Have a great time all and go Dees.

Playing Miller as the default CHF is an issue in itself. But playing Miller at CHB is even more concerning - especially as we have other options there. I think he is our new Craig Nettlebeck - not quite anything but looks good on the promotional poster. And don't start me on the strength of our ruck division or the delivery from our running HB line. Sheez.