Dappa Dan

Exactly the same thing he's been saying since you made them... You're wrong. Find something else to bore everyone with.

There were 7 minutes left. You could see. The dees were stuffed. Not only that but they were stuffed the whole rest of the game. Rotations perhaps? Or just need to put in bigger preseasons?

You're entitled to your opinion. Just do me a favour and give it a whole season. Oh, and your assertion that everybody's still in it and isn't bored? It would surprise me if that were right. There's always a couple that aren't happy with their picks (usually the autopick squads) and they only have a passing interest. It happens. In fact in a different Comp, poor old Jackattack has lost Lecras and Hayes from his squad at the start of the year. He'l still participate cos he's obsessed... but it's gonna be tough from here on in unless other teams have similar injuries to their stars. Not purely. Another factor is dual accounts. Though I have a feeling that demonland wouldn't allow it. Not really sure on this... The administrator of the site makes them. There's some odd ones in there but for the most part they're pretty close. For example he raised Cox's value a mile once he saw his preseason. That system isn't ever going to be perfect, but his input helps a lot in the draft for those who can't make it. For example let's say Lenny Hayes does his knee a week before we do our draft. He's still gonna be ranked at 15 or so... And everyone taking part in the draft will overlook him, but those on autopick will be left with him. Like I say, not a perfect system, some slip through the cracks (Mzungu). Nope. The ranking's are only partially based on previous seasons. For example if there's a ruckman who retires, and his backup is likely to take over as first ruck... then he'll up his ranking to make for a more stable draft. Cox was ranked way further down. The admin guy put him up higher based on projections. So far they've been proven correct, for the most part. If he was, don't you think he'd be ranked higher? He's projected was 60, his actual, 71. Again you're missing the point. The trick here is to have players who master MORE THAN ONE category. Grimes, yes, will get you some kicks and a bunch of marks. But he's not breaking records. Even then this puts him up there in the top 75ish... Gray, up until his last game, was ranked out in the 150s for a reason. He only brings a little bit of accuracy and the occasional bag. And he's playing in a bottom 4 side. As I said above, you play him as a utility. He gets you some goals (often a couple), accuracy AND hitouts... you only need ten or so. That's THREE categories... THAT'S why he was ranked so high. The administrator of the site understands this, and has acknowledged that in Ufooty, this is why they have to be ranked higher. It's all to do with the vagueries of the scoring system. So you play Ryder as a utility, then put in a second rate ruck and the combination is enough to beat any single ruckman going round except maybe Sandi, who is worth just about the same as the majority of ruck combinations (why I took him at pick 2), at least for hitouts. At the very least, if you follow this model, your opponent will look at his list (let's say he has Jamar) and realise that the big Russian, on his own, isn't enough to overhaul Ryder and, let's say, Graham, who was ranked 198. He's then forced to play his backup ruck as a utility (someone like Seaby). So the equation there is Ryder and Graham... vs Jamar and Seaby. Jamar and Seaby will likely win hitouts (a big assumption)... which is ok, cos Graham and Ryder have added a LOT to goals, accuracy, touches etc. I dunno if that makes any sense, but it's this craftiness in team selection that makes the difference... watching the averages, picking to win on certain stats (I always look at hitouts, marks, tackles, score and score percentage... touches are too wishy washy for me). Once again. Going into the season, putting Ryder and Gray as a same/same trade is ridiculous in this comp. An even trade would be Ryder for Green. One gets you almost there with hitouts, some score and good accuracy. The other gets you score, marks and accuracy. Now granted no-ones gonna give up Green without having a VERY beneficial trade... So you lower your eyes a bit. Maybe a Harvey (touches, a bit of score and acuuracy), a Hall (score, accuracy and marks... but a bit old), a Lecras (score and accuracy)... Getting the gist? Those guys are more in the 50-ish range... you lose ranking position, but gain a valuable forward. I'm sure that Gray was a player that was going to lift this season. Perhaps go from 180 to the early 100s. He's one of their only forwards, and he's talented. But in Ufooty, he's just a good player. He's not one you'd let go of, but not one you'd pick up Ryder for. Ryder is one of the biggest movers and shakers in the comp. So as Jackattack suggests, you HAVE to call shenanigans. And you'll all see why as the season drags on. It's fine if everyone decides not to vote against it... sure... but raising a red flag to have a closer look at it is called for in this case. If they go for it again, and it goes through (which it looks like it will), then you will probably find it'll be the most lopsided trade for the season... That said. If it goes through, go for it. It's all part of the fun of it.

I didn't. It probably wouldn't make a difference that I could earn 70% of that. That's still a large sum. And they wouldn't be copping those beltings forever. The other thing you're missing is that he can earn those large sums for longer as the new teams' salary caps still are generous for those first years. And... after all... what makes you think our list isn't going to cop beltings? Something we don't want to discuss cos it's unthinkable... maybe he just does rate MFC as a premiership chance like the rest of us do? We're certainly not going to end up with the talent of a GWS/GC list...

If someone paid me close to a million bucks I'd cop 119 point beltings every day.

They wore the same thing in a preseason game in the late nineties or early 2000s. Their justification, I think, was always that it wasn't a real game...

Sure. That was all that anyone wanted here. Nope. Was voted against. That means it shouldn't. The rule exists for a reason rpfc. I remember thinking the same thing last year at the start of the season. It'll become clearer as the season drags on... Oh and those thinking that it's a need for need trade... Either you don't understand the game or you're blind. Taking a player ranked in the hundreds for a player ranked inside the top 20? Madness. It's the stars that win you games in UF. ANyone can wangle a lineup of ok players who get their 15-20 touches. It's the big names that play dual roles that sneak up on you. eg... Ryder will het marks, touches and kick you goals, making him a good solid player. But he'll also pop up with 13 hitouts... which coupled with any one of the league's starting ruckmen who get 25-odd is enough to crack 38 for the game. Sandi averages about 35. Do the math. When you come up against someone with Sandilands, you just play Paddy and, I dunno, Goldstein as a ruck and utility... Robert's your father's brother. That's one category won... and not only that but you nullify an opposition player, as often their ruckman will be there MOSTLY for hitouts. This is the stuff of Ufooty... Players with multiple roles (B,Cs F,Cs and B,Fs) are gold dust too... as are players like a McKernan who is a forward only, but who no-one knew would be playing ruck. Paddy is MASSIVELY valuable. Grey, even with his bag this weekend, will lose you as many games as win. DOESN'T HELP WHO?!!! EH?!!!! WHO?!!! I had 5 players ranked inside the top 22 before this weekend. Sandilands (6), Ball (12), Hayes (20), Redden (21) and Burgoyne (22). Bastard.

Neither one of them was great. Toss of the coin and one had to go.

Oh yeah. Crazy game though. Awesome to watch.

Yep... I think that's why players like Warnock, Rivers and McDonald are kept around. Good rebounding defenders who go well the other way aren't that easy to find, and to keep, especially the ones who can deliver well... We have tried so many, like Bennell, Jetta, and more recently Strauss... Sometimes they're moved up the ground, sometimes their dropped or delisted... We just haven't found a stay at home one. Yeah, Frawley's the least weak. As Jackattack says, it's the fact he runs so hard, makes space, relieves the pressure on his kick, and the fact that often he's 1 on 1 and wins convincingly enough to get space on his opponent and catch the opposition napping that makes his kicks (which aren't Hodge like, let's admit it) more damaging than you'd expect. Not only that but he's a sensational decision maker. Having said all that, I still think that opposition defensive forwards would see him as the guy to curtail, and that they wouldn't be TERRIFIED of his rebound. His great strength is 1 on 1... his rebounding is good too, and enough to elevate him to elite status coupled with his defensive work... but I wouldn't call his rebounding elite. Grimesey, yeah, enough has been said. We love him. His defensive work and reading of the incoming ball is up there with Rivers. But again, opposition sides would be pushing into attack confidently when the ball's in his hands... I mean. If you see the ball in Davey's hands, you panic and bail into defensive fifty. If you see it in Grimes' hands, you have half a mind to keep yourself thinking of going forward cos there's a better chance the ball will end up there. Like I say if Blease can get his pace and kick back, and Strauss can improve his toughness... then that would be enough I reckon, and Bartram could change his game to involve shutting down his opponent and handing it off to a running Blease or Strauss. The question is, who goes out?

Didn't take long... This sucks. What a waste. On so many levels.

I hope not. Someone wrote sometime that for the game to be national, we need 7 teams in Sydney, 5 in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth... and a few other stragglers. I reckon that's garbage. It's neat garbage, but it's garbage. Footy comes from Victoria. The other states joined OUR VFL... and the ten existing clubs CAN survive as they are. We're not weighing down the competition... we ARE the competition. Don't let anyone tell you different. Fitzroy getting cooked, even years ago, still makes my skin crawl.

Woooooow.... Tht's amazing. And if true, explains so much. Always loved Belly, and I'm proud to have stuck up for him while he was at the club. I guess there's such a thing as being TOO courageous.

I reckon it's just a confidence thing. He got to the ball a fair bit, but squibbed one or two times, and just tightened up when shooting for goal... ended up pulling a couple of kicks juuuust slightly. I really think if he hadn't handed the ball off to Green, and had his snap that hot the post gone through he would have improved heaps. I hope he takes the opportunity if he gets it. We do really need a proper crumber so Jurrah can concentrate on leading more.

I'm seeing Green on Johnstone last year, or the year before that when he drove him into the turf on the wing after a huge chase. Changed my mind. Make it Tappy. I pick Maric for sub. I think he'll end up there a couple of times this year anyway, why not now? Though maybe Jetta could play a sub role. He, like Bennell, is useful everywhere on the ground. Speaking of Jetta. He may just be a player. Anyone else feel the same way? I keep seeing things I like...

Love Clint. Embarrassed myself in South Yarra the other day saying hi... I think he's a really important player. Not everyone in the list can be first round picks. If we can JUST work out a way to iron out the delivery then we will have a big headache on the list for opposition coaches. I look at Stevey Baker and think he could be similar, if a little more blue collar. I reckon players like Tappy, and if we can get him harder, Strauss and maybe even Blease could help a lot. One of the reasons his delivery hurts so much is cos there's no-one else to take the kicks. Grimes, Frawley, Rivers and Bartram.... too many players that don't really EVER hurt the opposition on the rebound. Our best footy last year was when Davey was rebounding... In fact, when he was doing that role, we were as good as ANYONE. Including the Pies.

Not saying anyone has yet, but it's a common occurence. At certain points in the season people realise they can't make a meaningful shot at it... and they get convinced for whatever reason to make bad trades. Absolutely. He was always ranked in the top twenty in the pre-season. Almost. But can't quite get there. Hawkins and Graham are list cloggers. Ryder is a UF matchwinner. You don't trade him for anything beyond about a 50th rank... and that's pushing it. Grey's just another player. For sure. No-one's getting carried away here, but an explanation is called for. Having done this once already last season, JA and I know that this only gets worse as the season drags on. We all have all week to come up with trades, and it's SO easy for the competition to get compromised. It's only our experience that's led us to raise the red flag here.

Voted against too... You can't allow someone who has lost interest in the game to give players up in easy trades just cos they don't care anymore. Robbo and SnomeD, feel free to rebut... Make your case.

Yeah, obviously if he was better we'd have missed out on him... but we're not comparing draft picks, we've just been asked to place him in this list, in this league as we see it. Stuff the picks. I like your thinking though. If the game slows down, he's gonna be a ripper. It'll return to contested footy a bit more, and he has shown he is BORN for that kind of game. Some players come in and they just have it. He has it. The Chappy association is right... Thought Chappy is probably quicker, though he might not have the distance on his kick or the ability to throw his weight around like Tappy does. His toughness for his age is so good it's almost hard to believe. Oh... and earlier this week people have been saying his debut was the best of a dee in the last 10 years... But I think maybe Davey has him covered. Still. Awesome.

I will say this much. He's looking and moving the fittest we've seen him.

Apologies... I think I might have skipped the section with that in it. And yes, that's good. Rare to see people admit they were wrong. As for discussions on the kid. I think we're overwhelmed by the fact that in the off season, the general consensus was that we needed 2 things. A FF and a rebounding defender. And we got neither. Well... we got KP players, but not plug and play ones like Hurley. A bone of contention, and one raised by Gerard Healey in the media was our delivery from defence. So when Tappy comes in and shows smarts, courage, toughness and skill that we've probably not seen on debut in the last 10-20 years... that's going to make most of us gooey in the nether regions. The thing is, it won't last. 19 year olds, even ones like Tappy, need many things to go right. Pretty soon opposition sides will have the book on him, and they'll start to exploit his game. Every player except the VERY VERY best have faults you can exploit. They'll try to expose him on the lead. Try to confuse him going back the other way, try to take advantage of his lack of height... and as the season grinds on his lack of preseason will show. He WILL play some bad games soon, and likely make way at some point for some other guys who we can use. And worse still, given how he seems to want to decapitate every opposition player he sees, using nothing but his neck... he may get injured. Yes he's beyond our wildest dreams so far in defence. All the strengths you want besides pace.... but things will change. He can't keep up that pace forever as a nineteen year old. That's my only real concern I think.

Maybe put in both the percentage and difference? Show some of the workings?

Wow. Crappy thread, sure, but the title is really the hum dinger here... It has no correlation whatsoever to the OP... Is this what demonland's come to? Aaah. Leave it up here as a cautionary tale.

And last year we smashed them by thousands at the same ground. I'm all for the draw, and I'm glad we got the points and proud of the way we went about it at the end... but I had us pencilled in for a solid win. The different coach and different opposition names in a few places was a contributing factor and all... but I won't be taking anything out of how good they were last year. They weren't even playing at their home ground...

Which it always is. If they saw the manner in which he won the ball, and how he delivered it, as well as one percenters... there's no way 20 maxing possessions would have gotten it. Oooh how good would that be.