Dappa Dan

He's a really fascinating player, isn't he. Has everything an AFL player needs. And will crack the all-important 50 game mark in round 6. These late picks/rookies... they're an absolute requirement for any successful team. We've got some already with the Hunt types. I want to see this guy play 22 and not be a cusp player anymore. ANB the same.

Wow, you got that just now? I've been getting hamstring... This is all very strange.

Look out now for the media to say all week that he's had two weeks off... he MIGHT play.

Right. Usually if it's a serious injury, you get the news within 10 minutes on what it is. If they stay coy for the rest of the game, then it's usually because the injury isn't serious. Massive, massive implications.

Still lots there to worry about. Danger, though, I just don't think we have an answer. I don't know that anyone does really.

The thick plottens. For the record, I'm not one of those "I hope all their stars are injured" types... but in terms of selection, without Viney, the implications are huge. A bit like if Dusty misses for the Tigers. They're that good that the entire complexion of the game changes.

As I said. Just rumours. I had to leave the TV... has he come back on?

We have seen this before of course with Danger. Looks like he's been shot. Comes back on and kicks 6.

He went down in the rooms. As I say only rumours. Not claiming anything official.

Word is Danger has done a hammy. Huge for us if true.

He was good. He had all the bits and pieces to be great. Wasn't though. I'll give you the fact that quarter was as good as a demon has played for many a year. But his consistency isn't there. Took him about 6-7 years to win his only B and F. Oliver got one in his second year. A worthy challenge, but I take Oliver. Yeah he's another one people bring up often. I remember before he got hurt in his big breakout year, he got about 11 rounds in and looked sensational. Again though... He played well, but not at Oliver's level... that came after he wore the red and blue. But yes. I think it's still the most devastated I've been post game in my life. Last year's round 23 was NOTHING compared to that 2002 game. I didn't really speak for 2 days. Going back to original post, the comment was "In my lifetime." For sure. I love Tyson. In a lesser side he'd be B and F material year in year out. In this midfield though... I had a long argument this time last year with someone on here about how they said Vince sucks and should retire. There is a great deal of chagrin with him. And Lewis. Never understood either. Fritsch is 188cm, can take a mark, and is a small forward. Hannan gets a lot of his scores off of play on. Of course he can take a grab. So can Tracca, so can Braysh. Both are considered midfielders. Hannan is no 196 Weed, or 195cm Hogan. Call them what you want, general forward, utility whatever... he's not a KP player. He's not competing with Hogan, Weed and TMac for a KP forward slot. Again. In my lifetime.

Shoot me some names. I asked a mate in his mid 40s this question. He said the last really great mid we had was Viney. that's a long time with Moloney, Leoncelli, Johnstone types. We loved them and were all very loyal. But Oliver... you watch him and you know he's really a next level midfielder the likes of which I haven't seen in red and blue.

Ah jeez. No Viney now.

That's interesting. Probably deserves it's own thread, this. I remember forming an idea of our midfield last year when it became clear to me after about 2 weeks that Oliver is the finest midfielder to wear a demons jersey in my lifetime at his age, and projects to be the finest we've ever had even if he doesn't improve. I got to thinking where do each of them rate, in what order, and in specific roles where do they rate. I've never done that before. We've never had a midfield to warrant the discussion.

lol Imagine that D now. QBs have to look up at 99... and on the few plays where they don't, he looks downfield at his receivers and there's Ramsey and Talib. Eesh. And their Defense isn't even the Rams strength.

Well [censored]. That sucks. I'll point out, of course, that they say this for so many aging footballers. Ablett's a good example. Says he'll play more outside, or forward or whatever... then the [censored] hits the fan and he's dragged back into the guts in about round 8, and they go on a 4 run winning streak. I fully anticipating that to happen once our younger mids start to tire. Nice midfield ranking, particularly with Brayshaw. A lot of people will carry on saying he needs to find another role... He's a wonderful midfielder though. No room for ANB? Melksham?

They're also very pooey the Saints. I feel like you get to kick long if you're not under pressure. Against, say, the Cats... we'll be under pressure and doing the old backwards handball when we look up the field and don't see options.

Wow. I've been missing from Dland for a while now, only check in here and there. Is that what people think now? Each to their own I guess. For me, Viney is just about the strongest physical mid in the team. Oliver is more skilled, Tracca physically just a beast. But Viney, one on one, goes against the best and biggest in the comp and almost never loses (when fit). I have an eye on round 1, and a fit running Viney goes to Selwood and shadows him all day. There's half the job done. Tyson all year last year got ploeaxed in the media and by the fans. I reckon he's a superb little hard worker... but his skill, engine and general football brain are a notch down from Viney, Jones and Oliver. Put simply, Viney, Jones and Oliver are the best pure mids. Tyson not far off. Tracca I don't want to see in the midfield for more than a quarter and a bit. That boot is a thing of beauty in the forward line. He is a contested marking gun. I want him more or less playing CHF. But that's just my own opinion. I see what you mean about having some flexibility in there. Can't have three of the same breed of footballer... but like I say, I think it's Danger, Selwood and potentially Ablett... but if not, Duncan... And all 4 are absolutely scary-good midfielders. I like to meet them head on with 3 battering rams. Selwood we have the answer for.... Danger though... I just dunno how you stop him.

Interesting. Jones I put in more as a placeholder. It seems to me they play a similar sort of role, and I reckon whoever gets more minutes in the guts gets the bigger stats... So Tyson played more minutes this time... does that mean that's his role all year? I think once the angry stuff starts, Jones is the guy that goes in, and goes in for whole games. He really is a better player overall than Tyson. (Not that I'm not a Tyson fan) The original Plan A/Plan B point was more about what happens with Oliver and Viney... When do they go in, what happens when they're not in, for how long do we keep them in before we risk them breaking down... and also how do we lessen the damage caused when they're not in. If a side as bad as what the Saints were at half time can put a run on like that... then we have a serious problem going into this season. I feel like we have our starting 3 in there... Jones, Viney, Oliver.... next 3 Tracca, Tyson, ANB... Then a smattering of Salem, Harmes, Lewis, Stretch and Maynard... Maybe Hogan here and there.... If you look at those tiers... one is scary... the next isn't. And the part timers aren't at all. Sure, efficiency is great when you have it. But we're not the most skilled team in the comp. Also we went for a lot of torps... partly because of conditions. No way we use those bombs in the proper season. I'm not complaining necessarily that we had less touches... but I am very interested.... Last year we were one of the really high possession sides. What are the implications now? Has Goody changed things seriously or was he rolling with a specific game plan just for JLT. I find it interesting and stimulating. I love Vince. Love him. Have never understood the Vince hate. I just find it really hard in the current 22 to fit them all in. I feel like Hunt is too important and has too many strengths not to play, even though he hasn't done much so far. Braysh as well I think is borderline, but has probably done enough. Stretch, as I said, I'm just still unsure on. But I think his dash will open things up, as long as he can give 4 quarters. He's apparently covered himself in glory the whole pre season, so my gut feel is he'll get the nod. Hannan I'm not quite as much with you. We have so many of these small forwards, high half forwards. Hannan does some miraculous things... but drifts out of games for whole halves at a time. I feel like he and Harmes are quite similar. I have been saying it for a while, there is nothing on a football field Harmes can't do. Literally has every skill you'd want, like a Stevie J. Does he put them all together? yes... sometimes... he's had some massive dominant games with all round stats like tackling, forward pressure, goal kicking accuracy... and he can defend like the dickens for a whole game if you need. It's funny he has Watts' number cos I think he'll be up and down the ground like Watts was. I feel like Hannan, as much as he's a good player... Harmes has a similar role up forward and brings a huge amount to the table. I feel like Fritsch will be given two weeks to make an impact. If he gets bundled out of contests by mature bodies in either, Hannan comes in for him.

Talib to Rams?!?!?!

- Gee whiz, the Saints are a bit of a rabble. A couple of good players like Steven... but so many of their mature guys are NQRs. Good enough to be playing AFL but not good enough to dominate. Savage/Bruce-like players who can do plenty of good things, but never do it for long enough to make their team do anything important. No Riewoldt means they will struggle for a couple more years yet. - Tracca-McCartin debate. One is a startling talent every time he gets near it, and even more when he gets it. The other has the physical gifts and talents to carve out a good average career for himself in the mould of Waite. But it's obvious to anyone with eyes who the better player is. Bloody hell Tracca can kick the air out of the thing, can't he? - Oliver is a beautiful, beautiful kick. Since Watts left, we have Trac who's probably our best kick now... Salem probably next rung down with an aging Lewis and a wonderful user in Hibberd. Then Kent, Garlett and, so far, Fritsch.... I really believe from what little I've seen that Oliver is in the Salem/Lewis/Hibberd class. We just don't get to see it often. - Say what you like about how the midfield looked, but we miss Viney. Against decent oppo, like the Cats midfield, we will need every heavy in there we can get. - Hogan is going to be playing a bit of a Tom Lynch (crows) type role, with Tmac kicking all the goals this year. I'm living in the twilight zone. I like it a lot though. Hogan's vision and kicking on both sides is right up there in this squad. - One big concern was the old plan B. Now I know we're not supposed to use those terms anymore... but I think it's clear who starts in the guts when we need a goal.Our plan A is Oliver, Viney, Jones, Gawn. As soon as we deviate and Oliver gets tried in different spots... suddenly a really average side runs all over us. I know it's pre season, but I wanna see some changes here and there that WORK. Brayshaw forward for example, we tried last year, and it didn't. I'm a touch concerned about our flexibility. It's why I think we might see ANB play 22 games this year and go top ten in the B and F. - one other gameplan thing. How do you outplay a team for 3 quarters and get 50 less disposals? Saints were switching a lot and we went the torp. But still... - The 22 is lovely and settled for me now. ANB, Braysh, Fritsch, Tyson all play.... Emergencies are Vince, Hannan and Frost. The only question mark is Stretch who might not be big enough for AFL. Has only really the one thing he does in his game. Can be relied upon to not screw up, but won't win games himself. If Viney and Lewis don't get up, Bugg and Vince get a game. Nice and simple, cut and dried.

Would never take him.

Wow. I'd take him.

Yup. All our Foles back and forth looking like it might come true. TBH, I feel like they're high balling... and will end up trading pick 32 and Foles for something higher up... but only if it gets to that, since right now they need him.

Little bit of Matty Lappin about him.