Dee*ceiving

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We rode a wave of momentum, desire and emotion through September last year. In my view this was triggered by our come from behind, after the siren win against Geelong in R23. That moment is immeasurable. We may still have become premiers, from 4th, had we lost. But I am not so sure. We were good enough, and we still are now, but intangibles and inexplicables are also relevant. These landed our way in 2021, but unfortunately not in 2022. A tougher fixture, injuries, being the hunted and perhaps a touch less motivation all factors. Despite that we finished second to Geelong (who enjoyed a far easier fixture and fewer injuries). A few tweaks, better player management, the introduction of some enthusiastic youths (e.g. JVR, Taj Wowoedin) and return to form of a few who struggled this year (Salem, Lever, ANB) and we'll be back at the pointy end next year.

You missed... Lever banged up can't run Other than that, spot on

Too many injured players. Salem, Lever, Brown on one leg most of the season. Gawn proppy often. Oliver, Viney exhausted by September Petracca clearly broken No use of our depth, no debutants putting pressure on the senior players for spots, and hence no energy from youngsters trying to make a point when they get the chance (Bowey, Rivers, Sparrow, Jackson great examples of this in 2021)

We, the coaching staff, players and fans have learnt some very hard lessons. 1. Other teams/coaches are smart, they will spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve & beat the best team 2. It's a long, long season, chances to rest and refresh your players need to be taken 3. Injured players, even out and out superstars, are still injured. And...they may offer more than a fitter seconds player, some or most of the time. But, in a close, physical game and particularly late in quarters the risk they present will show 4. It's bloody hard to win one, let alone 2 in a row. Our second half of the season was 6 wins, 8 losses. That's where we start at R1 2023. If we recognise this and act, we'll be top 4 again. If we don't we're toast!

Gonna be a grind. Sydney's fierce attack at the footy is what keeps it rolling their way. Need our mids to lift at the drop of the ball

Let's go DEES!

If LJ ends up at Fremantle as anticipated would Sean Darcy not be a better target for us?

Agree that 1st place probably doesn't earn rewards comensurate with being the best team over 22 H&A matches. However; Perhaps this balancesout the inequities of an unfair/imbalanced fixture? I'd argue we also could have finished first with a fixture of the same difficulty as Geelong's.

That's some forward potency for a VFL team!

Playing hard saints. No easy kicks

Channel 7 were as disgusting as the lions last night. Completely fictional narrative to pump up the home town, non-victorian underdog despite that underdog team playing like a pack of indie, mudshow, jabroni thugs

Agree Jimmy, it's a concern but sports science and what not these days, they must have a gauge on it to some extent

I like it. Put simply, Harmes is a better, tougher, more damaging player than Jordon (currently)

Agree Jimmy. Hard to comment as we don't know Harmes' game time but one would hope 65% at most with a short turnaround coming up...but, 35 disposals suggests he probably played more than that

Getting TMac fit and ready is mostly to have a cover for injury, IMV. Would have to be flying on the track to dislodge someone but might be a handy in should we get a couple of injuries to talls (forward and/or back)

Just started drizzling in the CBD...light rain that is

Even if not, it will feel that way to Sam. Will either melt under his hat like the wicked witch or steel himself to have a point to prove. Sad for him he won't have a game to do it in this weekend though.

Harmes sub, I like it

Done. terrific initiative.

But the counter argument is that the 'bigger' Vic clubs will pull a bigger crowd v Geelong at the MCG than the 'smaller' Vic clubs. E.g Collingwood/Essendon/Carlton/Richmond v Geelong at the MCG; will bring a bigger crowd than; Melbourne/Nth Melb/Western Bulldogs/St Kilda v Geelong at the MCG

I agree OD, we need tall forwards to hit the score board in finals but I also think we probably only need 3-4 goals that way to be successful. Those goals could come from any combination of Brown, Weid, JVR, Gawn or Jackson. If we can get that I'd be confident we can find 8-10 from other avenues. 11 - 14 goals will be enough if we are at our best defensively

Agree with many on here. I like the thought of experimenting with either Tomlinson or Petty forward and this is probably the week to do it under the roof at Marvel and against a side with a history of struggling defensively.

LH, agree lifting those guys out of Perth might be a challenge, but they don't need them all to shift. 1 or 2 will do the trick, $$$ talks as does loyalty (in respect to staying and leaving for shared benefit, where applicable - think Isaac Smith & maybe Dusty at the end of this year). Regarding interest, in my view, Barrass and/or McGovern to the Bulldogs would meaningfully reinsert them into premiership calculations (just one example...)