Fat Tony

Didn’t the Cats give Freo a hiding this season?

Our best is THE best. We just need to put it together on the night. Centre clearances and conversation are the main concerns but the rest of our game (pressure, game plan, zone, speed, fitness) is better and we are rested.

I will preface my comments by saying that I watch Freo less than most other teams and Cerra is not a player that really stands out. IMO Cerra is a good young player but he is not particularly tough or quick. He will obviously improve as he gains strength but I doubt he will ever by elite. Cerra also looks like he plays best as a centre square midfielder rather than a forward or winger. With Petracca and Oliver as the core of our midfield and Viney, Harmes, Sparrow and Jordon as other midfielders, I am not sure he would make us much better in there. Particularly given key roles of the other midfielders are blocking and pressure rather than winning first possession in the clearances. There has been some comments that Cerra would be a better winger than Brayshaw. Cerra may be more natural there, but I am not sure he would make us better though and Brayshaw has runs on the board. We have developed a game plan to play with one attacking side (covered by Langdon) and one defensive side (covered by Brayshaw). While this game plan has has been developed to protect our weaknesses (only one true winger) it also caters to our strengths (making the opposition have to go through Gawn, Jackson, Lever and May or try a risky kick in the corridor which gives us the chance to counterattack). I think adding a more dynamic winger would be a bit redundant unless we change the way we move the ball and defend (which we should not be doing given the success this year).

Let's be honest, the best result would be a big donnybrook in the semi final.

Rivers should never have gone into the corridor. It was a low percentage play given our entire midfield was in the forward half and they had an open 50. It was completely against the game plan. We have not gone inboard like that all season. You either take the tackle or feed it towards the boundary.

Rivers could have turned and given to Lever behind him. Taking the ball into the corridor was a massive blue. Smith got a bit lost between defending and attacking but the goal was mostly Rivers fault.

So no blame on Rivers just putting it on Cameron’s chest?

This shot was before Rivers even had the ball and made the crucial error. It was a scrubby kick and Smith came to the contest. Rivers won the ball after it hit the deck and coughed it up to Cameron. Once he got the break, Usain Bolt could have been playing on him and it still would have been a Cameron goal. Pretty important omission from your initial analysis of Cameron’s goals and criticism of Smith.

The second goal was a bad turnover by Rivers where he handed it to Cameron and Smith was spreading from the contest.

We certainly had a great brand of footy to watch in 2000.

Got to say that our reward for winning a Prelim Final in Perth reminds me of Stonecutters episode of The Simpsons. Remove the ball of shame! Attach the ball of triumph!

Our game plan is incredibly ridged and each position has set roles. I think we will go with Smith or Hibberd to play a deep defensive role on the oppositions best fast forward. Who plays that role if our small backs are Hunt, Bowey, Salem and Rivers? We have had at least one of Jetta, Hibberd or Smith in the side in all games except for GCS and WCE. Bowey is the one at risk if Hunt is fit IMO and Hunt is much more physically equipped for finals. Hibberd could replace Smith but it is very even and both have strengths and weaknesses.

All year we have proven that we are far and above the rest of the AFL in games once we are able to establish numbers behind the ball. Goodwin has developed an incredible defensive system which is based around Gawn, May and Lever. Brayshaw is also crucial, effectively playing a Lever type defensive role on one side of the ground. We are a bit more vulnerable when the ball hits the deck but this is really a low probability way for the opposition to win because it opens them up to the counter attack led by Langdon, Hunt, Petracca, Fritsch and Pickett and means that we can move the ball into a vacant 50. But it can work as Adelaide and Hawthorn showed in the season if the crucial 50/50 balls go their way. The other way we can lose is if we get beaten too badly at centre clearance and stoppages. Our losses versus Pies, GWS and Dogs were examples of this. We also nearly lost to the Swans due to losing centre clearance 17-4. If we can neutralise centre clearance, kick straight and have a reasonable run with injury from here the opposition will need to find something new to beat us.

Text from a non Demon last night: Melbourne’s structure are elite. Every player knows exactly where to be - all the time.

We lost the clearances, kick poorly from set shots and didn’t defend the ground ball particularly well. If it clicks in the next few games the opposition won’t get close.

It will be the weekend prior.

I reckon Bowey will go out for Hunt if fit or Pig. We will want more out of TMac but I don’t see Melksham likely to replace him.

Looks like we’ll only win two finals on September again. Oh well.

Three more steps to the top of Everest Demons!

Yep at 8.30pm

The big problem with the stoppages is it is an area where we have the ruck advantage but the Lions have been able to dominate us in the last 2.5 games. We will need to bring our A game on the inside to win.

The Lions scare me more than any side. They are 14-6 since Round 5 and are ranked second on the Squiggle's Flag Pole. They have been able to bully us in the midfield the last two times we played them. Last year they scragged us at the stoppages and the umpires were too lenient on holding the man. This year they were too tough in the first half before we were able to turn the tables after half time. We need to make sure we break even in the clearances and Max needs to continue to take the ball out of the ruck. Daniher is also a worry because he is unstoppable when on. Cameron is also a very tough match up for any opponent. We should be confident but we will need Lady Luck on our side this week.

Agree with this. Adding a gun small forward makes more sense from a fit perspective (i.e. Bolton, Cameron, Ryan, Butters, Rozee or Papley). The spots of Brown, TMac or Spargo would have to be the most at risk if we land Gunston. ANB's role is different and plays more in the midfield. Pickett has explosive pace. Fritsch is our best forward. Jackson is a unicorn. That said, a fit Gunston is a very flexible player because he is such a great kick and has been able to apply pressure. He can play back and wing also.

It's not always the case that the best performing rising star is also the one with the biggest scope for improvement. This year it is.

Brian Lake won a Norm Smith and 3 flags.