Fat Tony

Assuming all our talls are fit and in form, we are going to have to play 3 key forwards because Ben Brown, TMac and Weideman are all good quality AFL players and Jackson will be a star. While Fritsch has been finding the ball inside 50 on the lead, he has been failing to convert and I think Brown will take over his role as full forward and will be very difficult to stop. I would look at using Fritsch on the non Langdon wing. Weideman, TMac and Jackson are both mobile enough to play up the field but I think we can only play two. I am a huge fan of Jackson but I can see him being squeezed out if we go for our best side. In saying this, there will always be injuries and a need to rest players.

Ben Brown could be the best forward in the competition with space in the forward line and no chopping of the arms.

Lever only came off for a short period in the last quarter when he hurt his foot. He would have played 100% otherwise. The other one with high game time the last two weeks is Gawn at over 90%. While the new rules have reduced the number of stoppages and long kicks to packs, they benefit him in terms of favouring his endurance.

Fritsch is a very frustrating player. He looks a good kick technically but obviously misses way too often for a deep forward (and often badly). With the rule changes, I can see Ben Brown being almost unstoppable at full forward if he is given space to operate and can get back to his best. The coach will also be tempted to play three key forwards given TMac's 2021 form, Jackson's potential and athleticism and Weideman's marking and endurance. Given all that, I can see Fritsch be pushed up on the Brayshaw wing once we get our full side back.

The balance of our side looks very good at the moment and, but for poor goal kicking, we should have won both games by 40 and 50 points. In saying this, Hibberd and Melksham are still in our best side IMO once they are fit and in form. Jetta, Jones, Rivers and Sparrow would be on the fringe at the moment, but they have all played well enough to hold their spots on Saturday. I can see why most posters are calling for no change, but IMO Hibberd for Jetta, Rivers or Hunt and Melksham for Jones would improve our side.

Is that a guess or information?

We seem to be seeing a more open game with space to lead into. Brown has always been an excellent one on one player but finds it tough in a big pack situation. Brown also has a massive engine and will be suited to the limited interchange.

I posted in the preseason about 5 players who I felt we needed to improve for us to take the next step. 1. Oliver – After a slow start, I liked his game because his kicking was pretty good. I think he needed to be a bit quicker to kick the ball forward out of the clearances at times and he was a bit fancy with his handball in tight. All in all, we saw an efficient game from Clarry. A Brownlow year out of Clarry is the difference between us finishing mid-table or near the top. And for him to get there it is not about more accumulation; it is all about efficiency. 2. Petracca – Trac is our best player but needs to be cleaner. He dropped easy chest marks and missed set shots. Playing on after the siren was something an U10 player would do. While he was still good on Saturday, we need him to step up and be great. 3. Fritsch – Bailey needs to stop looking like a good kick and actually be a good kick. It was a typical Fritsch game really. He looked pretty good and contributed but wasted chances in front of goal. 4. Jackson – Dogga was quiet for most of the game until the last quarter. He is one of the most exciting young talents in the competition when he is timing his marking. I am pretty confident he has the technique to become a solid kick for goal in time. 5. Weideman – injured. Otherwise, I felt our backline was sensational, led by Lever and May, and our clearance work was hopeless. It was good to see Jetta, TMac, Kossie, ANB and Spargo show such good form. Rivers was disappointing with his disposal. Jordon had an impact on debut. The other point is that the rule changes could really suit Ben Brown when he comes back.

It looks like tickets to this game will be much more easily attainable now that the Victorian Government has lifted the cap to 75%. Get along Demon supporters and cheer on the team!

TV is fine but I prefer to go thank you very much.

Can anyone provide advice on tickets for Saturday night? The information on the AFL website is woeful. When and where do we go to buy them?

I can’t find info about this week let alone next week.

I like the balance of our side and that they have favoured the endurance runners like Jones and ANB. The number of midfielders indicates Petracca will spend a lot of time in the forward line. Freo will find it hard to score if we can win the midfield and set up a zone given their lack of height. It will be hot tomorrow which doesn’t favour us.

Given it is Round 1 and we don't know how players are tracking in terms of fitness, so we have to back the coaches to select the right team. In saying that, I would be going with something like this: Backs: May (assuming he passes his tests), Lever, Petty, Salem, Rivers, Hunt and Bowey. Midfield: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Langdon, Tomlinson, Jones, Harmes Forwards: McDonald, Jackson, Fritsch, Pickett, Neal-Bullen, Vandenberg, Spargo

Good to see Salem not listed. It would surprise me if Melksham or Hibberd played given their lack of preparation. Hopefully Brayshaw hasn't had a setback.

I’m not a fan of subs for the reason they have to warm up and then just sit and watch. With the limited interchange and longer game, I think the disadvantage when a concussion occurs is actually reduced.

We don't really have a good wing solution for the season, but for the early rounds with all our injuries, I would be going with Tomlinson again. This opens up a spot for Petty in the backline. My thinking is that the longer games and less rotations will suit the endurance runners like Tomlinson.

Not sure if he has the engine, but Rivers has all of the other requirements to play the role.

The injuries to key players are a major concern. Viney, Brayshaw, Ben Brown, Weideman, Pickett, Melksham and Hibberd will be out or way underdone at the start of the year. Plus May could miss Round 1. I know it is a long season, but a first up win against Freo is imperative. Also a worry is the lack of development in our younger players. I am yet to be convinced in Sparrow, Jordon, Spargo or Baker. Chandler has a bit of skill but is a midget. Rivers will be good in time, but still makes a few errors. Jackson looks physically great and is timing his leaps but not holding his marks. I like that Bowey has the ability to get off the ground and he looks to have something we lack (skill and pace).

Still sounds like he is 2 games away. It is already clear from the preseason games that the AFL is not for players who aren't fully fit because of the interchange cap and normal length quarters.

How much game time did Angus play? Will he be fit enough to play an AFL game given his limited preseason?

Pretty ordinary performance but we have a lot of injuries. I think the new rules will favour endurance athletes like ANB and Jones but Petracca will need to spend more time forward this year. I think we will see the return of more mids playing high half forward this year. Two small forwards (Spargo, Pickett, Chandler) is all I think we can afford to carry and I would prefer only one in the side. Baker doesn’t have the skill level to play wing at AFL level. We still have a big issue on the other wing. Petty needs to come in and perhaps as a forward while Brown and Weideman are out. Bowey was quiet but looked the part. We need to spot up short kicks out of the backline more. Our kick in strategy was again too predictable. Jackson looks bigger and stronger but we need him to take a quantum leap. None of our young depth looks AFL standard yet. Hunt was nullified but we need to persevere with him.

Very good first up performance, particularly given the opposition. My takes: Hunt in the backline could be a real weapon with the man on the mark rule. (As an aside, I think the change will help us, as we have been a side that had the a lot of difficulty transitioning the ball forward.) Petracca is a superstar. TMac looked better than almost any time in the last two years.

The AFL should step in to make sure all these practice games are televised and played at a decent time. 9.30 on Friday is such a stupid time.

Majak had a good season as a key/intercept defender before he jumped off the bridge. And he provides some decent ruck support. I doubt he will ever get back to his best football, but he could play a role for us. It seems like a smart decision in light of Ben Brown and Weideman's injuries.