Adam The God

As @Jaded No More has pointed out, we have a very similar formline to Collingwood. Except Collingwood has had to come back from deficits in most of their games, while we've controlled our games. It's interesting that you seem to think Collingwood are the yardstick, and to an extent I agree given their recent record over us, however we're in the top 4 for all major scoring routes and Collingwood are top 4 for scores from stoppages (as are we) and that's it. Collingwood are far more like us in 2018, but aren't scoring as heavily as us. They play the aggressive, all or nothing press and send extra players to the stoppages, exactly what we were doing in 2018, except we used an anchor/goalkeeper out the back. Collingwood do not, which as @binman highlighted on the podcast last night, leaves them very vulnerable out the back - see last year's final against Geelong. Begrudgingly admire what Collingwood has been able to achieve in the space of 12 months, but I reckon Collingwood should be using us as the yardstick, not the other way around.

I reckon if we're both 1st and 2nd and the weather is good, surely we get 90k. You'd get some neutrals to a game like that as well. No reason we can't be pushing 90k+.

Here's a nice conclusion to read for a Melbourne supporter and one I agree with. Can't wait for KB. "That Round 13 Queen’s Birthday clash between the Dees and the Pies is looming as an absolute belter, and not just because of Brodie Grundy’s first game against his old club, nor solely because it’s the much-anticipated “Big Freeze” fundraiser for research into MND. It’s because right now, simply, they are probably the best two teams in the AFL. Even two years ago, it still felt novel saying that about Melbourne. But no longer. The Demons are a bona fide heavyweight of this competition. And the longer they take care of business as swiftly and efficiently as they have been lately, the more likely the prospect one very memorable season becomes several."

RE @binman and Goodwin being a defensive coach and McRae being an attacking coach. I'd argue Goodwin started off super aggressive and attacking, and he's evolved into a strongly defensive coach. Collingwood remind me quite strongly of us in 2018, just fitter. I agree, their approach makes them very vulnerable. A bit all or nothing or perhaps, all duck, no dinner.

I don't rate Joel Smith, but the FD clearly want to give him another go and Smith's athleticism is what we need at ground level. BB and TMac can't cover the ground or win the ball at ground level, so if either play the game this week, they'll struggle in this area.

Interesting that the club got that quite wrong. The way the cookie crumbles, I guess.

This stacks up to where both teams sit on scores from stoppages, scores from turnovers and scores from kick ins. Thanks for the info, Edward Platt. ❤️

My eyes are also telling me he's improved. So who do we trust? The guy that said Weideman would be a star or me? The fact is we all get things wrong from time to time and maybe, just maybe, you've got another one wrong. The FD keep playing him, so I assume Tom is meeting KPIs and improving. Do we need more versatility in our midfield, sure, and maybe we'll have a chance to rectify that in the coming trade and/or draft period. As for bias and loving players, I'd say I'm merely giving him credit for gradual improvement. Maybe you're letting your biases cloud your judgement?

This thread went downhill quickly.

Day was slow to get up and the trainer went to him from memory.

It drives clicks. That's your answer. Unfortunately.

It's frustrating and pathetic, but it's interesting and handy that we're going under the radar at the moment. We're in a better position than Geelong last year and have a fully fit list to choose from. Meanwhile, going into the weekend, Collingwood were only top 4 (2nd) for scores from stoppage because of their +2 advantage at contest, and nowhere to be seen on scores from kick outs and scores from turnover. This to me says they haven't been exposed by a team that either beats them or matches them in the contest, nor a team that scores big from turnovers. The team set up to do both, sitting in the top 4 for both of those scoring paths, is us. Sorry, back to death riding Freo

I've used data to try to back up what I've noticed in game. You've used feel that isn't backed up by anything.

Disagree. Reckon his ball use and decision making has improved. He lowered his eyes a couple of times nicely yesterday, and even though it's a rubbish stat, he has improved his DE in 2022 and again this year. For a guy of his position, he's going at 76.9% and is considered elite.

Doubt that'll be happening any time soon mate. He's injured.

This was absolutely the case yesterday, but this horse has been flogged and taken to IKEA already.

You need to look closer mate. Is doing a lot of great, tough defensive work, but is now also occasionally playing the attacker through the centre stoppage from the defensive side of the contest through the front. He is also a goal kicking mid. Each to their own though.

Clearly the forwardline isn't working. Let's bring in BB and get rebounded against.

And then you get rebounded on. Our biggest weakness and vulnerability is ground ball. There's a reason we are going smaller ourselves at the back. We want to be able to rebound off teams ourselves. The modern game with slingshot turnover footy is not at all conducive to having tall forwards all over the shop. If they don't get it done in the air, it's usually a rebound.

The FD can't really win with some supporters. Last year, many bemoaned that there wasn't more rotation of the squad. This year, we're clearly rotating in game and still winning comfortably, and now supporters aren't happy that we're only just winning clearance and only winning by 9 goals at round 9. Look at Geelong last year. They were 5 wins, 4 losses to the same point in the year. They had a softer draw in the second half of the year, with majority of games down at their funny shaped ground. By the end of Round 10, we'll have travelled interstate 5 times in 10 games. Whatever happens next week, we'll have a better record than Geelong last year. Patience is a virtue. It doesn't always pay off in footy, but the FD are on the right track IMO.

We're not just continuing to score. We're leading scores. How do you know what sort of planning is or isn't going into stoppage work? Game play is the ultimate way to test and practice stoppage connectivity. So that's the path we've decided to go down in the first 9 weeks.

We also win from scores at stoppages. We were 4th for scores from stoppages heading into the weekend. We also won stoppages by +3, so not really sure why some people keep bringing up this idea of needing to do better from stoppage. Not only are we doing well in this department, when every side in the comp knows this is our strength, but we are experimenting with personnel and clearly resting/protecting our prime movers.

No one has said they are mutually exclusive. The point is we don't have to rely on them and we're still in the top 4 for scores from clearances. And the GF is in September. We're in Round 9. Plenty of time to experiment and still win by 9 goals.

Geelong, Hawthorn, Essendon and Carlton losing, with us on top overnight. It doesn't get any better than that, other than if we added Collingwood to the losers list tomorrow.

Weitering almost gave that one up like his bank account.