Adam The God

COVID and school holidays I reckon. Thought it was a poor result. St Kilda Gold Coast was even less (18k).

I can't recall a better defensive game for us than Steven May's. He was superb. Jack Viney IMO played one of his best games for the club and certainly one of his best non finals games. His intensity and defence at stoppage was vital in the second. That 3rd quarter was a joy to watch. So much so I watched the replay this week for the first time this year. I'll never tire of listening to commentators fawn all over us. Massive game coming up against Richmond.

Noah is a right footer and has just started with us at Caulfield Grammar this year. He's a really nice young fella.

How are the Eagles players smiling and joking around with each other at 3/4 time? You're down by 51 points and you're laughing it up. There's seemingly a very poor culture at West Coast. I'd be cheesed off if it were Melbourne in that situation, particularly if we'd just had a year like West Coast had.

I expect Smith to come out for Lever, but we'll see. They may decide Smith offers flexibility and it's Hunt that goes out.

Smith offers us flexibility and he has improved his positioning, but there's a question mark over his positioning and disposal/decision making for me. The coaches are a fan, we all have our own views.

Really? Directly caused three scoring shots. Two from simple dropped marks, the other from doing his usual running underneath the ball and out positioning himself. He's not a trustworthy defender. I'd go Brown and Lever in for McDonald and Smith, but they won't. They'll keep Smith in until Petty is fit again.

And I hope Essendon spend years in the wilderness. I'd really like Carlton to join them.

Happy with the win. Move on straight away. Oh and that was probably Weid's best game. I'd play him ahead of Tom McDonald next Thursday. Clarry, Gus and Lingers best on for me.

I think it'll be close. I agree with the comments RE Lever not being in. Smith and Hunt are still poor by foot and haven't been exposed yet positionally. Our defence doesn't look at sturdy, despite our results, as a Lever team. However, how long are they going to bang on about being a young side? They're not that young. Taking Merrett out would drop their age demo, but I'd love to know.

I hope 65-70k is the target for this year. If we can snag another flag in the next 2-3 years we should be able to solidfy a good portion of those and start getting some younger admirers that are converts from other clubs. If we can go anywhere near replicating Richmond's recent success, I think 80k is not out of the question in the relatively near future.

One of the big improvements in our game that I don't recall as much of last year is the little tap ons, knocks and blocks from stoppage. Petracca, Oliver and Viney are very good at this part of the game. It enables our guys to get separation from their opponent in relative space and maximise the dangerousness of clearance wins. The aim.being to get out the front of stoppage as cleanly as possible. In their glory period just under a decade ago, Hawthorn were excellent at the little taps and footy smarts in these situations forward of centre. We're becoming very good in tight in stoppages like I've never really seen before. Richmond were also good at this sort of thing, but less so at stoppages and more forward of centre like Hawthorn. I can't help thinking Yze is having a big influence here.

Yep, worrying for me. Hunt was good last year with solid heads around him. Having Smith back there as well means we suddenly have two questionable decision makers in our back 6. If our midfield can get on top and our 18 man defence is switched on it probably won't matter, and Smith will provide flexibility to play on Naughton, Weightman or Schache. This will allow Lever and/or May to drop off.

Tomlinson an offensive rebounding defender? Do these guys actually watch football? Tomlinson was very much a lockdown defender who was rarely given licence to be too offensive.

I haven't watched the replay in a while, so when I caught this yesterday I definitely cried a bit. Very emotional still. It actually gets sweeter and sweeter the more time passes. Let's hope we can make some similar memories this year.

Difficult to gauge how much to take from that. We were putrid, sloppy with the ball in hand, dropped marks, poor kicking etc, but they were very impressive. Hunt, Smith and Baker in the backline was a recipe for disaster, but worse was our intensity around the contest and our inability to shut down opposition switches. Were we playing safe with our bodies to ensure we're there Round 1? Who knows, but if we play anywhere near that level against the Bulldogs, they'll wipe the floor with us. Most teams would have today. I wish someone would tell Viney every week is a final, because he's such a good finals player.

I've just read this last page and not the rest of the thread, so it may have already been touched on, but I thought Rivers struggled most of the game. He wasn't terrible, but he made a few mistakes and seemed to lack some cohesion with team mates. I love him, I think he's going to be a star, but he played a few wobbly games towards the end of 2021 too and I just wonder if his spot could be in jeopardy in the early rounds this year.

I'd be surprised if there's less than 60,000 there.

I remember often saying last year that our defensive system was so solid that providing our accuracy was decent, we'd beat anyone. My big fear approaching the final series was that given we were the best team in the comp, we'd only blow it with inaccuracy. There's a piece of commentary late in the GF, from I think Luke Hodge IIRC, and he says our accuracy in the GF was incredible. Something like 16.4 from when the game turned in the 3rd. Providing we take half our chances, that usually means we win the game, as we're decent at generating inside 50s, but also brilliant at defending opposition inside 50s. If we can improve our efficiency, and BBB could definitely help here, we could take another step ahead of the pack. Unless of course, we become too BBB focused.

The question I immediately asked myself was would we want him now? Hypothetically, let's say we could land him, I wonder...

He was very meat and potatoes in my book. Too slow, average skills and no real elite trait to compensate for his shortcomings. For a top 5 pick he was no star.

Reckon your side is pretty spot on, although Tomlinson will play lock down FB and May will take Hibberd's role on the dangerous mid size players. Sparrow will likely be ahead of Dunstan too. To begin with...

If it doesn't work with kids, it doesn't work with kids. I am male, I do live in Melbourne and I have a kid under 12. Whatever happens people will always find something to complain about. If it was on a Friday night there'd be some nuffies still saying it's too late for the kids. Well don't take them then. FFS, it's not that hard.

Jeepers, some of you lot are whingers. Looking forward to it. Will be massive.

I was very frustrated by his lack of physicality too, particularly playing along Melksham, but the last 2-3 weeks of the H&A season he turned this around and brought physicality into the finals series. His presence and ability to hit the scoreboard helped us win a flag. Well worth the contract extension. Again, we're likely offering more years at lesser dollars to spread out the TPP.