Adam The God

What odd framing for a thread. I'd be extremely surprised, as would the rest of the footy world, if we're not inside the top 4, let alone the 8 by the end of the year. I think we'll get 16+ wins.

That ANB moment was a prime example of exhaustion and fatigue impacting on disposal. ANB had 4 tackles to quarter time. Incredibly taxing. It also supports the clear drop off after quarter time.

Very happy to get the win. We don't get beaten up like that at CPs (-27) and clearances (-6) if we're not off our 4th interstate match in 8. We looked absolutely exhausted after quarter time. The Suns are good in the contest, but not that good. And defensively, they waltzed through our zone and waltzed through the corridor a number of times - we seemed to back off them at times too, but their talls provided good contests ahead of the ball, which worried us a bit. It felt like we went really hard in the first quarter and tried to do what we did against North and ice the game by quarter time. But the first three quarters followed a similar trend where we dominated scoring, before the Suns would reel us back in. I love our ball movement and unpredictable forwardline at the moment, but our contests behind the ball (in the air and on the ground) need to be much better and our defensive zone (the transition is generally fine), needs a tweak otherwise we don't beat Collingwood or likely Geelong at the pointy end. Let's see if the FD is holding a few aces back. That Suns win though could well be huge in the scheme of things this year. Lucky or not, a win's a win!

So we definitely didn't play 1v1 for 20-30m from half forward and zone behind it against the Suns. I'm wondering if it was actually something Richmond were employing against us, rather than us to them. We haven't done it since and we only seemed to do it for a quarter. I know we looked cooked off another 5 day break with the addition of interstate travel, but the ease with which the Suns could pick through our zone to at least the middle of the ground, requires system adjustments IMO. The chip game kills us. They didn't get enough handball overlap against us, but that's mostly because they didn't seem to try. It was more about quick chips to shift the ball along different angles to get from 45m D50 to centre wing. We didn't have an answer for it, other than we were lucky that they missed a few simple targets. I'm not exactly sure how you beat the system I describe above (1v1 over 20-30m and zone behind), other than to beat us in the contest in the air and on the ground. And therefore, I hope we make an adjustment like this to our zone. I'd hope it's doable in season. Or perhaps, it's something we're even holding back from at this stage, and something we'll introduce in the second half of the year?

So Freo v the Tankers today. Should be interesting viewing. Is there another game on today that I should be aware of? 😜

Just a few other posts in this thread. Sorry mate. Should have made that clearer. Little bit of Friday morning ranting from AF.

And we pass them on 14 flags this year. 😉

McVee has struggled the last two weeks. Had three kicked on him in 5 minutes against Richmond. As soon as Salem is fit, he comes straight in for McVee IMV. As for moving to QLD, are we serious here? There's about 39 things on every weekend in Melbourne. In QLD you sit on a beach and then get cycloned. I've got a mate that moved up there too. An absolute nuffy, love him, but he likes the very slow life. It'll get warmer in Melbourne (climate) and extreme coldness as well (climate). Whereas, QLD'll just burn. We're in a very privileged position those of us living in Melbourne.

Hawthorn are one of the most arrogant clubs around. They think they can tank and make it work (exhibit A, the start of Clarkson's journey). They probably think Melbourne and Carlton are just inept clubs that couldn't tank as well as them for the end result of 4 flags in 8 years.

I just saw this on Zerohanger. An utter disgrace.

Trac as well. Seems to have let go of his yips (touch wood).

Obviously, he's brilliant, but quicker ball movement and targeting the central channels/lanes rather than the pockets increases the likelihood of positive conversion. So as usual, it's never just one factor.

Sign up Choco. What a legend.

WA is the natural place for a third team. Population and wealth over there. SA too small a market, ditto NT.

I loved this. Great idea for a series. Look forward to the next eps.

I wonder when McVee gets a rest? I reckon he's struggled the last two weeks.

I really liked GNFs riddle. He got this one right too, didn't he?

What a bloody star. 👏 ❤️

I think that's why we tried adjusting our zone against Richmond, who were doing the same thing. So we play 1v1 20-30m ahead of the ball, and a zone behind it. That's definitely the way to stop it.

Their first pick is tied to GWS is it not? So I hope they tank. 😄

I would not be at all surprised if JVR has a rest next week. Petty for JVR and Spargo for JJ.

Underground handballs are fine. It's the handballs over the back of the head from anyone but Oliver who are too flashy IMO.

I'm glad we're playing the Suns next week, because you wouldn't want to be playing a top 4 opponent after playing last night. IMV we never really got out of first gear (good for us, telling for North). We were allowed to waltz off half back and move it through the corridor at will, all night. Playing a genuinely competitive team off the back of that would be tough mentally I reckon. We then have the Hawks, just before Port, so I'm hoping Hawthorn put up a better effort than North. Alternatively, it's a good percentage builder. Another way of looking at this is, Geelong had that very soft run at the back end of last year, which enabled them to manage players. These games do allow us to throw the magnets around in the middle and reward guys like Schache and JJ who are banging the door down at VFL level. The second half of our year is definitely softer too, so getting most of our interstate travel out of the way early is actually preferable I think.

And his disposal by foot has significantly improved.

It was more how we lost those games that worries me. But everyone has had an off week or two. I felt he provided really good defensive transition, he would get back hard and fill holes and leading lanes to clog up North space, and then provided an option on the outside going the other way.