Adam The God

And again, Maynard's inclusion would allow us to release Rivers to a wing or into a genuine mid role. We should be doing this every year, so that if possible, we're bringing in top end talent and giving Jason Taylor a look in the first round every year. Disagree it should be about necessarily targeting an outside mid. I think it should almost always be a case of picking best available.

I love this kid too, but reckon he's just off A grade. It's just a consistency thing, which he may have solved by the end of the year. So excited by Rivers, JJ, Kozzie, Jackson and even Sparrow's development. Interesting. He reminds me of Joel Selwood, but a better kick, less ducky and surely a better bloke. Lockhart may well be the key to Rivers playing further up the ground. Yeah, it was interesting hearing May talk about how they constantly tell Rivers/reinforce to Rivers that he doesn't have to touch the ball to be a vital role player in the team (paraphrasing there). It sounds like we're at a stage where the players are coaching each other on ground. That's so exciting because that's the hallmark of the great modern sides likes Geelong and Hawthorn.

Given his ball use, his hardness at the contest, his second and third efforts, I think he could be in contention for a genuine midfield spot. His ball use out of there would be very handy too. He's such a brilliant defender that unless we can replace him behind the ball, I wouldn't be rushing to put him in our midfield.

Wow, my family think I'm negative. Bloody hell. They should meet @old dee.

Do you mean the club or supporters? If you mean the club, I disagree. Players ponder their futures mid season. That's when deals get done. If you mean supporters, this is a supporter site after all and we nit pick game plan, the list, you name it. Pondering potential players to make us better is pretty standard, even at the top teams. Geelong supporters were talking about landing Dangerfield for months before it happened. It's not like they were at the foot of the table.

Yeah, okay, but regretting not pushing harder against playing in Cairns is not the same thing as being arrogant and about playing in Cairns. In fact, I don't think it's anything like it at all.

Yep, makes sense, but it'll be interesting to see what they do. I'm intrigued by @Nasher's comments RE each player trains two roles. What's the point in this strategy if when injuries occur, you bring in like for likes?

I agree, but it depends if he can play that offensive lockdown mid role on the wing. It's possible.

Arrogance? We didn't have a choice RE Cairns.

I've come around to the playing it at the Gabba idea. I love it. It scares me without Langdon, but let's really test ourselves. The commercial side is very appealing too. Like your idea for the QBD game too.

I watch Fox Footy, never the commercial networks and they're on about us constantly. Looking forward to 360 tomorrow night and On The Couch. The latter will involve Gaz and Healy fapping each other off over our performance. Love it. David King showed a bit more down the ground footage on First Crack tonight too involving our defensive set up. He's all over us, but isn't screaming from the rooftops just yet. You can tell he's reading the stats and analysing our performances and thinking if this was just about any other team, I'd be backing them for the flag. He's still got the Dogs as his flag favourites, but if we can knock off Brisbane this week and the Dogs stumble a bit over the next few weeks, I think he might get on us for the flag too. He's just burnt by 2019. Statistically though, our defence is in world record areas for intercepts (Lever has the most intercepts to Round 11 that have ever been tracked by Champion Data as per King tonight), we're structurally really difficult to break down and almost impossible if we bring a four quarter effort. Further, as much as I hate the betting commentary that has infiltrated the media landscape this year on Fox Footy, Daisy Thomas for Sportsbet said we're now into $4.50 flag favourites. The hype is huge on FOX.

I like the idea of building a dynasty and improving every year. That's why I like these sort of threads, even when we're in the position we find ourselves in now.

As Steve says, it's predictable to our guys most importantly. And I've said it before, Richmond's game plan for 2 or 3 years was, and probably still is to a degree, very predictable. Surge, long and high to contests and then a surge at the foot of those contests or take contested marks. As Steve again rightly points out, we're playing a system that suits our players. Richmond recruited a lot of quick smalls. We don't have that list make up. We've built a midfield that loves loves contest and contested possession and then we've built an intercept defence that can then ping back quickly the other way, so we play to our strengths. I'd argue, as others have too, that the kick out strategy is also about taking territory and by kicking to numbers, if we don't win the contest, we can clog up the contest to prevent it from pinging back in for an easy score. This protects our back 6 and immediately takes pressure off them by taking the ball to effectively centre wing. If we can take a little bit of extra territory (ie the opposition allows a shorter kick to Salem first), we can get it even further away from a dangerous area and psychologically take the pressure off. I reckon keeping defence as predictable as possible is the smartest strategy. We've heard the players mention on multiple occasions that this year the game plan is simpler, this is an example of that simplicity.

You've always seemed to like opposition players more than our own mate. I said Brayshaw was the better player and I'm not a big fan. Doesn't mean I'd say no to Adam, but in terms of doing what they do, Brayshaw has taken his game to another level this year and his level is significantly higher than Cerra's thus far. Doesn't mean it can't turn, but it is what it is at this point.

WA very similar situation...

Brayshaw is the much better player out of that Freo midfield. It depends what Cerra'd cost us. I know some of the WA posters like him, but I'm not a big fan. That said, we're clearly looking to add outside polished to our midfield (see Merrett), so if Merrett is a no go, maybe we do look at Cerra. He's got a great name. The one thing I know is the more we keep winning and the deeper we get this year, the more appealing we will be to a player like Cerra who might be assessing his future.

And to be fair, as soon as the ball hits the ground, Harry McKay is as soft as butter. Elite in the air, but after that is pretty ordinary. That persistent shoulder issue probably isn't helping though to be fair.

We lose too much offence if we play a negating role on the attacking wing. Unless we flip Brayshaw to the attacking wing. I think I prefer Gus playing defensive wing and Salem, Rivers, Hunt, Jordon or even Jackson or Hibberd playing the attacking wing. That said, I do like Harmes' ability to negate and attack, so maybe I'm talking myself into your idea. ?

I like this too, but I'd like to see Rivers vs Cameron. But I guess Hibberd could get the nod there. I hadn't heard this. Fascinating insight. I love the idea and it certainly makes sense for players to train two roles. In that case, I wonder what Salem's other role is.

Agree on Baker. I wonder if Salem might be the better bet on the wing and JJ to the quarterback role Salem has been playing. That said, if they'd thought Salem was even a potential back up wingman they would have tried him there by now. I hope JJs emergence as a clean, good decision maker allows us to play Salem up the ground a bit. If Salem's ball use can be utilised as the attacking winger it might be very dangerous for Brisbane. Langdon often plays that wide receive role, just as Salem does, but Salem's contested game has improved and could offer something a little unpredictable against Brisbane. I also don't mind @Nasher's suggestion of Hunt to the wing. My only questions about Hunt are not necessarily his ball use anymore, but his smarts, his positioning and spatial awareness. It would be nice to get him in the game a bit more though.

Tim Kelly got injured and sat out the second half. So not only were they down a rotation, they were down their best current mid. Essendon should have capitalised in the first half on their forward half dominance though. They deserved their win.

I like the team, but not the sentiment.

Oh well. Let's turn our attention to Operation Get Ben King. ?

Pity about Essendon. I really want Merrett in our line up. We won't get him now. The Eagles are undermanned and lack spark, but Essendon are very impressive. Handy win in the context of the ladder for us though. West Coast's top 4 hopes look shot.

I reckon last night's game to the neutral eye would have been a bit of a borefest too.