Adam The God

The Brisbane game was a near shoot out and we were quite happy to be super aggressive with our ball movement and our zone pressing high up the ground. Given Brisbane's lack of pace, our zone could play higher and only be at risk to a Bailey or someone like Cameron out the back. Do we think with Adelaide's pace, it's more likely we'll sit our zone deeper and let them try to move the ball through it, with our aim being to force them wide and then slingshot on the counter, ala the Collingwood game? Or do we go super aggressive like last week and try and blow them away?

So we lost ground ball again. And our pressure rating is again instructive. We've still got a fortnight at least before I expect our pressure rating to start to meet the AFL average. Be an interesting watch. Thanks as always, Wheelo.

On that limited vision he looks very outside to me. But if JT rates him, I'm down.

Chandler needs to play forward of ball as a pressure forward IMO. If Kozzy is playing higher, which I think is potentially less likely in a final, we need Chandler's pressure. Probably at the expense of Spargo. I think our forwardline mix against Brisbane was off. Great offensively, but too vulnerable on counter, hence the 4 of 5 goals from defensive half chains in the 3rd quarter for the Lions.

Here's the thing though, @rpfc, Grundy will be in the 22 for finals, so I'm beginning to think it'll be at the expense of JVR.

It's interesting how we've tended to go 1v1 at stoppage over the last few weeks and how this has enabled us to often win CP and stoppage. We've deployed Rivers in the 2022 Brayshaw half back role as Gus has taken Clarry's mid minutes, but we're still able to generate the intercept. Against Brisbane both sides were sitting an interceptor 10-15m off the back of stoppages in the centre square. Ours was often Salem. Those interceptors cancelled each other out, but from long down the line plays, our KPBs go 1v1 and one of our small/mediums looks to intercept and the others mop up. Our small/mediums are quite aggressive from these situations and the backs are so in ssyncwith each other. Chaplin is a really good defensive coach. The midfield has totally surpassed my expectations over the last 6 weeks and I'd always thought that without Clarry we'd lose against good stoppage teams. Credit to Yze and mids going through there. I'm hoping it'll hold us in really good stead when Clarey returns. And our ability to play Trac forward and the occasionally inject him into the midfield will be a huge weapon. Fingers crossed Clarry gets back.

The top 4 has always been so much closer than the media narrative frames it. Port could very well lose this week and the next 3 weeks. IMV, top 2 is still on.

I've been critical of his ball use this year, but I disagree with the calls for Rivers to play midfield. He needs to play half back. He had some genuinely special moments in that game. Likewise, I've been critical of Gus this year, but he was terrific last night. I think our mids match up really well on Brisbane's mids. We're too big and strong for them, and aside from Bailey, they don't have burst from stoppages, so are quite one dimensional unless they can involve their half backs. And lots to work with from our perspective, not to mention huge belief, which could well set us on our way now, but we need to make sure our team defence is way better than last night. Our inability to stop defensive chains turning into scores (particularly in the 3rd) was worrying, but fixable. I don't expect us to be running on top of the ground until Round 20ish, so I'm hoping we revert to pushing Adelaide wide next week and then hitting them on slingshot.

It wasn't a hard tag though, because he had different opponents each time. Someone was just responsible for being the defensive mid at the stoppage to sit on Neale.

Lever repeatedly won key 1v1s. Way off here, DS.

Lever was solid. Watch the replay. Bad, bad call.

I ran down the aisle and starting fist pumping in the face of an extremely arrogant Brisbane supporter. Not proud of myself, but sooooo sweet.

That bloke Gawn goes alright too, as does Lever.

Where's Steve?

AROUSAL LEVEL!!!!!! GO YOU BLOODY REDLEGS!!!!!

Are you at the game this week Steve, or still in Europe complaining that Melbourne supporters don't turn up to games, and in the same breath lauding how important Collingwood's crowd is to their arousal levels?

Hang on. So I assumed Kalani was a ruck prospect, but he's playing KPF at U16 level? If he kicks it anything like his old man, he could be an exciting KPF prospect. Bit like a Darcy really. Old man was a ruckman, and the son becomes a KPP.

I'd rather Rivers plays as a shut down/intercepting defender personally.

Yeah, let's hope all the people that point to arousal levels being so important, are back from overseas and actually attending games. 👌

Different conditions and different point in the season. I expect us to be hitting our straps by Round 20 (that Richmond game), but as evidenced by our kicking last week, I don't expect us to have another result this season that is anywhere close to that GWS performance in front of the sticks. Therefore, CPs, clearances and ground ball wins mean we'd have to be inaccurate like Rounds 12-16 to lose. If we win territory off the back of CPs and clearances, Lions will have trouble scoring, because they rely on forward half intercepts for scores.

I definitely like the idea (and I can't remember who posited it on Demonland the other day) of Bowey playing a midfield role in time, ala Butters. He's tough, quick, great at ground ball and an elite kick. His size against other mids is the only thing I'd be saying is a potential weakness.

Have to win CPs, stoppages and ground balls. Do that and I can't see us losing.

Nope, no chance. He's not named as an emergency. FWIW, Grundy, Dunstan, Smith and Chandler are the emergencies.

Thanks Dazzler. I knew someone would get there. 👌

Can someone please post the Old El Paso meme please? Thanks, AF.