DeeSpencer

Hey, when I go I make plenty of noise. For years the ‘Melbourne clap clap clap’ chant would echo out after goals. I haven’t heard it once this year. I’ll now refer to the group of supporters behind the goals as the ‘banner squad’ because evidently cheering isn’t part of their make up anymore. It’s clear we’ve been spoilt by winning and we’ve become accustomed to it. A passive fan base unwilling to lift to support the team to further heights. That’s all supporters, not just the banner squad.

The finals in 2018 were super loud and it was us clearly being fired up. And I can even remember games like the big Freo comeback when we weren’t a good side that had small but super vocal crowds.

The Freo crowd was a really good number. But it was a really poor quality of crowd. Cheersquad and members need to lift. The second quarter was excellent footy and with a bit more push from the crowd we could’ve nearly finished Freo off. The small Freo crowd were delirious when they made their comeback. You’re official on notice Demon Army. Lift.

He’s a nice natural footballer but I think he’ll need more than 1 interrupted preseason to build strength and fitness to cover for a lack of speed and height at AFL level. As a former midfielder with a neat kick he should develop his attacking game too. If Petty isn’t right and Sydney play 3 talls we might have to pick him, but especially without May for guidance and support it’s best to keep expectations low.

Salem literally said 2 weeks to a reporter last week and was doing basic rehab drills - agility style running drills. I’m not convinced he needs a VFL game but he needs to complete a block of full training sessions and he hasn’t yet. Hopefully we get Langdon and Tom back, but after that it’s Gawn, Petracca, Oliver and Viney playing 4 quarters that will be the biggest ‘in’s’.

Fitness and experience I reckon was the main factor. Casey pretty much used the same 4 on ballers, including White and Grey (who should be half forwards) and Baldi who’s depth down back usually. Big Smith did well in the ruck but tired and started badly mistiming his jumps and Milford wasn’t much of a back up. Buntine went down back once Hibbo was done for the day which took away the 3rd wing. And then the small forwards (both afl and VFL listed) all haven’t played much. Long bomb kick outs rely on the mids and half forwards winning the contests once it hits the ground and our guys seemed pretty spent. Possibly some of the AFL listed guys weren’t 100% as well. Frankston look light on for depth but their midfield has some afl experience and maturity. They got well on top in that area. Was actually nice to see the crowd get fired up

Tomlinson very good but still has moments where he seems tentative on his legs. Turner had some excellent moments, he reads it well and bodies up nicely. Doesn’t really get high in the air to pluck marks or spoil over the top which is something he might have to add to excel at afl level. Deakin Smith continues to do some great things but undo them with poor use at times. Love his aggression and movement. Laurie has the biggest backside a Dees player has had since Trengove. Unlike Trengove he doesn’t use it to win the pill in tight. He’s a long way off Taj is a solid performer at this level who would be loved by his team mates. George Grey continues to do more as a midfielder, one to watch

The second quarter was excellent, but I thought we stopped playing attacking footy in the 3rd, not just the stoppage stuff. We’ve struggled to score consistently against bad sides and relied on the defensive game and grinding out a goal. I don’t want to start consistently leaking big runs of goals but I think we can take more chances against Sydney and get some flow in the game.

I really think we should see this as an opportunity to stop being so reliant on plan A: defence, long down the line, whack it forward. And instead make sure we work on plan B which is actually playing some proper attacking football. Get some bounce off half back, switch to the fat side, use the corridor, kick to some leading forwards in space. We are so risk adverse with our kicking at the moment and we’ve lost run from the backline. We’ll struggle to beat Sydney without May and some other crucial players if we keep the game dour.

I assume Harmes or possibly Langdon won’t be right so it won’t matter next week. But can we play the 4 small forwards after that? Spargo seems only a break in case of emergency winger. Not sold on ANB getting too much midfield time, he’s lost his rhythm a little. Should we be drastic and give Pickett a game at half back to really open up our game style just for a week or two?

29. Solid

I singled out Bedford as the only one I considered to have the chance to be useful. I’m not convinced he’s there yet but he’s a chance. The goals were very good. I didn’t mention the others by name as we know who they are. They don’t give us skill nor do they play the system well.

Yep 1 year would’ve been plenty, but we seem very keen to keep the same battlers on the list year after year rather than take chances with delisted or mature age guys. And when we do pick up delisted guys it’s the most one dimensional options available with absolutely no scope for improvement to become regulars. Great.

JVR has played one great game against the North witches hats and otherwise been a steady role player at Casey finding his feet. He needs to put a month of solid form together before even being considered. Mitch Brown, a smaller forward line and some left field options are better than Weid. But they’re all better options than going with a kid at this crucial stage of finding his confidence in the VFL.

Our defence is system and our attack needs a lot of talent, especially right now. A big issue is our depth players have very little talent nor can they play the system. Bedford flashes some ability to do both but he’s really only useful covering the small forwards.

One was a very good mark too. But when you constantly drop 30m behind your opponent you’re going to get intercepts. Freo’s half forwards had a field day and when the mids didn’t cover off it killed us. Good defending starts with stopping your opponent when required before looking for the easy kicks.

Surprised (but not really) that Hunt and Rivers are copping the criticism when they’re the ones so often chasing 2 opponents because Gus Brayshaw is playing Russian roulette all game. He looked a million bucks in the 2nd quarter when we were well on top, as soon as Freo got any ascendancy he was caught out time and time again miles from his opponent

Viney was excellent in the first half and the only mid still trying in the second. His work rate stood out as head and shoulders above our other mids. Decision making not always perfect but he got sold in to trouble a lot more than he sold others. Jordon had some good moments but his refusal to take any risk when kicking the ball on counter attacks is really hurting us. He turns every counter in to a slow play before hitting very safe short options or bombing it - and often bombing it poorly. If you’re the opposition you’re delighted the more the ball is in Jordon‘s hands on the wing.

Amazing the way he manages to clean lose one on ones from a strong position. Cox and the other Freo talls are handy but they aren’t that good. If he gets consistently beat he can’t hold his spot in the side. It’s a shame because he started well getting some touches up the ground but he just can’t do the main job of a key forward. Just isn’t a competitor

Very much doubt Harmes will be ready

Weid, Melk, May McDonald, Tomlinson, Langdon

Do you still rate Dunstan or Melksham? They stink. Roll the dice and bring in anyone else from the state leagues to have a go.

I don’t like 19 or 20 teams, and I don’t like state governments forking out 20 million a year to have one. A few games a year of AFL teams and a strong local comp is enough for the Nt/Darwin.

Correct, but I believe we could entice one of them to bring that decision forward by a few months

Hibberd is one of 4 players I believe will retire at the end of the year.