DeeSpencer

They'd often run a spare man off the square at stoppages but I can't ever recall Adelaide playing 7 defenders. Their midfield worked really hard back then. Sloane particularly was a demon and they had great forward pressure with Betts and Cameron. Lever took the 3rd tall which was often a ruckman or some other ordinary player and zoned off, but it wasn't 7 down back. They also let the half forward go up to stoppages which is what most teams did, because the Crows had Richie Douglas as their high half forward coming up to stoppages and he was elite in that role. The biggest adjustment for Lever when coming to us was whether we played him as the 2nd or 3rd tall we liked to press really high up the ground. We've changed since last year to keep our backline deeper which is more like the Crows would do. That keeps the game in front of Lever more and lets come forward to mark rather than having him press really high and play in front.

Physical pressure. Tacklers coming at you, no time and space. He rolled off the mark as is allowed these days with plenty of time and space. I wasn't referring to the mental pressure but it was also a bit of a free hit from that far out, and he might've just been going for the square anyway.

He got a downfield free kick, another free for not much in it, then a Carlton player kicked an up and under that landed in his hands. One nice tackle but M Pickett's a pretty ordinary player outside of grand finals and ran right in to him. He could always strike a good penetrating drop punt when not under pressure and that's what he did twice. Good on him for a couple of nice finishes but there's nothing to worry about yet in terms of letting a useful player go. I still don't understand why we kept Mitch Brown and didn't keep another tall with position flexibility but I'm not sure that would've been Oscar.

We’ve trained at Casey all summer for the G. Plus there’d be a riot if we messed with our MCC members. If they wanted a bigger crowd for Ess-haw they could’ve flipped it to Sunday at the G. That’s what the AFL would’ve done if they respected their fans

Richmond players like fishing, getting on the beers and winning flags. They’re hard, fast, aggressive and nasty. Goody needs to forget the guys who he can talk stock tips with and remember where he came from.

That’s not fitness it’s just poor coaching in preseason and a lack of wing options. If he’s playing more than 90% we’re just lessening his impact. Tomlinson is 0/2 in doing his job in preseason. Bruce and Riewoldt have both made him look ordinary at times and kicked multiple goals on him. We paid him like an established best 15 player. There’s a free agency tax to that but overall it’s an over pay. Teams find better key defenders in the state leagues.

May struggled with Taberner last year. He’s one of the few key forwards who has May covered for height and enough strength to not be moved off the ball. If we get the game on our terms it should actually be Tomlinson guardian Tabs up the ground, Lever intercepting and May sitting back guarding the 50.

They’ve got 5 good key defenders, no a surprise they’d move one forward. Leading forward leads to the pocket, that’s not news. Fritsch missed too many last year from dead in front not the boundary. We have to move the ball faster to open the 50 up. Otherwise it will be using Max at times and then being comfortable slowing tempo and hitting up short leads which is made easier by the man on the mark rules.

My point is that 7 with Jetta is too slow, so I’ll take my chances with a taller slow line up too. If Nev isn’t a defensive weapon I just don’t see what he brings Langdon was a great runner at Freo too. Tomlinson held his spot because the alternative was Oscar and we were paying him a big salary. His endurance helps the backline zone but we’re yet to see him earn games ahead of talented alternatives. There’s a reason the Giants didn’t use him as a key defender and just had him as a utility.

Well I’d go Bowey, Deak Smith, or one of the mids off half back. Or even go big with Petty. If we’re going to be too slow we may as well be tall

I’d say there’s a reason we have a new head of football.

I’d give Rivers those jobs if Hibberd can’t come up, then Bowey is up the ground more. Jetta couldn’t make up ground and spoil Lachie Hunter yet alone a quick small forward. He just doesn’t have that burst in the legs anymore. Nev’s power and timing made up for a lack of burst speed but it’s gone now.

Look at where Brayshaw finished in the best and fairest that year for a better guide on his season. No where near Gawn and Oliver. Kozzie could be stronger but at least he’s not wearing concrete boots like Gus. The only person to blame for Gus’ form has been himself. Id have Brayshaw over Jordon but if they’re setting a standard of fitness then I’ll support that. The other option is Harmes to a wing and trust Brayshaw to mind Fyfe at times, if he’s up for it.

Hardwick’s nervy as hell before he speaks to the media or players. Clearly he gets moody. He loses it in the box and I bet he’s burnt through some staff. But then he starts everything off positively. Always backs the system and their strengths and when he does roast the players he does it in a team way. The Tigers have just been so far ahead of the curve drafting speed, skill and hardness and then just drill aggressive footy (from a defensively sound base) it surely makes it easier. We’re trying to retrofit our team in 2020 to play like they have since 2017. But it’s certainly worth thinking about criticism of Goody like him not having a plan B. Richmond haven’t had a plan B since 2017 either and they’ve won 3 flags. Plan B is just double down on plan A because they know how good it is.

He shouldn’t have finished top 30 in the Brownlow. He got Oliver and Gawn’s votes because they back chat the umps. It was also one dimensional, one paced, one way running midfield that bombed the ball forward non stop. That style does not work. Everyone knows that style doesn’t work. We need a guy like Kozzie in the midfield. And we need to set some standards on fitness and work rare and pick Jordon

Jones and ANB are really just filling in little patches to cope with less restrictions. But Kozzie and Jordon yes. We need pace and skill, and we need run. Oliver, Petracca and Harmes are in the side to rip in to win the ball. Someone has to get that handball. Or sweep the pack and tackle.

Looked good against Richmond, struggled against the Dogs. I'd suggest he often starts at half forward and swaps with Petracca a fair bit or even Clarry to go do the midfield running whilst they rest deep forward. If we move the ball it brings his tank in to play more and whilst his disposal has been hit and miss I'd suggest there's a chance of some good kicking in there. Freo are super hard working and disciplined so his tank should suit, particularly at the G.

My centre bounce rotations would roughly be: Oliver 75% Harmes, Petracca 60% (Petracca attending more centre bounces then swapping forward with Jordon/Jones/ANB). Jordon 50% Kozzie 40% Jones/ANB 15% We know Brayshaw isn't good anywhere but in the middle and there's already 4 guys ahead of him and Koz makes 5. I know Koz on a wing was reported but I don't see that suiting him, if he's in the midfield get him around the ball IMO. I'd have Brayshaw on ball for Harmes' minutes but stopping Fyfe has to be a priority. I also wouldn't worry about getting Viney and Gus back in next week or the week after that, they can make a double change if it's needed. Jordon's locked in. Which leaves Chandler, Jones and Vanders (or possibly Baker) vulnerable but I think each of those 3 can do the job asked of them.

Almost certain 65 is big Josh Smith, he's a young key forward from Gippsland and kicked a goal in the 3rd. This tweet - whilst not entirely clear - suggests he kicked 2 in the last

FB: Hibberd May Rivers HB: Lever Tomlinson Salem C; Langdon Petracca Vanders HF: ANB McDonald Spargo FF: Chandler Jackson Fritsch Foll: Gawn Oliver Harmes Int: Hunt - back Pickett - mid/forward Jones - wing/mid/forward Jordon - mid/forward Sub: Bedford E: Bowey, Petty, Brayshaw Backline: I'd like to have taken chances on Petty and Bowey down back but overall I think they'll stick with Tomlinson and Hunt for a bit more experience and size. I'd take my chances with an underdone Hibberd. Fitness isn't ever his strength anyway but he can win a contest and he takes the game on and makes position to move the ball. He can play slightly limited minutes and as the deepest small. Forward: It's really hard to go away from the Fritsch/Jacko/McDonald trio as about all we've got right now. And I think we need the skill and pressure of 3 hard running smalls. They're all super fit and can do the work. Mids: 4 locks in Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Langdon. After that it's hard to know. I think we'll need Harmes on ball for Fyfe when he's there, we can't be beaten up by Fyfe. Vanders then becomes the best of a not great group of options for the wing. He knows how to bring the pressure and work rate required. After that it's looking more and more like Kozzie will get good midfield minutes which is exciting. Then there's 2 remaining spots and they trust Jones to fill in forward and on the wing, and they clearly want to reward Jordon for his summer. That means Brayshaw misses out which sets the standard for the year that you've got to be really fit to earn a game through the midfield.

No chance on the wing, and I reckon there's every chance Freo slide a key defender forward if needed, and if not will play Fyfe forward. I expect we'll keep the 3 talls. Tomlinson has the endurance and straight line speed for smaller opponents (if not the agility). May has to be a chance to take Fyfe and slide Tomlinson on to Tabs as well.

That's never happened.

He looks and sounds fine to me. Good spark in his eyes and energy in his voice. He struggles to pronounce longer words and can't pronounce 'r' sounds. It's his post match press conferences where he refuses to tell it like it is that bother me, not the light and easy ones like today.

Isn't that true of every player until the 90's when the bench started to become something that was used frequently?

There's no way I'd have Jones as the sub for his 300th when on 299, that's the same situation as a debutant. No milestone should be achieved as the sub - used or unused. What I'm saying is if Jones struggles early we shouldn't be afraid to use him as the sub for games 296-298. Or even plays a full game for 298, has a light week as the sub for 299, plays a full game for 300.