DeeSpencer

It's just a hole different game with all the missing players back in. If we were able to generate the same forward pressure and the same wins in the clearances then I think we win the game based on the very good field position and pressure game we played today. It was a tick for our system of play but maybe the Brown, Fritsch and 4 smalls that caused North a lot of trouble doesn't work against a proper AFL side. We won't even be playing such a small pressuring forward line come round 1. Too many variable to extrapolate overall results.

They were missing: Forward: Ben Brown, Larkey, T Thomas, Garner, Simpkin Mid: Higgins, Cunnington, Ziebell, Polec, Goldstein Back: Luke McDonald? We were missing: Forward: T McDonald, Weid/Jackson/Petty, ANB Mid: Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Langdon, Gawn Back: Hibberd, Jetta, May, Lever, Salem, Harmes Both teams missing their best 5 mids. I was impressed by our make shift backline doing a very good job but North didn't have much of a forward line in. And our forward line wasn't as depleted as our other units - given we don't know who is best 22 from that group - but apart from bad goal kicking they did well against a strong North backline.

Pert's banking on converting many of the supposed 10k+ MCC members who don't buy the MFC add one. An add on that I believe started at about $35 a decade ago, rose to 50, 70 and is now a ridiculous $89. How many people are part of the MCC, reasonably wealthy and as stupid as I am to pay $89 for a scarf and to say they've done their bit? Even if we are winning premierships I don't think it will be nearly as many as Pert thinks.

That's what I'm hoping for but there's no future planning right now. For some reason we keep the Wagner's on the list who no one wants to be in the team unless we have a dozen injuries but we aren't putting development time in to a young key defender who could replace Oscar in a couple of years.

The bigger surprise to me is that we've moved Petty forward (apparently once he's fit) and bought in Mitch Brown for key forward depth but we haven't added any key defensive depth. It's May, Oscar, Lever and then more third tall options in Smith and Hore. That might be enough for this year but who's up next if Oscar doesn't improve and guys continue to get injuries? State league key defenders have a decent success rate, I would've liked to add one for some depth and competition. We've still got the Nietschke spot open and I'd be looking for a young developing tall to put some time in to.

For hopefully the last time ....Frost was one of the poorest endurance athletes on the list and also has poor footy IQ. After about 2 minutes he would've been out on his feet and completely lost. Speed is important on a wing but the most important things of wing play are endurance and positioning. Frost is good at one thing and one thing only - when given a clear run at the footy he's very hard to beat. Given the limitations of some of our other defenders I would've liked to have kept him but the salary cap and draft means you can't keep them all.

I think you'll find most of the Port Melbourne/Fisherman's Bend area has been sold off to the big developers and is slowly working it's way through planning and eventually in to construction. It's unlikely there's any spare land up for sale at a reasonable price. Given the number of new residents to eventually move in there the council would be negligent to give up access to any green spaces even with a shared agreement. I thought a few years ago we could've joined with Melbourne Grammar and expanded their site in to something excellent that worked for both parties but I think that window has probably sailed.

I think it was the opposite. Without a recognised ruck the winger was sent defensively to stop the clean tap and fast break by the opposition. If Gawn is back for Marsh 2 I think we'll see the wing return to the normal position. It's also something they could be trialling to combat Nic Nat and Shuey against the Eagles in round 1. Either way it seems like a defensive move.

Impressive photo, but unless Petracca is levitating then big ROB is stuck to the ground there. I'm willing to admit I didn't think Jackson would be regularly getting that high up over opponents but then again he's only done it once so far. If you used my full quote rather than selectively editing it you'd see I said his running vertical leap is well above average and I didn't expect him to have any issues competing in the ruck at his height.

The knocks on his game are his disposal and likely a fitness/game minutes restriction and they are valid concerns. But a fitter inside mid quatet of Oliver, Viney, Petracca and we assume Gus plus Langdon and Tomlinson on the wings means we can have some lower minutes through the mid/forward group. Vanders versatility means he can cover the wing rotations, have short bursts on ball - could switch with Petracca - and provide some pressure as a forward. Versatility + tone setting physicality + ability to break the lines adds makes a useful player even with skill errors.

Yep the zone had some big gaps. Wind might have been a factor making it harder to judge the spacing. And hey I guess we stopped teams going the big switch out to free runners that killed us last year, but we have to tighter those gaps up. Without being at the ground it’s hard to know who was most to blame.

Good post. Tommy Mc has to be getting some easy hit up leads to get involved in games. Melksham can't just pick and choose. They both looked like last year where getting them up the ground (T Mc a burst in the ruck, Melksham on ball) to start them off is probably required. A positive for Tom was that his pressure looked far better. Fritsch has been our best forward all preseason. He'll have plenty of quiet days as well especially if playing deep, and he needs to tackle better but he has the kind of energy and desire to create space that should make a big difference - if/when healthy. I hope we can get Hannan, Chandler and Petty back fit soon because we need the competition for spots. Vanders is at least one addition. And Tom Sparrow showed a bit on ball, he should keep pushing for a half forward spot as well. Nothing from the game told me Mitch Brown is going to compete against proper opponents, he's a cat. ANB yikes.

I can support Jackson - and support the drafting of Jackson - whilst still being critical of at least part of the footage. Of course it may or may not be as significant as the editing makes it look like but I'm only commenting on what we've been shown. We haven't won a flag in 50 years and we crashed down to 2nd last at least partly due to some unsuccessful list management decisions over the last few years. It's reasonable to suggest we might not be making the best decisions. They also overhauled their analytics team in order to help maker smarter decisions. But as I said the club had Jackson at 2 by the sounds of things and took their best ranked guy.

If they bid was matched that's fine, if not he starts out in the VFL for a year maybe 2 (see Tom Mitchell, Sam Mitchell, Max Gawn x 6 etc) and you trade out surplus players. At the end of the day assuming Taylor put bias aside they had Jackson ranked higher, but the documentary is highlighting some lazy and outdated thinking that analysis particularly in the US where they study these things closely has shown to often end badly.

Don't draft for need with early picks. Don't draft for need with early picks. Don't draft for need with early picks. Oh [censored], we drafted for need. I hope the bit with Richo was staged for the cameras. Jason Taylor's opinion not the pigeon hole him in a positional role didn't seem to get through.

After the draft when the Demonland Podcasters interviewed Jason Taylor they asked him a question along the lines of did you rate Jackson up with Rowell and Anderson. JT was very cautious in his answer saying he wouldn't give away his draft order but it hinted as a possibility they club rated Jackson higher than one of Rowell or Anderson. Personally I'd have to think it could only be medical or psych testing knocking one of those guys down the order but it also didn't matter considering we never had access to them. The club would've considered a lot more names than Jackson and Green but it's better to just leave it as 2 guys for the documentary than start commenting on a bunch of players we passed over.

If I were in charge I'd pick the following team: Injured: Gawn, May, Jones, Fritsch, Petty + Long term guys Rested: Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Vanders, McDonald, Melksham, Langdon, Hibberd, Salem + Jetta (all stars) Possibles: Brayshaw, Chandler, J Smith FB: Hore Oscar J Wagner HB: Harmes Lever Lockhart C : Tomlinson Sparrow Baker HF: ANB Brown Hunt FF: Pickett Weideman Bedford Foll: Jackson Jordon Spargo Int: Bradtke, Rivers + Casey players

Not really the headline you want but will wait for the doco episode for proper context.

Game plan: Still conceded too many easy goals with lack of forward/mid pressure and defenders caught off their man. Our zones clearly weren't tight enough. Can we fix that easily? Too many forward entries going to Brown and McDonald together. And not enough run and link. Positives were far more width in our play using the flanks making sure we retain possession. Much more midfield coverage around the stoppage and got cleaner ball going from the stoppages. Backline were steady with the ball. Forwards created good 2nd and 3rd opportunities for most of the game. Individuals: Tracc - super Oliver ran the ball more especially in the second half Viney looked to use team mates Langdon was a refreshing sight - a proper wing runner. Tomlinson solid enough. Brown - I'm still not convinced, he really doesn't like contact, but it at least an option Sparrow showed a desire for the contest, ability to spread and some nicer ball use, tick Vanders got through, looked like Vanders. If he cleans up his skills (will never be his strength) and keeps the tackling Pickett (obviously) and Jackson (more subtle ways) showed they have something to work with Backline: Harmes took a long time to work in to it. Lever battled early against weak opposition. Jetta got beat by a player who was just delisted a few times. Oscar was Oscar, the best thing is he can play his role by staying out of the way against the right opponent. Was haapy with Hibbo. Mids: Overall a nice performance just have to close up those gaps without the ball and working on not all 3 (or 4 with a mobile ruck) hunting the ball. Forwards: ANB dreadful when near the ball, a fumble machine. Spargo - some promise, if he was a first year kid we'd be raving, at a minimum he's back to being a guy we can use. Kosi - didn't find much of it but should've been used on brilliant sustained runs at least 3 or 4 times.

Hogan never played as a ruck so there’s not much to see based on today

Jetta simple rolled left ankle. Jones copped a stray leg to the shin or calf.

Can we buy a holding the ball?

Awful balance around the contest there. You can’t allow a free runner. If that’s not fixed we’re screwed

The main thing Jackson needs is a coach to teach him how to mark with soft open hands rather than snatch at it.

Jackson played ruck and forward until a small midfield dose. He’s been very close to grabbing a few around the ground and his follow up in the ruck has been something special. Not a great debut but outside of the midfield experimenting there’s been signs of what could come with just a little more touch and picking up the pace.