bing181

Good story bro. Jake Melksham, Kangaroos + Dockers: 9 kicks. For comparison, Chandler (one of your faves I believe) for his last two AFL games managed ... *checks notes* ... 2 kicks. Total. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pg-melbourne-demons--jake-melksham

He's not a replacement for Clarry. If anything, he's a replacement for Sparrow, Harmes and Trac down forward, to free them up to take on more of the midfield/Clarry role.

Melksham is still a better user of the ball into the forward line than almost anyone else on our list. Of course, he has to get it, but given the "blaze away" approach of the likes of Trac, Oliver, Harmes etc., not to mention the "burn your teammates" approach of a couple of the other forwards, you can perhaps understand the reasoning behind his inclusion. But even back in 2018, Melksham was never a big possession-getter, he was just very damaging with the possessions he did get. Though i wonder if they'd earmarked Laurie for a call-up for exactly this reason/role, but he's unavailable (Covid?).

Melksham had 21 disposals and 7 tackles against Geelong VFL.

Yes, lord forbid there could be some actual reasons for the decisions. Melksham frees up Trac and Harmes for more midfield time. Not complicated.

They should get something decent for Lobb. That plus their first-rounder starts to get into the ballpark?

In its own quiet way our season is slowly unravelling. You need a lot of luck to win a premiership, including with injuries/availables, and the Lady isn't smiling at us.

Fair enough, and not disagreeing with you, but development of young players is rarely linear. Even on the cusp of selection in the firsts, younger players can still have what look like dud games. Suspect though that the FD isn't necessarily watching for what we are, so who knows how close the likes of JVR and Laurie are. But if they are going to be in contention, surely better to get them in sooner rather than later with a view to finals?

Interesting stat on On The Couch. For the last 5 weeks: Petracca: Kicks I50: 28 Marks from kicks I50: 2 Oliver: Kicks I50: 18 Marks from kicks I50: 0 So 46 kicks into the forward line but only two of them were marked? Given all that, not sure if changing forward personnel is going to do much if the way the ball is coming in continues to be so hit and miss (mainly miss). (Also not sure that other main I50's, e.g. Harmes and ANB, are any better in terms of delivery/accuracy.)

Confirmed by the man himself in his presser today, that his form isn't where he'd like to be (paraphrasing).

Some good availables there and Joel Smith not far away.

Salem has been struggling since he returned from injury. Bowey down as well, means we're just not getting drive out of the back half any more. But can't imagine dropping either of them, only alternative would be Rivers but not sure he's ready to come back in.

Salem hasn't looked himself since returning from the long lay-off. Agree on Jackson/Gawn, both looked rusty (at least). At this level, that's the game right there. Geelong are a much better side than last year, hardly a weak link anywhere. Going to take some stopping.

Yes, but you can do a match's worth of training load without having to jump, turn, tackle etc. etc.

Good, grind-it-out win under the circumstances. Feel that some of the players who've missed patches of footy are still a bit off the pace - May and Salem in particular, though Langdon was back to doing what he does. Hopefully only a matter of time, especially as we have some testing games ahead. Gawn and Jackson can't come back in quick enough.

“Speaking after the Cats’ three goal win over West Coast, coach Chris Scott revealed the club had strategically upped the player’s training loads in between the Bulldogs and Eagles fixtures. A heavy training block over the break is standard at GMHBA Stadium …” https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/1153459/intense-training-block-to-prime-cats-for-september

Yes, but the Suns are obviously loading.

Mountain of evidence! Jesus. All we have is a few off-hand remarks here and there that could be interpreted in any number of ways - except on Demonland where, heh, it's all loading, nudge nudge wink wink. And a current/retired footballer HAS been specific about what goes on in-season, and that was Buckley. He talks about a week or two of extra running sessions. There was some BS on the Is Goodwin The Right Man thread, but this takes it to another level. Not only is there a conspiracy theory about loading, now there's even a layer of conspiracy theories as to why no-one's talking about it. This is how people like Trump get elected.

FWIW, one of the very (very) few discussions of this in the media was between Lyon and Buckley (on SEN?) where Buckley (who would know a thing or two) elaborated on doing extra running/training load in the lead up to the bye, as it's almost the only time in the year when it's possible. Chris Scott (AFL 360?) clarified that what Geelong were doing was for a 14 day period. Neither of which are loading or have long-term adaptive benefits, but may be useful as maintenance without too much cost.

Not to mention Cats and Pies, 4 wins in a row. Or come to it, Dogs, Suns and Richmond, won 4 of last 5.

Also less reliance on tall KPF's and bombing it in. Maybe Tom Mac out is a blessing in disguise. For the rest, spot on. As Petracca said, "After the break we're a lot more energised ..."

It's not even what he said. (I know you're only quoting EO). Agree that that reference could be about anything from skills to game plan to who know what. But heh ... yadda yadda loading.

Someone from the club confirmed we were "loading"? Must have missed it. We may have used the time around the bye to put in a couple of weeks of extra running or weights sessions - but that isn't loading, at best it's maintenance.

Might as well get it right: "We've worked incredibly hard the last 3-4 weeks on the training track". Which could mean anything. Forward craft? Stoppage setups? Taking every off-hand comment as evidence that we're supposedly loading is just confirmation bias.

Missing a few easy ones there.