bing181

Talk to the Melbourne players about the way they're tackling. The frees are there.

That free to Petty was the first to us - against 9 to them. Lots of clumsy, unnecessary tackles on our part, which sums up the game. Willing, but low on skills ... and confidence.

I posted this in the "Jesse Hogan out for the rest of the year with a recurrence of his navicular injury" thread. Probably more relevant here, as it's clearly Dave Misson's fault. Got all the hallmarks: - a foot injury (players only get foot injuries at Melbourne/under Misson) - a repeat injury (and as we know, repeat injuries only occur through either bad management or players coming back 'too soon') - an injury that was misdiagnosed: "scans have confirmed that his right mid-foot sprain was unrelated to the navicular injury he suffered with Melbourne" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) - an injury where a short period out: "The Dockers' confirmed that the 24-year-old would return to playing football in the coming weeks." turns into "Fremantle confirmed that Hogan will require a 16-week rehabilitation" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) etc. etc.

Clearly Dave Misson's fault. Got all the hallmarks: - a foot injury (players only get foot injuries at Melbourne/under Misson) - a repeat injury (and as we know, repeat injuries only occur through either bad management or players coming back 'too soon') - an injury that was misdiagnosed: "scans have confirmed that his right mid-foot sprain was unrelated to the navicular injury he suffered with Melbourne" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) - an injury where a short period out: "The Dockers' confirmed that the 24-year-old would return to playing football in the coming weeks." turns into "Fremantle this afternoon confirmed that Hogan will require a 16-week rehabilitation" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) etc. etc.

J Wagner is a back/defender, while the others aren't. i.e. it's not a choice between Baker and JW for example, as they play different positions. It would suggest that they want Lewis in the middle or playing a tagging role, plus some cover/relief for an underdone Jetta. With Petty moved forward, JW is next cab off the rank. (Actually, with our injuries, when it comes to half-backs, he's the only cab off the rank ...) But heh, lord forbid that I suggest that the FD know what they're doing, I realise it's not how it's done around here.

Agree with what you're saying, but Hannan looks much like he always has to me. Let's not forget that while he's had his moments, he has always disappeared for long periods in matches, and bounced around between the 1's and Casey because of it.

Another Demonland nothingburger takes shape.

Yes, because they should have known that the forward line was dysfunctional *before* the season even started. Surely, if you're going to make those changes during the season, given the disruption they cause, mid-season (the bye) is the time to do it.

D'land reductionism at its finest.

Sure - but you can't have players missing huge slabs of the pre-season and then expect them to take it up a notch the following year. Just not possible. So by the time you take out all the injured/operated-on, there aren't all that many left - and no surprise that those who have been mentioned here (Salem, Frost), had full preseasons.

Always hard to tell on Demonland, but I thought he was being sarcastic, rearranging the deckchairs and all that.

To be fair, he didn't actually say that, especially the use of the word "big". It's also taken out of context, because he wasn't just talking about the fitness/medical side. What he said was ... "there will be a lot of changes in that area and the coaching areas as well." Which unless I'm mistaken covers the whole FD. Worth a listen, Mahoney calls a spade a spade. The above section is from around 4:05. https://www.3aw.com.au/dees-footy-manager-says-a-failed-pre-season-has-compromised-their-performance/

Yes, but where does confidence come from? You're running through the middle, you look up and you see what ahead of you? Not familiar faces, running to where you expect them to be, doing what you've done together x times in the past ... you see either players who deep down you don't really trust to win/hold the ball (Hannan), or players who you've *never* played with down forward (Petty, Preuss). In both those scenarios, what you don't have is predictability, thus, a lack of confidence in the outcomes.

Weideman for Hannan, maybe Baker for Dunkley.

Inexperience.

Score a good reflection of the game. Lever and Jetta will be better for the run, makeshift forward line was always going to be stretched, but once again, too many players out, too little consistency in the team we're putting on the park and still too many (fringe) players where chains of possession break down. Against that, a good opportunity for younger players, and Petty did well, working to his strengths. Final point: Steven May. Bag him all you want, but showed what real, take the game by the scruff of the neck leadership looks like.

5 possessions or less: Brayshaw, ANB, Preuss, Fritsch, Lockhart, Hannan, Dunkley, Frost (though honorable mentions to Petty and Jetta).

Demonland represents only a small percentage of the Membership/supporters base. Also, a self-selecting group.

Or that his development has been impacted positively by having to work on his defensive skills, not to mention, learning the forward's craft by playing on them.

So now no Weideman. That means Tom Mac, Weeds, Melksham, and arguably VDB and Garlett are unavailable from first choice forward 6, and throw in both T & J Smith as first cabs off the rank as backup.

If you think that any of those have anything to do with Misson, I can't help you.

Tim Smith Calf TBC

Yeah right. The one guy who kept his job in the FD under 3 different regimes (Neeld, Roos, Goodwin), and is leaving under his own volition to go overseas. Worth noting that while Misson has been head-hunted a couple of times over a career in the AFL that goes back to 2001, he has never been sacked or "moved on".

Probably could have played in the firsts.

Not sure what people are missing here, especially as it was covered in the original post. This is *NOT* just about fitness. If pre-seasons were just about fitness, we wouldn't even have one. Each player could be given an individual fitness program and they could just meet up on the morning of the first JLT match.