Webber

2 hours ago, Watson11 said:

only 33 stoppages compared to a normal games 50-60 and some games being up to 70 (65 in our final v Collingwood). There was a lot of high speed running (both teams over 45km which is huge).

That’s extraordinary. No wonder the game felt so unrelenting at the time. Btw, what  is the ‘45km’ you refer to? 

1 hour ago, In Harmes Way said:

I think you'll find Webber that crook is a legitimate medical term. I'm surprised you don't know this, given your profession.

To that, way back when working in London, I asked a returning client if he was still ‘feeling crook’. He honestly had no idea what I meant, only if it implied he was a criminal. I suggested he watch more Neighbours. 

Just now, WalkingCivilWar said:

took ill

Are you descended from Jane Austen, WCW? Delightful turn of phrase. So much better than ‘was crook’. 

Came back to this thread hoping to enjoy some genuine contrition from posters who were moronically bagging Harry Petty before Saturday. You know who you are, one in particular who went hard, embarrassingly repetitive, and personal. Apart from @M_9 and @Roost it far’s really owning their comments though, the others have been pathetically conditional with their mea culpas. As @The Chief said, that’s the best contested marking game for an MFC forward since David Neitz. That’s the kind of player the FD think Petty can measure up to.
        But here’s the thing. He was coming off an injury that is too frequently a career killer, had another foot issue during his rehab and pre-season which took him off weight-bearing, and that’s simply a rubbish prep for a season. Horrible. And then some. He played half a game in the VFL and did nothing. Nonetheless, the FD brought him back to big show the very next week. For those on here who lost their minds at this selection, why do you think the selectors did that? They would never have expected him to perform to anywhere near his best under those circumstances, yet they had a plan. Saturday showed just how much it was the right plan. Petty is essential to our flag tilt this year, in a forward line that has familiarity with each other, and some [censored]ing continuity (fingers firmly crossed). Some, or maybe most of us got it. Geez, I hope people think a bit deeper next time. 

I heard the 774 post match too. The Lingers interview was the best bit of it. Otherwise, for some reason they feel a need to delegitimise the Dees. Why that is, who knows, but it always contains a false narrative about defence and attack that the stats just don’t back up. The other thing they completely ignore is that we’d lost 75% of our well-functioning forward line by the finals anyway. Muppets. 

7 minutes ago, binman said:

8 more contested

And I’d happily claim those as all Harrison Petty’s. It bemuses me how quickly people forget about previously exposed form and talent. Petty showed us last night, in the most emphatic terms, why he’s so highly rated by the FD. Why they gave him the leeway to build form with first 22 exposure off the back of a big rehab and limited pre-season, and why he’s essential to our attacking strategy. Yep, attacking. As a forward. A roaming CHF type who has creative versatility. Sure, he’s a great KPD, but after ~ 10 games playing as a forward, (with a back 6 playing great footy) its blindingly obvious where and how he’s most valuable to this current team. Not the 2021 team, the 2024 team. Well done Harry. 

2 minutes ago, binman said:

is that a common way to hurt a hammy @Webber?)

Variations thereof, yes. Hamstring tears occur substantially at full pace acceleration on the leading leg. Just after the foot secures in the turf, the hamstring load goes from 0 to 100 in order to pull the body through. That’s when they happen - maximal tension at full length. The idea of not making it worse by sending him back on is wishful thinking at best, delusion at worst. Staggering stuff. I don’t get it. 

If anything happens in footy this week more stupid than playing someone a single WEEK after a hamstring tear, it’ll have to be REALLY stupid. 

Hey @WalkingCivilWar, can u also ask Melky if he’s aiming for a ‘9 month post surgery’ return to play’? If it helps, obviously tell him you’re asking for a friend. 

7 minutes ago, binman said:

Real contenders don’t give up 20 goals.

This. 

1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

The good thing about Woey is his speed off the mark.

Cats have some nippy small forwards and the one thing that stood out to me with Woey’s game in the backline, was the speed in which he closed down the Tigers’ space on Wednesday night.

Nailed it, DZ. He’s growing into the role too, and needs consistent exposure at AFL level to be the mainstay I reckon he’ll become. 
 

As to the Geelong game, I watched them live yesterday, and they were very good. Carlton exposed their lack of speed in the backline though, and would have snatched it had their decision making/ball use been better, Carlton’s shabby backline notwithstanding. At this stage, even if we beat Geelong (all gonna be about the midfield and contested ball), it’s hard not to see them finishing top of the ladder, and by some margin. They’ve got a teensy injury list (Dangerfield included) and a ridiculously easy fixture. Injuries are the only thing that will stop this happening. 

24 minutes ago, JJR said:

Did you find these stats on the afl app? Interested to look at them

Heard them on the ABC radio post-game analysis. 

58 minutes ago, old55 said:

Ironically Frosty is pretty close to best KPD in both categories.

Fascinating. I reckon, despite the rumour that he was deemed uncoachable at the Dees, Mitchell has coached/threatened him to only dispose on highest percentage options. Noticed this timidity in our recent game. There’s the other side of Frosty tho, and that’s the not so great play reading and positioning. Not a natural footballer at all, but may have made the best of himself. Kudos due. 

26 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I haven't seen this term fumble and turn it over so much for eons

Nor I. Then there was the second half. 76 % disposal efficiency. Season average all teams is 65%. Truly a game of two halves 😉. Which one is us? I’m going with ‘you’re only as good as your last half”. 

For all those projecting dire and disastrous consequence against Geelong because of horrible kicking/turnovers like Wednesday’s first half, i.e. 56% disposal efficiency (10 percentage points below all game average), would love to know what you think happens if we play like the second half, i.e. 76% disposal efficiency (10 points ABOVE all game average)?

Ooooh, that’s just perfect. 

Why do teams forget that Collingwood always look to break toward the corridor on the turnover? Defend the corridor, push them wide, slow their run? And don’t allow them to out-number at the breakdown and muscle the outlet possession. Essendon are willing, but basically as dumb as a bag of bricks - Merrett and a few others notwithstanding. 

Great article*. It’s obvious to say that a succession of short breaks, the most egregious this season being St. Kilda’s 3 games in 11 days -a patent unfairness - is the key issue. The media aren’t interested, or are in some cases I suspect are directed not to comment on fixturing unevenness, which means the GP, who have no insight into the physical extremes these guys endure anyway, think short breaks are irrelevant. That’s assuming they think about it at all. Add to this the “no excuses” mantra at a coaching (and player interview) level, and the “we’ll take whatever’s thrown at us” dogma, and rank unevenness ensues. Then there’s the 18 teams spun into 22 games each  raffle. Needless to say, NOT AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD. There needs to be a complete overhaul, but it won’t happen til the 20th team arrives, and even then, commercial interests will dictate the changes. I feel like an old fart longing for the simple and FAIR predictability of Saturday only fixturing. Obviously we don’t need or want that, but there IS a better way. Problem is, that’s not where the AFL’s  interest lies. 

*interesting to note in this article that we’re the only team who doesn’t play an oppo off the same break length once. 

3 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

On the radio after the game lever said at half time all ge could do was laugh because he'd never see us kick so badly. Glad he was amused

I said in the game day thread at half time that our kicking was so bad it was ‘almost funny’. Apparently it was ‘actually’ funny. Oh well, half right. 

Richmond’s lowest score against us since the week before Kevin Bartlett played his first game. Gotta love our defence. 

Just now, CHF said:

 

That is the worst half of kicking turnovers I have seen from MFC ever. 

 

Just what I was thinking. It’s almost funny. 

At the game. Gotta be some kind of record for kicking to the oppo. Just never seen anything like it. It’s literally like they’re trying to do it. Can’t possibly continue, can it?!!!! 

17 minutes ago, picket fence said:

C Hit to opposition

Your entire criticism is based on this, and it’s statistical nonsense. His hitout percentage to advantage is elite across his career. Yes, compared to all other ruckman. The other truth is that hitouts to advantage are never a high percentage stat, for anyone ruckman ever. It could be said you’ve got no idea, but better to just imagine you’re angry and misguided. Do us all a favour and pick another target. Have a long think about it before, though. 

Fair to say none of us saw this coming. It’s that bad. Pre-2021, and then some. It’s like they’re all crook. Really really hard to watch. Urgggghhh. 

1 hour ago, Chook said:

He plays a lot shorter than Flower though. Flowers’s marking prowess looks to have been underrated based on what I’ve seen (too young to have seen him live). 

Robbie was a great mark, Chook. He could take a ride for a screamer, and dive to take marks or one-handers that nobody else would. Knew to never get involved in a body contest, cos didn’t have the body-work skills of say, Fritta (similar build). I’m resuming my judgment on Caleb’s overhead skills just yet, only cos hasn’t been presented yet. Would complete the picture, no doubt.