Webber

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.

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.

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.

This.

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.

Heard them on the ABC radio post-game analysis.

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.

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.

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 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?!!!!

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.

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.

Been trying to keep the lid on, but this kid is a freak, simply going to be an enormous star, and he DOES remind me of Robbie more than anyone. (There, I’ve said it).

It’s free, with no ads, is utterly comprehensive, really good-hearted, long enough for a listen on a big drive, long enough to be broken into daily commute or brekky chunks, calls out Demonland community members (which is great for those of us who enjoy the personalised, ‘community’ aspect of Demonland), takes on callers (non-judgementally), and sometimes provides great interviews. Um, really the podcast is just critic-proof.

That’s our binman, the pearls you hardly notice. And he’s here all week!

I wonder if the OP is now thinking about some umble pie? Great work guys, just about to listen to this week’s pod, anticipating a cracker of a highlight akin to binman’s quote from last week …. “MFCSS is like herpes”. (harsh, but oh how true). 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻