Dee-licious

Missing Weideman badly. We dont have great forward structure today without him. Mitch White playing the deep forward. We've kicked 3 behinds to 1. Nothing exciting to report other than a scrappy contest. Petty looking good around our the top of our forward 50 - keeping the ball in our forward 50 (tackles and marks). He looks so composed at this level and hopefully he will get the same confidence at AFL level. King alright thus far today. I had him on the chopping block, but we need to keep one of them and he is really putting together a nice little game. Tim Smith just looks like a star at this level. I remember why we loved him back a few years ago. Corey Wagner should be on a list next year. Great running and great pressure. Tackles like a beast.

11 AFL listed players with JKH and Pedo travelling. Really tight game thus far - there isnt a lot of class on show. (He says as Tim Smith has a beautiful lead). Bugg playing inside mid today.

Also for those who are interested: 2014: Dom Tyson 2015: Hogan, Lever, Brayshaw, Viney 2016: Hogan, Lever, Trac, Viney, Kent, Hunt 2017: Hunt, Oliver, Trac, OMac, Lever 2018: ANB, Harmes, Trac, Oliver, Brayshaw, Fritch Although it’s not finals, it’s an indication that we actually have good players now (earlier versions of the 22 under 22 were not good reading for us). 13 players have been nominated in the last 5 years: Backs: Lever, OMac, Hunt Mids: Brayshaw, Oliver, Viney, Harmes, Tyson, Forwards: Hogan, Trac, Fritch, ANB, Kent add AA squad recipients Gawn, Hibbard, Garlett, Jetta (and Lever) ..... it’s not a bad 18 players with captain Jones. The arguments above are right - our “core” is sooooooo young and we aren’t really ready for another year - but here is hoping a final or 2 this year!

Wouldn’t want to see Hamish on Monday..... contact drills this week will hurt him.

Showing your age. The new generation of fast bowlers (Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins) all 190+. There aren’t too many kicking around Aus under 190 now. Australia’s loss our gain. Just thought we were getting a 196cm key defender - I’m happy to settle for a highly skilled half back ?

Only 184cm - no wonder he didn’t make it as a fast bowler. Interested to see his kicking and speed.

Few things here: 1. It was Chris Lynn who was belting him which lets face it, anyone who was bowling that day it was all over. He was a really promising fast bowler and at 18 he looked like he was Australian bound. 2. He's tall and young. Plenty to work with here. 3. Look at this video.....

You’d expect there would be a little bit of “if you find a good contract somewhere else, we’ll help you” with a few of them but I cannot imagine they’ll want another 8 changes that we had last year. 14 out of contract and a little bit of projection - id assume: Offered new: Oscar, AVB, Vince, Balic, Kent, T Smith, Sign if there is no interest: Johnson, Bugg, JKH, Pedo i have no idea: King, Flip, McKenna, Keilty. Its tough as you have til have 3 draftees. McKenna could go to a rookie list with no issues. I can’t see any of our rookies being upgraded (Maynard, Flip, Kielty, Smith) bar Tim Smith. Honestly it will be tough to work out who goes because we’ve all seen Bugg at his best and he clearly is an AFL player; we assume that one of Flip or King goes; JKH I thought would look for other opportunities but if he stays in our side for a few more weeks will be hard not to offer a contract; Kent clearly can be best 22; Johnson is developing as a small defender but maybe he goes?; I’m thinking maybe Dec might be on the way out sadly and maybe Pedo as well. Feel it does leave us short though in the backline.

Here here. Hoping he stays on in 2019 as well. At his best he was one of the premier clearance players in the league and he is still very young (25) so should be entering his prime soon.

Was thinking about how well Gus is going and then wanted to check how he was going against Trac. Trac's played 5 more games and their averages are scarily similar. Gus is having a much better year this year, but I kind of expected that to translate (including his first year when he was 5th in rising star) into better stats that Trac. Sheesh we have some good young kids. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=A&tid1=12&playerStatus2=A&tid2=12&type=A&pid1=4037&pid2=4041&fid1=C&fid2=C Player Statistics Comparison Angus Brayshaw Name Christian Petracca Melbourne Demons Team Melbourne Demons Defender, Midfield Position Midfield, Forward 50 Career Games 55 Sandringham Dragons Origin Eastern Ranges January 9, 1996 Date of Birth January 4, 1996 22yr 6mth Age 22yr 6mth 187cm Height 186cm 87kg Weight 96kg 2014 National Draft Last Drafted In 2014 National Draft Round 1, Pick #3 Last Draft Position Round 1, Pick #2 Melbourne Demons Last Drafted By Melbourne Demons Career Stats for Season Career 50 Games 55 10.3 Kicks Per Game 9.2 8.0 Handballs Per Game 9.7 18.3 Disposals Per Game 18.9 3.5 Marks Per Game 3.2 0.5 Goals Per Game 0.9 0.3 Behinds Per Game 0.5 4.1 Tackles Per Game 2.9 0 Hitouts Per Game 0.1 3.6 Inside 50s Per Game 3.6 0.6 Goal Assists Per Game 0.7 0.9 Frees For Per Game 0.7 0.8 Frees Against Per Game 0.8 7.5 Contested Possessions Per Game 10.0 11.1 Uncontested Possessions Per Game 9.3 12.5 Effective Disposals Per Game 12.7 68.3% Disposal Efficiency % Per Game 67.2% 2.7 Clangers Per Game 3.1 0.2 Contested Marks Per Game 0.6 0.4 Marks Inside 50 Per Game 0.8 2.4 Clearances Per Game 2.5 1.1 Rebound 50s Per Game 0.8 0.9 One Percenters Per Game 1.1 0.1 Bounces Per Game 0.1 71.9 Time On Ground % Per Game 80.5 0.9 Centre Clearances Per Game 0.9 1.5 Stoppage Clearances Per Game 1.6 4.8 Score Involvements Per Game 5.7 310.9 Metres Gained Per Game 272.0 3.9 Turnovers Per Game 3.7 2.5 Intercepts Per Game 2.4 0.7 Tackles Inside 50 Per Game 0.7

Thanks for all of your work on this @Lucifer's Hero - with Gus till 22 and Jetta to 21 we are really just waiting on OMac's signature at the moment. The rest you wouldn't imagine will be on more than a 2 year deal and there is no one on that list I'd be concerned if they hadn't put pen to paper before trade season. 2019 is really interesting with Salem, ANB, Stretch and Weiderman OOC, but the big story will of course be Hogan. I cannot imagine that they'd want that dragging out next year and I assume they'd look to sign him over the off-season up until his free agency begins (2021).

From Swamp: Games polling @AFLCoaches votes in 2018 1x: 105 players 2x: 69 players 3x: 41 players 4x: 29 players 5x: 19 players 6x: 18 players 7x: 18 players 8x: 8 players 9x: 4 players 10x: 7 players 11x: Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin 12x: 13x: ANDREW GAFF

Jay Clark reporting that Brayshaw has been offered $700,000 across 4 years at North (that is Gaff sort of money!). 1. Brayshaw seems very committed to the Dees (and Clark says that he assumes Brayshaw will stay 2. North dont have the pieces to offer us for Brayshaw (first round this and next year wont be enough unless they bomb out badly this year). 3. It is nice that teams want our players for big money (Hogan, Brayshaw). It makes me feel like we have good players.

6 - Oliver was the best player on the ground and there were a lot of Brownlow votes out there. 5 - Harmes - so since when is he Jacobs level of tagging? Kept Selwood to 8 touches and Danger to 7. Fat out. Far, far out. 4 - Trac - so close. He is just so close to tearing a game a new one. The way he stands up, tackles hard, delivers the ball. It just feels like one day he’ll have 8 and 40 and we’ll be like, yeah that’s just Trac. 3 - McDonald - 4 goals. 2 - Brayshaw - id love to have Viney out there but it’s great seeing Brayshaw in and under. 1 - Lewis - he’s so so solid. And just gets it done. Until Lever, Pig and Hunt are up and running again, he’s so important to our set up.

Out of context. Boomer was doing a review of the Freo list and was selling hope that Hogan would come to Perth. In his analysis of the Melbourne list earlier this year he talked about Hogan being a big part of the future of the Melbourne football club. Not a story which is why it is thin and boomer hasn’t followed up the comments.

As much as we gave to Lever but over 5. Media have said opening price will need to be $4 million over 5.

Why is Dion out of the side?

It rates the off the ball stuff as well which is why Cunnington and McEvoy are up there. The other thing it rewards is playing games. I would assume that Cunnignton and McEvoy havent missed a game in the last 2 years which is why they are up there. You'll see them replaced by Fyfe, Gawn, Kelly and co. as soon as they have played 35 of the last 40 games.

Also this is a very selective statistic. We are ranked 9th for scores against, which is much better than the 16th once they are inside 50. The point is correct that because of the press that opposition score against us when they get it over the back. But to go from 9th to 18th (i.e. the best) team, it is reducing our scores against by 2 goals a game. To be up with St Kilda and Carlton as Gary has put us, teams would need to score 4 goals a game more each week. Yes we do need to reduce a goal or 2 per game that we give to other teams (although if you take our 3 blow outs - Haw, Rich, Coll, - and only make them 2 goal losses, it gets us a lot closer to the pin) - but there was something quite interesting Salem said today in the press conference - that Bernie and Lewis down back are helping Salem improve his game. Long run here, yes a fairy tale would be nice, but it is about getting the pieces to have a dynasty - not just a flash in the pan.

@Deemania since 56 if you are talking about Stretch - probably 70% of his possessions were first touch possies and 30% receiving from others. Really good game from him.

He lurks well and he is in the right positions just isn’t having that pick me game. I don’t know what the coaches are looking for but I thought we’d see him deep crumbing but seemed to play high half forward. The Hannan role. Interesting to see what happens for the rest of the year. We have to be a better team with him than without him.

He does great things off the ball. He did great work off the ball in the forward line and was responsible for some Hogan goals. If he can get a break out game at Afl level it will really worry backlines. As Derm says: Hogan and McDonald could be the 2 best forwards in the comp. we’ve also got a really good third as well.

Interesting discussion. Think back to the fact that we played Oscar underdeveloped because long term it was the right call. How long until we do the same with Petty? I think that the next 3 are perfect for Weid to see how his form is tracking. I think he just offers something different from our other talls. @DeeSpencer agree with Pedo. A see how this goes. He used to play back so it’s not new. @wizardinoz I don’t know if Pedo was near it enough to have a bad game =p what did people see in Garlett’s game? @dl4e?

Weideman had his breakout game. He has a 6 goal game last year against better opposition but for me this was better because the conditions were not key forward conditions, he took some unbelievable marks, he was not beaten in a contest, he was good around the ground, and played well in the ruck as well. Billy - Trac and ANB aren’t making way for him. He was fantastic around the contest and if Viney, Oliver, Jones were injured tomorrow he’d be first in. Maybe he might come in for someone like a Harmes but he is there ready to go when he is needed. The old cliche just be in good form when an opportunity is knocking and he was. Good he hit the score board, would have had a heap of metres gained as well. Both things that aren’t trademarks of his AFL career thus far. The backs - Frost was better this week because he played unaccountable football. And we know how good he is when he can run, kick and do what he wants. The issue is that this is not what we are asking of him at AFL level so it’s a bit hard to see him making it back in next week. Wouldn’t be surprised though. Pedo was good and locked down well. Petty played quite well but it wasn’t a day where the backman could star as it was an easy day at the office for them. Baker - sorry - not for mine just yet. Ran well, smart taps, good football sense. You can see he can make it, but not yet. JKH - really great inside outside game. Played some nice minutes as a high half forward. Will play great AFL football next year for a team that picks him up. Balic - time and space. Didn’t have a great game but you just can see AFL qualities and class in him. And a will to make it happen. This year is a Building year and looking forward to what he does JLT next year. Bugg is a tough one. Was not near it in the first half and then was great when he went into the centre. I’m interested to see what happens as the year progresses. Wouldn’t have had many metres gained, but was good in tight.

Stretch continuing to be best on. Clearance numbers would be Oliver-esc. He is kicking really well and finding space. He does look like he could come in and play a role - I wonder though if Harmes and ANB are playing his role so he can’t get in? Weiderman is playing really well. Conditions not helping him but hasn’t been beaten and presented really well. I can see him being called back in sooner rather than later. Just a super talent and does all the basic stuff right. Playing really well in the ruck as well. Frost playing really solidly in the backline and his running and kicking setting us up. I think he will be an emergency next round at least. Spargo looks like he has hit the rookie wall. He looks spent! Playing inside mid though and doing some nice things. Does look classy but tired. Bugg quiet so they’ve moved him into the middle. Garlett sitting at the back of packs. IF he is brought back in its based on his training and team things, not on his performance. Petty and Pedo are solid. They aren’t really needed as it’s not in the back 50. Been impressed with Johnstone - changing my opinion of him. Balic pressuring but not having a great game. i know a lot of love for Baker out there. Not the sort of conditions or game for him. Coach would be happy with his pressure and running patterns though.