Dee-licious

Let’s face it. If he was on the open market in a draft year with his pedagree and physicality he’d be drafted. To get a free hit is awesome. The other thing is that we get him like we got Hogan. Basically a year of being in an elite system while he is in year 12 and then will be able to play as of next year. I’d expect he won’t play VFL at all this year. Just looked at at his basketball highlights. The kid can jump and the write ups were all about his agility. Yep he’s not like any big man we’ve seen in the Afl. NicNat like in his agility. If he can kick we might be on to something here.

I thought he was taking the injured players up early and then they were flying up Saturday. I think maybe the 1 traveling emergency is consistent with the rest of the year (right?). Saying that i don’t remember us traveling with and emergency to the Gabba.

Great write up on Cripps today from FoxFooty talking about how he is the fastest to 1,000 contested possessions with 68 games ahead of Kennedy with 79. For those playing at home, Oliver has 614 from 44 games, meaning he needs 386 from 23 games to break Cripps. This means he has to go at 16.8 contested possessions a game from here on in, which is a tick over the 16.33 he is averaging this year (averaged 15.64 last year). More likely, he is going to do it in the same number as Cripps (av. 16 contested possessions) and it will come before the bye next year. For him to be second on that list to Cripps, he would need to 'only' have 11 contested possessions per game which are more like his figures in year 1 (9.5 average) and be in his 4th year of AFL, compared to Cripps' 5th, Fyfe 5th, Libba's 5th, Wines' 5th, T. Mitchell's 5th, Kennedy's 6th. For comparison, Viney will get to 1,000 in the next 2 games (on 975 now) and he has played 89 games. In summary, assuming no injury, Oliver will equal Cripps' record for fastest to 1000 contested possessions and do it a year younger than Cripps as well.

Question - anyone know why Brayshaw is doing the AFL podcast every week? I love that he is doing it - but why Gus? Seems like he is crafting a nice little media career. Would be good in 15 years the for us to have Gawn, Brayshaw and others commentating.

How is young Hunt going? Thanks for the updates.

What is great about him though is his ability to take a mark and a contested one at that out on the wing. It was something we sorely missed when he was out. 24 years of age, still under 100 games, there is still growth in him (and hopefully a good kicking coach).

@Jaded as you said - he needs to play inside mid. When he does we are a better team and he’s a better player. Viney Oliver Brayshaw at the coal face is pretty scary.

6. Brayshaw - and people still want to trade him... 5. Oliver - he had a quiet last quarter to rest which cost him the vote. 4. Hogan - I was asked today what I would trade for Hogan. Nothing comes to mind. 3. Gawn - the difference between when he is on and off the field is immense. I also love that st Kilda tried to rattle him and gave away a heap of frees. 2. Hibbard - found his form. 1. Oscar - serious just gets the job done now. Could be a sneaky top 10 b&f.

Weiderman I really like what Weid is doing, he is developing really well and we are going to be a better side with him in 15 games time than him spending another 15 games in the 2's. The other thing to think about here is who would you prefer, Frost or Weid? Because as long as Weid is in, you wont see Frost as TMac can go back (which he might do when Carslile goes forward for patches next week). So I think Weid stays in the side. ANB Things you all know, he is down on form, but he is covering serious ground for us and his pressure acts are always up the top echelon of the competition (22 today (28 top); 27 v Rich (top Demon); 32 v Hawks (Top D); 19 v North (3rd D); 14 v Bris (mid tier); 22 v Geel (4th D)). He gets to the contest and puts on pressure. Whilst he might not get the ball, he helps those around him. Is this enough? I dont know. My worry is that we don't have that many players with A+ aerobic capacity and Trac for ANB is not like for like. Maybe Spargo who does have a good tank can play that role? Salem looked better behind the ball and Brayshaw looked better in the guts. I just dont know if he gets dropped to be honest. So assuming that everyone is fresh for next week, no change unless Trac is fit ready to go. Then good luck picking who goes out.

Interesting the small forwards tackle counts. Garlett and Bugg laying a heap of tackles. Clearly that is the benchmark for getting back in the side. Also from a purely numbers point of view, those who were there might be able to comment, but seems like Stretch is in the handball chains, where he runs past and then handballs to someone else. We really need him to be running and kicking rather than handballing. I really, really want him to succeed - his workrate is there, but something is not clicking.

6. Gawn - huge in that second half 5. Salem - Really nice work throughout the match 4. Brayshaw - Our clearances worked when he got involved 3. Jones - See Brayshaw 2. Hibbard - Great off the half back and a great return to form. 1. Hannan - He and Fritch are so important. Sorry Garlett, another week in the 2s.

Is it Tim or Joel who is getting all the possessions?

Thanks mate. Poor guy. Honestly hope he’s alright. Watching his interviews before and after going to Freo - you just don’t want to see anyone go through that, especially someone so young.

Love Hunt coming over and hugging him!

Hey Team - @Satyriconhome and probably @Drunkn167 any word on whats happened to Balic. Not on the injury list last 2 weeks and also not named. Hope the boy is alright - I’m assuming mental health related?

@bandicoot great point in here. The dogs were an anomaly at an average age of 24 years 5 months, average games 82, but they had 13 players 100 games or more and only 2 players under 50 games at the time. That got me thinking though what is their Round 1 teams then vs our Round 1 now. WB - 24y 7m, 81.5 games, 3 under 50, 8 50-100; 7 100-149; 4 150+ Rich - 25y 1m, 94.2 games, 4 under 50; 6 50-100; 5 100-149; 7 150+ Melb - 25y 5m 84.1games, 11 under 50; 4 50-100; 3 100-149; 4 150+ The big thing to take away from this is that we still have a lot in the under 50 games. Now many of our boys are pushing up from the below 50 to 50-100 bracket before finals - Salem (now there), Harmes, Hunt, Trac, OMac, Oliver, ANB, Gus and Stretch. So assuming a like for like replacement for Viney, TMac, Lewis, Hannan/Fritch (so lets say for argument Stretch, Weiderman, Wagner, Kent) <doesnt really matter its a theoretical exercise> 5 150+: Lewis, Vince, Jones, Garlett, Melksham 5 100-150: TMac, Jetta, Hibbard, Tyson, Viney (Gawn on the cusp) 11 50-100: Gawn, Lever, Hogan, Salem, Harmes, Hunt, Trac, OMac, Oliver, ANB, Brayshaw 1 Under 50: Hannan/Fritch (Hannan could be at 40 games at this stage). At this stage, we will have a team with an average games played of over 100 and a lot of experience in here. There is a lot to look forward to and these are some really good players in here (remember ANB and Harmes have started badly but they were really good last year). It is a great list to work with, they just need some time.

I think this as well. Jones obviously stays and whilst he has limitations he is still a good player and would be in any teams best 22. Lewis and Vince are good no doubt and are in our best 22, but at what expense? We’ve taken them out of the centre bounce, they aren’t playing forward - we’ve now got them behind the ball playing the same role we want Hibbard, Hunt, Lever and maybe Wagner to play. There was even a time last year where Jets was being criticised for not giving enough drive. I love what both of them have done for the club and OMac’s development I attribute a lot to Lewis - but is 2 too many?

Yes we are 0-3 against top 8 contenders but we’ve got 10 of the next 12 against non top 8. Heads down, beat the sides we should beat and then demonland will be insufferable because everyone will think we are the second coming.

1. Weid is looking like a footballer. I don’t think there was a contest he was part of that he lost. He either won or brought the ball to ground. Also thought his ruck work was solid but I don’t remember him going against Nank though. 2. OMac is confident. He needed Lewis last year but he looked like he didn’t need his shoulder cricket/monkey sitting there telling him what to do. 3. Our backline is better without Lewis. What struck me during the week is Lewis saying Lever is the general and in change. It hasn’t looked like it until Tuesday night. He was barking orders, getting everyone structured and he, OMac, Hibbard, Jetta, Hunt had their best games. The question is is the 6th Wag/Frost or Brayshaw?

Sorry to be the barer of bad (maybe long term good) news here but the more I kept thinking about our performances this year, this kept coming into my head - are we still incredibly young and we are expecting a top 4 side from a bottom 4 experience? Rd 5 - 80.5 Games, 24yr 6m, 16 players under 100 games v 104.2, 25y 11m, 13 players Rd 4 - 91.5, 25y 1m, 15 players v 107, 26y 1m, 10 players Rd 3 - 93.1, 25y 2m, 15 players v 94, 25y 4m, 14 players Rd 2 - 92.4, 25y 5m, 15 players v 77.1, 24y 1m, 15 players Rd 1 - 84.1, 25y 5m, 15 players v 92.6, 25y 3m, 13 players We were younger and more inexperienced that every side bar Brisbane we have played this year. This round, Carlton and WB played 17 players under 100 games to our 16. Round 4 WB and Carl (17) v 15. If you look at the experience each week we are putting out, we are more similar to Collingwood, St Kilda, Brisbane, than we are to GWS, Rich, Haw. But these are some of the names who are our under 100 game players who are also under 25: Hogan, Salem, Tyson, Hunt, Trac, Brayshaw, OMac, Lever, ANB, Frost, Oliver, Weiderman, Harmes, Stretch, Hannan and of course Viney when he comes back. These are players who many of them will play 10 years for the red and the blue and that average games will go to 100 by the end of the year and if (when) we make finals, we should have a team much closer to competing than the one that has dished out the last 2 efforts. 15 games is a long time in football. What pleases me about all of this is that for most of the top 8 teams, players are going to come in and out and the average games doesnt move much between Rd 1 and Rd 22 as they bring in debutant etc. Last year Round 1 - 74.6 games, 23y 10 months, 11 players under 50, 3 50-100 v Round 23 - 97.9, 25y 1m, 2 players under 50, 10 50-100. 19 players who played in Round 1 played in Round 23. 16 from round 1 2017 played on Tuesday and Viney, McDonald, Lewis, and Hannan are all a good chance to come back in (who played in that game). Watts is gone and Joel Smith is still developing. We have a stable team who have shown they can match it with the best, we just need to give them the time to develop that we gave our last guard. I know its been a long time coming, but for this group it hasnt. It's only been 4 years. They are allowed to still grow this year.

You are having a tough night tonight aren’t you? So sorry mate, we can give you a hug next week at the game. Sounds like you need it.

Weid won’t be dropped. You don’t get to be Hogan’s level without a season or 2 under your belt. He’ll stay. We want to play Hogan up the ground so it allows Tom to play FF and Weid to play CHF. Kent comes up and Hannan/Fritch comes in. Agree that ANB needs some time in the 2s but I wonder with a short turn around that his aerobic capacity he might be retained. I think that Wagner is on thin ice (again) and same with Harmes. T Mac and ??? To replace. Its going to be a tough week at selection.

Weid showed great signs mate.

6 - OMac - really playing much better this year and tracking really well. 5 - Gawn - he’s just bathing everyone he comes up against. 4 - Clarry - just head and shoulders. 3 - Melksham - give him a role and he’ll perform. 2 - Weid - ran himself into the ground and played a fantastic game for a young key forward. 1 - Jones - just gets it done.

Weid made me feel he has a future tonight. There were bad points but some glimmers of the future in a bleak night.