Dee-licious

2 goals and a few points to Williamstown to start the quarter. Bar Bugg not an AFL player in sight.

JKH, Bugg and Maynard around the ball and King looks like he is competing much better so far (2 HO to 1 so far). What is good about our back set up is that Keitly and Frost wont go up into contests unless they are the man in the contest. They are letting Hutchins (e.g. McDonalds) do that and they look for the intercept mark or the crumb. Goal to Williamstown with some willing the ball forward pressure. Not an AFL player in that passage. The other thing Willy do really well is how they get tackled. They all duck but once they are tackled they wait for people to come around and then get it out. They are playing the late whistle in the VFL really well and often our players will look up waiting for the whistle and they'll get the handball out. Another set shot coming up. 6 - 0 inside 50's 10-5 contested possessions. Didnt make the distance. They are getting numbers to the ball and we are shell shocked by the pressure.

Got to love Bugg - even when he is not trying to take people out, he still manages too. Their ruckman is now really sore which will be important for us in the last.

Bugg been really good in this quarter. Really gone in and under. The Weid goal at the end of the quarter was due to some really good work by Bugg in the back half. Watts better than quarter. Frost another really solid quarter. A little more from JKH as well.

@DemonAndrew The thing I am seeing is that when he goes on to the ball we look dangerous. When he is deep we look like we miss class through the midfield (or down back). The other thing is I cant remember a missed kick. It seems that every kick he has had the target has marked it and probably 40% of those would be contested marks which are made to look uncontested. how good is Frost!

My thoughts so far: Watts - Strong first quarter, Tippett stopped him in the first half of the second, and when he went up the ground late in the second we looked so much better. Will be playing next week against the Pies. 7 touches. Keilty - Will be on our senior list at the end of next year. Very composed. Not ready yet for AFL but will be important back up for us in case something bad happens. Frost - Could easily come back next week but I dont think he has a match up against Collingwood. 9 touches. Weid - Gee he can take a mark. When he is in the game he is impressive. Then you dont see him for 10 minutes at a time. I'm looking forward to seeing him Round 1 for the Dees as he clearly has all the components to be a 200+ game player, it is just a time question. His tackling is outstanding. Bugg - Almost game. Almost breaking through packs - almost breaking the game open, almost taking possession. 9 touches. Trenners - 1 touch that quarter. Assuming tagged out of it? Didnt see much of him at all. Maynard - Looks a little behind the pace which is odd considering he is coming back to this level. He's had 11 but I dont think many have been effective. Looks like he could be a serious player in another 12 months. JKH - Bar that last goal, he really hasnt had an impact. Maybe 6 touches? King - Meese has had 50 hit outs and Watts played more on the ball in the second half and Weid went to the ruck at times. Hulett - Just is not having the same impact he had last year. I wonder if he will be rookied? He can kick a goal, has been crueled by injury this year and he should have just played forward all year (same with Keilty should have played back). I think he is worth hanging on to. Fritch - hasnt had much of a game today sadly. Such a good player but hasnt had an impact....yet....

Enough time for a dont argue is enough time for prior opportunity. That is a free kick umpire! But then again you could have paid 2 previous frees for encroaching the mark so what do I expect. How was that not deliberate against Tippett for rushing? And twice we have seen two umpires call different things at the same time. Good luck being a player in these conditions.

A lot is how the football is being played. Its a James Magner sort of game. Its wet and I'm going to just tackle you and force it forward. The free kick count is 15 to 8 their way. They are playing like a team who knows how to play VFL (staying low when they are being tackled - so many head high frees). Our Melbourne listed boys are playing like they have professional umpires and replays available (Frost, Watts, JKH). Watts would have been given maybe 3 or 4 frees so far this quarter in an AFL game for off the ball stuff from Tippett. Just needs to keep his cool or he will be reported.

For those at work who cannot get to a TV, it is a muddy, fumbely game. Their ruckman Meese has had 20 hit outs already. With Kennedy being held over we are getting killed at the contest today. Maynard isnt having an impact, JKH is missing and Trenners is playing behind the ball. Watts class above and looks like a forgone conclusion he is playing for the Dees next week. Frost and Keilty are playing really well and look likely if we need someone to come up to the 1's. Bugg has had some good moments but is understandably a little behind the game. Wouldnt be surprised if he has a special second half. Looks a class above but hasnt inserted himself into the game yet. Weid wont do anything today. No delivery and a bad day for a key forward.

Gus is going to get a hard tag this week and have a guess who it is from.... number 41 for those playing at home.

JUmp onto the Future Stars Facebook page and see their segment on the top 10 defenders under 24. OSvar was rated 10th (behind Barass, Melican, Plowman, McStay) Frost 5th (behind Marchbank, Andrews, Hamling, Lever). Gee it would be nice to get Lever and that back like looks like it will be able to hold together for a decade.

I think we are reading waaay too much into the interview, but because everyone else started I shall too. I dont think it was a forgone conclusion, clearly feels Nathan is stitching him up a little. But didnt seem like it was decided at all either way. At this stage of the season with Sydney right up there for the premiership, you'd think that he'd be a little more committed to a team looking to loose back to back grand finals.

I was reading about Tom Mitchell and how he is in line to break the all time disposal VFL/AFL record for a season. In wanting to check this up I found another stat that will be broken. The most handballs in a season is currently owned by Josh Kennedy last year with 472 (av 18.88 across 25 games) last year. Tom is currently on 372 (av. 21.9) and Clarry is right behind him on 363 (av 21.4). Assuming Clarry keeps his average up for the rest of the season that takes him to 471 (Tom 482). Clarry plays 1 final and he should be past Tom and hold the record for himself. Not bad for a 2nd year player. Assuming we make 1 final, he will also hold the record for the 18th most contested possessions in a season of all time and might sneakily make top 20 of tackles in a season if he holds his form.

Second this. All the Under 18 coaches I've spoken to always talk about Lever as one of the most coachable guys they have ever had and what a great bloke he is. I cant remember if he was the one with issues with language or not (I actually think it was Touk Miller who needed to calm down on that...). Anyway, main thing is Lever will be an asset for the dees and would love to see him in Red and Blue.

Yep. The Trenners trade might as well have been called the Lever trade. Up until a couple of days before I kept hearing that they were flipping between McCartin and Lever as pick 3 (Trac, Brayshaw, McCartin/Lever) and possibly even Lever over Brayshaw at one stage. To the point that one of his coaches at Caulder thought he was a lock at Melbourne. I think you are right Dappa, if Lever is on the market, we are going to be up to our eyeballs.

Hey team - I dont think that you will see us part with 2 first rounders for Lever. Basically, there are a heap of talls in the next 2 drafts in the first round (maybe not as good as Lever) but I cannot see them handing over 2 for him considering what we've seen with Caddy, Prestia, Trealor, Adams, Mitchell, etc. The first rounder and something in the back end. ANB is now too valuable to us, Ben Ken maybe and something like a second rounder (or swap of 2nd and a 3rd). If Lever wants to come to the Dees we shall get it done without selling the farm.

6 - Hibberd - amazing amount of metres gained and just was in everything. 5 - Oliver - Viney was well held after quarter time and we needed someone to stand up. What a game. 4 - Jetta - just stood up and under so many contests. Such a great game. 3 - Hunt - 600m gained and just was so important when our inside game disappeared. 2 - Hogan - it's coming together... 1 - Tyson - industrious throughout.

I forgot to give you the links: Zak Jones: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/zak-jones-set-to-remain-in-sydney-shunning-interest-from-home-state-victorian-rivals/news-story/bbbc917a60aeb672c862eb05f8f2488d https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/essendon-melbourne-north-melbourne-and-st-kilda-all-interested-in-outofcontract-swans-midfielder-zak-jones/news-story/a00adbc617e1288857027890117e6938 Jake Lever: http://www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/report-three-victorian-clubs-making-big-money-offers-to-jake-lever-afl-collingwood-melbourne-western-bulldogs-adelaide-crows-magpies-demons/16u1fd28z82fw18grjmhpc4qyx https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/adelaide-coach-don-pyke-confident-jake-lever-wants-to-be-at-the-footy-club/news-story/39bdcb7e6a698f6c309ad3804304d467 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jake-lever-likely-to-remain-at-adelaide-despite-big-offers-from-rival-clubs/news-story/febf1ccec421f2c1247c973fd67b6993

@Moonshadow nothing personally since May at a demons lunch but McLure et al have had us linked all year along with Saints and Dons. I recon it is fair to say any out of contract player who has the ability to be an A grader we are interests in (like everyone else). I'm sure other clubs are waiting to see what happens with Salem.

Just wanted to bump this up the thread. Assuming we are still interested, he played well again yesterday on top of a really good season. He along with Lever are the two we are apparently into in the offseason. Jones can just be a handing over of a first round pick (depending on how high it is, we might get something back), Lever looks like he will cost a mint. Next year's first rounder and ??? If we can deliver both of these boys into our side next year it solves our outside run and key defender issues.

@rjay understand the underdone opinion but by that standard we wouldn't have Wattsback for another few weeks and Chunk will finish the season in the VFL. Whilst Gawn and Hogan are underdone they offer more on one leg than there replacements which really are Kennedy and Stretch? We've been playing small without them so in theory that's what we'd be going back to. If the match committee thought that they'd get more from Weid than Hogan he would have played yesterday. We've got to bring our guys back, get minutes under their belts, make finals and then see what we can do with a fit 22

Disappointed we lost and understand that it is always hard missing so many players. Adelaide were missing Milera, Ellis-Yolman, and Hampton from best 22. Dees were missing Tyson, Viney, Jones, Watts, Salem, Brayshaw, and Bugg(?) (Vanders?) from ours. Average age of the sides 24, 7 months to 25 and 7 months. Games difference 75.3 to 102.3 (16 under 100 (11 under 50) v 12 under 100 (6 under 5). To put this in perspective, 'playing the kids' North had 12 under 100 (9 under 50); Dockers 12 (10 under 50 and younger than us); Carlton 16 (10 under 50, older than us). We put out the 2nd most inexperienced side (after Bris) and third youngest (Bris and Freo) in the league this week. Things aren't that bad.......

6 - Hunt - 27 touches, 10 contested, 8 rebound 50's 5 inside 50's. 733 meters gained. I was worried that he wasnt going to get back (this season) to pre knocked out form. All it took was to play Adelaide again to reset. W 5 - Hibberd - 779 meters gained, 11 intercept possessions. He and Laird (who will go AA) basically had the same game (eerily similar) and Laird's is another game to add to his AA crown. It is tough coming back from injury and getting into AA contention because certain players are already cemented. But will be interesting to see if he makes the squad of 40. 4 - Oliver - was going to go Lewis, but I think Oliver's game has been underplayed. Leading clearance and contested player on the ground. He is a second year player and without him I dont think we would be in the 8. Just found a way to win the contest. 3 - Lewis - The Lewis insurance policy paid off again. Just looked like he was playing at a different tempo. Sees what is happening and helps our boys get to the right position. 2. ANB - Toss up between him and JKH. 11 contested possies, 5 inside 50's, 24 pressure acts, 6 tackles, he is getting better and better and I think a few clubs (Adelaide included) will be asking him if he is happy playing half forward flank for the Dees. 1 - JKH - did not see that happening. Started slowly and then bang in the second half! 20 pressure acts, 10 contested possies, 5 tackles. Really played with some freedom. Will be interesting next week with Tyson back (maybe Viney), then Jones, then Salem what happens with JKH, but done himself no harm. Special mention to Petracca (much better second half), Melksham (3 goals), Vince (tagging), Oscar (golden paw), and Jetta (keeping a good Eddie down).

@Wiseblood - what s/he didnt say is that Oscar got his mitt on 4 balls on the line that would have been goals. He was a goal keeper tonight and would have been a lot worse if he wasnt back there. We bombed it in a lot to the forwardline which was our issue. Kent had another down day. Some good pressure work but looks a shell of last yer. Frost had a terrible last quarter which undid a lot of his good work. Pedo he was right on and Max looks like he is short of a gallop. Again the opp targeted him off the ball and one time Jacobs took an uncontested mark as Max was 10 metres away on the ground with 2 crows standing over him. Hogan was an almost game. If the umps were on his side, he would have been paid another 3 marks which probably would have given him confidence to take another 3 he dropped easily. Garlett tried a few things that didnt work, but we get that. ANB wasn't poor - he was a key cog and looks like one of the only players who have grown whilst our leaders are out. Hope that helps.

They haven't made that public yet. They don't give you the whole rankings for the year, just top 20