binman

Exactly. Sure, they might turn this game around, though it doesn't look like it. But their two biggest, interrelated, vulnerabilities have been on full display- vulnerability to the counter because their defence pushes up so high and as you suggest a game plan based on feeding it to their outside players and high risk kicks that can break down under pressure.

Was just about to ask about his kicking skills. We're in a spot now where we should only be looking to bring in elite kicks in both the draft and any trades we might do.

Source?

That will be David King's out. Sick against us when we beat them. Tired after last week. By the by, there's a chance they might have to play consecutive weeks in finals.

Good thing we're playing the roos then.

Nibbler has kicked 13.4 this season @ 54.1% accuracy and goes at 55.1% by foot. Not too shabby. Tracc, by way of comparison has kicked 20.13 @ 33% accuracy and goes at 55.4% by foot.

You're really gonna enjoy the hawks game. Nibbler's 150th. And remarkably, for a player we apparently need an upgrade on, his 70th of the last 72 games the dees have played, inclusive of 5 finals and a premiership medallion. Quick quiz. Do you think any other dees player can match that record? Hell, is there another player in the AFL who can match that record? Impressive for a momentum killer. Goody must be trolling you. Methinks you might have to wait a while for your upgrade.

Fair call. And really, if BB isn't ready, what other options are there (I'm not including brody - he'll come back in but as a forward he makes Petty look like Tony Lockett).

I agree. Don't like him as a forward at all. At least not a leading, goal kicking forward like brown That said, he could i wonder if he could take melks role as the defensive forward and say blanket vlastun - and if that works, players like weitering, Moore and Alir. He certainly has the defensive chops for the role. And that would free melk up to play fritters role and be more a pure attacking forward.

As opposed to the team going for its fourth win on the trot?

Well, i can't see Mcvee getting dropped. And they seemingly have announced Petty (i think) - and i'm assuming he is playing forward. Spargo is best 22. so he comes in. But you're right, Hibbo is perhaps surplus to requirements - though they could put him on Dusty and free up Mcvee to be more offensive and rotate with bowey, salo and rivers (and perhaps also small bursts on the wing to give Hunter or langers a chop out). I guess part of my thinking is i wasn't impressed with Harmes' game against Coburg, but he a logical replacement for Sparrow. If harmes does come in it would have to be at either hibbo or spargo's expense (or maybe mvee if they want to manage him).

For the sake of argument, let's say you are right and he is not AFL standard. By that logic Harmes isn't either - or at least based on his performance against Coburg. Even if an AFL listed player doesn't have a great game in the maggos, you can usually see they are above VFL standard. I went to the game solo and watched intently. I thought Spargo didn't have a huge game, but worked super hard all game with his up and down the ground running (whcih is his role). I thought Harmes had just an ok game, and his work rate was was also ok. The difference to my eye is that Charlie clearly looked a cut above VFL level. To be honest, i can't say the same thing of Harmsey. And Dunstan had way more impact in the game than both Spargo and Harmes. And his disposal was generally first class too i thought. I'm no talent scout, but i think Dunstan is def AFL level. The problem for Dunstan is that he is a pure inside mid, extractor type. Libba and Viney are the two such players that come to mind when thinking of the best in that role. Critical players as they win the hard ball and feed it out the runners. But unlike say 4 years ago, clubs can only run with one pure an inside extractor type, with a back up player to give them a chop out, because outside run has become so important. Previously you might have 2 or 3 such players, but teams can't carry more than one such player, partic if a bit slow. We have Viney, with Sparrow as back up. So really Dunstan is back up for Viney. Every club needs an inside extractor now. So i think there is def an AFL spot somewhere for him. In fact i reckon he is exactly the sort of player a club like Freo needs as they are rubbish at winning the hard, contested ball at clearances.

If they don't replace him, they'll be a player short.

I don't think Harmes will be picked. My guess is the interchange bench will be Charlie Spargo Michael Hibberd Harrison Petty Judd McVee And Smithy will be the sub.

Like us in 2019, Freo are in a rebuilding phase - players in for surgery early , experimenting with players in new roles, trying new strategies, giving some young players a run, working out who to cut etc etc. Clever, as its not really tanking as such, but has the same benefit of ensuring a high draft pick to bring in a gun or package up draft picks to say to do what we did and trade in a player of Ed Langdon's quality to fill a clear need and a grab a second round gem like Bowey. Well played Freo. Oh, hold on. I think I've got that wrong. The dees get all the same benefits of our 2019 season, but none of the pain of finishing 17th - and in addition to freo's first and second round draft pick, we get our own first and second round draft pick! Sorry, not sorry Freo. If it is any consolation Freo, i will be forever grateful and you will always have special place in my heart for the joy you have brought dees fans. Also, as further consolation my purple friends, pick four has terrible record of producing decent players. Oh, hold on. I think I've got that wrong. Nick Daicos went at four in the 2021 draft as did George Wardlaw in 2022. But don't fret my little anchors, both have probably hit their ceiling. And yes, we might trade up to get the most promising forward in the draft for many a year, but again don't let the angst overwhelm you - number one draft picks have mixed record of going on to be superstars. And whilst a forward line featuring JVR, Jefferson and Reid is simply a mind blowing thought, it is a few years away from being a reality, which gives you, my darling dockers, several seasons of fully bottoming out to grab some high draft picks you can actually keep (unless of course Bell decides to trade them for English because you need an elite ruck with Darcy heading East because Bell brought in a young, not yet proven ruck to take his minutes and salary).

As much as I like Smith, I couldn't have him in ahead of petty - regardless of where petty plays

You've convinced me. Mcrae def a better coach than Buckley. Never liked Buckley. Dislike him even more as a footy media type.

I went to see the Casey game live. Was not particularly impressed with harmes' game. His effort was good, but I thought he had very little impact. Dunstan was not only prolific, he was more damaging than harmes. If I was doing the selecting, I would def have selected him ahead harmes.

I over thought that joke. Back in the day a twist was Mary Jane or the dragon in some paper twisted to secure it. I don't think Dickens was talking about that when he called his character oliver twist.

Deep man. You think mcrae is a better coach than Buckley. Got it. How will you assess him if the pies don't win the flag this year, given every person and their dog think it is pies and then daylight and they are a lock for top spot with 5 games to go? On him or the players? Ps - I guess circle work is supposed to be a clever retort of some sort? But I've got zero idea what it refers to, so if it is some sort of attempt at a clever sledge, a heads up, it hasn't landed.

Do you think the team goody will pick, assuming no injuries, would be different to your team? And if yes, who comes in and who goes out? (Note: I'm not trying to be cute, it's just that they are two different questions ie who I would pick versus who I think goody will pick).

Many would no doubt agree. But the key question is where goody stands on that front.

Buckley was one kick away from winning a flag. Get back to me when mcrae has even made a gf.

100%. In particular not having A grade mids really hurt I reckon. Personally I think the impact of coaches is overrated. The talent on the list is the critical element in my opinion. Just look at clarkson's record at the hawks once he didn't have buddy, roughly, rioli, Lewis etc etc at his disposal.

I dont think we have always evened up at stoppages since clarry has been out, but you're right we hardly ever did so prior and have regularly evened up since clarry has been out. It's right to say our clearance work has been terrific since clarry had been out. And a huge positive is it has created an opportunity for Viney to go up a level and Sparrow and JJ to shine. Incredible too that tracc has been able to play forward. But evening up at clearances impacts us defensively because it means we can't have the spare behind the ball. It is a big reason why our intercept numbers have dropped off and it has also impacted our ability to stop teams scoring on transition. And deeststar9 is spot on about Gus. Playing as a pure mid we really miss his defensive nous - in particular his ability to read the play, drop back and intercept (which is in part supported by not evening up at clearances). And on Gus, he doesn't really have to take a defenders spot to play a defensive role. He can just go into the rotation of the half back flankers and wingers and to a lesser extent the mids - ie rotate between those positions and the bench. Goody has been much more tactically flexible this season. In part that has been possible because of all the work he has done with this group to cement his foundational sytems and structures. One less at stoppages was almost a fixed rule up till this year. The pies bring an extra, as do other teams and goody has responded by occasionally matching that, even when clarry was in the team. It will be fascinating to see what he does at stoppages when Oliver comes back. I hope he mixes it up - sometimes even up, sometimes not and have the spare behind the ball.