binman

No. I was simply saying it was good that: We decided to appeal fritters suspension Trac signed for 6 years Fritter won the appeal. All good.

Good.

Good.

I guess. Though i think it would be more accurate to say we are willing to lose more clearances than we historically were under roos and goodwin in return for having better clearances(as defined by creating scoring opportunities) when we do win them. Of course winning clearances remains important for us. But is no longer a fundamental indicator of our success. I suspect a more important indicator is the percentage of stoppages that we win that result in a score. And conversely how effective we are stopping the opposition score from stoppages we lose. To be honest i don't know what those numbers are across the season (AOB might), but i suspect they both look good for us and in all likelihood are the best in the AFL atm.

My theory. In this post from March, i make the case why i think we have made the shift. In short we are adopting the tactics of the winners of almost all premierships in the last 10-15 years. We have had the dominant ruck for three years. And in that time we have regularly smashed temas in clearances and inside 50s. Yet often lost games where we have won those stats. With the clear tactical shift we have made we are currently scoring more, conceding less points and unbeaten after 7 rounds. The proof is in the pudding. In the third quarter in the north game the commentators noted how far from the center bounce Oliver started. They didn't really explain why he was set up that way. What they should have said it relates to a pretty big change in how we set up at stoppages(a point you made when you called into the podcast - an excellent point i might add). I contend this set up relates to the discussion about clearances. That space is a double edged sword - if they win it there is a good chance they will do so in space. But if we are on our game even, if they do win it we more often than not (in fact two thirds of the time) intercept mark and/or rebound off half back. In part becuase of pressure, in part becuase we are structured well and in part becuase often the opposition have to kick it from thee defensive side of the stoppage. But if we win it and it gets to Oliver (who can now hit that contest at speed as he is coming from 20 meters away not 5) our kick inside 50 is deep and dangerous. Think how many goals we have kicked this season, particularly in the second half, from these sort of clearances. And conversely how few we have conceded from the center square clearances. Sure some, those easy north goals stood out as they were outliers. Quality over quantity.

Respectfully, disagree with the first point. Agree with the second. What i mean is that we don't need to sort anything as such. The center clearance differential their way early was a function of the changes we have made to our clearance set up (as discussed earlier in this thread) and our sub par pressure. We are prepared to lose more clearances than we have in previous years - with the pay off being when we do win a clearance are more likely to create a scoring opportunity than was the case previously. Basically a tigers tactic. The challenge with this shift is that it relies on a rock solid defensive unit. Which in turn relies on super high all team pressure. When both elements are in place you get a stat like oppositions only scoring 30% of the time they enter 50 (our stat prior to the north game). And with opposition teams only scoring every third time they enter their 50 losing clearances is not such an issue. When one, or both element are not in place, as was the case in the fist half, losing clearances becomes a big issue. As we saw. I think this why the tigers will occasionally cop a 5 goal loss - their pressure drop off and so opposition clearances really hurt. In the tigers dogs a game, when the tigers upped the pressure the dogs clearances became useless - and in fact often costly because players like Bolta took multiple intercept marks and triggered scoring chains. Same story for us against the roos, albeit with much less pressure. So what i'd say is the the weekend's game (and the dogs v tigers and lions v port games for that matter) reinforced the need for us to always have our pressure ratings up high as our game plan is completely dependent on that being the case. The Swans will beat us if we don't bring the heat. But if we do bring the heat i'm predicting a big win as they are a young team, coming off an emotional win, with a game plan that like the dog's is susceptible to breaking down under pressure because it relies on skilled execution.

Good.

A great analogy. By his mid twenties he will be a top5 player in the AFL. Of that i have no doubt. A star. His versatility and athleticism means there is almost no position they can't play him in, bar small defender. Which will give his coaches so many tactical options - something we have seen already this year in the way they have been able to use Max. No better example than on the weekend. Gawn was having his worst game for the year. Which is understandable given how hard he works. And Goldie was winning that contest. Jackson taking the ruck duties changed that dynamic and created a tactical problem for Noble - do they run Goldy against Jackson in the ruck and risk Gawn getting off the chain. Or do they keep Goldy on max and risk Jackson dominating. They largely opted for the latter and Jackson was instrumental in changing the momentum of the game and setting up a win for us. taylor is going to leave an amazing legacy, for all his work. But in 2019 he was inspired - kossie, rivers and Jackson. Reminds me so much of the year that the hawks got Buddy, Roughhead and Hodge. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the no doubt multiple meetings where Taylor was making his case for all three players (there is some great video somewhere of him and some coaches looking at vison of Kossie, including that crazy tackle he laid in a SANFL reserves game)

But not 10kgs overweight and half fit. And not super over rated either for that matter.

I just watched melksham's involvements. He had a pretty serviceable game i have to say. His best this season. Two beautiful kicks - one to Brown on the lead and one to max on the lead

Here we go FD: https://www.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro You have the option of watching highlights or extended (which is every single involvement). I recommend extended as tbey give a better sense of a player's game. For example melksham's highlights go for 2 mins and extended 11 mins!

That should have been a free kick. We got a lucky break. As you say it went straight up the other end for an easy goal and game over. Given we seemed to be in total control and they were out on their feet it is crazy to think we were only 6 points up with 9 odd minutes to go - and it could have well been level if the free had been paid!

I wish mine would....

Seriously low bar, but agree.

I just had lunch, but could fit a donut in. So i'd estimate i'm at 97% capacity.

Please refer to the post above.

Of course you did. You had the Flower magic working for you. Smooth as silk.

True, but going forward was his last chance saloon. If it didn't work out as a forward i have no doubt he would have been dropped. Possibly for good. Turned the ball over way too often, in part because of poor field kicking, and in part because he often went for high risk, high reward kicks beyond his ability that usually rewarded the opposition. And he was also prone to frost like exploratory runs up the field, albeit at a much slower pace. In fact Tmac was the prototype Frost.

I signed up to the the possibility Brown, Weed, Tmac and Jackson could work idea But also signed up to the it is unlikely the club would run with it idea. I would like to formally resign and remove my signature from the Brown, Weed, Tmac and Jackson could work idea. And 15 minutes into the North game i signed up to the brown and weed must never play in the same team club. Lets see how Brown goes on the more open spaces of the g - and to be fair it was his first game in a new system after a long lay off (and he did kick 2 goals - and set up a couple more up!) - but I have to say i was a little underwhelmed and i wonder if Weed might not be a better option. He's not the most mobile of cats is he.

I'm not sure he is the right option. I don't think he is great one on one, and his go his is running of half back and metres gained. Medium/small goal kickers is our Achilles heel defensively since Jetts lost a yard of pace. And Papley just about the best in the business. I reckon Hibbo is the go. Strong enough to beat him one on one and fast enough to go with him on lead. And after locking down Dusty is in the right headspace for the job. And as bonus, i don't think it would need to be hard lockdown as Papley doesn't get that many possessions. keep him quiet and limit his output to a couple of goals and job done. Also they will be loathe to make more than one change to the backline i suspect so i can't see them brining in Jetts or another small defender.. Ultimately Lockhart is the go you'd think.

Yep. Coincidentally i just posted in the changes thread that Petty and tommo both trained over preseason as the lockdown full back. Both started the preseason in the frame for that role. Tommo won the spot because of a super preseason. And I think petty also had a slight interruption. As fantastic has tommo has been - and I could not be more impressed - im confident petty will be his equal. He is a serious foorballer. It is awful to have lost tommo. Particularly for tommo obviously. But we are incredibly fortunate to have a player to replace him given how important the role is from a structural perspective.

Petty and tommo both trained over preseason as the lockdown full back. Both started the preseason in the frame for that role. Tommo won the spot because of a super preseason. And I think petty also had a slight interruption. Tmac was great down back yesterday. But he is not, and has never been a deep lock down defender. Petty will now take the role.

Nailed it. Sparrow was a class above in the vfl. I don't think baker will make it. Petty is a lock for Tomlinson's role. And we won't lose anything either. Petty is a gun and will slot in beautifully. Heartbreaking for thommo.

I don't think that's true actually. At least not all the time. Those teams, and the lions all had lots of scrappy wins against bottom sides, tbe dees amongst them. Tbe tigers are probably a better comparison, given they are the equal of those power teams, and they are contemporaries. The tigers often win by 3 or 4 goals against bottom teams.

I'm not. I hope he plays exactly the re he has all year. And I suspect he will.