binman

I reckon they'll start Langford - good opportunity for him to get going, particularly given he played so well against the roos in the practice match which will help his confidence. The roos have a very good midfield, very dees like with their bulls and inside mids. Langford is a good match up. Spargo to play. Sharp as sub.

Then you should be very confident- the roos are just about the worst transition team in the AFL, and really struggle to move the ball quickly.

Yep. They have been using the spot up 20 metre pass for a few seasons - bur more forward than side to side. And they have long had excellent kicks.

Indeed. The Swans were unbackable flag favourites two games clear on top of the ladder halfway through last season.

And why fritter is playing HF. Fritter has played his best footy as a deep, lead into space forward. Exactly the role Jefferson is playing. Two don't fit into one.

With our current mix of players we'll never match the very best transition teams at that game. And I totally agree - I reckon goody is developing a hybrid model that looks to still be competitive on the turnover transition front, but also plays to our strengths - contest, clearance, pressure and defence. Transition footy is sexy but without manic pressure and contest it's not going to win a flag. The swans last season were the perfect example of that - halfway through the season they were, what , 2 games clear on top of the ladder playing the best, most dynamic transition footy in the AFL. When the heat got dialled up come finals they were found wanting and come the GF the lions smashed them off the park.

The red and blue print.

Will always need pure inside mids. The game might be more about transition and turnover than it was, but pressure and contest is still the most important part of footy. And only 70% of scores come from transition.

Again, that's not what hoyne is saying. He's saying the opposite. The best teams ARE NOT just kicking it, territory is no longer king. Which is why we have been changing our method over the last season and a bit. The gag is lampooning the Pearl clutching nuffies screaming to 'just kick it' as teams chip it around and/or chain up with handballs.

Um, we were almost bang on 50-50 for inside 50s against the Giants. Goody has got the memo

You've misinterpreted his comments George. Like 180 degrees misinterpreted.

One thing I really like about him is he times his leads really well. And he's pretty quick so he gets into space. If he can stick some marks he'll get some looks.

One thing I really like about him is he times his leads really well. And he's pretty quick so he gets into space. If he can stick some marks he'll get some looks.

Ditto second and third efforts.

I reckon you've nailed it.

Yep. Of course, brain fade. Jefferson gets his chance. I'm looking forward to watching him try to take it. I reckon he is likely to come out for AJ.

Ultimately they want Jefferson in the side. Fritter is one of our few elite kicks. If he can get, say 10-15 kicks at half forward he'll really help our inside 50 kicks. And both he and Jefferson can play together. That said, I reckon Turner will come straight back in, probably at Jefferson's expense. Fritter probably has to play HB if Turner is in the side.

If I were coach for a day I would tell: - May he is only allowed to kick the ball 50 plus metres - Rivers he is only allowed to kick the ball 50 plus metres - Billings to hand off any shots at goal - Salo he is only allowed to kick the ball 20 metres (with a wink and a smirk given 40 metres is about the longest he can kick - Mcvee, Lindsay, Koz and Melk they can take on any kick they want

I think that's how we'll play against sides like the giants, swans, hawks and dockers who are quick and excellent transition teams. Lots of chipping it around laterally in the back half and propping if there is not an obvious target forward of the ball - and not just after a mark but also when run and carrying. We saw a few examples of the latter against the giants - Lindsay and bowey both did it a couple of times (ie running forward with ball in hand, no obvious option, stop and then dink kick sideways to a stationary target). There's no point us getting into a transition or speed battle against teams better than us at it. That's a recipe for a smashing. There's a similar dynamic in the NBA, at least there was (it's becoming a boring fast break, 3 point fest). Some teams are set up to play fast ball and really good at it. The tactical response by teams that ain't so good at it look to slow the play down, pass it around and use all the time on the shot clock. Playing fast just plays into their opponents hand. I suspect we will be much more aggressive, and stop and prop far less, against sides who aren't as good at transition as the aforementioned teams - starting this week against the roos who are poor on transition.

Massive out. A key player for us.

I really hope spargo can force his way back into the team. Rarely misses those short hit up targets, has good vision and low centre of gravity makes him ideal as a small forward/half forward. I can see spargo, Henderson and Chandler all playing together- with koz rounding our our small forward brigade when not on ball. All can hit targets.

I really like the quarter by quarter break down - its a really interesting way to see a players game in totality, and as you've done here LG grouping players. I suspect like most teams playing their first game fatigue was a factor. @WheeloRatings am im right in saying that new (ie you only posted their final total ans season average last year)?

Are you being serious? Allen Jackovich kicked 201 goals in 47 games for the dees that's a tick over 4 goals a game. Fritter has kicked 259 goals in his 141 games for the dees. To be fair let's take our his 15 odd games he played at hb in 2019 and give him a two goal a game average as as forward. Half Jackovich's average. Hell, Mark 'Jacko' Jackson averaged just under 4 goals a game with us, kicking 152 goals in his 41 games with the dees.

I'm a big fritter fan. But he is not one of the greats of the Melbourne football club. In my time supporting the dees I'd have conservatively 30 players ahead of him. Leaving that debate aside he has credit in the bank but it's time he put some back in.

No.