binman

Preaching to the choir rusty.

Agree on both points. 16 minute quarters represents a fundamental change to the game. Teams can keep their zones working till the end of quarters. Fitter teams so not get the comparative advantage they do wirh normal quarters, nor those that rely on high pressure, contested footy, like the tigers and us. That game style reaps its real benefit when opposition teams tire lat3 in quarters. Look at this block of compressed games. Scores are going up and I'm convinced that is related to fatigue.

I just don't think Preuss has had enough match practice. In fact he well have had none this year? And he was coming back from a fair break from injury so i wonder about his fitness.

I have been meaning to start a thread, not about the state of footy media and the coverage of the game (though this issue is related to my focus) but about the tactical evolution of the game. There was an excellent article discussed on Demonland a few weeks back arguing essentially that 'AFL football's problem is not the football itself, but the way it is filmed and broadcast' it argues there was a widening gap of 'understanding between those intimately involved in the game at club level — the coaches, assistants and analysts who have access to every available piece of footage filmed on game day — and the average fan and even journalists, who, if they're not sitting in the stands, are entirely reliant on what's shown by the Seven Network and Fox Sports.' The author, Russel Jackson 'asked AFL coaches and team analysts a simple question: would they be able to understand a game of modern AFL football from the television broadcast alone?', with the answer being a firm no, with hose asked painting 'a picture of AFL broadcasting as something closer to a coaching fraternity in-joke' The focus of this article is about television coverage but it touches on an issue that frustrates me no end - the almost complete lack of decent analysis of the game across all forms of media. For me, the way game is covered live but also discussed on radio and TV, feeds the narrative that the game needs to get back to the golden game of themid 90s football with it high scores and glorified one on one battles. It is no coincidence that it was this point in time where the completed the transition to a fully professional, elite sport. This narrative is the driver of all the ridiculous rule changes the AFL has made in the last 5 years as it seeks to legislate the game back in time. And of course those changes simply don't work and all have any number of unintended consequences. But he game is not going back. I reckon footy is fantastic now. Of course it is different now than it was in the 80s and 90s, but that is as it is. It is a game that it is constantly evolving and changing. The following factors all combine to create the perfect environment for constant evolution, even revolution: the AFL has only been fully professional end elite for 30 years, the size of they playing field, the number of players involved (ie 22 a side), the 360 degree nature of the game, the rules the athletic profile the game demands the combination of distance players cover and the fact the game is so physical For me the tactical evolution of the game is what i love most about the game. So in this thread i am hoping to create a space where Demonlanders can help fill the analytical void and post, discuss, argue all things games plans, tactics, strategies, zones, structures, where the game is heading and analysis. There have been some fantastic posts about tactics etc on different threads in the last few weeks., with some fantastic insights from posters such as A F, Engorged Onion, Pollyanna, Axis of Bob, George on the Outer, Big Red Fire Engine, Lucifer's Hero, Damo, Whispering jack and many others. A really good example was the recent discussion about an excellent article Engorged Onion posted about the tactical evolution in the EPL (i had planned to contribute to that discussion, but thought i'd kick this thread off with post about it as i totally agree with EOs suggestion it is very relevant for goodwin's game plan and in fact the game more broadly). Often those posts don't neatly fit into the threads they are posted in because they are bit tangential. I hope this thread can be a home or such posts. I would love to hear from people like Dazzler and others with recent experience of playing senior football, or who are involved in coaching, junior footy or club footy. For the thread to stay on the main board it has to stay current and topical so footy nerds out there in Demonland please post any relevant comment, thought, link to interesting article or vision etc etc and help create a space to reflect on the tactical evolution of the game and build the collective understanding of our great game.

Don't mmind spargo in. Hayley's lack of physicality was a problem and spargo will provide more pressure. Neat enough kick too. For the reasons stated dismayed, but not surprised at Tmac's selection. I hope he proves me wrong. I'd play him out of the square all game, and rotate jackson, Weed and Tomlinson.in the ruck (59-30-20), with tmac taking all stoppages inside 50. Really like rivers in. I hope they encourage him to be aggressive with his kicking. Kozzie should have benefited from a little break and I hope they encourage him to take his shots at goal. Have a sneaky feeling he might have a good game. Hannan is dead set lucky to get back in after his last game. He is the sort of fella to work hard to take the chance he's been given. Expect him to apply a lot of pressure. If all on hannan, kozzie and spargo will make it very hard for the roos to exit our 50. I look forward to all three bringing the heat, and if they do it will go a long way to helping us win. Bottom line we should win this. But every chance we won't if the whole team don't bring the heat. We had too many passengers against port, and up till half time against the crows. No passengers and we win.

Love to see a sprint race between Gus, Tomlinson, Tmac and Jones. Possibly the slowest team that has played for the MFC since Big Carl, Ray Biffen, Spud Dullard and Gary baker (sorry Gary) lined up together. And i reckon those four would beat the others home!

Tmac is not AFL ready. He is not up to playing ruck, his lack of mobility and pace would be even more a liability than it has been as a forward. Would be a big mistake for them to play him. Unfortunately i won't be surprised if Goody makes it.

My worry is other teams get a proper break wit their bye and we cop another short break

But does that mean it creates a short break between games either side of it?

As i have been banging on about a season of inexplicable decisions by Goody. To the list this week we can add playing max against the Crows (who surprise, surprise target him) and when we do not bringing Preuss to SA as option if required. Surely Omac comes back in. Tomlinson and Jackosn split ruck duties 970% - 30%), and possibly forward duties

Even if he does play he could have done with the rest and would have surely been in better condition to take on grundy, in a must win game. He had torn muscles in his back after the Port game.

Surely the logical thing do to was to rest him for both the crows AND the roos game so he is cherry ripe for the Peis and Grundy.

On? And what does that actually mean?

Source?

Makes the decision to play him against the crows even more perplexing

Some fella called into ABC radio footy show and said that he heard Gil say our bombers game will be held between round 15 and 16. Nothing on the AL website so sounds a bit unlikely, but who knows

I hope that is the extent of the touching....

There was an even worse one. I think Langdon had the ball at CHF, in maybe the second quater and a crows player came within 1 metre i reckon. All langdon had to do was turn to right and feint to kick and it would have been paid, but he didn't react at all and nor did the umpire. The commentators noted it was debutant and that he was lucky, bit of course didn't criticise the non call. On commentators my head is literally going to explode the next time i hear Dwayne say ' nice drop step'. What the [censored] is DROP STEP!!!!!! And while i'm on this topic i will literally disintegrate next time one of those peanuts say something similar to 'literally anything could happen here' NO.IT. COULDN'T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be seriously [censored] off if that is the case. Does not deserve to be stand in captain the way he has gone about his football this year.

The reason why the odds are such an accurate guide to probable outcomes is that once the market is initially framed by the bookmakers the market (ie punters placing bets), which is by in large objective, determines the odds. The bigger the market (tie the more money, the more punters) the more reliable those odds are. The odds were framed Wednesday, but even after the market has responded (though the bulk of the bets will come tomorrow and Sunday) we are still $1.50 favorites. By the by, not surprisingly given all the variables, the results have been very volatile this season in terms of the odds reflecting outcomes. This meant there was lots of value to be had so far, if you could find it. That is starting to change now and normal transmission seems to be restored with favorites winning most games in the last 2 weeks and fewer upsets. The ladder is starting to reflect that shift.

Agree with all of the above. The only problem with him as a mid is how many we currently have vying for minutes. It is pretty obvious that is midfield or nothing for Gus and adding one more player to the mix makes it hard to see how he he gets enough minutes in there. Don't mind him as half forward.

Great minds. I had the exact same thought last night. The other phrase that grates is 'they love the ball in his hands' They don't include me. Had to laugh last night when Eddie said near the start of the third how good gus had been kicking in the game. Funnily enough from that point on his kicking was really good!

to be clear, i'm a caller not a co host

As regular posters might know i am partial to punt on the footy. Whilst of course the odds do not always reflect the outcome they remain the most accurate predictor of outcomes. So as dees fans how do we feel about the odds for the roos game, which at the time of writing have dees as raging favorites at $1.51 and the line at plus 10.5? By the by for te sake of comparison the line in the crows game was plus 14.5?

So did Lever five minutes before half time. i kid you not.