binman

If you asked Slobbo the answer would be one that clearly benefits the bombers

Some key stats that go a long way to explaining our dominance (from this article with a bunch of other stats on the MFC website): Inside 50’s: Melbourne: 54 | Hawthorn: 33 Inside 50’s from centre bounces: Melbourne: 12 | Hawthorn: 6 Marks inside 50: Melbourne: 15 | Hawthorn: 5

I cant do those fancy giphs. Can someone help a fella out with one of that kick. That kick was heaven on a stick.

I 100% agree with the points in this post. I reckon our game plan is very close to Richmonds. But of course not exactly the same, particularly our greater emphasis on winning contested ball. But like the tigers we are forward half team, as you say when on we run in waves and use those players either side of the ball carrier, look to keep the ball moving forward at all costs when attacking (eg with knock ons etc - melk taking it a bit too far i reckon - just grab the footy for god's sake) and inside 50 pressure and tackling are fundamental KPIs (which is why Hannan and Kozi are such important ins) I also agree with an earlier point you about the tiger's plan changing bit to be more considered and less frenetic. We are also trying to make that change. Clubs have to these days to counter the flood and control the tempo and momentum of the game. This is a tactical shift responsible for driving scores down - five years ago, generally the only time teams slowed it down and chipped it around was near the end of quarters or to defend lead at the end of the game. now they do it at various stages though match and for various reasons. This tactic, which is even more effective with 16 minute quarters, is regularly employed in soccer and basketball no doubt other team sports. Control the temp and momentum and control the game. Deny the Opposition the ball and they can't score. A really good example of us doing this well was in the minutes after the hawks kicked a couple of quick goals early in the third quarter (leading one of the peanut commentators to exclaim after the second of those goals something like - 'hawks now only 3 goals down and dees fans are nervous!'). Rather than trying to counter attack - as would have in 2017 and 2018 - we balanced up and got control of the tempo of the game. Meaning they didn't bang on 3-4 quick goals as has been our Achilles heel under Goody. So when Weed scored our first for the quarter the game was effectively over. In some ways we also now share some tactical similarities to the pies - as do the tigers as we now share their emphasis on: all players doing the gut running needed in modern footy, applying the required pressure on that last kick inside 50 forcing opposition sides to go long down the line by denying them the switch and kick to the corridor having a back six that works super well as a unit and is really hard to score against (it is worth noting as bad as were last year and in our losses this year teams have still struggled to score against us and we were rarely flogged)

So can i be clear Nasher. What you are saying is that Goody has stopped listening to his muppet assistants and become an authoritarian. Name your source - or are you just pitting stuff out there to stir up trouble?

More like: 'I reckon the blues will win flag, maybe two before the Hawks even make finals again - Al can i ask a serous question. Be honest. I value 360 degree feedback. I ran the blues into the ground, got sacked and now they are flying. Bloody exciting footy they play too. I came to the hawks the year after they made a semi and we have been on the slide since. Pretty dull game plan too i must say. If i bail will you give me a reference, like the one that landed me the blues gig?''

i find it all but impossible to work out who is playing on watching on TV (with some obvious exceptions - some key forwards, rucks, mids being tagged). Why don't they tell us? Would a graphic be that hard or some analysis be that hard? Anyway i digress. As i mentioned a few times last year and the year before people with the AFL live pass (tesltra customers and i assume AFL subscribers? - not sure how that works) can access AFL stats pro on AFL.com where you can of watch vision every involvement of every player. Fantastic tool. I assume the clubs and players use this vision to reflect on individual player''s games I have used it this year (in 2018 and 2019 i was mostly on Omac watch) but might have look at Harmes' or Smith's involvements because i wondering who was on Smith too. Did bugger all. I''m also curious who Lochart and Jetta played on. And who was on Sicily (or vice versa) i'll have a look tonight and post my findings!

A good point. No doubt we are better structurally with Omac and Weed in the team. And i was really disappointed Harley didn't play against the cats and even more so the tigers. But a big part of coaching is man management and goody may well have decided he was prepared to risk losing the war to win the battle with all three players.

Yep, possibly. But that's a really good thing is it not?

An imposter! or should that be imposter?

Could not agree more. Fantastic game. Blimey he must be fit. I mentioned that handball from Oliver to a mate when talking to him.about how well maxy played. What presence of mind to clear that ball! He would have never thought in a million years oli would give that to him. Why would he? In the 2018 semi I was filthy at the hawks tactics on gawn. They smashed him all day and took every chance to hurt him. Doubt gawny has forgotten. Played like he was on a mission.

No? How many players, moving through traffic (having set up the scoring chain in the center) could hit a player 20 metres away with a handball fired from round his head to set up a gimme goal? And his first goal back though easy will certainly make his end of career highlight reel. (Note: the above sounds a bit argumentative - it wasn't meant to)

Agree on those elements being there in 2018. But what is noticeably different is we are now somtimes playing tempo footy. We actually started doing that last year, out of necessity as anything else I reckon in order to stay in games and stem the losses. But we struggled to play at two speeds. We have tried to implement that two speed footy this year and have struggled until the last two games to make it work. Which explains both why we have struggled to score and sometimes have been easy to score against in patches (though it must be said we have not been smashed this year so the defence has done well, even with smith). To me this a pretty big change, one that would have been hard to implement for a team schooled on run and gun under goody (in 2017 and 2018). On demonland there were lots of comments after the first few games about the players looking confused, not quite gelling as team, not knowing quite what to do and making poor decisions. All valid points. But I have no doubt that is all at least part a function of trying to bed down a changed (albeit not radically) game plan. Something made harder by all the restrictions on training as a result of covid. Credit where it is due for goody, who by the by by has also won the tactical battle the last two weeks against the master and his apprentice.

As discussed earlier in this thread the game plan has changed a bit. And goody deserves a lot of credit for that. On conversion two there are noticeable change in the last couple of games compared to the first few (and both hark back to 2018). The first is through quick agressive ball movement and running in waves we have created more space inside 50 and more free players. Hayley's goal was the perfect example. The second Is they are really looking for opportunities for the kick get into the corridor inside 50. There weren't as many yesterday but it certainly helps our accuracy.

Don't normally vote. But this will do me (with one change) I'd give maxy 12 though

He's not really being played out of position is he? Only viney and Oliver would have had more time on ball today, surely.

very good ET (though ironically untrue - did he have clanger today?)

Don't go changing to try and please me You never let me down before Don't imagine you're too familiar And I don't see you anymore I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble We never could have come this far I took the good times; I'll take the bad times I'll take you just the way you are Don't go trying some new fashion Don't change the color of your hair You always have my unspoken passion Although I might not seem to care I don't want clever conversation I never want to work that hard I just want someone that I can talk to I want you just the way you are I need to know that you will always be The same old someone that I knew What will it take till you believe in me The way that I believe in you? I said I love you and that's forever And this I promise from the heart I could not love you any better I love you just the way you are

Great post Rusty. I'd add that another change has been playing more tempo footy and being a bit more patient with our ball movement. We are still looking to pull the trigger though, which makes us an exciting team to watch when it comes together as it has in the last couple of weeks where have scored goals with quick, aggressive ball movement - as we di so often in 2018. And like 2018 when on we run in waves with 2 or 3 players in a line as the ball sweeps forward as an option for the handball. The thing that remains the same is the commitment to pressure, tackling and contest out footy. Footy built for finals.

That is amazing. When was the last time we had stats for marking anywhere near that? I think we had 12 marks inside 50 last week, which is testament to our better entries and leading patterns. But no where near that many contested marks. Didn't hurt that Clarkson the wonder coach decided on true left field plan of kicking it to our ruck man all game.

Gawn simply has to get the 3 votes for that game.

Hard to argue with that (with the possible exception of the first q against the blues, not hat he did anything)

Maybe. I reckon there's a chance he didn't realize he had marked it. That handball was unenviable. Vision and it must of traveled 20 metres (funny release action too ie up around his head). What was also great about that play was he involved in that scoring chain in the centre with a tap forward (almost a throw) and kept running forward to get involved. Trac was good in that passage too.

I have see a lot of demon's games. In all seriousness i don't think i can recall a more dominate display by a Melbourne player than Maxy tonight. He was next level. I'll watch the replay (something i could never do back in the day) but that may well be the best game of footy i have seen a demons' player play - Robbie included. Trac was a star and played one of his best games he has ever played. Killed it. But remarkably will only get two brownlow votes for his trouble.

The Omac wars are nearly over. Jnrmac is waiting at the station, has bought his ticket and reckon is close to jumping on board the Oscar train. Just need stevethemanjordon to make a demonland comeback and board that train too.