binman

The issue is not so much match ups as structure. Modern defensive units are all built around structure, system (primarily zone - some teams have an aggressive zone other team less so, but all employ some form of zone) and every player playing their role and being totally predictable to their defensive team mates. Synergy is critical, which is why coaches are loathe to make changes to their defensive units. Omac's role is to be the true full back - akin to a goal keeper in soccer. Plays behind the last line where of course usually a big forward also lurks. So takes that player. If his player pushes up the ground (as the big forwards often do) more often than not he will let them go and rely on his teammates to cover them. He then fills that hole behind the line making, 30 or so metres from goal, making a long kick into space ineffective (remember how many goals we gave up out the back in the first half of 2018? - since then we hardly give up any up). He can mop up or if a teammate wins the ball be a switch option, which is why many of his kicks are uncontested. And unlike almost all of his team mates we can rely on him hitting a target with that kick. But if the blues go small then will take whoever plays deep. And yes he might struggle with the speed of a smaller forward but zones work because they block space in the forward half - forcing teams to bomb the ball in and making it very hard for forwards to lead into space. So their speed is negated. The effectiveness of the classic zone was on full display against the Eagles. Their zone forced us to kick high where their defenders could dominate in the air. And to an extent this will always happen with good zones (unless they can be broken through speed of ball movement - as occurred a few times in the match, mainly by them unfortunately). Teams need a true full back. One who plays that role week in, week out. Playing in that position every week. ATM ours is Omac. Sure if his form is not up to it they will look to put someone else in that position but as i say coaches are loathe to change defensive units and it is his spot to lose.

I would love it if he actually tried to pinpoint a pass rather than kick helicopters

Footy is back. And so is some of the the same nonsense here on DL Round one is irrelevant? After a full preseason and every single key defender available (bar petty who has been ear marked as forward) who does Goodwin select to play against arguably the best forward line, with two of the best 5 key forwards? Omac. On that evidence Goodwin clearly considers him best 22. Omac plays round one and keeps his direct opponent goalless and he barely takes mark. With May, our best defender on the day. We don't play a game between that game and our second game. So apart from training drills and some match sims (which also took place preseason and resulted in Omac being selected in round one) Goodwin has no other game to base selection on. Yet round one is irrelevant. Really? Omac will be selected. Whilst round one is obviously not irrelevant where i do think it might have an asterix in terms of selection decisions is with players who were really poor in that game, not the ones who played well like Omac. The asterix might mean Hibberd gets game. If he does he will be very lucky as he was flat out terrible in that game.

Obviously hard to tell from photos but those pictured look in great nick.

Footy is (almost) back. Love it. Mark my words, (limited) crowed will be back before the end of the season too.

Have taken a break from DL, by in large. Not a conscious decision as such. But after a preseason and then no footy I ran out of posting energy. Have occasional dropped in and scanned some threads. And every thread I've opened it has been clagged up by the Martian fella. Deeluded you say dazzler. Makes sense. Cue my favourite L7 track. Should make it easier to post again. Omac looks in ripping nick.

First time poster, long term (occasional) lurker Totally agree sue. Once the decision was made that the season was going to be postponed they simply had to call that game off. It was dangerous not to do so. They were told the season was on hold little more than an hour before the game (after a week or so of speculation it would be) The players heads would have been spinning, particularly our boys who faced a plane trip home not a taxi. It was hard enough watching that game let alone playing. I felt sick wirh the thought of a player getting injured and in shock about the pandemic. At that point it seemed the most likely scenario was that the season would be called off. And our boys played accordingly. As did the eagles. Remarkable to think given how poor we were that they only won by 27 points. They'd just about take that

Could he be persuaded to keep if if say demonland asks (the site, not you).

No wonder he is such a great leader. Can do infinite military lifts.

An interesting perspective given PJs reticence to endorse pert on the demonland podcast

Me too. Of Garry Baker

The binman solution gathers pace.... I'd be happy to accept AFL life membership as a recognition of my contribution

From the above article: 'It was initially believed the MCG wasn’t suitable as a quarantine hub, where teams would base themselves in a clean environment for an as-necessary period of time to play multiple games against fellow quarantined sides. But it’s now thought to be more likely. Victoria’s 10 teams and club officials could all be housed across the Pullman and Mantra on Jolimont hotels, with their combined capacity of 620 rooms.' I hope when they announce it they thank binman

If the question was best guns then stings by a mile. Best player? Jako. Insane talent. Favorite player? Saw Jako tear the pies apart at vic park. One of my fav games. Cemented jako as one of my all time favourite players.

The ads of demonland throw some interesting ads up. On my page, above the previous post is an ad saying Jesus is the answer. My first thought was only if he has elite kicking skills. But if so draft him ASAP.

The NRL inching towards the binman bubble solution.

Never leave to the match finishes is one of my rules to live by. Regardless of the score.

Best and favourite are contradictory concepts. In my view Johnstone had more tlaent (which is saying something as Yze was pretty talented) but yze had the better, more consistent career. So he is the better player. But TJ is one of my favorites. Watts version one. So i chose him.

Exactly rjay. A good outcome in the end I reckon. One we avoided The massive fall out that the crows ate still trying to recover from of an ill advised camp. Two the club, and in particular goody had a wake up call about effective communication. The fact that some players (mainly younger ones) did not feel comfortable and/or empowered to raise their concerns ironically sent a clear message that the club needed to improve its engagement and communication with players. And they seemed to have done so. The old my way is the highway, bend to my will way of running any club (or business for that matter) is a relic from a bygone era. It doesnt work. That approach was at the heart of the essendrug fiasco.

Spot on George. And the modern zone set up a all teams employ (and I reckon the eagles have close to the best, perhaps just behind the tigers, though rance not there brings them close) places an even greater premium on kicking skills and decision making. The zone means players need to be able to more with their kicks these days. Twenty years ago the best kicks were those that could drill a low 40 metre bullet to a neita or a Dunstall. Still an important skill. But the best kicks now have to weight their kicks to advantage, pop it into a hole, checkside, kick long enough to get over a press etc etc. Good decision making is just as important. When to use which kick, who to kick to, who not to, when to go backwards and reset etc etc Players like hill pendlebury and suckling have the skill set and decision making. We have very few playears with these skills. Or decision making skill for that matter. And as i have said for years it is our biggest issue. And a player like Hibberd has only one kick in his toolkit. A left foot helicopter. Combine that with woeful decision making and an an inability to kick on his right and he is the very last plsyer who should be kicking it inside 50. I was really disappointed he took so many against wc. Goodwin should have made it clear he was not to. If he did we have another problem.

I like it. I reckon there is chance they could commence a season by mid August (allowing for 3-4 week mini preseason prior to that). This is based on my guess/prediction social distancing restrictions will be eased by end of July. Play to end November. A conference system would make that window of time feasible whilst cutting down on travel costs. An i reckon there woul dbe massive interest and the winner would still be regarded as a legitimate premier. No asterisk. In some ways the winner might be lauded given the hurdles all teams will have had o overcome (so perhaps a positive asterix!) Mark my words they will play a season this year. We wil collectively get though this time and the AFL will need to play games to stay financially viable. Same goes for clubs like the dees.

Of course some were, that is the nature of footy. Pressure exacerbates poor skill and technique. The eagles are a much, much better kicking team and executed under pressure much better. As good kicks do. At one point deep into the second half the DE was 75% to 42%. But many of the errant kicks were under zero pressure. Some from stoppages after a mark or free. Like Mays missed kick that went straight to an eagle and cost us a goal. We are the worst team in the league at kicking a football accurately.

Good luck dazzler. Things will turn for the better soon enough. Enjoy your time with bubs and your family. And remember to be kind to yourself P.S I'll pass on your apologies to ANB and Omac if i see them.

Doesn't quite work. Sort of a reverse 'what have the romans done for us'

Agree. To an extent. At least one of his kicks directly (which was after a mark not in play, so unforgivable) cost us a goal.