binman

I was thinking the same drunkn. I live in alrona so werribee farly close. The ground looks terrific after rhe upgrade. I have always liked the ground, sitting just by the river amongst tgevriver gums. Not sure if i can swing it though

Saty was there no doubt. Can't imagine the club not telling him abour the session and where it was. Particularly if he asked them.

That's because he has changed it.

No. It is part of the match day experience. They let more people in than there are seats and let peoplw fight for spots. Robbo makes funny comments and it is shown on the big screens.

So typical of so many so called experts who are ex players. Often clueless and their lack of research and work is evident. Even more embarrassing for lyon given he was discussing his team. In the states few experts in sports media are ex players and actually know what they they are talking about.

Perhaps he needs to explain.

I think this about confidence ds. Once he feels as if he is not playing for his spot each week i think he'll really flourish and become much more if an attacking weapon. I think lever's form is also related to confidence and for him also weight of expectation. He'll be the star we are all hoping for soon enough and will also be attacking weapon from the hb. When you factor in hibberd, who is our best weapon from hb you start to see what the fd are trying to build down back. Agressive intercept players, who read the ball well and ate penetrating kicks who can also hit difficult targets though the corridor. Combined with players who can lock down critical opposition forwards, big and small. Quick transition from hb has never been more critical. When it all clicks, as it will soon, it will be pretty exciting.

I've always rated him. He is just so fierce at thw ball and ball carrier and reas the play super well. As i noted before round 1 he is every chance of cementing his spot and if he does (which he almost has) his confidence will grow and we will see a big improvement in his kicking. I think his kicking will become a real weapon. Another example of a player that many fans don't see how good they are/will be that the coaching staff clearly rate as evidenced by the fact they are regularly selected.

Yeah you're right swans are ouliers in this regard and hawks still using precision kicking and controlling rge tempo as a strategy (but do they have the players for this?). Interesting that swans are also the only club (not sure about hawks) who don't use a zone defence.

Surely though that is usually a function of a out number?

It's like Deeeluded met Deeeluded. And had two baby Deeludeds.

I don't think that is true anymore. Richmond won the flag by getting it in to their (short) forward line as quickly as possible, trapping it in there and failing that making it super hard for the opposition to get past the press. We are trying to the same thing. he hawks from 5 years ago were playing the game you describe but really no team does any more. Teams now move the ball laterally behind their defensive 50 arc (as opposed to their offensive 50 metre arc) and when they get the space flood forward in a wave and try to get over the opposition' press. Which is why you see so many goals 'out the back' these days.

Of couse bookies get it wrong. Though they make their profits by being less wrong than the mug punters. i didnt say your prediction waa incorrect. i said the market suggests it isnt. The art of punting - and rhw only way to makw money ovee time - is accurately assessing the odds of something happening and if the market has that event at longer odds taking those odds. So, as a punter, if i thought a game was 50-50 but could get 2.20 foe on the teams i would take that bet. Odds are most certainly not bs in terms of being accurate predictors od the results of football games. And as i said rhe pools so big that the impact factors such as media hype or one eyed supporters is negligible. Do you really think the dees started fav against geelong because of one eyed supporters? The bookies actually opened us at 2.20 just prior to our second jlt game. We played well, geelong not so well and the market tightened. But we only became favourite when it was announced danger would't play. We started at 1.85, so only very slight favourites. And we missed a goal from 20 metres dead in front after only xonceding 17 points in rhe secind half and dominating the last. I think the odds were pretty accurate.

If your assessment of a 50-50 is correct then hawks at 2.20 is brilliant value. However the market suggests your assessment is not correct, hence why we are 1.70. The pools for footy betting are way too big to be overly influenced by hype in the media. Hype in the media might influence tipping but the odds are initially set by bookies who'se key expertise in this regard is getting the odds right. Punters then respond to that assessment and shape the ensuing odds by betting their hard earned money. Not much room for media hype to be a big factor (or sentiment fir that matter).

It would reduce pressure no doubt, particulalry near the end of quarters but i for one love the pressure and are happy where things are at atm. I really enjoy watching footy as it is now. Well Melbourne at least

Funny. The bookies have us at 1.70 favorites. Sure not 9 out 10 but clear favorites nonetheless. So not so bizarre a fan forum of demons fans would think we will win well.

Agree. Add in gawn and our mid field is way better. It is one reason why i am confident of a relatively comfortable win.

Good thread. Annoys me how with the endless footy talk in the media how little analysis of stats and strategy there is

About even in my book. Both generational talents.

Roosy coached the swans a long time ago. I think in today's footy there is no way players would be allowed to ping it around the arc looking for a way forward as there is such an emphasis now on making sure each possession is under intense pressure. The risk of turnovers would be too great. Much better to turn it over 20 metres out from goals than from the half back line

Maybe, but i suspect we won't deviate from the plan much. Your game plan is your game plan. You might adjust it depending on the opposition but the best teams play their game and challenge the opposition to react. I agree it is an issue when one strategy is used all the time and i think too often we take the long option as a function of adhering to the game plan rather than taking a better option. But in some ways this is a natural outcome of implementing a new or different strategy. However once the strategy becomes second nature i think players will get better and not following it blindly. It will take time to get there though. I really like Skuits analogy of rugby to describe the strategy as in some ways it not just about the long bomb. of course if we can rove the spill or trap the ball inside 50 and force a stoppage that's a winner. But an important part of the strategy is pushing up and not allowing the opposition to take it back out. When on we do this really this really well and get the repeat inside 50 entries that Roos was saying on sat are so critical. On those re- entries we often chip short or cross low balls to about 30 out dead in front. The strategy requires our mids and half backs to be super switched on, read the bail out ball, be super accountable and be prepared to gut run to cover players who get out the back. When those things don't happen (and sometimes even when they do) we will always be at risk of giving up easy transition goals, often in bunches. I was really surprised that Saturdays score of 123 was our highest under goody. They were not too bad defensively so it sees our strategy is working pretty well.

True, however the advent of the zone defensive structures and all ground pressure has meant that it is really rare to have the option to have a free, open kick to leading forward such as the one Jones kicked to Garlett on Sat (and Jones was still in a bit of traffic) and often forwards are forced to lead to the pockets or flanks such as the kicks to Melk and Trac on Sat.

I think you have the auto edit turned on

An 'interception phenomenon'. Hyperbole much.

How is his left foot kicking? it is great to finally have a mid of Oliver's ability. Pure A grade. Now. Agree with your summation. One aspect i really love about is his aggression. Does not take a backward step and is the first in to fly the flag if one his team mates gets sniped. He is just such a natural footballer, one of the most natural i've ever seen. The fist goals he kicked was perfect example. His collect and jink to the left to create space was so pure and instinctive. Th other thing he has going for him his height. 6'2 in the old makes for a very tough match up when he pushes forward. In 3 years time he will have put on 5 kgs of muscle and might even get a bit taller(he'll certainly fill out a bit). Frightening for the opposition. Imagine him and Trac in beast mode in 2021.