binman

Agree. It's the lifting of the elbow that is the problem, not so much the bracing.

Snap. I just checked that (who blues play). That's a pretty big upside as the pies blues game will be hyped all week in the lead up and both teams will smash each other. The other upside is we have a two week bye break a fortnight before the blues game (lions, two week break, tigers, cats, blues). And we do t do any travel from now till after the blues game (travel caj be a factor in terms of messing with the recovery and preparation program). So there won't be the same level of accumulative fatigue there otherwise would be. The blues by comparison had their bye after round two (but also do not travel before our game). And in the lead up to the dees clash they play, the crows, giants (at marvel), cats and pies. That's a tough run - four physical and intense games - particularly the last two.

Billings would be the obvious one, but having watched the replay he was much better than many suggested i thought. He was knocked for not being strong enough in the contest, but that's not his go (as the club was well aware when trading him in) and made a couple of strong tackles. I think it can be hard to assess pperformance n the role billings is playing, given it it involves so much unrewarded running and the chance if being stuck on the dead side of the ground.

No, particularly given we play the cats in the previous round, a game likely to be pretty fierce. Luckily we have a 10 day break before our next game - the Eagles.

Spot on. The football media is dominated by these boneheads. And what happens when one shuffles of to ABC special comments (eg McClure)? They get replaced by recently retired boneheads, who have zero public speaking skills, like hodge. Selwood is the latest. Just like Jonesy, he has been ok. But low bar. The recently retired players bring current knowledge about the game, which often makes them interesting. But the pattern is none continue to do any work to update their knowledge, so after 2-3 years they lose their value as people who are up with current trends eyc. But remain terrible public speakers.

There's another difference. Koz copped a week.

I agree to a point. But with the way we play, in particular our incredibly aerobically taxing all team defence and the distances all players have to cover (10 plus ks minimum) backing up after only 5 days is very difficult. It's all about recovery, and even one less day than the oppo makes a big difference. They were clearly paddling in the last quarter, so were the crows, but I think we are fitter, which made a difference. Tracc talked post game about how hard they found it. I've been tracking the impact of the break between games for almost a decade for punting purposes. And there is no doubt when a team has to back up inside 7 days, and the oppo has an extra day break its a huge factor. It's something i always factor in.

That's very true. So def a factor. And if we lose a contest, we back ourselves in to win the next contest.

I've been curious about losing ground ball gets too. I said on the pod that the numbers are so anomalous (eg our cp and pressure numbers have been strong) that there must be an explanation. Your explanation makes sense, and us supported by the fact our post clearance possession numbers, one of the most important stats for coaches, have been strong.

We'll have to agree to disagree as I think the change in method is quite radical.

He did say that, but I suspect we will lose inside 50s, or just break even, most weeks with the change to our method (though I predict come finals we will start winning i50s ahain as transition footy is not as effective in big pressure games). As Binmans PA noted, we are setting our defence deep, and almost inviting inside 50s - as opposed to say Port, whose d presses up high and works to prevent the oppo going inside their 50 (leaving space and out the back goal opportunities inside 50 if their last defensive line is broken - eg fritters first goal against them). That model only works because we are so brilliant at zoning and absorbing pressure. When we do win it back we then have space ahead of us to utilise on transition, which we have been terrific at taking advantage of with handball chains and short hits on the 45. The crows were just about the best at moving the ball fast from the back half, last year, but we've gone past them, as evidenced by this data (note: the season number is our average against scores, not the crows average. The match against is how many points the crows scored last night from their back half). Points from defensive half For Against Match Season Match Season * 42 29.8 22 22.6

It was the same all night. No comment about that obvious missed free, Rivers being shoved in the back, maxy getting shoved in the back, any number of dropping the ball we weren't paid, or the stupid insufficient attempt free against koz. And no comment about Walker blatantly staging for a over the shoulder free. If we had lost that game, it would have been be hard to argue the umpires were not a major reason why.

That was a shocker. He was clearly trying to actually kick the ball forward and collect it, something he dies often - usually successfully. The whole idea of umpires being directed by the AFL to favor a team is ridiculous. But if you are the conspiratorial type, last night was smoking gun standard grist for the mill. Big SA club, needing a win in front of a sold out home crowd at the start of the AFL's annual cash grab from the SA government. And right from the get go - Kozzy getting his head taken off dead in front and no free - it was as if the free fix was in.

The Kolt could come in for Koz.

The umpiring was woeful.

Spot on. The win of a professional unit.

His problem is he's got form. Fair enough if he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt. Needs to cut that stuff out.

Some gold there. All sounds very familiar. Swap out goody for nicks and dees players for the crows mentioned and you could be reading any 2019 prematch thread on Demonland. For example: Butts (read any number of dees players) - Can't wait to watch his inability to hit a target within 30m in the D50 then hold up the play and bomb it down the line, yay. Hopefully the players throw nicks (read goody's) gameplan in the bin.

Sorry, can you say again please.

Compelling argument by Johnson. Not.

Covid has the jack

Superstar? I mean, Laird is a really good player and has had a terrific career. But a Superstar? Next, Crouch will be an A grader.

Danger game for sure. A five day break is crazy. Hard to get up physically and mentally. I'd be happy with a low quality, scrappy 7 point win that has fans bagging us for not being able to demolish a team in struggle town.

I did too (pick them to rise), but not because of their list as much as the fact that nicks had implemented a game plan and system that reflect what successful teams have put in place - fast effective transition from the back half. And they appeared to be super fit. Together this made them offensively strong - they scored more points than any other team last year which is pretty remarkable given they didn't make the 8. My query was their defensive system, but i assumed nicks was sorting offence first before sorting the defensive system. And perhaps that's what they have been focusing on as they have really slowed their ball movement (of course that could be a result of opposition coaches implementing tactics to negate their strengths - or a bit of both). They may come good. But they don’t look as fit as last year and i don't agree their group of younger players are that talented. We have a more talented group of 22 and unders. And I'd add that they relied a lot on Walker last year, and he looks like a crock thus far, and Fogerty is one dimensional and like Walker zero help in terms of contributing to all team defence. Two plodders. Thilthorpe looks a player, but he'll be lucky to play this season with the time frame for his knee injury still 4-5 months.

Apparently training in Melbourne, so can't see him coming in. But who knows? Goody might still be in his experimental phase.