DemonWA

Leave it out. Just destroyed a fellow contender in their home deck. Smiles all round

I don't discount it completely. My issue /difference in opinion right now is the time left in the season. I can't see how we have time left in the season to lighten loads and and freshen up to the extent that we'll be swarming forward and playing a considerably different brand of footy than we've seen of late. These guys are coming off a very high fitness base so I think the improvements will be incremental rather than significant. Add to the equation that were playing finals like games whilst the tappering process is presumably being played out - to assume that a week or 2 can have such a significant impact seems like wishful thinking to me. Most of the guys are spending alot of the week recovering from niggles.... If I'm going to steadfastly assume we'll recapture the 2021 finals form, I'm almost more likley to side with those that talk about Goody playing ropeadope coaching tactics. Perhaps the improvement come finals will be a refinement/tweak in style against an opponent that has studied our Home and Away method to death and is unable to react to an in-game change to that method. More realistically I think were playing at a level that is quite close to our best footy and we're facing stiffer opposition from the other contenders in what is a unprecedented season in terms of competitiveness across the 18 sides in the league. Agree to disagree

The unwavering faith in our ills being predominantly fitness related is impressive. I think we stack up well against the Lions so I agree with the predicted result, but not because our side is an incrementally fresher team than the one that took on Carlton in a brusing affair.

Great listen as usual. Surprised that Binman is still talking up Loading as being such a major factor to our form. There's 1 round to go not 6. Sure we can be fresher but the difference between 1st round of finals and now will be incremental at best.

Has anyone watched the replay and found this? It needs to be turned into a gif haba

Agree with the sentiment of the OP (no change is likley) but i think Spargo and maybe Sparrow or Jordan needs a rest. Freshen up the forward line a little and add some dash - hoping it would provide a similar outcome to the recent re-addition of Hunt in the backline. In. Chandler, Harmes Out. Spargo, Sparrow

There was a stoppage on their f50 when he dropped 2 or 3 of them off the ball. Absolute bull

That's my point. How the f#ck do people go from no success to 'premiership or bust' mentality

I hate the attitude of fans who have somehow forgotten decades of mediocrity and don't enjoy wins. FFS. Huge lifter. That sort of win will give the boys some extra bounce. Jayden Hunts last couple of minutes were unreal

I'm hoping that cripps playing provides us with extra resolve to bring our A game. Last week felt like a final and they're all essentially finals from here on with top 4 on the line. Time to get on a roll.

I'm predicting a similar outcome to the Freo match. Dees by 6 goals and change

Don't disagree that the whole 2021 was phenomenal, but I thought the way we attacked during the prelim and grandfinal was something different altogether

The boy can leap at the footy I'll give him that. If he is gettable we should have a go, but I don't think he is a better forward than Fritta.

Petraccas game on GF day was as good as he has ever played. Also the waves from the centre were a hallmark of the Prelim and GF only imo. I feel like people over rate our 2021 form due to 2 absolutely stratospheric performances at the pointy end.

Of Carlton put this much effort into winning games of footy they might not be in this precarious position where they're odds on to finish 9th!

No need for the essay, there's nothing wrong with disagreement

Indeed. And @Rhino Richards would hand out bans and warnings like a over zealous parking inspector!

The suggestion that we're a month or two from being at our absolute peak sits OK with me, but I think they'd be negligible gains from hear on in. Potentially the prefinals bye helps. We should have beaten the Pies, but I don't accept they won because of the differences in our loading/tapering. 2 weeks ago even the most ardent pro loaders were saying the freo game was the point in which the discussion would be put to bed. Revising the theory to match the results was my initial source of scepticism, and I feel like that's what these discussions have reverted to.

The only thing we're aligned on is that both the dees and pies are legitimate contenders.

This thread and the 2014 equivalent are both pure gold. I went back and read the 2014 one and some of the old names made the Scully and Neeld eras come flooding back

I agree. But Georges comments made me laugh and I hope they're on the money haha

Basically they will not win a final (or do much damage) because they're playing a game style that is suited to GMHBA and not the 'G and they're old

I try to follow the logic but I can't fathom being 25% away from peak performance. 5-10% sure, but I just can't accept 75% being a realistic number to put out there for round 20. I would say even at the most 'loaded' stage of the season we'd struggle to be a full 25% off the pace. I think trying to play our press AND counter the run and gun style of the Pies is a different beast to what we train. I also think the teams that play the super fast game styles may go into their shells and/or [censored] the bed when the stakes are as high as they will be when elimination finals come around. We need to stick with our method. Not related, but loved George's views on the Cats. Would love that to be the case also, but fear they're as good this year as they have been for a very long time

I feel like these discussions only get airtime when we loose. Gawn kicks straight and the narrative becomes that he is the GOAT and how dominant our mids were, rather than our forward half connection woes.

The better stat would be kicks inside 50 resulting in turnover. That would tell the story that they're trying to articulate here imo. These stats need to be reviewed in context of playing alot of the year with one AFL standard KPF. No doubt these guys could improve their delivery inside 50, but often they're kicking to a 3 on 1 (BBBB outnumbered) or a massive pack because there aren't too many other options on.