PaulR

Ah those pesky facts... Like the fact that we have 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th to go... bodes well if we can get rolling.

I'm for minimal changes. Assuming ANB reported and out, would bring in Pickett for him Gawn and Viney, give them up to 10 min before game to get and feel ready. Must beat teams like North if we're going to keep out season alive. No point holding anything back.

With the sling tackle the AFL want it both ways. on one hand, this season (and last night) a player can be fairly tackled spun 360 degrees without disposing of it and NOT called for holding the ball. But the tackler is now expected to manage the safety of the player they tackle while they contort to either dispose to advantage, look like trying (when they’re not) or simply deal with their momentum. It’s become unrealistic for the tackler. example with the Nibbler sling, tackles him properly through 180’, then Crow player tried to dispose (to kick) throwing his body into the sling and exposing his head to a concussion... yet the tackler is held responsible. In my opinion, if the AFL wants to reduce slings, they should reduce the time a tacked player has before the umpire decides a free or ball up.

I think people need to read the full Lloyd quote “Trade Oliver or Brayshaw... to Essendon”. The fool.

I’m sure the AFL will be collecting a lot of data in the next “compressed” phase of the season. If teams can handle it well then it opens the door to a more than 22 round H&A season in 2021 and beyond... ie more games, more dollars, etc...

Given the teams we’ve beaten recently, this is a big step up in terms of opposition. Hoping we can bring our best for the full four quarters, and get the result. Would set up the next month when our season will be decided. Need 3-4 of next five. Quietly confident we’ll bring our good stuff tonight, and hopeful it’s enough. Should be a cracking match. Go Demons!

Clarko knows it will be at least ten years before the Hawks can rebuild and get back into some kind of contention, and has some hard decisions to make. Loyalty can be a double edged sword. GWS would be insane not to be offering him big $$$ to come and work his magic with their talent... esp as 2020 starts to slip away.

VDB hunts the ball and opposition in a ferocious manner that creates space for our other mids, inside and outside to work in. This also means the opposition when they gain possession are more likely to feel under pressure and either mis kick or kick long to where Max has become very adept at placing himself... happened often against Hawks (and VDB not only mid driving this).

Jackson stays in to Ruck the forward half, which allows Max to sit a kick back, to help build the wall to hold it in our forward half. Tommy can’t do that as easily as Jackson, despite Tom being a better forward. So as some have said it’s between TMac and Weid, or TMac and OMac, or ... I’d not suggest TMac for VDB as it’s that forward (mid) pressure that VDB brings that makes the Max a kick back work so well... be interesting what they decide

If he’d managed to hold on to the bullet from May, and convert, I’d be happy. He’s improved a lot since his first run which is great. Will be a weapon in a year or three when he fills out.

Just “Loving the sunshine lollypops and rainbows”...

... and here we are. Bounce for all the Henny penny fans bemoaning that the sky was falling... @Engorged Onion ?

Given the flack Clarko has received this week, we have the added incentive that if we can beat them well, we can help send the Hawks season closer to the edge and their club into a coach questioning turmoil.

“If Goodloss has his way Harley misses”... nob.

Why would you even say this dross..? Enjoy the win. Ffs

Added Kozzie, Bennell, May, Lever and Langdon...

With OMac and Weid in, I’d like to see Max drift and rest deep forward so we have a valid long bomb option when the Suns apply a heavy flood. Reckon AvB plays wing in Tomlinsons spot. Be rotating Melksham / Bennell/ Kozzie through the midfield at times to add spark and raw agile talent. the fact we’re injury free, that the core team are starting to string together three games in a row, bodes well for more cohesion and connection. Looking forward to this one. go Demons.

It's the timing of both Lyon and Ox's public shaming of the team that I like, and indicate their true (and honourable) intent, to get us up and firing to knock off the Suns. One week at a time. It's a simple game. Build some form.

Of the 26 games in 2019-20 Played for the above crew 6 of the 15 had significant injury layoffs Of the players with the largest drop off over the period the top 7 are forwards and backs (moreso if you add Hannan and May) Our midfield was largely unscathed during this period in terms of injury layoffs and lost games Our midfields were trying to connect with forward and backlines that were unsettled and often without our best players Games played by player (2019-2020) FRitz - 26 of 26 Melky - 16 of 26 (injured for 10 games in 2019) Salem - 24 of 26 TMac - 19 of 26 (injured for 7 games in 2019) Jetta - 11 of 26 (injured for 15 games in 2019, omitted in 2020) Lever - 12 of 26 (injured for 14 games in 2019) Hunt - 24 of 26 Gawn - 25 of 26 Oliver - 26 of 26 Hannan - 10 of 26 (injured for 16 games in 2019) Brayshaw - 26 of 26 Harmes - 26 of 26 Viney - 25 of 26 May - 12 of 26 (injured for 14 games in 2019) Hibbard - 22 of 26

Sure, I hear you. Maybe we should start distributing testosterone tablets to the very passionate and powerful so they can feel better without throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and leaving us all further away from the ultimate success than we already are.

Joy... just what we need is another period of destabilisation and disruption, after a poor run of 4 games. Not questioning your bonefides, more the sanity of those pushing those rumours.

I find it hard to argue with people who purposefully distort their use of data to their predetermined positions. If you're going to quote Goodwin's record as backing your position, at least have the honesty to use all of his record at Melbourne, which is (33–36–0) (W-L-D) from 2017-2019. And the only coach of our past 4 or more, to take us into finals... Lots went wrong last year, much has been done to address it, only some of it was Goodwins responsibility. So this year, we are 4 games into weird season having played 3 of the top 5 teams from last year, we sit 1-3... IN MY OPINION - it is not the time to pull down the house.

lol based on what? we've lost to three of the top 5 from last year... burn the place down and rebuild (version 17 since 1964)

Just Data, without the overlay of 50 years of misery, and a small "healthy" dose of optimism.

This year we have played 4 games with 3 of them against last years top 5 (Geelong #1, Richmond #3 and Premier, Westcoast #5) we've lost all 3. 1 game against one of the other 12 teams (i.e. not in the top 5) in Carlton which we won. So too soon to panic, as I'd not have rated us top 5 coming into 2020, but would like to think we can squeeze into the top 8 once the season's complete. Beat Suns and Hawks, and we are 3:3 with only 2 of top 5 to play in the 11 remaining games, so its doable.