Demon Dynasty

For those who haven't had a chance.to see this. Some Sesto magic! Starting to find his feet. Promising moments and building nicely... https://www.facebook.com/share/v/kmqg7qyic3fjmNb8/?mibextid=xfxF2i

Thanks Norm. A few uglies in there. On that last point we may have found one in Disco and there's only upside ahead with the Petty role, where we've basically been a KF down up forward given his disastrous form so far. Yes i realise he's coming from a long way back after a double set back but having him playing at such a low ebb is a big price for the team to carry at this level. If Petty can improve over the next few weeks, even by 10% to 20% that would be something. I just hope it doesn't cost us in a big way against the top liners if he doesn't. On another positive note.... post the 2023 bye, we were ranked 17th in moving the ball (transition) off HB into the 50. So far this season we are ranked No.3 That's a massive improvement and shows we are probably in the early phase of adjusting to a significant change up in game style. It would appear we are looking to bring the ball out with some precision to HB and then sling shot from there vs the traditional dump down the line we witnessed for the most part of 2022 & 2023. Bringing the ball out to just over 50 or so before attempting to slingshot quickly forward also means that if we turn the ball over it's potentially a bit more easier to defend vs a quick dump kick that is roughly a 50/50 outcome at ground level and as a result is often coming straight back in from around the arc? I think where the change may begin to fall down is vs a very good pressure side that pushes up high and makes it difficult for us to slice and dice our way out of the square or deep in defence up to about 50 through to the wing before launching. Not that that's a revelation in itself. It's been pretty obvious since Rnd 2 and many have spoken about it over the weeks since. I believe there was even mention of a change coming during the pre-season. But the above improvement confirms that this change is definitely happening and the effort and results are now showing. You need some decent speed on the exit as well as post getting it to the launch spot and sling shoting. Harder to do vs higher level opponents or lessor ones having a day out? Works a gem against lessor opponents who don't bring as much pressure or don't push so high? We possibly turn it over more and don't look so good against the former. Which is a given and why the better opps are rated as such. Unless of course we improve in this change up with continued practice and improved disposal accuracy as the season goes on!

Does Ungarie get a DL Rising Star nomination? A new rookie to DL but already having a major impact!

Doh!

What a joke that match was. The result was NEVER going to be in doubt from start to finish. Why even have a match? AFL shld just say, we need at least one Adelaide team in the eight for a healthy comp and give Port the 4 points. Save everyone the trouble.

Even if the Saints got close the umps would pull something out of their arzz to ensure these pretenders win

Take the non goals from the out of bounds mark and Dixon's charity and the Saints would only be 3 points down right now

Even if it wasn't he only fully had control when the entire ball was over the line. Throw in every day.

You can say that again. Anything that resembles something that 'might' be a free to Port and that whistle's a blowin' quicker than you can say "Free kick Port"

They've over used it badly. Particularly when they've done some good work prior through the middle to get it to a decent launching spot then go another handball instead of a quick kick inside and then turn the ball over. They're also not quite as clean in general vs Port. If they clean those two aspects up and start winning the odd center clearance they're still a reasonable chance though. Port are very good rebound / sling shot show ponies and pretty decent at CBs but that's about it.

Saints need to get it into their 50 alot quicker. The Power one of the 4th worst rated team at defending their 50 and the 2nd worst at ground level just behind North

Wow Saints getting cruelled by a conpletely diff interpretation of the rules between the two teams so far. That PITB and the one against Pepper about the only ones they've called out of at least 5 to 6 others they've chosen to ignore. Oh and that soft sling

The best rated offence going at the moment. Their "all ground" defence laat season was right up there also. Their weakness this year is their defence vs the counter attack where they're rated the worst. They're also the 4th worst team at defending the turnover behind North, West Coast and the Bombers. The Pies have also changed up their pressure / turnover focus this season. They've gone from focussing on turnover and their damaging sling shot counter attack off HB last year, to more of a forward half 'score off turnover' style so far this season. Rated only 2nd behind thr Blues in this area. They're presently rated 18th from scoring off back half turnovers this season! Port are the 5th easiest team to score against when the ball goes inside their D50. Only North are worse at winning ground ball in their D50. Their ground ball defense in D50 vs the Pies was the 2nd worst performance ever recorded by Champion data in their 25 years of monitoring. Might explain how the Pies were able to come back so well last week. Lastly, the Bombers, while rated 13th in getting first possession, are rated the 2nd best team at stripping the ball off the oppo and clearing the ball so far. After yesterday's performance i would under rate them at your peril. Starting to get their act together.

He also said something along the lines of "looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks". Probably diff to that but a similar context. Also sone on here have said there's word that we are wanting him to play at least another game at Casey. Of course clubs gave been known to lie before but we might be looking at a debut vs the Blues for Smacca

There is zero risk in bringing in Fullo or Verrall for Petty! It's a free swing and could help Roo improve his lot by focussing solely on his KF role. Unfortunately Petty has barely fired a shot in five matches. And a bit cruel by the SC to keep selecting him these last few weeks imv. Help the bloke out by allowing him time and space at Casey to try and find his mojo... reset & review in a few weeks time. He also has some of the worst numbers i've ever seen from a Demon player since putting player ratings together since 2017. And that's across the board In pretty much every basic metric. He's 61% down on his 2023 rating after five matches and the weekend was no different, where he posted a negative rating against one of the most injury riddled sides going around at present, sitting in second last spot. Many have said that JVR is not progressing as they would like or have expected to see this season in his role as a KF. Could Roo's growth as a KF have been stunted somewhat as a result of his time spent in the middle this year (12% CBA*) and to a slightly lessor extent last season (8% CBA*)? Is it just a coincidence that he attemds roughly 12% of all center bounces and that his rating ia also down by roughly the same amount (9%) so far this season? The decision to play either Fullo or Verrall in place of Petty this week is one of the easiest the SC could make and an absolute no brainer. * Courtesy of wheeloratings.com