Demon Dynasty

Arguably the most consistent (MFC listed) player this season for Casey. Should never have been dropped after the Pies match, especially with Petty coming back from a 5 week layoff and Tomo playing such a superb match. Equally the strangest selection decision all year for mine alongside Spargo as sub. Would hope the club see his value here as an alternative for Petty plus a VG player in his own right that allows Lever to play his preferred role. Petty for mine is a better option playing as the deeper one v one defender on a tallish defender. Whereas Tomo seems more suited to a leading 2nd/3rd mobile leading tall who plays a bit more time higher up the ground. Horses for courses.

Big boy's about to learn some more

Looking like it could be.... Tomo for Petty Bill for Spargs

I'm not saying this won't happen but Bowser pretty much ruled it out. At least for this season anyway.

Don't be so modest Red.... Macca 14,161 Posted 21 hours ago HF Melksham Redleg Kozzie (we're in need of a CHF)

Still up for grabs Mr Leg. Don't leave your run too late!

Clubs say alot of things Katrina. While i'm sure this is probably the thinking, and may well be for some time, things can change quickly at club land. Stewart Dew one recent example.

Very handy back up ruckman for the main gig which is obviously Max. A handy sub if that's where we decide to place him or a secondary ruckman a-la the way NFL teams have a back up QB. He isn't a KF and on career averages him (and Max) only kick approx one goal every other match. Other than to push forward and stretch their opposing ruckman or give a +1 look. Taking the odd mark inside 50 and occasionaly kicking the odd bonus goal, there is no point having either of them playing significant time as a forward imv, unless of course we have a KT injured in-game and/or in need of signifiant bench rest time. When they (we) do play signifcant time forward (in an attempt at a KF style fill in role) they simply clog the forward line for other mobile genuine forwards who are more likely to get the job (of a forward) done much more effectively in terms of marking, or gathers plus accuracy / conversion. Just as a KF generally isn't and doesn't play signifcant minutes as the main ruck at CBs and we don't attempt or expect to turn them into one, nor should we be expecting Grundy to become much better than a handy chop out KF role for some minor minutes when played there. Especially this late in his career. Grundy also takes about half the number of contested marks and marks inside 50 than Max. This year he is more accurate than max when he does take a shot (approx 63% vs Max 40%) but takes less shots at goal than max (probably spending more time forward) meaning in the end they are roughly on par averaging 0.6 goals per match so far. Their career accuracy average is the same at approx 45%, which i assume is about average (or thereabouts) for a regular experienced decent AFL main ruckman. If it were me i'd be focussing more on getting Grundy somewhere back towards his AA form after the ruck contest at ground level as well as his contested marking in general around the ground. The former is where he was very damaging pre-injury with the Pies and where his major strength layed. Even then i would not be expecting much improvement here this season. Don't get me wrong, still very serviceable as is....but might need another pre-season to push back to somewhere closer to his AA ruck form pre-injury. I don't often agree with Bucks but in the main i feel he is correct here imho.

That's what he used to be praised for prior to his injury Was lauded for the work below his knees at CBs after the bounce and was often seen to be almost like having an extra mid (post the ruck contest). Think he has lost half a yard and no longer as clean with his hands either. This is not the AA Grundy we were used to seeing dominate the odd game here and there pre-injury with the Pies. He can also barely get off the ground at the moment. He is still very handy but it's a diff version of himself post injury.

The Bont said the season was already too long prior to the extra gather round. If that view is any reflection of many of the players' views then surely this idea would go down like a lead balloon.

Shhhh.... don't tell the Poms!

Wouldn't be the first to let his mullet down during a pre-season but you would want to be sure the (IN) pre-season antic doesn't continue on into the season proper or during a rehab period etc. Subject to the above and if we got him pretty cheap.... maybe. Don't see him as a regular mid though so that issue (if there is one) would also need ironing out before either party got serious.

Interview on SEN now

Forgot about Bill thanks SD. Plays more of a Mid - HF role at Casey but yes could see him coming in for Spargo. 3 goals 4 behinds in his last four outings at Casey.

In: Tomlinson, AMW Out: Petty (managed), Spargo My opinion counts for not much but from what my eyes have seen of late there's no 'like for like' direct 'in-form' replacement at Casey to take Spargo's place at this point, bar maybe AMW. However, even though i've mentioned AMW as the in, he probably isn't capable of covering a Spargo type role either being more in the Kozzy mould offensively. Defensively, well not many can match Kozzy here who is up with the best in the AFL inside 50 and certainly not expecting AMW to bring that on debut etc. Also do we absolutely need an exact replacement for Spargo if Kozzy's back to playing some minor mid field minutes and possibly bringing a touch of class with the last kick inside 50 out of the middle on odd occasions a la Spargo? Could we slot AMW in and take the gamble? It's not like Spargo is in sparkling form eh. Chandler hasn't bothered the scorer now in 4 AFL matches and his last game with Casey. He may get the call up, however he certainly hasn't warranted selection (based on form) from what i've witnessed. Offensively AMW's last two weeks at Casey, in particular his match against GWS, have been noteworthy. Spargo's turnovers under not alot of presssure against the Lions were very costly in terms of momentum and at least one resulting in a 12 point turn around. Yes no harm in making the odd mistakes. Taking risks should be encouraged, however some of his turnovers weren't risks as such. More just an inability (at this point in a form sense) to execute the basics expected at this level. If he can't make the distince at goal from 35 to 40 out and can't kick the ball more than 35 meters to go over-the-top to a free forward for a relatively easy shot on goal, but instead, his kicking so limited it goes straight to the oppo lagging 5 meters behind.... then what does he bring to the table? Defensively i felt he was right off the pace as well and his opponent paid little respect to him, playing well off him looking for intercept options and in many cases being first to ground balls with Spargo chasing tail. He's been badly out-of-from since his return vs Collingwood where he was subbed out. Then dropped to Casey where he showed very little imv (watched his entire Casey match with interest... nothing noteworthy at all on the day to suggest an immediate recall). Imho we should seriously consider rolling the die here and allow him to try and find some form at Casey over the next few weeks as an in-form Spargo is still a very handy option. Whether we bring in AMW (not as a like for like as such but more to add to our potential goal kicking power). Alternatively bring in Scache as the 2nd tall alongside BB & JVR. Schache can also play a chop out role for Max at CBs. Leaving him and/or JVR to also share the ruck duties inside 50. That would take a fair amount of workload off Gawn allowing him to continue focussing on max efforts at CBs when attending and at around ground stoppage work. Would also take some of the ruck workload off a young Roohey, which might assist his development where he can focus on his KF efforts a little more. Can Schache make an impact at AFL though and will the FD ever consider him again, even after kicking 8 goals in his last three matches? Looks unlikely and appears out-of-favour so probably barking up the wrong tree here. So yeh, very few direct in-form like for like (realistic) replacement options presently available which means Spargo is probably safe for the time being regardless of his form and looks like we will persist in trying to play him into some form at senior level.

Team & Player Ratings to Rnd 18, 2023 vs H&A Season 2022 Player 2023 Rating 2023 Rank 2022 Rating % Change vs 2022 2022 Rank Change in Rank vs 2022 C Oliver 5.285 1 5.320 -0.66 1 0 C Petracca 4.691 2 4.456 5.27 2 0 A Brayshaw 3.826 3 3.839 -0.34 5 2 J Jordon > 3.775 4 3.164 19.31 9 5 Jack Viney 3.727 5 3.971 -6.14 3 -2 T Rivers < 3.625 6 2.423 49.61 18 12 Max Gawn 3.412 7 3.643 -6.34 8 1 Steven May 3.233 8 3.971 -18.58 3 -5 C Salem 3.191 9 3.363 -5.11 7 -2 B Grundy 3.159 10 - - - - Ed Langdon 3.127 11 3.109 0.58 11 0 Jake Bowey < 3.105 12 2.856 8.72 13 1 Jake Lever 3.041 13 2.703 12.50 14 1 L Hunter 3.005 14 - - - - A Tomlinson 2.965 15 2.079 42.62 22 7 T Sparrow 2.950 16 2.665 10.69 16 0 J Harmes > 2.804 17 3.082 -9.02 12 -5 M Hibberd < 2.589 18 2.613 -0.92 17 -1 H Petty < 2.571 19 2.392 7.48 19 0 A N-Bullen 2.481 20 2.688 -7.70 15 -5 K Chandler < 2.360 21 - - - - Judd McVee 2.271 22 - - - - B Fritsch 2.230 23 1.936 15.19 27 4 K Pickett 2.207 24 2.118 4.20 21 -3 J V Rooyen 2.138 25 - - - - T McDonald 2.054 26 1.967 4.42 26 0 Ben Brown < 1.975 27 1.762 12.09 29 2 C Spargo < 1.886 28 1.981 -4.80 24 -4 T Woewodin 1.725 29 - - - - Joel Smith > 1.541 30 2.239 -31.17 20 -10 J Melksham > 1.536 31 1.947 -21.11 25 -6 J Schache * 1.375 32 - - - - B Laurie < > * 1.300 33 - - - - D Turner < * 1.075 34 - - - - Team Rating 71.19 69.48 2.47 * Played less than two full matches (in total) < Subbed Out at least once or more (player rating could be comprised somewhat) > Subbed In at least once or more (player rating could be comprised somewhat) Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

Round 18, 2023 MCG - Demons vs Lions All hail King Maxy! Statistically we may have just witnessed Max's greatest performance. 124% up on his season's average! His highest player rating ever recorded since i started keeping records in 2018. His next best was against the Swans in Rnd 12, 2022 with a 6.225 Note that the Swans rating does not take into account hit outs to advantage as i was not including that in 2022. Even so, doubt he would have had 17 to advantage as he did last night. To put that in to some perspective the combined average hit outs to advantage (average) of Max and Grundy prior to last night was 13. JVR not bad either with 5 to advantage as a chop out forward ruck! McInerney gathering 8 as the main ruckman for the Lions. Taking a look at some of Max's off-the-charts performance.... 21 effectives @ 72.4% (roughly the AFL average), 3 contested marks, 2 one percenters, 10 clearances (the most on the night and one more than the Lion's best...Neale with 9), 1 rebound, 3 inside 50s, 7 tackles (only one behind Viney who had 8 with the most on the night), 6 score involvements, 8 intercepts (the most for us), 17 hit outs to advantage, 457 meters gained, 1 goal and a respectable 4 turnovers. Tracc another amazing job. Gus, Viney, Bowey and Hunter all eclipsing their usual output along with McVee, Kozzy and Melksham. Demons Scoring Efficiency Disposals Per Goal 22.69 % In50s Goal 31.40 Conversion % 64.00 Lions Scoring Efficiency Disposals Per Goal 20.94 % In50s Goal 28.60 Conversion % 66.70 Player Rating Rank Season Rating to Prior Rnd % Change vs Season Rating Max Gawn 7.000 1 3.113 124.86 C Petracca 4.850 2 4.681 3.61 A Brayshaw 4.850 2 3.763 28.89 Jack Viney 4.675 4 3.663 27.63 J Bowey 3.575 5 3.070 16.45 L Hunter 3.275 6 2.987 9.64 T Rivers 3.250 7 3.648 -10.91 J McVee 2.625 8 2.248 16.77 S May 2.525 9 3.284 -23.11 Ed Langdon 2.500 10 3.168 -21.09 K Pickett 2.450 11 2.189 11.92 J Jordon 2.200 12 3.995 -44.93 Jake Lever 2.000 13 3.110 -35.69 J Melksham 1.950 14 1.429 36.46 T Sparrow 1.825 15 3.025 -39.67 C Salem 1.825 15 3.386 -46.10 C Spargo 1.700 17 1.904 -10.71 T Woewodin 1.700 17 1.750 -2.86 J V Rooyen 1.600 19 2.183 -26.71 Ben Brown 1.375 20 2.095 -34.37 A N-Bullen 1.275 21 2.556 -50.12 Joel Smith > 32% 1.150 22 1.541 -25.37 H Petty < 52% 1.100 23 2.594 -57.59 Team Rating 60.18 71.45 -15.78 Top 6 28.23 26.15 7.93 Bottom 6 8.80 9.29 -5.27 < Subbed out / TOG % > Subbed in / TOG % Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

He was up till 3.30

Jake the magnificent snake on SEN now

👍🏻 Gus putting his body on the line under a hospital kick or two Woe doing the same in a ground ball contest on the member's flank early in the last to hold up play and keep the ball near our arc. He was pile driven under two or three players. Kozzy digging out the HB to Tracc for his clutch goal out of the pack late in the third Tracc doing the same for Kozzy shortly after (with a clearance from someone...will need to watch the replay). Max for excellent body work and getting the tap down that eventuated in one of those goals to Tracc or Kozzy. Kozzy for some lovely body work on his opponent keeping him away from the drop when the high kick came in, allowing Melk to jump, take the clutch mark & goal. Lingers efforts in and under late in the game to keep the ball locked in. Jordan's strength over the ball and distribution by hand in the last quarter Bowser's work ethic to run back on a number of occasions as the QB with a handy intercept or two deep in defence so late in the match. His running ability is up there with the best. Nibbler's will to get to as many contests as possible and impact from about half way through the third. Especially through the middle to offer options and link ups in the last quarter. His folllow up tackling and attempt to recover the pill after pulling a HB to Viney on the square, realising he was about to sell him into trouble, was immense.

As long as the door was closed and children not in ear shot

Yes thought his effort was excellent and managed a few taps to advantage. Held his own. Tough gig to play a KF plus chop out ruck role.

Melky said last week the HP crew had tweaked the program to better match the 6 day / 9-10 day breaks & interstate travel. He felt it was working well even though it wasn't a major change up. He mentioned other factors re in-season training also. Bowser said the same afterwards when i quizzed him about it. Happy as Larry.