Demon Dynasty

He's having a pretty good start to the year ginger

"Strange days indeed... most peculiar mama" (fingers crossed!)

Apparently attending to a very forlorn JJ after he visited Clarry's hairdresser

I agree. His form from the limited sub time and his Casey matches is a fair way ahead of some. Is he competing with Gus / Hunter / Sparrow? Would need to share a role with or replace one of those yes?

Hopefully not the same hairdresser!

Surely better than yellow & pooh brown

I'd be more worried if Uncle wasn't sipping Mr Leg! And what's wrong with a little 2021 Chateau de Romsey anyway 😀 I'm guessing this is where having the other big boy in Reg probably helps to lessen the load somewhat (for Max) over both weeks? Also we may end up resting Max that following week as you are suggesting. I don't see why he can't be managed that way if the oppo is only bringing one genuine ruck. As Uncle said .... we will soon find out how he pulls up (Max that is... not Uncle!)

Not arguing just pointing out that you seemed to have forgotten the loss to Brissy. Incorect re stats....Only a small section of my post was based on comparative data in those two losses vs 2022. Which is nonetheless compelling in those two losses vs 2022 season averages. Your assessment re why the oppo won in terms of match ups / 2 rucks holds some weight. It doesn't explain mood / mental state though where we seemed to come out prettty lethargic / not switched on and were jumped by both clubs and then tried to play catch up. It is no surprise we lost both which (Statistics alert...look away if you can't handle it) history tells us you don't win matches very often if you end up 3 (or more goals) down in the first half of a match. 3 is more gettable. 4/5 and up is alot less likely. All im pointing out is.... that the gap between the Ws & Ls is quite substantial (so far) and that hopefully with a few key ins we can close that and improve the consistency in general and in particular our starts. Never did i say anywhere that we should have won every match or should be winning every match. The bulk of our matches on paper and given our list yes, but very rarely does any team go through a season without a handful of Ls. Injuries also play a part of course but most teams have a smattering of them throughout the year. If it's an injury list as long as your arm that's a diff scenario.

I havent seen him at that level till now Mr Leg I'd be astonished if they play Macca in defense OF aside from drifting down there for.support late in a quarter/match or following/trying to strech his opponent.

Sounded like a decent night WC. Good to hear you didn't end up in some sorta cat fight!

Yes 100% DC

Yes that's the poster. Any relation Biff?

Yes one of the greatest big footy posts of all time that one. Funny as [censored]

Or they are making 100% sure of it with an extra week? T-Mac and JVR both under the spotlight assuming BB is fully fit for the following week against Norf I suspect Goody & the FD probably want to see Schache butter up on his performance at the hanger for a few weeks on the trot.

So the outs are the outs but the ins hmmm... Maxy obvious if fully fit (for Melk) Lever if fully fit. Disco if Lever doesn't get up (for Tommo) One of Bill or Dunstan (for Spargoat) Lever & Max huge ins, not just for team structure / performance but for their massive on ground leadership.

Think you'll find a fair chunk of them aren't as one eyed as most of the other big clubs. They went through three decades of pain similar to what we went through. They also had their own version of MFCSS which i witnessed first hand prior to their drought breaking premiership in 2017. One of my best mates is a ferral Tiger and he just calls things as he sees it .... no BS and respects the oppo / loves the game & the mighty Demons are his second team. There is the grog squad of course (assuming Shazza and them are still going)... but that's a diff kettle of stinky fish altogether 🤪

Grippo? Hawkins uses it. Possibly Cameron also. No doubt a few from other teams also. Hope some of our forwards are using it.

I think you're forgetting the loss to Brissy DS9 In both losses so far the team's overall statistical rating was off 12.5% & 13.5% (respectively) vs our Season 2022 rating. A bit more than 5% off. If we were only 5% off i suspect we probably win both games. Regardless i personally dont need to take a deep breath. No panick at my end nor do i think the sky is falling. I sit somewhere in the middle, recognising that some of the outs are significant but at the same time our off performances have been substantially off not minor. The worry is the inconsistency so far and the gap between our best & worst. With the return of key players and the Captain hopefully we can become more consistent and super aggressive / max efforts pretty much every time we cross the white line in the vast majority of games. Succesful dynasty clubs bring their best at a very high level for long periods of time and in most of their matches. Hopefully we are also on track to follow.

Yes true DC. Can be done as a percentage i guess. The other cheap way of doing it is to categorise into rough positions and only compare like with like. Obviously it is unfair to compare a Bowey to say Clarry, Tracc or Viney in the turnover stakes. However his turnover count is def more relative to May's, Lever's, Rivers', Hibb's etc. Having said that.... you can't get much lower than 4th lowest! Albeit it's only based on two matches so far. Probably need at least 5 to 6 to be a bit more robust as a guide.

Great to see Marty right up there. Really rated him as a decent medium tall prospect down back provided he could clean up his decision making / disposal. Not sure we persevered enough but anyways. Disco not that dissimilar?

As a run with i'd still have him in our best 22 prior to this season's 'off' start. Be very handy pitting him against the Pies for Pendles or N Daicos imv, provided he was in ripping nic. I'd also have him going head to head vs Zorko next time we meet. Im sure there's others that he could run with playing the cooler. I trust the FD will work all this out though in terms of match ups & whether his track form / fitness & loads are up to scratch before bringing him back.

You basing that on this season's form or?

I agree with some other posters... would rather see Laurie in this week and Harmes given another week or two to get back to his very very dynamic running best before getting his next call up. Needs to come in and impact both at the ball, pressuring and when he drifts forward (if given that role). For whatever reason, i don't believe we saw the real Harmes in his first two matches. He looked a shadow of his usual self. VG at the hanger but no need to rush. Better to get him cherry ripe and super hungry again.

Like any team we are the sum of all parts. When one or more of Rick, May or Gawny are missing things tend not to go to script quite so smoothly and we are sometimes found out. Getting these three into tip top shape and back will obviously make a huge difference. Max is a big out to say the least, especially his impact up forward & down the line marking / spoils. Hopefully the 9 day break will assist here. Would also like to see Dunstan come in for Sparrow and share a mid / HF role with Viney to assist with clearances. Dunstan is also a VG distributor by hand. He seems to have a few more smarts and time up his sleeve and he's very difficult to bring down in a tackle. Might provide us some extra grunt, strength over-the-ball and up the pressure a little inside 50 when resting there with Viney. Doesn't mind a goal or two either. Who comes in for Spargo anyway? We have three choices imv, assuming Sparrow retains his spot. Harmes, Bill or Dunstan. Does Schache get his first call up for either Macca or JVR? BBB back for one of those two as well or is he still in recovery mode?