Demon Dynasty

Thanks Buck ...and for your work also. It's been an interesting season of ups and downs that's for sure.

Yes i'll get there at some point DZ. Very depressing going out like that. I'll post this match's results vs H&A. Then the combined finals averages vs season averages. Plus combined finals averages vs 2021's finals averages.

The balance of youth v experience was a little skewed to the latter IMV. Need to get the balance a bit better in 2023. Not alot of speed in this team due to the above and just in general. Even the mid field hasn't got alot of break away speed happening. Kozzy about the only one with serious jets. You could counter that if you had one or more of Clarry, Tracc and Viney bursting away and out from congestion more often like we saw in 2021. Not as much of this in 2022. Or alternatively a mid with crazy evasive skills / ball use like Pendles but of course how often do you find that sort of talent? We would go to another level as a team/club if we had that sort of ball user in the middle and finish coming inside 50. Too many plodders on the outside as well. ANB, Gus, JJ & Lingers for loose ball contest / link chain play. None of them are quick across the ground either and ANB rarely finishes inside 50. Great endurance / work rate from all four. Ability to get from contest to contest is first rate, but not that speedy once they've got the pill. ANB in particular. Got caught far too often this season. Spargo is a lovely user of the ball but just doesn't get on the end of it often enough. Some games yes eg; the GF but goes MIA in others. Brings it in patches during a match but then will go missing for long periods at other times.

Mach the FD should post that at the training facilities above every entrance for the next pre-season...just with the year in front of it. A little reminder of what could have been this season. Yes the stopping and propping crept in very early in the season CBF and slowly got worse. If you watched the Pies against Freo there is very little of that. They just roll onto their preferred and instinctively seek out the next target without even looking/blinking. They just trust. I guess the trust issue plays a big part as their targets are presenting so well and so often. When they get the ball they're also very confident that they'll maintain the chains and even if they don't the defenders will have their backs. So they run in support from HB all the way into 50. And wow do they run...for the whole fricken match. Incredible running. Something we didn't see enough of from our blokes this season aside from the likes of ANB and Lingers and reasonable running in first halfs that unfortunately dropped away in second halfs. They also do the little one percenters so well. Shepards etc to assist the ball carrier. And pressure is generally off the charts. Again we lacked that side, particularly inside 50. (SELFLESS ACTS!) They have some insane runners as well that give second/third effort to support and get on the end of the chain. I reckon they'll make the GF and play off against the Cats. They're marginally ahead of the Swans. We did the above very well in 2021 but dropped off in many of these aspects this season unfortunately. We were still very good in defence and at the contest. Not so good at what we did after that with ball in hand though and the delivery into F50, nor the craft / finish inside once it got there. We also over used handball at times, inviting more pressure instead of taking the direct option, particularly at center and stoppage bounces. In addition the explosive drive out of and away from stoppage from the likes of Clarry, Tracc & LJ weren't near the level/numbers i believe we saw in 2021 for whatever reason? This playes a huge role in our ability to transition and score in my view and was sadly not as evident or if it was, just not as explosive this season. Need to address some of the above prior to 2023 or we'll all be sitting here again at the end of 2023 asking similar questions.

I think the team may have slipped on one or two as they ran out on Friday night DF

Dunstan (for Sparrow), Bowey (for Salem) and one of Chandler/Bedford (for Spargo) & Macca/JVR (for Melk). While Melk would feel unlucky given his form just prior to the finals, his first finals performance was that bad* it was not a risk worth taking hoping he would bounce back in a follow up do or die final. Besides it was clear that we needed a second tall KF to help BB out... yet we went with the same line up making it easier for Brisbane to defend in the air. *Same with Salem Spargo & Kozzy didnt fire a shot in the first final and also didnt bring enough pressure inside 50. But again...no change. Too easy for Brisbane to defend at ground level. They had us covered in the air and on the ground in defence. The first final was 'the tell' we were in trouble and that some players were a mile off AFL level let alone finals level, yet SG stuck with the same team & format.

Turner isn't far away if he stays fit. He can easily come in for Petty pretty early on next season and send Petty forward. Goodwin would be crazy not to trial Petty as a potential permanent forward in 2023, starting with intra clubs.

Howes is a fair way off impacting at AFL level. Looks very promising but might take a bit longer to force his way in than JVR imv

Rivers has been too easily lost in the heat of the contest in 2022 DS. Too often loses contact with his opponent. Unsure whether to peel off / hang back or close check back shoulder. Caught in no mans land far too often for my liking this season. He should come good again, possibly just a fitness/form issue but alot of work needed in the off season IMV. P.S. Turner looks the goods for mine. Barring injury he'll be hard to dislodge once he finds his feet and should provide us with better rebounding potential & slicker transition off HB than we've seen of late.

Yes as mentioned, still work ahead. Reckon he presently has the edge over D Smith. McVee & Rosman have shown glimpses that they aren't far away. Form is still too hit & miss though for AFL level. Maybe another pre-season will help them here.

He improved from early season sub-par form but never got back to his best 2021 form in any match in my view other than small patches. Has alot of work ahead of him if he's going to hold his place in this team in the medium term. Turner looms large and then there's also Bowey. Rosman not that far off either but still work to do. Looked much better after returning from injury at Casey. Unfortunately got concussed yesterday and will miss the GF.

Great post JG What an abomination our kicking was (not always but far too often and especially in both finals) this season. I'd be going after Gary Ablett Snr as forward line / mid connection coach big time. We suck here and it's going to cost this club fonals appearances/ wins and potentially any further GF appearances if we don't address it and just try to soldier on. If you've already suffered enough after Friday night's pi$$ poor result i would not recommend watching the AFL clip below.... https://fb.watch/fsT3QvMjSz/

Posted this in the Post Game thread in response to PF who suggested we won't make the 8 if we just roll into 2023 as is with very few changes. Probably better suited here... ...Absolutely agree although we might just scrape in to the finals with another ordinary result (eg; one win then out the next week, no PF appearance). Anything other than a PF this season should be viewed as a severe Fail mark for the club as a whole. We were just beaten by a visiting club in a semi (a level down from the PF) that hasn't won a game at the G since 2014 with a massive home crowd advantage, who had no genuine serious ruckman and their best KF AWOL. Anyone (Club Land Goody & the FD included) thinking we will just reset and pretty much go around again next season as we are, with just few tweaks to personnel and/or minor or no tweaks to game style, are kidding themselves. We failed to make a PF as predicted and at least three of the top four clubs have passed us in a convincing manor. This club needs to do a full review of game style, offensive methods and defensive methods as well as serious additions, especially at least one other tall key forward coming through either through the draft or trade and an attempt to pick up a very classy ball user deliverer through the middle or off HB. In addition the forward line plus inability of mids to connect with it has been a massive fail all season and are the two areas that need to come under the most scrutiny. Only my view and may not be available anyway, but i'd be going after Gary Ablett Jnr big time as the new forward line/mid field connect coach OR at the very least as an additional specialist forward craft/kicking coach. If we also roll into 2023 with same set up up here (forward coach) we will be doomed to another year of no PF and a back to back fail with further teams, like the Blues and potentially others like the Dogs and Freo, passing us by. There's a worrying 'she'll be right' complaceny creeping in and it needs to be hit on the head with a serious review then action required if we're to adjust, make approrpiate fixes/tweaks/list changes, before heading into the 2023 campaign. I hope Kate is seeing it this way also and not still basking in the 2021 glory with her rose coloured glasses on. Fingers crossed!

Absolutely agree although we might just scrape in to the finals with another ordinary result (eg; one win then out the next week, no PF appearance). Anything other than a PF this season should be viewed as a severe Fail mark for the club as a whole. We were just beaten by a visiting club in a semi (a level down from the PF) that hasn't won a game at the G since 2014 with a massive home crowd advantage, who had no genuine serious ruckman and their best KF AWOL. Anyone (Club Land Goody & the FD included) thinking we will just reset and pretty much go around again next season as we are, with just few tweaks to personnel and/or minor or no tweaks to game style, are kidding themselves. We failed to make a PF as predicted and at least three of the top four clubs have passed us in a convincing manor. This club needs to do a full review of game style, offensive methods and defensive methods as well as serious additions, especially at least one other tall key forward coming through either through the draft or trade and an attempt to pick up a very classy ball user deliverer through the middle or off HB. In addition the forward line plus inability of mids to connect with it has been a massive fail all season and are the two areas that need to come under the most scrutiny. Only my view and may not be available anyway, but i'd be going after Gary Ablett Jnr big time as the new forward line/mid field connect coach OR at the very least as an additional specialist forward craft/kicking coach. If we also roll into 2023 with same set up up here (forward coach) we will be doomed to another year of no PF and a back to back fail with further teams, like the Blues and potentially others like the Dogs and Freo, passing us by. There's a worrying 'she'll be right' complaceny creeping in and it needs to be hit on the head with a serious review then action required if we're to adjust, make approrpiate fixes/tweaks/list changes, before heading into the 2023 campaign. I hope Kate is seeing it this way also and not still basking in the 2021 glory with her rose coloured glasses on. Fingers crossed!

Solid post but the last bit might not be that easy either. Keep in mind the Hawks under Clarko won their first in 2008. Took them another 5 years to crack the next one.

Incredible that players, especially Leaders, are still running their mouths. Even after a diabolical finals series. Goodwin needs to get a hold of this cheap rubbish / nonsense talk and shut it down well before 2023 commences. Max is forgetting the very fabric of the culture that won us our first premiership in 57 years... "When all is said and done, more is said than done".

Fabulous post JCB. There were other issues as listed like the low pressure levels, especially inside 50, lack of decent delivery inside 50, very poor / slow transition off HB far too often, lack of a 2nd tall forward, smalls not working hard enough to get to the drop more often (front & square), default kicks to the pocket & bombing far too often etc etc etc. But you also have to look at our game style / methods which are or may have been surpassed by other team's styles as we speak such as the Pies & the Swans. That doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the bath water but we should at least go back to the drawing board, pick the whole system apart and re-assess every aspect of ball movement as well as offensive and defensive methods prior to the start of the pre-season.

The one positive (only in an insight sense) from last night's game was witnessing what Petty can bring up forward. So for 2023.... Weid to take Petty's place. Can also pinch hit in the ruck with Max resting down back to help out when he does. Petty goes forward as a permanent forward. Macca as the other tall forward. Start blooding JVR for Macca when Macca is being occasionally rested/managed throughout the season as needed. JVR also in when we occasionally need a third tall to stretch the oppo's defence etc. Sydney turned McCartin's career around by sending him back. Is it worth trying with the Weid Who also has rucking abilities up his sleeve? Three potential wins if we can pull this off in 2023... 👉🏼 We gain a strong marking 'MOBILE' tall forward with significant AFL / Finals experience without having to trade one in. And one who appears to be capable of kicking goals 👉🏼 Weid switches with Max in the ruck about 20% of time allowing Max to plug a hole down back. Max no longer needing to rest as a forward where he rarely marks/hits the scoreboard anyway and is often wasting space for a better alternative. Max often plays back now and intercepts quite well on occasions with pretty good outcomes. 👉🏼 No longer need to chase a back up ruck for Max assuming LJ is going. Use that pick on a classy ball user with some pace through the middle or off HB. Or alternatively go after another tall forward in case the Petty experiment fails and/or as a replacement for Macca when he retires.

So just putting this out there. Is it worth trying to blood the Weid as a backman to replace Petty. Is he capable? Has he played much down there at Casey and if so how has he gone peoples? I did see him play one very good match across HB vs Box Hill a few years back and he was impressive that day. But one day doesn't make a summer & it was only VFL. But let's just say we can do a McCartney with Weid... IF....could we then send Petty forward? Imagine a Petty and Macca forward line with JVR starting to pop in on occasions for brief cameos, or maybe more than a few cameos, in 2023. BB a back up to Petty, Macca & JVR if they go out due to injury and JVR is NQR for whatever reason in his debut season.

As there's no next week i doubt they'd risk him today Willmoy. Maybe in the GF if we get through but even then. I could be wrong though and he might wanna be part of it and be sticking his hands up.

Gus should never have been on Neale for more than a quarter or so. Sparrow and/or Harmes for mine. As ive harped on for weeks.... Gus shouldve been returned to his 2021 premiership winning position of Wing/HF after the first few games in the middle where it was clear (within about three weeks of the experiment) that it was a one trick pony and failing the team. Dunstan was a must in for Sparrow for mine as well. Been in ripping form at Casey of late. It was also clear by half time last night that Rivers was cooked. Goody refused to swing the medi sub axe and bring Smith on as he as done all season, at the detriment of the team and club. You need to bend and tweak every rule you can as a coach wherever possible. Goody needs to stop talking the RUTHLESS talk and start walking it himself. And not just in this example, needs to stop playing faourites and base more of his changes on blocks of form, rewarding those at Casey who deserve it and asking more from anyone in the 22 who needs the break to work on specific issues etc. Season 2022 will be remembered as a Massive Opportunity Lost for this club. Last night's result was nothing less than atrocious.

Too busy in the lead up looking after kids at training sessions?? The whole club reeked of complacency in the last few weeks. Maybe it's a whole of AFL thing now and im behind the times. Maybe a necessity and ok thing during odd training weeks in the H&A but finals you need to knuckle down with very few distractions. Viney is usually a finals gun.... for whatever reason his mind (body followed) wasn't fully on the job this series. His usual on field leadership was missing big time. Very dissapointing. Again too much talk from too many during the season. May's nonsense mid point of the season didn't help matters either. Took the whole club's eye off the main task at hand, even if it was briefly.

Whatever they were told/thought/ believed that's all fine but keep that under your hat and internalise it. It shouldn't be a regular public thing. And what was that wolf of wall street crappa. Complete BS. That's all fake bravado. Just get on with things and stick with the Reverend's "when all is said and done" mantra. Was the best message in 2021 AND it was mostly internalised and kept in house!

100% this.... too much running of mouths/arrogance this year and much of it from senior players including Max, Tracc & Lingers. Just walk the walk pls fellas and let your footy / on ground efforts & results do the talking like it did in 2021. As someone posted earlier we STILL haven't learned when it comes to dynasty & big club / culture. And all this talk about being ruthless. Yes we found that in 2021 but again, all talk this season with Goody refusing to pick pretty much anyone outside the usual 22 and refusing to change up a losing game style in the last 12 weeks that was clearly found out by the top 5 to 6 clubs. You can't be ruthless if you refuse to reward performance at Casey and ignore poor or sub-par performers (even those clearly out of form for weeks on end) at senior level!! P.S. Max never got back to anywhere near his 2021 form after coming back from his injury this season and looked to be cooked in these last two matches. Not helped by an insipid LJ either who sadly never looked like the LJ from 2021 bar a few patches in the odd game...then missing or flakey the rest of the time. Goal kicking cameos missing from him this year also! No good up forward, ordinary with taps and a 50/50 proposition at ground level with ball in hand. How many times did he get the ball and then [censored] his pants handballing to some poor bugger under immediate pressure (and / or turned back into pressure only to be caught anyway) instead of taking the first (kick) option? Along with BB dropping mark after mark. Are either of them using grippo!?? I can only assume LJ is off as he never looked truly committed all season. Weid was as good as LJ in his ruck cameos and at ground level in ruck contests. Unfortunately that's where it ended for Weid ...but ...we re-signed him for another season....seriously!?? There's some really ordinary stuff happening on the field but also off it this season. Going after Grundy is not the answer to our putrid forward woes either. A.massive mistake looming that would haunt us for years if we go ahead. The Pies wouldn't be looking to loose him unless they knew he was cooked (vs the old Grundy pre injury woes). Wakey wakey MFC ... We will be the duck if we fall for that trick (again...Daws!!). Speaking of mouthing off, who is that Johnny come lately numb nut on the big screen that keeps telling us we need to be louder. GAGS pal!! .I've been yelling my guts out & giving my all for this club for 50 years.... 30 of which were before you ever stepped foot on the G in your woosy gater designer S.A. shoes! Go take your fricken cheese board and shove it where the sun don't shine mate!

What a nightmare tonight was from so many aspects. Somebody shoot me. Tracc started up forward in the last quarter with small % of time in the middle bounces. Unfortunately with little to no effect. Possibly due to being hampered but he has a fair chunk of work ahead if he's to have a regular impact when playing there. Still tends to panic his kicks a little too often. Petty shouldve been trialled forward for a decent block of games, ideally against Norf & the Eagles as a minimum, way before finals. Team needs to be 99% settled weeks out. Throwing Petty forward AFTER the game looks to be lost in the last 5 mins of a semi-final smacks of too little too late and a lack of foresight/planning/vision. As great as 2021 was for the coach, players and the club... we really messed up a very good chance of at least making a PF this season. Big fail for mine.