Demon Dynasty

Hear hear Rjay. Should be a 21 day quarantine for sporting teams. So much to lose if it gets loose. More importantly, this is really gonna stuff my whole weekend!

Yep a default it will be!

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/conor-mckenna-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-covid-19-gillon-mclachlan-essendon-bombers/5e950ea6-7e96-48f1-a441-42500564d4ca

Yes that's why i have emphasised "IF true" on a number of occasions on this topic. Football clubs have been known to guild the Lilly a little on occasions

I've loved what Jones has brought to the club over many years of sweat and toil and will always be greatfull to him standing up when many others around him weren't giving a yelp. Especially during the dark years under Neild. But as big a fan as i am, that game was putrid and if it was a physical issue limiting his output that much that sees him out the week after, he needs to recognise his limitations and do the right thing by the club until he gets back to the level required. Even rule himself out if necessary which he may have had some say in this week.

Sue if it prevented him from "physically attacking training" then that restriction (if true) also applies to his capability to do the same on game day. Not telling you anything new here but its obviously a super physical game. Rule 101 at the selection table is dont go into matches with restricted players if you have as good or better (assuming they are at full fitness) waiting in the wings ready to bring the intensity, vigour and white line fever required to make a significant impact on the day (who can play a very similar role).

Amazing IF true. We could have easily played say Lockhart who may have had a bigger influence, putting the game away earlier instead of the outcome being a coin flip.

I think you've raised this before dazzle. These are the moves i would hope Goody would at least trial (on odd occasions) when all else isn't working.

From recollection, a T-Mac / Weid combo hasn't been all that convincing in terms of results on the scoreboard of late. 2nd half of 2018 probably better, mainly the finals? But aside from that little window. Might be time to play Brown & Lever (short term experiment / trial only) up there and put T-Mac back or just drop him altogether.

I am more inferring that this skill should be a strength before we recruit a likely KF but yes training it and honing the skill obviously would help SW. Havent been to training for some time so i dont know if they are or arent focussing on such things nor to what degree if they are.

We certainly lack physicality up forward atm JD. Aside from Tracc using his big frame and butt to shift opponents off a marking contest. Not much fear / footstep factor or mongrel inside 50 really. Yes there is more to footy than just that side but a smidgen wouldn't go astray.

The Toiges are really stinking it up so far. Unwatchable

Add to that one team is a blockbuster draw card with the largest membership in the league & an AFL Vic love child (protected)... the other....well urrmm

Or we could try a Port (Bennell last week on one occasion) and tumble punt / chaos kicks inside 50 and let the smalls mop up on the ground!??

Well Tarax you've covered much ground here. Ty for your feedback. Agreed it's encouraging to read some solid content on here along with so many mixed views, opinions and wit. Im in agreement about giving the coach & FD a fair go as is the aussie way. At the same time however, i am also of the view that the final score tells the tale. Unfortunately from that side we haven't exaxtly set the world on fire, other than a short stint at the end of 2018. 2020 results, especially early, probably shouldnt be judged too harshly given the SARS Cov2 nonsense. At the same time all clubs are "in this together" and the horror that was 2019 needs to be erased and fully buried by a fairly stellar season from the boys if Goody is to avoid a severe flogging....and possibly worse imv.

So what you are saying is we are recruiting key forwards who struggle at one of the very aspects you would consider they need to carry out the role as a key forward?

We will never know Mr Old. Such pertinent questions might get you in to trouble you know.

His capability and potential is not under question from me in any way Tarax. And i'm all for the younger guys getting the occasional look at the big league and see how it and they roll. But IMHO the body also needs to be built over a few pre-seasons before it will begin to stand up to the knocks and rigour against the big frames and fully developed athletes he'll be up against each week. That takes time and along with that development comes confidence in body and ability to play at the highest level. Too early and the reverse could happen if the FD isn't careful. The next level from there is to start holding down a position or role on a regular basis, which for most takes a little more work in progress and time. Bring him in by all means on occasions but not sure he needs to be in this early on a regular basis is all i'm saying when there are two alternatives with more experience and bigger frames also sitting in the McGoos. One of which i thought we picked for the very role that's being asked of LJ atm.

You have my vote on all counts BBP although happy to give chunk one more run given it was his first game back > age factor. There's a few big names who's spots are on the line this week (or should be). The shortened quarters means much less game time and more than likely favours the player who has a significant athletic burst edge. Not sure we have enough of those vs the Bombers with the team fielded but happy to be proven wrong. Playing Jackson this early ahead of Weid and Brown isnt the smartest of moves imv.

At least we can hang our hat on that WW

Isn't this about the 3rd 'Concern' thread on the Weid in like 5 seasons? Never really found his mojo or consistency up forward other than a bit of a purple patch in 2018 finals when the whole team finished the season on a roll. But he did show something. My concerns are... bit of a downhill skier that i haven't seen stand up all that often when things aren't going so well? Would still like to see him given a fair shake at it this season though before moving him on. Might just be about to hit the maturity side that big men often take extra time to find. Would want to make a big impact and hopefully has become more mobile / ground worthy. Bit of a mark and kick player that hasn't really added many other strings to his bow until now (consistently i mean...there's been glimpses & patches on the ground but mostly when the team's up and about). Mind you if he can mark and kick straight consistently inside 50 from here then that would be a massive bonus up forward given recent returns on this side. Lucifer knows he isn't alone in the KF conundrum that has seen a gaping hole in this area for us post 2018 when we had T-Mac in form out of the square and a very mobile marking CHF in the Hulk, roaming high, often intercepting the rebounds of the defence and very handy at ground level. ALmost like an extra mid but also a VG mid - forward in that season. Having lost Hulk and with T-Mac horribly out of form (niggles?) we've only seen brief cameos from the likes of Petty. Petty has shown he can be a mobile marking goal kicking forward but alas...injury tends to lead to inconsistency and/or poor form in many cases. Or in Petty's case...plenty of no shows. Not saying Petty is the answer either but he was starting to show a bit of promise as a potential 2nd/3rd stringer and looking quite dangerous on occasions. The FD's mission in 2020, should they choose to accept it, is to sort the mess out that is our KF horribilis in readiness to take things to another level (hopefully finals or better) in 2021, assuming we manage to get back to some sort of normality off and on the field Post ISO. Lets hope the Weid can make a much needed impact during this season and get some value out of all the inside 50s that should be seeing us crunch most opponents but instead most of them are going to pot. Must be a huge deflator for all those further up the field. Conversely, seeing that effective forward on the move, marking and converting can be a massive incentive to get the ball to the right spots more often. Hopefully he is given a fair stab at it as the season progresses (assuming he's earned it of course). Good luck Weids

Isnt there a rule that says he can only be put on it twice before things start to go pair shaped? On a serious not that's terrible news for this young fella. Here's to a speedy full recovery. May he return bigger and better.

Does that soreness and injury also apply to those who watched Smith's game from the bleaches? One can only hope

Forgotten my [censored]...only by anyone not really paying attention or serious about their footy