Demon Dynasty

6. Harmes 5. Clarry 4. Gawny 3. Salem 2. The Jones Boy 1. Lewis apologies to... > Frost - best game i've seen and had the FD selected him ahead of Petty against the Saints and gone with the 6 / 6/ 6 structure from here as well, we might now be sitting in the top 4 with a double chance! > O-Mac - fantastic all round game, maybe only bettered vs the Saints. > Vanders - great football brain / decision maker / heavy hitter with AFL tank building a little each game! > Shout out to Weids....best game so far for mine.

Couldn't have said it better LH. Great summary. I feel Goody & Co (and hence the team) have finally taken a leap forward, especially in regards to the high zone and re-jigging the running of 1 or 2 players into the middle off the back of the square in favour of the 6 x 6 x 6 structure as mentioned. We have finally said to the opp we are playing this to our strengths, if you can beat us in our key asset areas, especially winning the middle clearances (first use) and the stoppages, you have a chance and well done. But given those strengths, on balance we will win most arm wrestles and the match, in some cases by substantial margins (a la today) just through weight of numbers. Composure and momentum at times was a hell of a lot better then i've seen (in terms of more players doing it more often and across most of the match) all year. Still some fine tuning but it's a massive step forward i feel. Some fabulous "wins" today also in terms of stepping it up in Vanders (not just today more in terms of putting more quality game time in and rebuilding the AFL tank), Weids, Spargo and Tracc (IMHO). We now have a genuine bunch of footballers playing AFL finals brand football as a unified team who are slowly learning to make smarter decisions (in general) as each match progresses. We also have 10 players in the 50 to 100 mark who have plenty of learning & upside to go as they move into top end experienced / veteran categories in the coming decade! Exciting times ahead. Go the Mighty Demons!

Pure Stats Predictor Team Form Comparison (team score last round adjusted for Ins/Outs) Demons: 64.4 GWS: 54.8 Team Differential: Demons +9.60 Pure Stats Predictor: Pure Stats (no umpire Bias) - The Demons by 18 points

I think that's true DV but i also think Hunt is now copping a soft tag as well (ie., opponent playing him much closer than may have been the case previously) rather than his player zoning off a little more for the potential intercept / chop out earlier in his career. Hence he no longer has the luxury of running off so often at will with as much space on his opponent (early into the run) as he probably did in the past.

That was very noticeable DV. On at least one occasion i saw him initially get a rush of blood when he saw an opening ahead and ran a little only to check himself and give the ball off quickly to someone open on the angle. Kudos to Troy Chaplin here

Vanders - Only 12 effective disposals but running at a DE% of 85.7% seemed to make every involvement a winner. A fair way off being fully AFL match fit as you say but another game this week and a rest the week after. Might be just the tonic needed to take it to another level again. Kent - Only 8 effectives & running at a low DE% of only 57.1% but his first game back in months. But sometimes the numbers tell other stories in terms of effort and involvement also... 5 inside 50s, 6 tackles (2 inside 50) and 7 score involvements along with the sealer! Plenty of upside pending. Hannan - Didn't think he was the right selection over JKH but how wrong i was. 10 effectives @ 76.9% with 4 marks inside 50, 7 score involvements and 3 goals to cap all the hard work/running off. Frost - Probably his 2nd best game for the year behind the Suns match. 11 effectives @ 100% DE%. 2 contested marks, Five 1%ers, two R50s, two tackles, 3 score involvements, 3 intercepts and only 1 turnover (free against?)!

6. Clarry 5. Maxy 4. Harmes 3. Jones 2. O-Mac 1. Tyson

JKH would be the only alternative... not sure he adds alot more to justify the switch though. Spargo showed patches of some solid play during the 3rd i thought and appears to be slowly learning a little more each week. Not quick but work rate is up there also.

Given the number of outs we had and that it was interstate against a top rated side, was that our best win for the year so far?? I realise WC had plenty out as well but....

Welcome aboard Sparkle....good timing!

A decent set of choppers on this lot!

That last 8 minutes was nail biting.... i was just glad to be on the other side of a close win in a big match against a rated club. The last i can recall in that situation was QB last year. Super relieved

Deserves a 2nd run!

WE'RE PLAYING FINALS!!!!!!

Eagles have basically controlled the tempo of the game from about the 10 min mark

We have absolutely Zero down front and square or anywhere near a ground ball inside 30...pathetic

Usual Melb defence.....3 up not enough down.... goal

Poor defence from Fritschkrieg there...just coral son....T-mac had the chase on

BT is a certified pea brain

Weeds best half of footy (other than the complete miss from 35) for the club. Very impressed and hope he can prove me further wrong in the 2nd half. I reckon if he does we win this quite comfortably.

Vanders has been fantastic so far. Really didn;t think he'd be impacting at this level at AFL level so early coming back from such a long lay off. The work rate, guts and footy smarts are still as good as 2 years ago. The desire to succeed? Maybe even better!

Agreed but we have been finding ways not to win for decades Wise. I've said it all year this year....no excuses. Just get it done. Other teams (even lowly ones like the Saints against us) do this at least once or twice during a season.