Demon Dynasty

One decent game gainst Norf. His results either side have been very ordinary. Did well to get to Rnd 7. Viney for ANB looks the most likely change this week. FWIW weighted average stats have him ranked 26th out of the 31 players to have played so far this year ie., a fair way outside our best 22 to this point.

The key to playing the 3 is right there Clint. If we don't get at least 2 of them taking some handy clunkers inside 50 and also putting enough pressure on at ground level the result might be fairly ordinary with the opp easily running it out the other way on the quick counter for some easy scoring opportunities. And the good ones wont be missing as often as the lowly Saints did on the weekend.

Keep in mind this was against two teams on a pretty low ebb Daisy. The true test of that set up will come against the genuine contenders as we get into the likes of Adelaide, West Coast Sydney and the Hawks / Cats second time round. The FD might not take 3 talls in against some of the better rated teams but only time will tell.

I agree with the late bleeding. The annoying part is the last 2 to 3 minutes of some quarters there's just the occasional major blunder / skill error where we fail to hit an open target, handball straight to an opponent in corridor etc just when we looked like putting the game beyond reach and smacking the opposition. Probably just a reflection of where we are at really. Going well against ordinary opposition but not able to smash them just yet. We have come a fair way from a few years ago though where we were normally discussing how we could be smashed so badly by ordinary teams like the Saints.

I can relate to that Dappa. Good teams are that way through repeat efforts. We need more evidence for sure

Tracc if goals are scored when they aren't straight are you saying they're a behind? But i get what you're saying!

His best performance to date!! Only a smidgen off the output of T-Mac. Keep him in for the next three weeks at least. His game on Sunday had to be a confidence builder. Hopefully the next two also as well as building some decent AFL match fitness while honing his skill execution under heat. Unless he has two shockers in the coming two rounds, he should also be allowed to go on the road against the Crows in 3 weeks to see whether he stands up against a genuine contender and great opportunity to get some further games experience under his belt. Chopping and changing at this point is not justified on Sunday's performance and will only dent his confidence levels and the game against the Crows will provide a better understanding of where his game is at.

Sorry SF but I have no issues at all with what Hulk did on the weekend and some degree of cockiness is fine provided the players / team are performing most weeks. I think the two are mutually exclusive myself. Admittedly the rubbing of the head was a dumb badly timed move given that it was Mirra who lead Hulk to the fall of the ball and got into the position that Hulk should have been, even though Mirra dropped the pill. There's a fair difference between being cocky and being a smart arse IMO. I can't stand seeing players do the latter. But good players and teams are more than capable of playing good footy while also being a little cocky at the same time. I've been watching the likes of the Hawks play cocky / in your face football for decades and getting away with it much of the time, as well as having a stack of success while doing so. Doesn't effect their performance one iota! Keep up the good work Demons. We are on track!

Good on Mahoney for jumping on SEN earlier and scolding the media for the unjustified and error ridden criticism of the throat jab by Carlisle, which clearly showed Hulk being jabbed in the throat as he moved towards the goals and Carlisle. Hogan was off balance as he moved his head back in an instinctive reaction to try and to avoid full impact, then fell backwards as the jab impacted. At no stage did he flop onto his back as if struck by lightning nor throw his hands out to exaggerate the impact as some of the scribes have attempted to mislead some to believe. His only reaction afterwards was to to alert the ump of the impact. Big deal, i've been watching the likes of the Hawks, Eagles, Essendrug etc emphasise what they feel are genuine free kicks for years and getting favourable outcomes from the umpiring fraternity as a result on many occasions. Well done Hulk. Having a fine year so far!

Yeh the miss was ugly. Nothing to see with the other Fox crap. Got a nice banana before that attempt but still some work to do on the technique

You are correct BT, falling backwards is not diving!

If we win the next two i would say we have finally shaken the "played them into form" tag. One very good sign that i havent seen in quite some time from the whole 22 the last two weeks is they are all on board trying their guts out for 4 quarters and...no passengers or soft [censored]!

In: Viney Out: ANB Harmes & Viney spend roughly 50% of time through the middle / forward (filling ANB's role till Kent returns). Viney effectively in a quasi resting role during his stints there. Safer option for Jack than a stint in the McGoos and higher standard all round. Doubt they would risk rushing Salem back this week.

Correct and also reduce our skill errors in general and over use of handball at times. Handball that too often sees us turning the ball over at HB or mid field when the ball could have already be inside 50 much earlier. We are a season or two and a few recruits away from crushing right now. Fritschy, Spargo, Weids are babes in the wood with a stack of development / learning ahead and Salem, Brayshaw, Harmes (assuming they are all on an upward trajectory) are only a few steps ahead. Probably others i've missed.

Viney

The delimma with two face Tyson is this.... Dark side: Can be horrid in congestion a little too often when quick decision making / disposal and instinctive/speedy play is required. Often unable to get onto his left with any urgency or at all at times, he will either sell a player into trouble with a panic / hospital handball or just run straight into a tackler or two as he has no other option or just isn't agile enough (mind/body) to evade. Good example Was the mis directed handball right at the end on the defensive paint of 50 which gifted the Saints another junk time goal. Against a better club in a tight encounter that could be the match! Bright Side: Get him out in the open a little with a bit more time / space and allowed to get onto his left ( allowing more time to asses and steady on his preferred side), and he can look quite silky and finish nicely a la his lovely goal on the run and hitting the odd player i50. In general play he is also quite good at reading the play and flight of ball and getting the odd intercept mark for a quick rebound. This is why some see him as a solid contributor / finisher (on the outside), because depending on the circumstances he can be at times, and others see him as an NQR, because he is also that at other times in congestion (on the inside). Where to from here?

6. Clarry! what a game son! Clean as a whistle ....29 effective disposals @ 82.9% DE, 13 score involvements and 5 interceptions. 5. Lewis ....the rock and general down back. 21 effective disposals...super clean also @ 91.3% DE, 4 clearances, 6 R50s, 8 score involvements and 4 interceptions! 4. Hibberd ...Mr Reliable. Ran his butt off to get to the drop and out of congestion. Lowered eyes on many occasions and didn't blaze away too often. A gem of a footballer with the bonus of being able to dispose quite well on his opposite side. 3. Brayshaw ...Break out game! 23 effectives @ 72%. In everything and 659 meters gained.. wow! 2. Hogan ....fab first half. He kicks that easy forth with a drop punt straight through the middle and he has a very very good game right there. 1. Gawn .... what can you say. We don't win that well without Big M on song! And not just the hit outs... 15 effectives @ 75%, 8 score involvements, 5 interceptions and a goal! Apologies to Vince, O-Mac, Lever, Jones & Harmes.

Under heat in congestion he is very slow to react and get off the mark, sells players into pressure far too often resulting in imediate turnovers in worst parts of the ground. Gets alot of it and gets into positions to get it but just doesnt have the attacking side, agility, speed and finish to stand up under pr

If we needed any reassurance than stats can be totally misleading at times here's a cracker..... Tiges vs Freo Half Time Clearances - Tigers 8 / Freo 23 Centre Clearances 1 / 7 (Center clearances / Goals scored ... usually has a high correlation) Stoppage Clearances 7 / 17 Nearly triple the clearances in favour of Freo! Score at half time 53 to 9 in favour of Richmond! Richmond continue to buck the trend on large negative differentials in this area. Has Hardwick implemented a significant change in the manner / style in which the game came now be played and won at the highest level in this area of play?

Bombay i would be making an impassioned plea to the Mods to reinstate the delete option....and make sure it's before the final siren of the Tiges vs Freo match!

The Western bias is a phenomena unknown in any other form of professional sport LH. Yet the AFL sit back and are happy to allow it to continue year after year. Maybe we should rename the AFL the ACCC.....both totally inept at protecting the end user!

There are some very good suggestions that will help to remove congestion there deanox. - faster ball ups. - Penalise 3rd man in - Call holding the ball / incorrect disposal as it was once called prior to major congestion coming in post 2000. That is, just call it when it is there which is not happening often enough. The last one is critical. As is reducing interchange to maximum 44. The question is....is the AFL even listening to the fans who are, in the main, screaming for the game to be returned some way towards a game that resembles the glory years prior to 2001? Will they ever listen?

I'm doing it a little differently to some probably. Basing it on performances / form shown so far in 2018. Regardless of who is in the team at Rnd 6 i have Wags a short nose ahead of Hunt in the above stakes. If you ask me who the better player "should be" going forward that is a different question. If we assume Hunt can recover form akin to last year, then i would place Hunt easily ahead of Wags in the best 22 stakes. For mine he just hasn't regained that form.....yet.

Faux pockets sure look stylish though! ...