Demon Dynasty

There will always be bias for as long as we are in the premiership wilderness. This applies to the fixture, prime time / friday night exposure and issues like the one raised in this thread.

Head down. Bum up. Nose to the grindstone. Just focus on one kick, contest, tackle, 2nd effort, smother, shepherd, and goal at a time. I'm not going to repeat the cliche but it still holds true. And don't even think about celebrating as we have yet to achieve anything with this group! T-Mac returning is somewhat of a game changer moral / performance wise, as will the return of tracc and Viney. But if we rest on our laurels it will all be for nought. Focus and go go go. No looking back! The Hawks have been playing in the moment and giving it everything for decades and, with the exception of a few lulls over a short period, they have usually remained near the top of the tree. We have to aspire to greatness but make sure we never rest while trying to get there!

There is no way the FD is dropping Tyson for Viney based on the 6 matches played so far (Tyson having played 4 of the 6), even if Viney was due this week. Tyson just sitting outside our top 10 players IMO. One of Harmes, Brayshaw or Salem before Tyson. These three running neck and neck although not that far off Tyson either. He would need to keep his performances up and improve if possible to stay ahead of these three though. If he drops off in the next 2 to 3 matches who knows he might be looked at. I suspect all four would all be quietly aware of the pending Viney arrival, which is great for competition in the mid field area! Have to take into consideration also that the 'managed' option will come in to play at some point.

Probably Rjay. I agree the FD has apparently gone all in on Weids. I don't care who they pick from the 3 as long as they're in form and performing their role effectively. It might come down to the fact that none of them are up to it. If we want to play finals we can hardly afford to carry any players on the premise they are a likely prospect if we just get enough games into them. The Hawks haven't had the success they've had by folowing that line. One or two of their debutants against the Saints the other night have been waiting / developing in the McGoos since 2014

Super debut. Can't recall a decent 'consistent' crumbing small at the MFC since the Wiz. Fingers crossed he grows into something special for us.

You have my vote Juzz although i would play whoever is in best form out of Pedders & T Smith. With Smith having 31 possessions on the weekend he would get the nod there. Pedders bringing a stack more experience and size. Having said that Weids will go round again as it appears almost certain the FD have stamped both Smith's & Pedder's papers (unless Weids goes down with an injury or suspension). They could kick 5 goals in 3 successive matches and still not get a call up me thinks. Hunt probably gets another go at redemption rather than chopping / changing but would want to show some big improvement in form against the Saints. Had an ugly day along with Weids (his two clunkers about the only exception). Was Hunt injured early or something?

6. Big M 5. Jetta 4. Fritsch 3. Hannan 2. Spargo 1. Harmes Apologies Hibberd, Jones, O-Mac & Brayshaw

Was unsighted in the first half Mick with about zero kicks and 2 handballs. You need to impact somehow at this level. After 4 quarters he had 6 effective disposal, 2 turnovers and just the 2 marks. Pedders was dropped immediately after a similar output against Brissy. We can't risk experimenting with players who aren't performing / impacting at AFL level. If he gets another game then we have no standards whatsoever and may as well give a game to any tall athletic type who walks in off the street and can take a few marks. We are also bereft of tall forwards who worry the scoreboard. Zip goals in 2 games.

Cant argue with any of that. Not sure if Weids is up to it either. Maybe one more week but for me it has to be Pedders or T Smith if we are to be any chance against better rated opponents. As we have seen with Jeffy, you can't afford to have a player in the team who contributes very little overall on the day.

Give me these types over bland mid / forwards just going through the motions any day!

16 to 4 Centre clearances tells the tale and we finally started to convert our entries after half time. 8 less clangers also. The inclusion of Spargo, Hannan (should have been in for Stretch last week) and Fritsch saw us alot cleaner, and gave us something to target inside 50 along with some run that's been lacking previous weeks. Horrid 1st half... much improved second. A few less goals from Essendrug at the end and that would have been a very good result. A win is a win though and good result nonetheless.

Tracc for ANB surely. Another ordinary game with only 6 effective disposals

Great effort. Don't have him at 100% however. Top 5 DE% 1. Jetta* 14 effective disposals @ 93.3% 2. Vince* 12 @ 92.3% 3. Spargo 16 (at 3 quarter time) @ 88.9% 4. O-Mac* 8 @ 88.9% 5. Fritsch 9 @ 81.8% *Keeping in mind defenders get a few cheapies around the back...

Jones also in the top 5 in some of those stats so far this match (to 3 quarter time)..... Score Involvements.... 1. Gawn (8) 2. Jones (7) 3. Hannan (6) 4. Tyson , Brayshaw, Harmes (5) Meters Gained 1. Hibberd (501) 2. Jones (393) 3. Hunt (367) 4. Salem (355) 5. Melksham (294)

pls explain mono ?

Exactly. What was completely missing outside of Kent against the Hawks!

Hannan tackle!!

Add Weids to that. Pedders the only depth exchange on offer out of the four mentioned

Ughh Hogan...ankle

Young blokes leading the way! Max pushing forward is starting to impact Essendrug's defence.

This happens so often to us Cards i would rather just pressure the carrier with quick runners who when they get the pill are able to get away from most opponents and go manic up the field and find an opponent with good finishing skills by foot and/or kick long goals from around 50 a la the Hawks. The umps are under instruction by the AFL to have a fast moving / attractive looking game and to keep the game moving the umps refuse to pay many legit tackles, even when the ball is disposed of incorrectly in the tackle. Recruit the player and train the existing ones to pressure the carrier in other ways so they keep their feet and are able to run off etc. Recruit and train in a way that suits the style the AFL are rewarding (or not so as in the case of legit tackles / holding the ball). Clarko has already been doing this for years IMO with great success.

Some on here wanted to retain Stretch over Hannan ?

Well done Melksham! Finally a target inside 50!

I would not be surprised if we are the least efficient team in the AFL (or very close to it) at scoring from inside 50 entries and conversions at goal.

Yes im afraid he now has a permanent yip. Now we have pretty much no one who is a reliable kick outside of Melk or Kent on a good day. No front and square play or forward pressure from any of our forwards other than Spargo in his first game. 11 inside 50s for 1.3 this quarter ... can't hit a target coming inside 50 and can't kick a goal to save ourselves. Spargo the only one scoring in his first game.... horrible