Demon Dynasty

That is correct DZ. At some point the clubs have had enough warnings and time to adjust. It's then an instant penalty. But the AFL couldn't even get that right. Which is probably why they have the rediculous warning...penalty too harsh! Why 50 meters? Free kick from the middle would be sufficient and see the umps more than happy to enforce the penalty IMO.

Need to maintain possession and work hard on the switch till we find an outnumber. Out marking them with our talls will also be crucial. They like to play a +1 on the ball when match is in the balance vs a loose man in defence. If they do so we need to match them, use it well on the outside and, assuming we start getting on top in the middle and clearances around stoppages, make as much from our i50 entries as possible. We should be able to win the clearance battle but we need to win it big IMO to overwhelm their less experienced mid field and win the day over all. Their key play makers from last week who we will need to pressure and close down are.... Acres, Lonie , Ross*, Newnes*, Billings*, Marshall and Savage. Jack Steele also in pretty good form. Their most in form intercept defender will also need close attention.... Callum Wilkie. *Also turnover kings at times if enough pressure's applied. Bring the intensity and pressure plus some decent possession and ball control / movement on the outside (including solid marking and contested marks) we probably win. Kicking straight always helps of course. Bring anything less we probably don't. Very even comp so far.

Must have had an off nite with disposal or maybe we are back as the No.1 pressure team in the AFL!....... His average DE% for the season so far is 90.6%. To put that in some perspective our best DE% defender is Nev running at 85.83% (as a side note that is the highest in the team to date). Aliir's kicking efficiency is 89.7% and Nev's is 92.3%.

This ☝? Jeffy is a class above and brings a wealth of experience. Provided he fires on the day he can finish and might be the difference on the scoreboard in a tight match. Personally i just don't see what Stretch brings and have rarely seen him perform in the last few seasons outside of maybe a decent game against the Dockers last year? Spargo stays and is utilised to replace Jeffy when rested plus a minor role helping out off one wing in a secondary further relief role for a wingman resting. Jeffy replaces Stretch. Spargo doesn't have match fitness or a tank to justify a permanent place just yet (if he underperforms) but IMHO he is more damaging when he's on (even if it's short lived atm) and is slowly building/showing some promise vs what Stretch brings (for an entire match).

Surely with today's amount of sports science and technology he can be very carefuly managed over the 4 days and probably just gets put through a super light skills/recovery program in their one and only training session?

Yes i was also advocating he stays for the match against the Aints DV. But then again i don't think the FD will bring in a specialist small forward for a backman on Corey. So who does Jeffy replace assuming he gets a call up?

Pretty sure you wouldn't be able to Vape on the G just before the first bounce either 56. Stamping them out would become an expensive habit also eh.

And your favourite personality in that magnificent series OD was?

It's a small world after all ADC!

Fair enough DV. In a highly settled successful team where everyone knows their role (with only 1 or 2 exceptions in non-key positions), against some very ordinary opp with Pruess having already played half a season and needing to be managed....maybe. In OUR super unsettled generally ineffective forward line till now (without Pruess) i think that would just unsettle the mids/HBs coming i50 even further. When our mids/HBs (& Maxy) look up/and scan the i50 horizon, they need to be seeing familiar options presenting themselves so they have outlets, especially when under pressure (which in today's footy is most of the time). Pruess is an easy target/outlet to spot as a last resort (or when on a mis-match if there is an obvious one spotted by the ball carrier) offering a foil for T-Daddy & Weids deep in the square. In theory this will allow T-Daddy & Weids to work into a bit of room from 30 to 50 meters or just outside the ARC, while Pruess stays at home as the deep outlet option. In other words those two need to work super hard with their lead patterns, but not inside 30. That becomes the Pruess / crumber/s ONLY zone. This leaves room for Pruess deep and a crumber(s) to work his/their craft with a little more space within 30 meters when the ball hits the deck or for them to lead into the space created behind T-Daddy/Weids who should have lead their opponents out of the area. And this is the danger area where most goals are scored. Crowding this area with T-Daddy and Weids trying to cover it hasn't been working as they draw their defenders and one or two others also trying to kill the ball, making it very tricky / crowded and hampering smalls'/crumbers' ability to do their work effectively (not that we have anyone elite here...apart from Jeffy when he's hot, but why make life harder for whoever is playing that role?). Fine tuning that down to a T will take time and plenty of practice before everyone gels to a level that will stand up under finals pressure. Keeping it familiar and simple for all concerned is a better option IMO with the very odd occasional change up (more positional changes rather than personnel). The positional changes will happen anyway as some are asked to cover off other's roles while they are benched / injured (such as Pruess covering for Maxy in the ruck. Injuries will also bring personnel changes (obviously) but if there's a system and everyone knows that basic system, the person coming in can be asked to fill the role for the injured (suspended/ badly out of form etc) and play that role. The rest of the game set up / style / general structure stays the same so it continues to look familiar to the regulars playing their roles, especially the mids/HBs as per the above. Obviously Pruess might be harder to replace in his role above but you still bring a tall in to attempt to cover for however long he is out ...etc etc.

There aren't many of AA's size / height with the pace to match Deever. Pruess is a very tough match up playing deep out of the goal square.

Share's the role with Chunk on the wing.... might make a 4 stroke!

On the G i would also feel that is our best option until Hannan returns. Jeffy then comes in for Stretch and Fritschkrieg gets the other wing. On the smaller grounds like Marvel and SCG we might be able to get away with rotating say Spargo/Melk/Chunk & Fritchskrieg on the wings allowing us the luxury of Hunt up forward as per the Swans. Chunk to play a mostly forward role regardless of the ground. More so when Hannan returns with little time, if any, on a wing.

You might have your wish PF with Jeffy having a decent game today apparantly and kicking 3. Billy was more a direct replacement for ANB but they might be able to swing Jeffy in anyway and push Spargo up the field to cover Stretch's role (if ommitted). Hannan would have been the obvious replacement for ANB if fit.

Yes another good point Pennant. I reckon IF we continue to play him deep and as back up for Big M we are on a winner here. He effectively becomes the No.1 or 2 go to forward. Great foil for T-daddy and Weid as you say. Hunt, Jeffy and hopefully an in form / fit Spargo will add the speed/clean up needed at ground level to take advantage of the crumbs and pressure rebounding opponents.

He was on from the get go DSP. Made his presence felt, harassed and pressured when he didn't have it. When the Swans started getting on to in the first quarter he was getting involved and standing up which is a great sign. Seemed to fade a little in the 2nd half but quite a serviceable game overall.

One of only a handful of players to improve their output on last year IMO. Given the ugliness of the first 3 weeks and his lack of experience that's not too shabby. Would just like to see him start standing up and impacting games when things aren't going our way during matches, like the first quarter last night (against the tide if you like), vs going ok and better when the team's picked their game up and more players are on and performing.

Wouldn't have seen him out there last night except for the Lockhart late withdrawal Poita. Coming back from a broaken jaw also. Looked sharp early before fading....match fitness? Needs a few games under his belt i reckon.

6. The Jones boy 5. Big M 4. Clarry 3. Trac (Was on from the get go. Keep it up son!) 2. Fritschkreig 1. Salem HMs: Milkshake (Classy game with few possessions. Finding space, cool in a crisis, great decision making including PATIENCE and knowing when to go / not to go. Hitting up targets coming i50....keep playing him just outside the arc and pushing up to the middle pls! Special mention to Frosty (In the past 5 years Buddy was the difference and always managed to put us to the sword.....great job Frosty keeping the big man to 1.3... not a fabulous game outside of that but did what was asked and helped us to get over the Swans for the first time anywhere since 2010 and 2006 at the SCG) Hunt (might be his position from here!) Gus, Hore (very solid!), Viney, Pruess (was up and going early along with Trac.. great energy, attack on the pill early and foil for Maxy as well as rucking up forward allowing Maxy to roll back and set up the wall....can only get better with tank/match fitness).

Agree with all of that Steve except Frost who has earned a reprieve with an excellent blanketing role on the game's top liner KPF last night. Frosty's only played about a third of the time Oscar has so needs a little more forgiveness and last night will be a huge confidence booster. Just needs to learn his limitations when trying to slice through traffic with his kicking at the end of runs. A handball off to a better ball user (where possible) on occasions might help. Possibly an NQR Keilty for Oscar this week till May is ready but best to wait till we see how the backline goes at Casey. Unless Oscar is out from the concussion i cant see the Coaches dropping him unless a backman at Casey has a standout. Petty just not ready at this point so not even in the picture IMO. Frosty stays unless he has a disastrous block of games. His ability to get to a contest and close down space on his opponent in a 1.5ish zone is a very handy asset. Not to mention his line breaking. If he can clean up the finish at the end of the line breaking more often he's a keeper.

Match fitness, match ups and probably best playing the deep forward role like tonight PSD. That way if his opponent does manage to get the better of him on the ground he will be starting from deep inside our defence which should help lesson the damage a little. The Opp will also need to put their tallest defender (or someone tallish that has the ability to leap like AA). And not every super tall defender will have the off the mark speed of an AA.

A very solid shut down role (on the games best KPF!) without murdering the pill too often on the rebound. Hopefully we see more of what he did tonight from here.

Couldn't agree more. Changed the feel of our forward line and opponents will be hearing the footsteps from here! Great foil for Maxy also vs the Weid in earlier matches.

Was that Frosty's best performance? Thought he played a great blanketing role tonight apart from maybe one ugly Clanger.

It was a gradual mid field mauling lead by the energy that Pruess brought with that first goal and the bull imposing himself on the match early. We seem to love the squishy grounds. Been saying for last few years we should move to Marvel stadium. Would win a few more home games there IMO. Need Hannan, Lever & Jeffy back (in decent form and match fitness) to win more often at the G. I hope we haven't forgotten how easily the Saints split us open on the G last year and how many Joe the gooses they got. Stretch while not making too many errors tonight didn't do enough IMO and Oscar ...well let's just say he is nowhere near AFL level at this point and just too easily beaten one on one. Great captains game by Jones (mostly forward half...please leave him there!) and thought the Weid took another step forward against a decent opponent. Melk gives us something pushing higher outside the arc coming inside 50. He has smarts and agility to lose opponents, run into space and spot up players in space. Needs to play this role as much as possible from here. Spargo ok but still NQR over 4 quarters at this point and we are really lacking a genuine small crumber up forward. Didn't think 'T-daddy' would play tonight. Started pretty much how he finished last week but got better as the night went on. Congrats to him on a winning 150th. Clarry usual battering ram and a little sloppy at times but can't knock the intensity, attack and 2nd/3rd efforts. In fact the energy and attack at the ball was back tonight from most which was a relief to see. Solid win. Now 10 days to get ourselves fresh for a Saints smack down!