Demon Dynasty

We are a young team that's why....oh wait it was Bernie

Reckon that's what 7 other clubs would have been thinking this round also. And to think the 8 was pretty much settled at the half way mark. The AFL should be congratulated on their efforts to even up this competition.

Moons is always prattling on about young teams not travelling well. Maybe some cred to that

Actually I reckon he might enjoy watching him take marks RTG....preferrably in a Casey guernsey

Can't imagine this happening to a dead rubber match with any interstate clubs or the AFL favs in Vic. Even Essendrug would get a guernsey. Why winning tomorrow (and a few more in 2nd half) is crucial to the club's resurrection.

Speak for yourself Jumbo ...im trying my best not to ?

Sometimes a hair shirt is ingrained Saty and there's nothing anyone can do

I agree with that Jumbo. The problem is that the Crows also have some big bods/hitters through their mid rotations. We have lost at least one potential big bod rotation (Trenners) and another mid fielder in Clarry. That's 2 down in the mid (big or not) and we haven't replaced those 2 with any genuine inside mids. Trying to cover the outside of the Crows a bit more but giving up the inside a little? Robbing Peter? Might get worse if JV doesn't get up. Hopefully not.

Didn't say he 'was' attacking enough. I'm saying he attacks (or attempts to at times) more often than Dunny. Agree that it probably isn't all that instinctive and he looks reluctant much of the time. I am, in part, in agreement with you on Tmac. However, I differ in regard to his decision making (when to switch/run lines/pull trigger on 45s) being generally (but not always) better than Garlo's. Agreed Tmac lets himself down with poor excecution by foot roughly half the time (that's a guess based on observation as only the FD would have the true numbers of kicking efficiency over various distances). By not hitting targets at a high enough standard at AFL level, Tmac's decisions sometimes 'appear' horrid with the impact of resulting turnovers. He does take many more risks than Garlo here but they're generally good ones until it comes to the kicking part. IMO Garlo has trouble with making good decisions AND disposal efficiency by foot...that's why the Coaches/FD prefer Tmac over Garlo (better decision making generally). I think the FD has more faith that if he can lift his kicking efficiency to somewhere around AFL average (approx 63%) and hit targets more often than present then they (we) are looking at a potential A grade attacking defender or very close to it.

Or maybe he Isn't BBP. He may well play on Sunday If JV doesnt get through. There might be more than one message being delivered In the pic up there.

JV If we lose on Sunday, and pretty sure we will (by 10+), may I suggest a nIce hot cuppa and a biccy before you hit submit on your post match comment

Good work. That differential down back looks ugly. Also, since Rnd 9, the Crows are +25 Inside 50s vs their opponents

So what are your chances tomorrow Picket? Are you In a marginal seat?

Yes, would have been a handy 'in' for Wags this week

From that summary this could go either horribly wrong or right Maldon! There goes my peaceful nights sleep (or two!)

In: Jones (for Wag), Harmes (for Clarry)

I think Dunn and Pedo do the right things in a one on one Ox but as you say, Dunn doesn't have the attacking/run & carry/short to medium passing game (accuracy by foot) that the FD is probably looking for now as you mentioned. Dunn a lovely long kick of course. Garland has the one on one side covered ok as he tends to get 2nd or 3rd string forwards (Cyril doesn't count here!) but gets found out with ball in hand as he often makes poor choices or misses shorter targets by foot. The FD have obviously decided we can't afford to play a more traditional 'stay at home' style defender, like Dunn, or a more attacking one that unfortunately is quite flawed in decision making/and finding targets. Reckon Pedo is another matter (see below) What is your source HB? I must have been asleep. The heavy knock (whack) at the end of last season against Brissy may have taken its toll also? Not sure about streets ahead of Omac but on his day I agree, Pedo fits the 'all round' defence/intercept/transition somewhat better than Dunn, Garlo but a fair margin ahead of Frost. Omac has strengths/weaknesses. Pedo also but is probably the better all round player/defender at the moment when fully fit.

I am with you on the Dunn & Pedo in the same side (both mainly playing down back) error Ox. Just as the combo of Omac and Frost in defence is also an error. You don't want either of these combos happening. Pedo can easily do the attacking work of Frost down back and probably add a little extra oomph IMO, plus cover his man in a one on one contest. Believe me if the ball is coming in long to a one on one to Membrey and we are 3 points up with 20 seconds to go, i know who i would want to have defending that bomb out of Frost/Pedo at this point to potentially save a match. As i said, with another 2 pre seasons and some more experience under his belt, with a few more (occasional) games at AFL level and a heap at VFL, Frost may well overtake our more experienced tall defenders or match them, some of who aren't exactly in career best form and who may have seen their best. But he isn't there right now. We also get plenty of attacking run already from Wagner, Hunt and Tmac. Sometimes you need a mix where the Key Defender can also take intercept marks/spoil alot (aka Gibson) across half back. I would argue Pedo and Tmac are the best 2 at doing so and to some degree Nev also. Frosty certainly isn't going to those levels at this point. We can also add H in there if we need more run who comes with Premiership pedigree (vocal leadership down back). In addition if you're wanting to improve our run off HB, i would think the FD (or any decent footy club) would be expecting that player to be hitting short/medium targets (especially on 45 inside where poss) on a fairly regular basis. Otherwise all that running amounts to not much if the ball is going to be coming back on a regular basis over the defenders heads. Frost is the last person you want (running off HB) ball in hand right now, having the worst average DE % in the team this season (32nd out of 32 players having played 2 or more matches so far) and also coming 2nd last in effective disposal averages (ranked 31st). I also agree re the Zone being effective, but a key part of any zone being effective most of the time no matter how fancy/nouveau it might appear, is to be able to hit targets by hand/foot (but especially by foot) at a reasonably high percentage when you get the ball back in order to move the conveyance out of HB and into your forward line ASAP. If on the other hand you don't do this so well, you will of course see ball coming straight back over the defenders heads. People who looking for reasons for so many 'joe the goose' goals can certainly add this one (mainly poor kicking efficiency off HB) as a key reason. We have been one of the worst this year in too many matches! The Hawks would probably be the most efficient kicks in this regard. Hence they can lose the count on many stat fronts and still win matches. There's no way they (or any other top 6 clubs) would allow a Frost (at this stage in his career) into their back half, other than a few cameo appearances against lessor opponents when 'managing' or covering an injury of one of their regular defenders.

I'm sorry Clint but Frost is not a solid 'match up' on anyone at present. He might look ok when he gets free and receives occasionally but on a one on one I wouldn't back him at all. Same with OMac. Although he is much better at using it when the zone and press are on in our forward half and he is def better in a one on one than Frosty. Again, one on one (when isolated) he isn't quite up to it at this point vs Dunny/Pedo on a 2nd string quality opponent. Omac should be able to handle the one on one better in a season or 2 once he gets an AFL body/strength, Frost also. We will bleed goals whenever these two are played together down back against a quality/experienced forward line like the crows. Frost is easily outside our best 22 right now and surprised he gets a game ahead of Dunny/Pedo (when not injured). I understand the Omac preference to a degree in terms of blooding vs Dunn/Pedo but some d'landers may need to take a visit to Specsavers when it comes to Frosty being best 22. Pedo and/or Dunny are a mile ahead of Frosty (in defence) at this point in their careers. Wind the clock forward 2 to 3 years well that may be a diff matter (age obviously a factor also).

That's very ballsy of you

They will never truly gain a footing BZ other than via the millions of $ being thrown up there from HQ. Anyone who has spent any time in NSW knows there's only room for NRL and one AFL club. And that needed (and still does) decades of advantages and propping up from the AFL. The northerners just aren't interested in our game and at grass roots level it lacks a broad base. I think free agency, without limits on the top clubs, was created mainly to suit the AFL's strategy of enabling the best players to filter through to their interstate expansions now and in the future. They had so much riding on Buddy getting to GWS before he was stolen. They hated the result.

So that song should really be Freos! The Doggies are hardly old saltys!

Might pinch one but way too mid field heavy for my liking to create a dynasty, unless they adjust. Great teams have always had a good balance across the park not just one or two major strengths like the GWS Circus

Nothing ridiculous about d'land SW! Nothing at all!

I suspect Biff probably has a few more years behind him Petracc (with associated battle wounds)