Demon Dynasty

He wasn't horrid P but i with Tracc now in and if Tyson returns i just can't see room for both him and Viv in the team given they were the least effective of our inside mids (or inisde/outside if you wish to place ANB in that category). We have enough effective inside mids if Tyson returns IMO and Mr. Vince plays a little more time in there which i think is necessary for us if we are to to win on the weekend. I like Bernie down back but if Pedo/Jetta return i reckon this frees up our options for Bernie to push into the middle a little more and even drift up forward more often where i feel he is more dangerous. He also offers the potential of goals from around 50 or just outside. This places pressure on the opposition to push up a little when he is about providing more room inside 50/out back for others to run into. More options to goal should result in more goals.

Forgot Jetta was out lol. Swapping Spencil for Gawn as Gawn looks like he is in much need of a freshen up to take us into a solid second half of the season and get him back to his best around the ground. His around the ground work, outside of taps to our advantage which is always a fair way above the likes of Spencil, indicated he is well down on his best and may well be carrying a stack of bruising/general soreness. One week is not going to hurt and the Ruck role can be covered if Spencil works his butt off with assistance from Dawes and 3rd ups. A full game and a half (or so) at Casey should see Spencil reasonably match fit. Not ideal but as i said, if Dawes is in we can rest Spencil up forward also. Spencil can take the odd mark and goal there also. Haven't seen much of that from Gawn last few weeks. Dawes in is a better ruck relief / forward option than Pedo for "this week" IF Gawn is rested. Dawes has shown solid form at Casey last 2 weeks and IMO is a slightly better tall forward option for us that we have been crying out for. Having said all that i don't think the match committee will risk resting Big M this week lol. So yes Pedo could also get a guernsey. Pedo has an advantage over Dawes in that he can play a role down back or up forward (or both). But Dawes is more handy in the ruck IMO (just marginally) and is a slightly better forward (again marginally) than Pedo. We could play both also with Pedo in for OMac but that would make it 5 changes. 4 would seem the max so the most likely for me would be - Tyson for Viv - Pedo for Omac (if fit) - Dawes for ANB as i think our mid rotations are covered with the inclusion of Tyson; and - Jetta for Wagner

We are on the cusp of entering the eight and this week Is another must win. Cant see the match committee experimenting with JT anytime soon. At most we might see - Spencil for Gawn (Managed) - Tyson for Viv (unlucky but Tyson Is a class above If fit and Viv's disposal/option selections & numbers are still not up to AFL standards) - Dawes for ANB (we need a 3rd effective tall forward who can also relieve In the ruck/play higher up the ground...certainly shouldn't be left to Watts to relieve in the ruck even though he was ok). - Jetta* In for Wagner*. I like Wagner going forward also though. Just needs to clean up his good work a little which will come with experience. 5 clangers on the weekend didn't help his cause.

Yep, does all the little 1 percenters that often go unoticed. Defends and attacks as well or better than anyone. Easily our best on both sides but also capable of finishing off his good work by finding targets and/or kicking to advantage of forwards. Consistantly plays at a high level and has both sides covered. We have some reasonable defenders doing ok on one side or the other but not both as well as Nev at the moment.

Just got back from OS and only seen highlights so this is mostly based on my Stats comparatives. Haven't completed Rounds 6, 7 & 8 yet as i was OS but Stretch's weighted score is the highest i have seen versus the first five rounds and the first weighting above 6 i've seen since last season... Jones (once) & Vince (twice). Break out game? 6. Stretch (6.28) 5. Bugg (5.68) 4. Hogan (5.13) 3. Jones (4.65) 2. Harmes (4.55) 1. Vince (4.18)

Give Big M a rest and bring Spencil in for some game time and to get a feel for the pace of AFL again. Might need him later if Maxy gets injured/suspended or to go up agaInst a taller team like the Pies/Weagles in a few weeks. The rest I'll be happy to back the match committee. As long as we're picking guys who can hit targets by foot at a decent (AFL) standard and kick accurately for goal when pushing forward.

He obviously wasn't wearing red & blue Saber

If only we had learned to throw/shuffle/flick the ball as well as the Hawks have done since 2008 and other teams since Ethan, In particular the doggies also who have no doubt picked up the same/similar skills from ex hawk Bevo since last year. Havent seen the blues of late as Im OS atm but wouldnt surprise me If their ball movement out of congestion has sped up significantly as well with many more quick entries Inside 50. Reckon we would win a fair bit more (and a few more In previous years) If we got In the act more seriously also. You will never catch these teams and beat/match them If u dont.

P.S. Jetta is probably our only consistent example of at least one defender who is solid on both sides much of the time (and slowly improving)

The modern game demands a fairly neutral outcome from defenders when we dont have the ball and then creating run/carry/space and accurate execution when we get It. If you could marry Dunn/Garland with the likes of H (or a more dangerous HB offensively like a Burgoyne) then we are talking seriously potent backs a la Gibson. The trouble Is we dont and finding/developing such well polished but damaging (offensively) defenders Isn't so easy. I suspect this Is why our "one sided" (Ie; quite good at defending or attacking/disposal but not solid with both) defenders are constantly being dropped/selected and will no doubt continue unless others eventually step up and provide the right balance.

Agree with this. They have both been fantastic servants of the club through extremely trying times but their form so far this year hasn't been up to an acceptable standard. Dunn's best Is better than anything Garland has offered up but unfortunately for him, It has only appeared during one or two matches. I think Dunn has the potential to up the ante' If he wanted to but he seems very underwhelmed/disinterested during most games so far. I don't think Omac offers anything greater at this early stage either except a bit of youthful exuberance and possibly something better than the above after another 40 to 50 games (or more).

Some people still believe In political party spin OD!

The scoop throw and flick throw have been in use for years. I would say Essendrug/Weagles started experimenting with it in the mid 2000s and Hawks/Cats/Swannies caught up with it big time a few years after. I have no doubt they use these methods in general disputed ball "congestion" training as well as dropping the knees/shrugging for the high tackle. In addition most clubs drop their knees and flop forward to the ground when in possesion /on the run as soon as they sense a tackle from behind looking for the in the back. Most umps have at least woken up to this one however. I have never seen the Demons do any of this professional free & scoop/throw work prior to this year. Ive seen the shrug this year on a few occasions. I have said for years that if you are to move the ball "AWAY" from and "QUICKLY" out of congestion to have an effective spread and move the ball quickly enough into the 50 to be as competitve as these clubs we would have to start using these techniques and move into the 21st century with the other top clubs who have been doing so for over a decade. No doubt the Hawks assistant coaches are now using/training the same techniques. No coincidence that the Doggies and to a lessor extent the Blues (surprise packet so far) are doing so well since these assistants have taken over.

Agree Jaded. Just hit London this time last night. Only managed the first half score before finally getting a UK sim for the web and saw the end result. Was like seeing 2 different teams. At half time I thought 50/50 coin flip but was thrilled to finally see a break out 2nd half result for a change. Still, want to see at least 3 or more in a row to believe we've finally turned the consistency/decent team corner who can challenge most teams outside of the top 6 on our day. The highlights were super though ...apart from Garland's first quarter handball brain fade! Tracc's head wobble after his 2nd goal lol. Not much to see in highlights of Watts. How did he fare I wonder?

Tees is that a big fat one you're holding up to your lower lip? Only asking as it would seem to be the only plausible explanation for accidental inclusion of the number four in your post up there.

I'm afraid Bud was as good as one can get Maple. Maybe the choices would have been better from business class but beggars can't be choosers. My biggest concern is, how do these travel companies determine that say, Bud, is a better brew than Coopers et al when it clearly isn't. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say or in this case the "beerdrinker"

Skuit I am certain Prague has many a dongle. That's the little arm they use to pull a lovely beer on tap I'm guessing? And boy do they have some amazing beer at decent rates also. Some of it not so great either but mostly it's first class. Certainly helps one to forget the ravages of yet another loss to the Saints. Continuing my beer chase from old London which I arrived in this arvo. Have already savoured something called a Young's "special ale" which was pretty scrumptious, followed by a lowenbrau. Both very nice but I think I preferred the special. The other gave me a brain freeze. Luke warm tends to go down pretty easy here I must admit.

Where's the media management on this? Dont understand why a club who hasn't acheived anything In a decade Is allowed to talk this rubbish In the media. MFC still hasnt learned and theyve had 10 years to try and fix crap talk like that

Memory who? 5 goals... defence has broken down. Uncontested down by 63 ouch

They dont have a rated ruckman and still killing us

Saints 8.3 from clearances Reiwoldt 14 scoring involvements....always kills us as no one can go with him Would love to see our tackle count....we putting enough pressure on?

Saints were 6th next behind us at 5th In clearances till last week so this game was always gonna be close, especially with only 5 day break and home game at the Saints home ground. Shld have played Clarry for Ben Ken IMO. One extra Mid field rotation.

Any chance of this working In Prague for Saturday's clash? :-S

Rank him 7th in our best up to Rnd 5 (weighted stat averages). Best averages ranking of all defenders. Last game was a gem. Keeper. Next victim?

That's an extremely risky option Maple. Are you sure there won't be major collateral damage assocIated with this zany suggestion?