Demon Dynasty

Petty needs a mini pre-season imho IF he's to ever get back to the form he displayed prior to injury last season. Fullarton comes in to replace him for one or two matches during Petty's absence. McAdam (assuming he makes it) for the remainder (or earlier if ready in preference to Fullarton). Petty does his mini pre (roughly 6 weeks) then needs to knock the door down at Casey before any return. We are effectively a man down with him playing at present he is that far off. Not just in an attacking sense either. His ability to pressure/tackle is nowhere near where it needs to be for this level right now. I'd persist and bring in Joey (Woey) for Salem. Moniz / Hunter competing with Kolt (for sub) but dependent on how they perform against Port. Kozzie comes in for Kolt. I'd also review where Clarry is at. If it's just the finger and he needs these two weeks off to get it right, all good. If it's more than that and some sort of fitness issue then we might need to put another mini into him a la Petty before he returns as well. Problem is, who would you have come in to cover for Clarry during that time (if needed)? Edit: i just re-read your post and saw the Clarry pre-season suggestion. A part i hadn't read prior to writing the above. Seriously. Uncanny!! Thought i was reading my response to your post 😅

If we had a top line quality 4th mid available tonight (Gus), i'm almost certain Clarry would have been managed for this match into the bye.

Too early to write him off just yet. He's due back by Anzac eve but might have to build him via Casey for a stint before he comes in.

That's correct. Especially when Clarry is this far off his best. The oppo just have to cool our main extractor in Vines and if they're clean with their first use and connect on the outside, we end up getting smashed at clearances. Centre & Stoppage. The only way of turning that around is to wrestle back those losses and start winning more of them. Most teams don't have more than one main extractor in the 22 but when you come up against the best of the best and your main one is getting well covered or having an off night, you need a back up you can rely on. In the past that has always been Clarry. Sometimes he's even been THE main extractor ahead of Viney. When they're both on, there's almost no stopping us. Conversely, when both are off their best, or in the case of Clarry in the last two weeks.... way off his best or not being played at CBs/ stoppages at all (ie; playing out of position at HB), against top line oppo like tonight... we're toast. The engine room was running on about one or two cylinders all night. Some of best clearances had to come from fringe / make-do mids in ANB & Rivers (late).

Protecting that finger prob to get him to the bye me thinks

So at half time.... 5 goals down. You CANNOT play the usual spare behind the ball. I hope Goodwin changed this structural aspect up at half time so we have even numbers at all stoppages. Cause we've been getting smashed around stoppages (among other areas!)

Have to try something. T-Mac swap might work. JVR plays mostly ruck. Max goes forward. What to do with Billings & BBB. Both need to lift big time. Same with mid field. Really missing Kozzy's class, pressure including his occasional stints in the middle. A few are still in form but too many are flat as a tack. The ball also hasn't bounced our way alot tonight The glaring ump error against Clarry was a shocker. Somehow need to free Tracc up. I'd be playing him forward for a stint early this quarter. Kolt in the middle for a while when Tracc is forward and see if he can spark something maybe. Too soon?

Can't argue with much of that. I watch the Swans quite a bit and just not as impressed with Hayward as some seem to be on here. If we could only land such players on low coin as suggested. My fear is this rarely happens now with established players at mid rated (& especially higher rated) clubs? They often want overs (assuming player is not a FA), even for middle rung (or lower) strength players on their list.

So that's a yes from you WC! DEMON TEAMS... with Bitters, Civil & Picket Fence! Producer - Mr Leg on the 7 second delay "mute" button (more for the panel than live callers!) It's a yes from me!

The Pod can go for as long as the boys like as far as i'm concerned. As long as it finishes by my usual bed time and not after! I'm even happy to send a coded message in the chat when i'm nodding off so the three amigos know when to wind things up... Something really out of left field that only George, Andy or Bin would recognise. How's about some sort of subtle filler that no one will notice like say "Um" ?

A bucket of blue paint WC? Changing it from red to blue would surely be a huge Manor 'faux pas'. Think again sister!

Yes a bit like Moniz prior to Choco's update info. Wasn't exactly that mobile today so something's afoot it seems.

Love to see Woe get a starting berth. Not going to be easy with Billings around though as i feel the FD is looking to use him as a link up (as they would Woe) between wings and forwards. Billings pretty adept with that last kick inside as well. Something the coaches would really value yes? Woe might need a bit of luck to finally get a starting crack, or alternatively he might be better off getting some games in at Casey both for match fitness and also to try and knock the door down from there at some point with some outstanding performances that the coaches can't ignore.

Agree he makes more sense than Woe for sure. Woe competing more with someone like Billings?

The boys were in great spirits today. Big voices and energy all round. Some concerned faces and banter between Clarry and a few trainers towards the end but wouldn't read too much into that for now.

Yes i agreed with an earlier post that said Woe to come in with Kolt as sub, but as WC reminded me today, Goody doesn't have a history of debutants coming in as sub. And that was before a nod & a wink from Choco (hello WC) and a brief chat with an excited foal leaving the track.

Haha ...for your eyes only! It certainly looked like Choco to me if that was him blinking 😅

Smacca McAdam right to go post the bye. Possibly via Casey?

Moniz a minor calf setback but apparently now good to go with Casey this week

Kolt ✅️

Very likely

Hunter & Moniz coming on with the Casey crew

Sestan's also joined rehab now ,