Demon Dynasty

As i have said for the last two seasons and early on in Thursday night's match.... "my kingdom for a genuine power CHF". The bolded excerpt below from Dermy tells the tale in terms of not having a genuinely dangerous tall forward. It's also incredible to think that we are still persisting with an ex ruckman (Stafford) as our forward line coach more than two years after attempting to fix our forward line issues and not having any lasting success that consistently stands up (to this point) against the more rated oppo ... “I think Jacob van Rooyen has got some talent and he can mark the ball above his head but the thing about key forward play is that you’ve got to recognise the trigger and it’s less than a second, it’s ‘this ball is coming this way I’ve got to be in the right position’. “Previous to the trigger moment you actually have to start in the right position, and he doesn’t have the right starting position and I don’t know who’s teaching him or not teaching him those little tricks. “They are impotent without ground level players"....

100% on Toby. One of the best on GF day Showed he had something special on occasions at senior level as well. Shouldve been retained ahead of a number of other similar role players

Is Hogan BOG so far??

Giants out of defence.... Use the entire ground✅️ Take space by foot whenever presented✅️ Run and spread quickly linking up with precision kicks much of the time. Contrast this with our 'Run out of the square and bomb it long to Max' about 70%-80% of the time

Hard to watch Jesse when he's playing like this ... grrr

Cadman VG there... lovely assist from Jesse

Jesse again. Always looks better when playing angry

Nice from Jesse

GWS playing the mark as per the Bulldogs ... preferring the 'outside 5' option to cover space behind the ball

Thanks Mr Fence. Fraser was ok on his day. Thought he might've got one more year and was super unlucky to miss the GF & a medal due to concussion. A great club man. He joined in the Casey premiership celebrations after the match and kept his chin up nicely. Pretty sure he went over to Perth and was in the mix for the post 21 flag celebrations with the senior boys as well.

Yes time needed to rectify this as we are too far off our best for a miracle turnaround in one week imho DZ. We are potentially two to three matches with an injection of NOS players coming back in and replacing the NQRs before righting a bit of a wonky ship me thinks. Hopefully proven wrong next week. Kozzy back and maybe even BB but i have no idea where he's at fitness / AFL readiness wise as i write this. Will check on that soonish through the Casey praccy reports and see what's being said.

That would explain the high tackle count. No doubt some great efforts to shut down the ball carrier but as you say, if he was being lead to the ball too often and giving up alot of first use then that would be to the detriment of the team regardless. As per usual, the eyes tell the tale. Best to only use stats/models as a rough indicator of who 'might' have performed on the day and/or form trends over a period of 3 to 5 weeks or more if you desire. Some refuse to look at them at all of course. I prefer to use both eyes & stats, but never stats on their own. Not without major caveats and only if i just cant get the time or wherewithal to watch the game eg; overseas and no time / coverage etc.

Very nice first up game from the youngster. There's always the odd outlier when putting these ratings together Adonski and always room for improvement with the way the ratings are devised. Far from perfect. However he did have the most tackles of any player on the night (9) and the equal lowest turnover count of any of the mids (alongside Max) so that probably bumped him up the table a little. Although the low turnover count could also be a reflection of less time spent through the middle vs others and/or less involvement at contest etc. So who knows. Watching the game i also felt he was pretty ordinary. A number of others that would also usually post higher ratings had a pretty poor night (statistically) also such as Max, ANB, Rivers, Bowey (inj) & Lever. Then there's the outs such as Kozzy & Hunter. A better result from some of them and/or a few of the outs returning and you might see Sparrow getting shunted down the rankings somewhat. Having said that, i don't think his game was worse than say Lever who's sitting at 14 which is a fair chunk away from the 20 you mentioned Have to agree though, his game didn't seem to be good enough to warrant a top 5 finish so might need to make a small adjustment and give it a trial run.

I've said on a few occasions... we should have a serious benchmark where we do not recruit or trade in anyone who isn't an elite kick and a decent overhead mark. These should be non-negotiable skill requirements when looking at any draft / trade options. I'm not saying we don't either but IF we don't then you would have to be pretty worried about what we're doing and where we're heading as a club.

Team & Player Ratings to Rnd 0, 2024 vs H&A Season 2023 A sea of red vs season 2023 average ratings bar Viney, May, Sparrow, Mcvee & Tomo. Obviously the new fellas don't have a history & have a get-out-of-jail-free card this season (vs 2023 ratings). Even though Salem posted a negative rating vs 2023, it was only a minor one and seems a fair result given his role change. Take no notice of Bowey's numbers given only 48% game time. Schache & Laurie... umm well let's just say their game wasn't great and the ratings reflect this. And that's being very generous! The team rating down a massive 18% on Season 2023's average team rating (top 22 rated players). Having said that, the 2024 ratings from round 0 are a one off and we need to be patient. At least 5 rounds or so needed before we start to see more meaningful ratings and form indicators/trends taking shape vs 2023 ratings. Player 2024 Rating 2024 Rank 2023 Rating % Change vs 2023 2023 Rank Change in Rank vs 2023 Jack Viney* 4.675 1 3.707 26.11 4 3 Steven May* 4.650 2 3.213 44.72 8 6 C Petracca* 4.250 3 4.707 -9.71 2 -1 C Oliver* 3.800 4 5.002 -24.03 1 -3 T Sparrow* 3.525 5 2.811 25.40 16 11 B Howes* 3.425 6 - - - - Judd McVee* 3.425 6 2.320 47.63 22 16 A Tomlinson* 3.175 8 2.915 8.92 14 6 C Salem* 2.900 9 2.993 -3.11 12 3 Max Gawn* 2.700 10 3.350 -19.40 7 -3 A N-Bullen* 2.325 11 2.532 -8.18 20 9 C Windsor* 2.300 12 - - - - B Fritsch* 2.100 13 2.324 -9.64 21 8 Jake Lever* 2.075 14 3.131 -33.73 9 -5 T Rivers* 1.950 15 3.696 -47.24 5 -10 J Bowey* 1.950 15 2.820 -30.85 15 0 K Chandler* 1.900 17 2.265 -16.11 23 6 Ed Langdon* 1.825 18 3.057 -40.30 10 -8 J V Rooyen* 1.700 19 2.170 -21.66 25 6 C Spargo* 1.200 20 1.886 -36.37 29 9 B Laurie* < 0.775 21 2.235 -65.32 24 3 J Schache* 0.700 22 1.525 -54.10 33 11 J Billings* -0.050 23 - - - - L Hunter - - 2.939 - 13 - H Petty - - 2.718 - 17 - K Pickett - - 2.101 - 26 - T McDonald - - 2.054 - 27 - Ben Brown - - 1.941 - 28 - D Turner - - 1.825 - 31 - J Melksham - - 1.599 - 32 - T Woewodin - - 1.406 - 34 - Team Rating 57.33 69.86 -17.94 Top 6 24.33 24.43 -0.43 Bottom 6 8.10 15.17 -46.61 * Played less than two full matches (in total) < Subbed out at least once or more (player rating could be somewhat comprised) > Subbed in at least once or more (player rating could be somewhat comprised) Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

Team pressure in the last quarter.... gadzooks!

Round 0, 2023 SCG - Swans vs Demons How do you open a narrative about round zero after that opening performance? By saying SFA and getting on to the numbers that's how! 🤐 Viney just pipping May for the No.1 mantle. Tracc not far behind followed by Clarry. Not a bad effort from Claz given where he was coming from but still a mile off his best. A fair bit of daylight the rest. Great opening salvo from the first gamer Howes! Windsor also taking the winger's club honours by knocking off Langdon! Billings posting a negative rating suggesting a not so good debut unfortunately. Bowey with a low 48% game time due to the shoulder injury. Bring on Round 1 back at the home base where there would have to be a wholesale improvement to have any chance of posting our first W against the Doggies. Player Rating Rank Jack Viney* 4.675 1 S May* 4.650 2 C Petracca* 4.250 3 C Oliver* 3.800 4 T Sparrow* 3.525 5 B Howes* 3.425 6 J McVee* 3.425 6 A Tomlinson* 3.175 8 C Salem* 2.900 9 Max Gawn* 2.700 10 A N-Bullen* 2.325 11 C Windsor* 2.300 12 B Fritsch* 2.100 13 Jake Lever* 2.075 14 J Bowey* 48% 1.950 15 T Rivers* 1.950 15 K Chandler* 1.900 17 Ed Langdon* 1.825 18 J V Rooyen* 1.700 19 C Spargo* 1.200 20 B Laurie*< 42% 0.775 21 J Schache* 0.700 22 J Billings*> 38% -0.050 23 Team Score 57.33 Top 6 24.33 Bottom 6 8.10 * Only played one match, not an average rating < Subbed out TOG > Subbed in TOG Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

Thanks Wheelo... i'll start it up tonight

Clarry is also guilty here. They need to cut that [censored] out of their game. The oppo doesn't give a toss and there's no upside from a team perspective. Maybe a hand shake or a brief exchange after the siren has sounded if your opponent hasn't been a pillock.

The bolded is spot on from 58. It's time for Max (and all the boys) to give zip, nada, zilch away to the media & oppo. Also at the end of 2020 SG spoke about the club and players (as a whole) becoming more ruthless. That took place in 2021 and we witnessed the results. It was full committment, 100% team focus, taking no prisoners. For whatever reason, since Rnd 10 2022 (or thereabouts) we have gradually taken our eye off this relentless ruthless attack on ball and ball carrier (with some exceptions.... Viney, May, Max, Clarry, ANB and albeit not necessarily his role... Kozzy as well). Tracc also but can go missing for extended passages at times defensively imv. This slide away (also from looking out for one another and flying the flag when required) happened around the time we lost T-Mac to iniury and the infamous Entrecote debacle. I'm not sure if there's any causational links here or is it just a result of the natural ageing process with some key hardened premiership players copping the usual old man's injuries and gradually (or more dramatically in some cases) dropping off the pace. And/or partially a list / game style and skills issues. We also need to see alot more of the delivery we witnessed with the last kick inside 50 by McVee last night of we're to start fixing our forward connection woes The lead from Fritta was superbly timed and the kick beautifully weighted (finesse!). Stop over using the handball. Team rules need to be followed. Two to three (or less) to get the ball in the hands of outside run & class. If no options then a quick low raking kick to the fat (advantage) side of one of the talls or mediums who MUST be constantly on the move and presenting. No options laterally or under a stack of heat, look to chip the ball or handball backwards to a player behind the ball OR take the tackle if you've had little time to react. Any designated leading targets showing lethargy or unable to butter up with multilple leads (doubling back included) ... you're out till you can demonstrate otherwise. Mids who consistently ignore the quick give to lateral targets or lower their vision attempting to hit forwards on the move with deft kicks to their advantage (out in front, fat side or out the back)... you're also out. Now im not saying the above is / should be the play book or anything to that effect. My knowledge of the modern game is very basic and no doubt archaic. But what i am saying is this current team seems to lack the structure, team disciplines, execution, desire and defensive 2nd/3rd efforts at the contest to the level we witnessed (and with the ruthlessness that came with it) in 2021. Since about mid 2022 many are playing too much as individuals for my liking. A classic example last night was Fritta immediately playing on after a mark about 30 meters out instead of taking his full alloted time in order to put the team first and in the best position to defend if he missed. Kozzy is also guilty of this last example on occasions. Sparrow's silly 50 in the Semi last season another. This is by no means a 'panic stations' knee jerker either. Too early for that but what we witnessed last night was unacceptable and a comtinuation of more of the same from 22/23 Simon needs to grab this group by the scruff of the neck and have a serious open "lay down the law' discussion (soonish) imv if we're to get back to anywhere near the team first ruthless ethos and application we witnessed in 2021. There's no g'tees this will result in finals or PF appearance etc, but we can't afford to lose sight of the above or we (and Simon) will have lost what it is we stand for on the field and be quickly back in the pack of mediocrity (or worse!).

I'm not sure whether that'a a compliment or a sledge loges

The finals campaign should have been reviewed. Especially the selection side for the Pies match as you've ponted out. Along with the inexplicable non-use of the sub. Goodwin said himself at the start of this season he's ripped off the rear view mirror. Well i hope he at least used the 2023 side mirrors to take a good look behind prior to pulling out into 2024 traffic. The next 5 - 6 weeks will tell us whether he did or didnt and if we're about to get into 4th - 5th gear OR be hit by a rampaging 22/23 B-Double.

I agree with this. McVee needs to come into the middle for Salem now that Bowey's out for a stint imv. Salem just doesn't have the burst speed to play anything but a small cameo (if needed) with minor minutes in the middle. Mind you the burst speed appeared to be missing from pretty much everyone bar McVee & Windsor tonight. Looked like most had concrete boots on whereas a fair percentage of Swans were the opposite out of congestion. Lets not sugar coat it. That was a worrying performance. Apart from the lack of speed out of congestion, the fumbles, losing the ground ball geta, only 3 comtested marks (i think!?) and the forward woes.... it was also the ease with which they broke away from comgestion and the ease with which they broke us in the last that really worried me. We alao had no one that was capable of going with Blakey off HB and he's been their 1 wood and doing this for 2 seasons now. How that was not covered in the pre-match prep / selection table is mind boggling!!??? We made sure it didn't the last few times we played them. Was last night's performance a true reflection of where this list is at or does this team just comtinue to suck in any sort of wet/greasy conditions ie; most night games! and a number of winter day games?? I guess we'll know in about 5 to 6 weeks.

Max can't get off the ground to leap over them so the tactic of running into his line at the ball, turning your body at the last minute and effectively blocking any run he has will be the way forward with most big bodied rucks from here. And we have no back up. So unless we're coming up against a smaller bodied ruck or ruck duo, Max is going to struggle against anyone who's large/solid, mobile and who's willing to do what Grundy did tonight. Given Shack's height he shouldv'e been able to get over the top of Grundy alot last night but he continues to feign the physical and was useless in both roles imv.