Demon Dynasty

There isn't any unfortunately Macca. The forward miracle cupboard is now bare. I would play Grundy mostly forward, ahead of Max. While Max might clunk the odd extra mark, Grundy has been a much more accurate kick for goal this season (running at approx 63% accuracy vs Max's 40%) albeit he rarely takes any shots and his average goals per match are roughly the same as Max going at about one goal every other match. Neither are really all that inspiring in terms of helping to put a winning score on the board (as in attempting to play them for significant minutes in a forward role) Grundy might provide a target that can possibly bring the ball to ground but we would need crumbers feeding off and scoring to have any chance of making his inclusion a winner. He also takes some heat off Max when Max spends time forward, hopefully neutralising or winning his fair share of CB contests. Even around the ground he is capable of at least halving many of the contests without necessarily dominating. T-Mac is out of form but you never know. Being out for three months it was always going to take him at least one match (or possibly three!) to get back to any kind of AFL level fitness / form. If he gets there at all this year or again for that matter. Was yesterday's game enough of a run to see him back to full AFL fitness and mobility? Probably not and he may well end up with 2nd week blues as players often do when they first return from a long layoff. Alternatively we could see a miracle and the run does him the world of good and he manages to play a decent game kicking 2 to 3 goals. Feels like wishful thinking though. We also have Joel Smith but he would need to have a Snake Baker like performance up forward one would think. The other option is to clear out the forward line with long leads high up the field from the likes of Joel & T-Mac (and not play Grundy), leaving only Fritsch, Tracc and one other crumber such as Kozzy inside 50. JJ in for Gus will allow us to push Tracc forward here.

Not sure we'd risk Turner before Tomo again let alone up forward where he hasn't played any legit games at Casey in this posi this season Macca. He would need a full pre-season of training here to make the adjustment imv IF that's what the FD are proposing and i doubt Goodwin would be at this late stage. Tomo is a must in for mine with Hibbo or Laurie as the sub. You are correct re players standing up and performing. Most were a mile off our usual season standards last night. Statistically the team was approx 27% off our 2023 H&A season team rating. That's a mega drop off. Obviously a fair chunk of that is the quality of the oppo but it doesn't explain it entirely. Another significant contribution would be our inability to play decent wet weather (or greasy condition) footy. We are crud in these conditions. Another straight sets exit looms large unless 2/3rds of the boys are able to get back to close to their seasonal form this week. Only 1/3rd stood up or out-performed their season form last night. Terrible result overall. The mid-field combo you speak of is Kozzy spending large chunks of time through the middle and Tracc forward. Should've happened from half time against the Pies but unfortunately Goodwin isn't great at adjusting in-game on the fly. The one risky option here is to bring AMW in for Laurie and ask him to play the forward component of the Kozzy role. Might be too much to ask of a first gamer though. However he does know where the goals are and how to slot them if he finds a bit of time and space. Couldn't be any worse than Chandler here anyway and has found his inside 50 defensive mojo / pressure at Casey in the back half of this season.

Spargo has to come in for Chandler. Works his butt off but form is pretty ordinary late in the season and doesn't connect coming inside or kick any goals. Tomlinson for Hibbo to free up Lever. JJ for Gus. Grundy for JVR

There are occasional times when a group (even a good one) needs a rev up, something inspirational to raise their output to the next level and match the opponent's RIF. Last night was one of them imo. We came out flat as a tack (again!)

Definitely the latter. The Pies came out breathing fire and on the hunt. While we were on the back foot yet again trying to shut them down. That's 100% on Goodwin. We have the processes and methods down pat...after that it comes down to building the boys up to be ready for a huge opening quarter bringing the white line fever. Strong at and over the ball.... b lining the opposition if they get in the way. That's the minimum you need to bring (mentally) for any huge final as big as last night. Last night was a massive flop from the Coach down. We came out unprepared (mentally) imv and the Pies just ripped the game off us in one quarter of fast break manic footy. Was catch up all night thereafter.

I'm not denying that but no way that's a two weeker... https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-superstar-lance-franklin-cops-ban-for-high-bump-on-gold-coast-defender-sam-collins-c-10087299

What a fu kwit

I heard some of this [censored] as well with the so called [censored] host supporting them and killed the stream immediately. That's the last time i ever bother. Ever since Hutchy bought it out it's a paid AFL mouth piece so what you hear on there will also be the likely narrative at AFL HQ. They're just parroting similar rubbish. My gut feel from the Collingwood lead MRO .... "An unfortunate incident. Nothing he could do. Cleared to play" or a suspension later cleared on appeal as per the above

Correct he actually projected this. An intentional act which he was looking to inact prior to the match and carried it out on game day. Needs to get 3 to 4 minimum

This needed to be our priority after the 2022 exit. Not Grundy for Jackson. A big yes but not OA for mine. Plus an outside classy mid with pace and finish.

Club - Giant Brain Fart Harden up & link up boys or it's out in straight sets again!

Have we won a game in wet or greasy conditions (a la the abysmal Gabba result) so far this season?

The lack of link up run and give and get chains stood out like dog's balls. We could not chain the ball for more than a few possessions last night. Horrific and so many fumbles & brain farts made by too many seasoned players in the first three quarters. And that missing midfield 'someone' needs to be able to finish & kick a few goals at times, especially when things aren't going so well and on a big stage. Someone on the outside but who can also win it and finish in congestion/traffic. Treloar an example of the type of player we are desperately lacking. The forward line and it's lack of method/craft is also costing this club badly. 2022 down the gurgler as a result and 2023 looking like another lost opportunity. Goodwin has his head in the sand on this last part. Can't believe he doesn't acknowledge this as an issue for us. Injuries no doubt haven't helped but our ball use, delivery, forward craft (bar Fritta, Melk & Petty) and finish (especially our mids) is mostly crud. The move after half time surely had to be Kozzy into the middle for CBs and Tracc forward. For the life of me i can't understand why Goodwin didn't try this in the second half????? Maybe he did for a short stint and i missed it before we reverted back to Tracc in the middle again?? Tracc isn't accountable enough to be playing anything but minority CBAs (somewhere around the 70/30 forward/CBA mark). His opponents get off the leash with too much space far too often at CBs and he's much more dangerous/effective playing the majority of his time inside 50 and around the arc imv.

Mods can we please change the header to MayFART... thanks

Spot on .... how you can have one ex player calling the shots on this is just another joke in a long line of jokes that is the AFL circus

He had no reason to protect himself Older D. It's not like Gus posed any threat. We all know his intent and he got the result he was looking for. Absolute [censored] of an act and if he gets off or only gets a week then you're effectively saying it's ok to jump up and lay your shoulder front on into anyone's head as they kick the ball. Anyone proposing that argument and taking Mayfart's side is dumber than Mayfart and that's saying something.

Thanks Macca that sums it up beautifully. Anyone who thinks that the [censored] Mayfart did this as an incidental act needs a frontal lobotomy. Needs to be rubbed out for the rest of the season. Will it happen? Highly unlikely as there are too many with connections at the highest level that are already mooting to have hime cleared as in "Nothing to see here". What a bunch of corrupt, hypocritical, gutless [censored]!!! If it was one of our blokes they'd be talking 3 to 4 weeks at every level of media. To call it a dog act is inappropriate as most dogs are way ahead of this piece of human sputum. Seriously the next time we play them i'd be making sure there's a coat hanger coming in his next open marking contest regardless of the consequences. An eye for an eye

I'm afraid you can't bludgeon all opponents to death in every game through mere weight of numbers via repeat entries that are mostly bombed in down the line JR. Sometimes their defence is just too welll disciplined, too cagey and/or too good for that as we witnessed tonight. Goodwin needs to train some smarts into the mids, wingers and the running HBs to change lanes and lower their vision. This can even be through a long lateral HB or a short kick around the arc in order to maintain possession. Simetimes holding onto the pill by shifting it around the arc or slightly backwards if needed is the best course of action in order to maintain possession and WAIT with PATIENCE for an opening inside 50. However all that work will only eventually pay dividends if the forwards are working their butts off and that of their opponents in order to create space and movement. The space can then be utilised by the more crafty and skilled forwards to lead into or double back into etc for the hit up connection or over the top kick etc. As good as we are behind the ball and around stoppages/contests (not so much in this part tonight though imv, very untidy and fumble fingered) we would surely have to be one of the worst clubs at converting those immense number of inside 50s into scoring opportunities from the high conversion percentage 30 meter zone. I would happily curb our massive i50 advantage via repeat entries (somewhat) in exchange for a team that is substantially more efficient at connecting more often inside 30 allowing us to convert at a high percentage (in theory).

Unfortunately tonight had 2022 feels We aren't playing with any dare or freedom. While i understand the importance of systems and structure, i get the impression we are almost too hell bent on mantra of... "win the contested and press high for multiple repeat entries and the wins will look after themselves" I would argue yes, in a standard H&A match, especially against average and below average oppos this will hold you in good stead the vast majority of times. Finals is a diff kettle of fish. You're playing the best teams, especially if you finish in the top 4 you will be playing the best of the best. As i've said a few times before, you can win the contested and inside 50 count in a big fashion but unless you hit up targets in 30 - 35 meter hot zones more often, AND the receivers convert at least half the time or better, you can kiss theses opportunities goodbye year after year. Our problems lie with a poor finishing mid field coming i50 and a dysfunctional forward line that doesn't work hard enough to get on the end of enough ball by leading their arses off. Too many KFs sit too deep waiting on the long ball making our forward 30 - 40 meter area too easy to defend and our mids / wingers either kick it down the line too often OR, when they do try to kick it to the open fat side, no one is leading there. But somehow oppo defenders are around who end up running it out with ease. Some major corrections needed this week if we're to have any chance of making a prelim and avoiding a 2nd year of straight sets. There are also some players who just weren't up to the heat of the battle tonight. Leaving out Tomo last week was a mistake. Leaving him out this week... that was just foolish. One week to right a pretty rocky ship Simon and make a few personel changes. Can it be done? Yes but he'll need to take a few reality pills over the usual stubborn ones me thinks.

Need to get some handball connection (without overdoing it) happening and spread from congestion. That should bring some overlap. Look for shallow passes to long leads then that might open up some space out the back. Kozzy into the middle for some touch, spread and finish inside. Tracc forward.

Outstanding contribution from our Premiership forward. So glad he made it to our club when he did. That he's also still trying to push through major knee pain and issues in an attempt to present also speaks volumes about his on-field courage and tenacity. Super character

He doesn't need to rip the game apart... just be solid and present multiple options taking the heat off JVR. Get the ball to ground if he can't mark when possible and slot a few. Job done. Team emphasis and hot at the contest always ramps during finals.

I'm the complete opposite. No predictions as this is a final and we have no idea what Melb's weather or the AFL amature umpiring will turn up but going in quietly confident. Tough game but this club is a seasoned finals campaigner now. Going to enjoy every minute and looking forward to a ripper game of footy between two quality teams on the big stage. Mighty Demons ROCK!

Sorry to hear that Azz... extra barracking for you