Balance Demon

I watched most of the game and turned it off once I realised that not much has changed with entries to our forward line. My one and only take from the game is, the Melbourne forwards are nearly always trying to mark the ball from behind. When are they going lead to the front of their opponemts? The result of their positioning means that the midfield have no other option but to, bomb long! 

No!!!!

Well, that was interesting. My observation was that, Petty is a backman. He is the tall third back. We were nearly undone down back like the Essendon game. Confusion is supreme with holding the ball and prior opportunity. No such rule for the Sun's, Where as, all the Dee's had to do was touch it! Pretty clear that when teams play man on man football on us that the game will be a hard slog and as such it was.

Blocking is another mystery, is there a rule?

Delivery to the forwards was average at best. This part of our game was hindered by the man on man game style of the Sun's mids. Our mids were not as accountable.

The Alice, is a ripper place to visit, espcially when we play. The club has done so much good work with the locals. I think of the initiative to grass the Santa Maria oval was a stand out. The enjoyment of watching the kids at the game, they know their football, and we do have quite a large following, which is growing.

A true gentleman. I am very sad to see him leave. Good luck, Ben.

Jason and the team are sensational. More credit needs to applied to Tim Lamb- what a stright shooter- never waivers from getting the job done.

We want players in the forward half that can run and jump into packs and take a one grab mark. We have had too many who need to juggle the ball. This should be the very first skill that is assesses for any marking big man and forward.

The recently retired Stef Martin had basketball background.

There is no question that the team looked tired from mid season onwards. The adrenaline evaporated. The bigger problem, I feel was inclusion of two to three players that did not belong in that side. Melksham and Hunt. Whilst I love Hunt, he does not have the polish of a young Jake Bowey. His ball use is elite. No point breaking the lines if you can't deliver efficiently. Melksham, has no presence when the game is tight. Losing Tom Macdonald was most crucial. He is a player that can will mark the ball up the ground. The team missed this aspect while exiting the back line. Tom is a very an intelligent footballer and positions himself more often than not to make the space. The coaches should have brought in Van Rooyen when Tom went down. As much as I love Jack Viney, his effective disposals and decison makeing in games really do hurt. Regardless, they did the best they could. Losing to Collingwood twice in one year was heartbreaking for me.

I am a confused with the first week of the finals. If the dees finish second, do they have the first week off?

I was at the game last night, with a Port and Brisbane supporters. The standard was pretty poor and it was a matter of who could make the most errors. What killed Port was the player who ran into the 50 and could have run another 20 meters then he decided to pass the ball by foot from 35 meters directly in front to the Brisbane backman. It was soul destroying for Port. That was in effect a 12 point turn around. I was always coached, "If you can kick the goal, then do so". 

Well done to the selection of Maddie Gay at CHB. Her kicking ability is first class.

How many goals from 50 meter penalties? Ugly rule, trying to take out any protest for a bad decsion does not mean the the players do not respect the umpires. If you ask me a couple of the decisions needed to be questioned.

Too many good highlights from a wizard with the ball in hand. He was a GENUINE person. It is not that easy in todays world of fairy's.

I agree with all of the comments regarding skills and game style. The other skill/strategy of the game is to move the ball forward when it is on the ground no matter what ever happens. That was one of the differences last week with Adelaide, who kept on forcing the ball forward and into the open. Brisbane did the same to the Pies. Our girls are like bee's to a honey pot.

With the style of players picked, the game style will be fast movement and leg speed. Good luck to the girls.

Not much to add to the Harmes and Viney thread, other than they left Fritch out. Someone needs too explain to Viney, you must move the ball forward at all costs. Don't grab it and put it under your arms and expect that you will not be tackled.

Fritch, really needs to run to the ball our ball carriers. Just some simple skill and technical ideas.

I think that Sam is confused with his game and as a consquence is not playing instinctive football. 

How did the girls go? I believe they played before the boys.

I agree that this article should be kept in perpetuity as the first page of the Demonland website. Demonstone, clearly, "you have the wisdom of ages". Well done and thankyou!

I must admit that I am mystified that are rucks are so dominant and our do not take advantage at nearly every stoppage. I agree give it to Spargo and Jordan both can deliver the ball to a player on the lead. ANB is a good toiler however his delivery into the 50 is suspect and so has Jones. I think strategy and game plan will adapt with the new rule. I think every coach is still trying to identify how to safely get the ball out into the open. Richmond does it best at present. In a congested situation, it is clear that the players have been drilled to always hand ball forward no matter what. You can see this in how they nearly always have a minimum linkage of two to three players that run forward almost immediately. Lets watch and see how next week unfolds. 

Completely agree about the Durif. 

I hope this not going to go on for the whole season. Seriously! Throw away lines from the media and people with self interest is one thing but the minute by minute, week on week, month on month and year on year assassination of our players is poor commentary and unhealthy.

I still think the defence needs another tall. Meg Downie will be welcomed into this side in a couple of weeks. Maddie Gay is back next week. Well done ladies!

Can we stop being soothsayers of doom. I have been tired of all the negative speak. Personally I have no problem with Simons coaching. 

There is no point in consistently talking down our people who are doing the best they can with the skills available in the playing group.