Young Blood

or AJ I think Campbells lack of mobility is probably keeping him out of the side along with the fact he's really just a true ruckman, less so a forward. With Max fit we really just need someone to pinch hit in the ruck who can provide a contest and PRESSURE up forward so I think it will continue to be JVR or AJ picked over the next few weeks. Maybe if the oppo plays two genuine rucks might we look at TC.

Great take. I see this too as someone whose played/watched a lot of basketball. There's a real difference between using the body in basketball and football. I can see Tom being great at boxing out, he holds his ground OK but in footy you can bump and use your arms more in a marking contest and he just doesn't seem to be able to create space for himself to compete in the air. I think it's hard to critique ruck/forwards in terms of intensity. You have those the natural instinct like the Xerri types it clearly goes a long way and you can build your skills/craft off it. Then there's the Max types who I wouldn't say play with great intensity, he relies more on his work rate and positioning to stay engaged and impact each contest. I'm not sure Tom has enough of either of these key traits to really make it as a full-time AFL player unfortunately. What I will say is unlike this week, I thought Tom worked well in terms of simplifying our structure/positioning. I think there's some merit in having a bigger body who holds position and creates space for others. I think that both JVR and AJ get sucked into contests or where the ball is sometimes and could do more to hold their position and create space when needed. Hoping especially JVR can learn this and not have to fly/attack everything to create space for others and/or be an option off the post contest clearance more with more space to work with.

I was at the game watching them from the members with bino's. I'd say 3/4 of the team looked impassive or stoic after the siren and understandably so. It made sense to me and was my kind of feeling as well. I'm sure they were all feeling a bit of 'why has it taken until round 6' like we all of felt. Also looked more like relief or a bit of weight off in the change rooms.

Kozzy in his post game interview mentioned a few times how he was given freedom to 'have fun' and hunt the footy due to other players 'having a role'. I know Viney was holding off Serong most of the game but I noticed quite a few times our mids keeping their opponent locked a bit longer then usual after the tap to allow Koz to really hunt the footy. I think Goody will persist with more Kozzy midfield time as he alluded to in his presser. He's starting to really learn the craft, timing and positioning to have a big impact there. Almost untaggable and if he was to be this would open up opportunity for Clarry and Trac to take over more. I think moving Kozzy into the midfield has been a terrific move by Goodwin. Gotta give him his flowers there.

Anyone know why Clarry is still throwing up at quarter time breaks? I saw this happening at pretty much every game last year, often as he was walking back to position at quarter time which I thought was simply due to him being underdone with no preseason. But I saw Clarrie again today on the outside of the quarter time huddle throwing up most of the drink he had in his hand and looking a tad uncomfortable. Just curious if anyone had seen this prior to 2024 or with other athletes as a regular occurrence and potential reasoning. He doesn't seem overly phased and just walks back into the centre square for the next quarter. But it can't be good for his hydration/energy losing that much fluid/electrolytes every game. Could be meds or something other health related of course and understand we don't talk about those here. Just asking out of care for the fella as its always a concern when you see someone being sick on the ground. Hope he's OK.

Even more forwardline time coming for Trac. I know he can be effective there but we need him firing in the middle. We can't be relying on a 19 year old each week with that responsibility. I reckon there's fitness concerns or maybe they're protecting him somewhat after last years events. All I hope is now with Lindsay back in playing HB/Wing with Windsor that this will finally free up Rivers to go into the middle.

Apologies for this. This was not my intention at all I was just having a bit of fun with it and its been taken the wrong way I think perhaps. I have coached under 16s footy and basketball. Its that old thing where we don't admit it to many if anyone. but we as coaches certainly have a few players that we are close to and bond with that hold a special place I certainly have a few favorites that I connect with and respect (I certainly won't tell others though). Thats all I was asking based off your observations as I know how much you see Goody connect and get behind all the players. Just your guess really but I hear you. For the record I don't think Goodwin picks players based on who his favourites are, I think its childish to think that way about a professional coach at the highest level (nor would I do this at junior level). I was playing off this false Demonland narrative in my previous post mainly because I liked the meme. I think Goody selects players like Melksham because he has a good relationship with and trusts him, having a longer history of coaching him and giving him some key roles of which he's been very successful at Melks time at the Dees. Thats why he's thought of so highly by Goody. I know he feels the same for many other players at the club. Sorry Ghosty! Huge fan of your work and all your contributions to the Demon Army and this forum ✌

OK Ghosty @Ghostwriter I see you disagreeing haha. I'm sure you've been asked but right as of now who do you think are Goodys top five faves from watching on? Also this has nothing to do with the speculation of him playing senior players over others etc. Just that we all have faves (even if we can't admit) and wondering whom Goody is warming to most atm.

Melksham is Goodwins number one boy.

What was the reason? the off field stuff? For the money I thought he was solid enough as a player. In his first season at the Dees in 2023 he played a full season on a wing. I thought it was a good move because he freed up Brayshaw to play in other positions of need including midfield where Gus really gave us a huge boost. Hunter ended up top 5 for the club in disposals and metres gained. I definitely don't think Lachie was the perfect player but was complimentary enough to our stars in that first year before his body let him down and had to retire early. God we've had rotten luck.

I agree with you and this may happen as its been done before by other coaches late in seasons when the club and the coach himself has had every opportunity to turn it around. You said you couldn't understand why he isn't stepping down four games into a season like thats a realistic normal occurrence. When has that happened before? Its just silly. As much as we want something to happen its good also to have some perspective and be realistic... oh wait... this is Demonland 🤣

You won't like my answer because I'm answering it with a literal fact. Answer: Because its his job and he believes he can turn it around, because he doesn't believe he's the soul problem. Not sure how thats hard to understand that he's not simply going to step aside. I'm sorry if this is having a go but questions like this just annoy me as obviously Goodwin isn't going to just step aside four games into a 24 game season. I completely share you're thoughts that Goodwin isn't the right coach anymore. The players look lost of confidence and game plan. I think most of this falls on trust and commitment to the coach of which clearly Goodwin has none of this. It will hopefully happen, maybe towards the end or at end of season. But its just unrealistic he's going to just walk out right now...

Could be that he's not fit enough to really impact games the was he was early last year. I think its telling how much time he's spending up forward. Its seems almost 50/50 split. As much as I love the kid do we really think we would be playing a 19 year old Langford so much through the middle in his first two full games if our best midfielder was fully fit? If Petracca was fully fit our best and most competitive team has him predominantly playing and dominating in the middle. I think there's more to it then just this but its certainly a big factor.

This will be the interpretation of many and I understand it to a degree. I think making judgements on players body language can be presumptuous and unnecessary. As many say this could just be Trac in the moment being genuinely upset and frustrated with the game and how it went and likely compounded by the recent form of the previous two games. I think we can all agree thats valid, understandable and we can all empathise for/with him. If all of last years events with Trac didn't happen it would be a different conversation. But they did. The media did their job (as much as we hate it) of creating a lot of hyperbole around Trac and his commitment or potential lack there of to the club after everything that occured. The minimum that we know and understand is that he has waivered in his commitment to the club, questioned them on their responsibilities and has considered whether he should stay at the club or seek to move on. It wasn't just last night that his emotions were obvious. After the previous two games he looked particularly dejected and while walking down the race after the St Kilda game he was one who stood out responding to the stupid Dees supporter berating the team as they walked off. The look on his face of disgust while most of the players ignored him or like Max just stared back blankly was a bit telling to me. What I'm saying is my while its its fair to show emotion as a competitive player who wants to win and we rightly usually champion this, I can't help but see and sense some exaggeration in his body language even during the games. I just feel a sense that he's come in to this season still holding onto everything that happened last year and that this is all playing out on field a bit where he's making it known that he's not happy about the club. I think Trac is an absolute professional and a leader but there's moments like last night where I too am sensing his frustration being more then just in the moment and potentially using this as a signifier to not being happy over all. I feel right now its more likely then not that he will seek a move at the end of this season. The reality that it all turns around, that the obvious disconnect between players on field suddenly repairs and we see renewed/returned confidence in each other and the (ho ho) game plan is just so unrealistic at the moment. I do think the club needs to start looking at the next few years for this playing group. If hitting reset means moving unhappy players on then so be it.

Wait do people think that these announced team lineup positions are actually the definite positions they start at on the day/night? Its just slapped together really. I doubt Sparrow starts on a wing either...