Young Blood

6. Max 5. ANB 4. Trac 3. Lever 2. Rivers 1. Viney

T-Mac won't go in the best on field. But he was just brilliant I thought. Kept Dixon to 1 goal, made life difficult for Charlie all night. He had 7 intercept possessions and went at 100% disposal efficiency.

The majority of their inside 50's have been poor. Looks like us 2022-23. That and backline holding up well. Terrific structure and communication.

In terms of ball movement and just getting in there quick, yes. But the high press seems to have been adjusted with their ability to get numbers back and structure up So lucky with free kicks. Going to have to start getting our hands on the ball first the key

They're so gross

At one point in the Demonland podcast they mentioned a track watcher said he was training with the forwards earlier in the week. He then trained with the backs as the week went on. But with Tomlinson not selected yes you would think it will be Petty back for most of the match.

Someone did a Selwood on him...

I don't have the medical analysis for you. But they're not going to let him play or even be in contact drills if there is any chance of re fractering anything. I think there's likely some motive of hope and/or mind games with the one game timeline. Its likely going to be more. It also depends on the extent of the fractures. I had a friend who only had minor cracked ribs and was able to get up to play after two weeks off. One thing is for sure, he is going to be very sore and the pain management will be an issue for 6-8 weeks. Opposition are certainly going to target him when he does come back. Anzac eve is the current aim and likely return according to track watchers checking in with staff.

I went to the game and just watched the replay. Very enjoyable game to watch from both perspectives. This is the most connected I've seen this team since 2021. The genuine care and joy they had for one another. Clarry especially going to team mates at every opportunity for encouragement was extremely pleasing to see. To see the buy in from him to the club and his team mates from where he was last year is just brilliant. He was also the first player to get stuck in to the Hawks when they'd done something to one of his players. Loved seeing him get into two players after they flattened Max in a marking contest and actually drag both off the mark (deliberately) to give Max a play on opportunity. Its a long season but if they keep backing each other and celebrating the little things like this, the spoils, the pressure acts, bodying the ball, the second/third efforts, the setting up for each other. If they can do this regardless of being up or down its going to resonate through the whole group to galvanise for a big season ahead.

Definitely some poor kicks like the one to Kozz that should have hit him up easily with no one around, instead went out of bounds (Kozz slapping the ball in anger :) BUT apart from hitouts where it was pretty even he was influential across the ground 10 Contested possessions 7 inside 50's 390 Metres gained (fourth on ground) 6 tackles Some of the stats that show he did really impact the game. Some of the stuff he does for a ruckman his size is just crazy.

Was so pleased to see Trac shake off the fumbles he had at the start of the game (and to begin the season). I've been critical of him early on with his disposal and handballing to the feet of his team mates. Hopefully the perfect connection he had with the forwards several times in the second half on the weekend will boost that confidence.

I thought he was pretty down on us from well before the first game. I think the flip flopping would be a tactic. He's often quite irrational and bases he's opinion on teams based on 'feel'. Even the fact that we're talking about him is a win for Mr. King.

When create meme's sometimes the simple classics are required and apt

Petty to be the sub surely. - Nice way to ease him back in without a full match load - Puts a bit of pressure on JVR and Brown to perform - Flexibility if a key back goes down - Rests both Petty and whichever tall he subs off for a lighter game load ahead of a hectic Adelaide schedule in the coming weeks

I think its just the build/frame

Sorry Von. You were simply making a suggestion and I do understand your logic. It was one game where our backline functioned well without one of our two best ball users. Lets see how we go over the next 7 odd weeks perhaps. Maybe give Chandler a go as well. I'm not convinced entirely but his gut running and attack on the ball and defensive pressure were terrific. I think people forget how difficult the HF role is in the modern game (probably the hardest position). You have someone on your tail the whole game and must run full sprints up and down the ground. Backman have the benefit of being behind the ball and being able to shadow their man or read the ball to peel off, its a reactive role. Bowey is of course capable and played midfield/fwd in his jnr years. But he's been a key cog in our backline for years now and has trained as part of a system essentially as our quarter back (with Salem moving to midfield) its such an important possition/role. It would be desperate times to make such a dramatic change.

Let the media circus begin... FWIW We do have a potentially more budget-friendly player in a similar mold in the making. One that so far is a hell of a lot more efficient in front of goal. 2023 Jamara - 35.35 (23 games) JVR - 28.9 (20 games) Now of course Jamara has been able to perform better by being released further up the field, terrific marking as a lead up forward creating lots of inside 50's etc. But JVR is a better and more willing tackler and performs well in the ruck so far. What a dream it would be to have both!

I hope some of your ideas come to fruition. But unfortunately its not a simple task. Players are predominantly coming with knocks to Max from behind of from the side meaning he's blind sided. They're doing this as their running past, not bee lining so its hard for team mates to read this and help protect him. If he were a forward it would be easier. You can block for him but because its across the ground usually getting from contest to contest its hard for us to use/sacrifice a player to remonstrate or help out. I certainly hope next game this happens that we see more consequences for this action via his team mates letting the opposition know when we can without getting thrown off our game. Max isn't really missing Grundy as much as he's certainly missing Jackson. This didn't happen nearly as much when Jackson was playing as a dynamic ruck/forward/mid. Its going to be hit or miss but hopefully one of the two occur soon: 1. Fullarton shows enough to provide even 60% of what Jackson did as a lead up forward/ruck 2. Petty comes back in to release JVR to play more ruck as someone who could be effective around the contest and marking across the ground Otherwise its going to be an incredibly long season for Maxy...

Yep agreed Don't love that Fullarton hasn't played much leading up but unlike Billings they probably won't be as conservative with him in terms of coming into new team structure/game plan. His role will be more simply be as a lead up forward/ruck. I'd love to be wrong about Laurie but he just doesn't look up to AFL standard. Not a clear enough role/niche to really cement himself and as a midfielder looked overwhelmed last week. I've much preferred what I've see from Taj when he's come in playing a similar role. Spargo seems a coaching department favourite but he looked so so rusty on Thursday night. I know most of the team did in the conditions but he just looked way off. Love the idea of Billings coming to the starting squad and really cementing that half-forward role. We're desperate for his best ball use (crossing fingers) Cannot wait to see Kozzy in that opening bounce!

I would say this is the most likely outcome. I'm sure Salem will get his run again with the midfield as the season rolls on but that half-back, damaging ball user is so important. No one comes close to Salem and Bowey playing that role. I think the midfield will be ok with the big three and Sparrow, Kozz and maybe even some Rivers rolling through there against the dogs.

Wait what? Are there more injuries besides Bowey, Petty, McAdam, Hunter and Melksham? Did we get more injuries in the practice match today??

As a sub maybe. If one of the talls goes down we'd be pretty small in the forward half/ruck. I still prefer a more versatile sub but in a tight game on a small ground someone that can mark or at least provide strong marking contests late in a game could be useful.

I'm not worried about that with Clayton. When the ball is not active he's definitely got into niggles in the past but one thing that is known is that as soon as that ball is live in play he locks in. I still love thinking back to that first year under Roos where he encouraged the 'see ball get ball' to simplify the role for Clarry as a first year player/young bull. Obviously since then he's matured and become somewhat more dynamic but he's always been pretty focused and doesn't get caught up in bull[censored].

Fullarton is still a month away based off the original timeline on 29th Jan (8 weeks). We need to get used to Schache as the back up ruck/fwd for round 0. Lets just back him in as a demon ay? why not? Go dees?