Young Blood

Surely Sparrow gets the sub. With no Casey game this week he is the most in form and could have the greatest impact if needed. Would have loved to see Melk as sub instead urgh.

I like the positive/wishful thinking on here. I just think the dogs are a cleaner more efficient football team and I feel like we allow teams too much space moving the ball through the corridor with speed at times. I fear they could really cut us up. Our backline will be better this week. But the Crows were able really expose us with the precise quick ball movement. Look for Bulldogs to lower their eyes and move the ball inside 50 low and out in front of Naughton, Bruce and English. They play this ground so well with speed and precision, not sure if we can slow them down. HOPE I'M WRONG! Dogs by 3 goals.

haha we are a petty bunch. Don't we want to face a full strength dogs to see what we're made of? Silly question I know I know...

Don't know about others but I'm fairly terrified by how quickly and efficiently the dogs move the ball at Etihad. If this game were at the G then I understand how going taller and trying to expose their backline like Richmond did out in the elements on the larger ground makes sense. Hoping we pick the team that can gives us the best chance to get our defensive structures together the quickest. Not sure if that would include BB or staying as tall as we've been. Its a delicate balance.

Would be interesting to see what the majority of the free kicks are for. In the case of the dogs they generally win a lot more footy then their opponent so not that surprising they would win more free kicks With the way they transition the ball they would put a lot of pressure on opposition in the back half as well creating nervous defenders making mistakes with holding/pushing etc.

Yep bring the physicality. Make him feel every bump and tackle.

Melksham a kpf? hahahaha

very true! If it were an even game that would be a good strategy perhaps. But I don't know if there's be an AFL player that wouldn't go for goal with a point as consolation for the draw... when you're a point down.

of course but Jacko was def closer. Would have been interesting. One of these days a kick after the siren is going to be ruined by the play on rule off the mark.

thanks! and yeah true. Would have loved to see Jackson have a shot from the pocket. Wonder if Bayley might have tried to come in and claim it as a left footer.

This is awesome and you've highlighted the key areas coaches look for with any of our forwards tall or small. Where do you find these stats?

Tom Brown might have had a closer inspection ?

On par with Langdon IMO absolutely. The decision making and disposal in defensive 50 really showed. Lever almost seemed to be looking for him with that handball so many times and ended up going with a lesser option.

Not really important in the whole scheme of things but I had a question. Should have been paid a free and we should have had a shot on goal from the angle in the pocket. Out of curiosity for future ref is it the player closest to the man disposing deliberately out of bounds (Spargo) or the one closes to where the ball actually goes out (Jackson) that gets the free kick?

Should I start another boringly trivial thread called 'why we might win a flag this year'?

Weid wasn't the issue on the weekend. He's played just two games and I think looked OK playing his role as a lead up forward. His stats were practically identical to McDonalds yesterday. I thought he presented well and created marking contests both deep and further up the ground. He looks more imposing with his size and I think he'll work into AFL form soon enough. Apologies for being a believer. @Jjrogan on the fast deck at Marvel I really don't think BB has the speed and agility to get into space at the moment. Not sure if he's just lost his burst but his inability to separate off his man is a real concern and from those who went to the Casey game whom I've spoken to he really struggled this week. Weid is much more mobile and gives your greater intensity/pressure when the ball hits the deck. Brown has looked almost in slow motion if he doesn't mark the ball and struggles to re-engage at the contest.

Sparrow is a must in for mine. I think he was only squeezed out for guys like Harmes who has been OK since coming back but would love to see Sparrow back in. I really dislike how easily Melksham comes back in to the side. I know there's the Goodwin's favourite narrative but he just gives very little apart from a few decent inside 50's a game. I'd rather see Harmes and Bayley player his high HF role and Sparrow come in to fill in more time in the middle for Harmes' rotation there. I like the idea of Viney back this week but if he's not 100% which I can't imagine he I'd rather he take another week off. Brining him back against the slickest side on the quickest ground isn't a good idea imo.

Because he was our big recruit! Because he kicked a lot of goals a few seasons ago! Because he has a huge tank and long arms! Because Weid sucks full stop! Can't think of any more reasons why some on here think he's the answer. Has looked super average and honestly a slight liability when playing so far apart from Syd and some games against average sides in the VFL.

Can we please close this thread?

whole heartedly agree. Not sure who the journo was but I certainly commented on here after the North game that he looked really off the pace and definitely struggled getting separation from his opponent. Relying on his length to mark contested instead of getting more space. Unless one of the other big three really play poorly I can't see him getting back in the side. Both Jackson, Tmac and Weid are far more effective up the ground and quicker on the burst for leads. I think Brown looked OK against Sydney taking a few contested marks where he outsized the opposition but he's not going to work as a deep forward. Its never been his game. Likes to run into open spaces and the way we're structured with Fritsch being the most effective in that area I don't think there's room for him. Lovely bit of depth though. It might have always been the case but besides competing well in marking contests and using his decent IQ at times to tap the ball to our advantage I've found his ground work really average and he looks like he's in slow motion when the ball hits the deck. Would love to be wrong about all of this of course like I was with Tmac ?

Thats fair and makes sense

So we're back to announcing a list of emergencies for games that aren't on a Friday night? With proper final teams announced Friday night for our Saturday game anyway? Maybe I'm way off here...

Every week there has to be an area of the game or a team that comes under the microscope. This week its holding the ball because of the uneven adjudication over the 8 games on the weekend. I think its being blown out due to media coverage. It certainly was an issue over the weekend but its more that its story of the week stuff that its being highlighted so much. The umpires will do what they usually do and review and be more consistent across the games and it will be less of a story. Not saying the holding the ball rule shouldn't be touched or talked about as I think there's areas of concern but the games not in turmoil because of it.