Tolstoys Nudge

7 hours ago, FTB said:

The amount of humble pie that will be eaten come Monday evening will be an absolute joy to observe.
 

Let’s hope and be ready to relish that.. Max on MMM was quite soothing.. apart form his issue re recent games margins — was off by about 30 points in 3/4 games he mentioned but maybe that speaks to his feeling in those games and how bad he felt we were 😂  

12 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Not too sure how a guy wearing headgear was totally blindsided.  Perhaps you were

So we should’ve delayed the guy who’d been nothing but a loyal integral part of our squad, who’s contact has 5yrs to run, cus we thought his scan would come back and lead to retirement? How exactly would we have done that champ? Mamma Mia 

50 minutes ago, kozzyisalegend said:

Wouldn't call it a bust, but he seems like a very similar player to viney, Oliver, sparrow. Big physical body without the athleticism or outstanding skills. But he has the competitive side that we lack

A bust? Wowsers.. just.. wowwell down for quoting this with composure mate.. unreal 

On 02/06/2024 at 15:45, Fat Tony said:

-32 inside 50s. Our midfield has fallen off a cliff and we rely on Max dominating to have a chance. 

Thanks for making a factual, reasonably sensible argument re our midfield! Whilst I disagree that it’s a midfield issue, it’s a very good well-made point 

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Dees need to show more than just one game. If we lift and beat an injured depleted Pies, it shouldn’t be seen as a “All good, happy days” premiership ahead outcome.  Theres lots to fix and the next month will determine which path we follow 

Don’t anyone would see it that way.. anything less than a Prelim will bring immense dissection and inescapable scrutiny 

On 02/06/2024 at 16:52, leave it to deever said:

It probably wasn't that hard to predict that Gus wouldn't play anymore.

The club has been complacent with team depth and made some poor recruiting choices lately.

How McAdam was chosen when he can't kick a ball past 30 m is a mystery.

Disagree — Gus and club were absolutely blindsided by the scan results, as it was first concussion in 5yrs! Club couldn’t act even if hey did know, as AFL still hasn’t fully finalised how his salary cap $$$ will be managed! SL that’s a totally inaccurate and flammable argument! 

6 minutes ago, Deelectable said:

Play Jefferson.  Nothing to lose. The lack of depth at Casey is alarming but we knew that at the start of the season.  Oh wait, all except the football and recruiting departments.  Thought it was OK to lose Dunstan, Jordon, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Grundy, Harmes and Smith all really not replaced. It's a scandal. Midfield is tiring but Goodwin has never been one for rotation.  Development at Casey has been halted with an uncompetitive outfit. Max and May in their twilight. Viney has the body of a 35 year old at 30. It's over.

Not a bad point but I think with JVR back it’s unlikely — that’s more one for when/if we start going down the off-season surgery road by round 19 etc I think but who knows I guess it’s possible!

I don’t think we’ll see wholesale changes but I do expect a debut.. AMW/Brown my guess, maybe Fullarton to give Max a chop-out and not have to have JVR ruck.. maybe Howes for Hunter, or Billings I suppose.. I think it’s wrong-round to debut a skinny key fwd! 
 

I'm gonna guess 3 changes max!
 

Lord I hope I’m right & we respond, I still think the WCE game was worse — we packed this one in and they had all hail-Mary’s cashed.. we were flat as a tac etc but one thing is, we WILL find out either way! 

17 minutes ago, praha said:

I'll eat my hat live on Twitch if we win this one.

You’ll need a bucket-load of condiments for that one amigo! I’d be going truffle oil and mayo.. but whatever it is, choose wisely! 

3 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Nah…this isn’t an outlier..this is a problem! A coaching issue about structure and matchup. We you get it right against us, we hand you the game. We absolutely implode. The body language is as bad as I’ve seen

Yes the body language is really poor that’s absolutely true & is a worry but then.. imagine playing in this.. wld you be up and about?

don’t forget we lost 2 best 22 players before a game was played.. that we had no chance of replacing due to them being post-post-season! We’ve got holes but we’ve also got plenty of talent to re-load with even IF this year goes pair-shaped!

Blues supporters were burning their memberships this time last what, LONG down and beaten, no evidence at all of it being darkest before the dawn.. GWS even More so — they had a new coach close to sacked.. how’s that work out?

Mercy me why do some feel they have the privilege to just bash a club they allegedly support while others must suffer & grin and bear it? Have some civility & poise, that’s all I think the club would ask.. don’t be the blues fans that had to ask for a new membership card for finals tickets cus they ‘lost it’..

3 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Other then reading this complete and utter dribble what example of this club has proven to you they can be trusted other then bring knocked out in straight sets 2 years in a row.

Get rid of the rosy red and blue glasses FCS, reality has hit us smack bang between the eyes today.

Hahahaha you’re surely kidding! Kick 5% straighter and we beat the pies you silly bugger! What an overtly ignorant comment.. but I feel your pain, It’s shizen it really is.. but it is also a one-off for the last 4yrs & that in-and-of-itself is a statement!

I mean — Darcy looking like Gawns daddy is actually real you think is it? Amiss is far too good for May is he? Come on bud, you know it’s silly! 
 

This comp is just so even, things are always on knife-edge and if you’re off, you get belted!!! Tigers can barely field a side that’s above VFL quality, then lost their one decent player & yet if not for even more inj and some poor conversion they’d of been 60+ ahead of Geelong at the cattery — Such is footy! But why do you get to cheer the wins when you can’t take ONE belting? Tell me 

To be perfectly honest, I’m maddest about not getting Sharp— A player we had interest in prev & that fits our needs so well! Can’t blv we didn’t try to snag him but who knows maybe there were red-flags re health long term or something.. I can’t help but remiss what Jackson/Gawn would’ve become as well! But then I’m reminded Jackson as a fwd is <Turner!!!

8 minutes ago, M_9 said:

Still, it presents an opportunity for those at Casey who are pressing for senior selection.

Oh, wait …

How about Confidence, Running-legs, Jolt-up-the-wazoo, JVR, Lever (after the bye), Laurie, Billings, Kolt, Hore (post-bye), Billings, Seston, Jeffo & AMW?!?!?!

Nick-off - your pain doesn’t get abated by being sarcastically-dissident when it’s hailing! You’re better than that I’m sure of it mate. If it happens again next week, and after bye, sure I’ll worry the years a write-off — But then I’ll trust JT and Goody whom won is a FLAG for the first time since 1964!!!!!!

Just now, Go Lordie said:

Why are we loading so heavily at this time in the season?

Cus we have a bye coming up, and to have a better set of legs come September! 
 

This is hilarious reading the mania.. it’s genuinely cheered me up — knowing how silly supporters get (me inc many times I’m sure in the past) from one game! If you can’t see there’s something desp right about one side and wrong with the other then you’re either blind or delirious.. 

Lets see how many of these same names bob-back-up in a few wks saying “it was the turning point” or it was “an outlier” result.. 

Sure, I may be 💯 wrong but this team right here has proven over and over they’re made of the right stuff and jumping-off to me seems to be the antithesis of an erudite Demon fan.

Its awful, my 10yr old footy nut daughter — who is someone that lives and breathes footy (playing/supporting) is an absolute mess right now as she’s never seen this, has no reference for it at ALL.. So I’ll be dammed if I’m gonna encourage her to be a fire-weather supporter! Not saying anyone here is, but I’m saying we have a choice to go we react & im choosing to trust this group as that’s what their history has proven!

3 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Any chance we could turn up to a game with the mindset of putting immense pressure on the opponent?

Have you ever played footy at an elite lvl and had an opponent steamroll you? It’s no fun & putting pressure on isn’t the issue that got us to this point, least of our worries in this game!

1 minute ago, deegirl said:

Doesn’t matter how big the margin is, the change won’t come 

The funny thing is, it’s change we’re trying — we could go back to 22-23 Brand in no time but WHY? Do what you’ve always done and you’ll get same result.. 

how can no one else see this IS trying to change????? Goodness me.. I’d rather we don’t change and just kicked straighter (ly) but I also see we can’t keep getting to finals, dominating i50 and LOSING!!! We lost 4/4 finals — We have to try and transition our game and we will, it’s a bump in the road, just hope for no injuries & put it behind us!

Just now, beelzebub said:

Not thinking I'll need to WANT it.....

Not something I didn’t consider.. but prob don’t need 100pt to ruin confidence entirely but hey — modern footy is week-by-week proposition that’s for dang sure 

9 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

North will have their first win against us.

Mark it down.

I think some peeps have been a bit spoiled.. I wish I could make it so that when you jump-off this quickly you can’t enjoy the high-rides but I know where you’re coming from and would’ve once felt similar but this is a perfect day for a team that’s choc-full of confidence and we’re barely there! Maybe this is a butt-smashing we need?
 

 No reason it can’t be.. I choose to keep faith, everything’s going right for them and it’s evident they’re chasing in. I can’t smash a team that’s given me so much resounding reasons to trust them.. I mean look at that Serong Goal for goodness sake off back if DARCY lucky goal and Frederick boundary goal, that’s just bananas & good on em!

We’ll bounce back next week.. you don’t lose ability overnight for goodness sake! 
 

Harden up ppl, it’s a crappy day — move fwd.  

3 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

I know I put this in when we're going badly, but we're going to waste this list, aren't we?

I feel like I'll never see a mcg gf. 

Chill.. it’s a LONG season amigo 

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

It's like they think he's some sort of tactical genius 😂  

Just dribbles on rubbish. Embarrassed himself with the loading stuff the last two years now he's finding his niche as the midfield isn't the problem excuse.

U think it’s the mids? Today has been contest in general not just the mids imho I mean seeing O‘meara be made to look like Ablett hurts but I’m not sure it’s all mids we’ve just been off our game completely trying to be some sort of cutting kick team which we’re not.. it’s certainly just very strange we’re at sea without a boat let alone a paddle!!! 

I can only imagine what’s being said — but to me it’s looking as simple as perceived pressure and general poor disposal and decisions that are killing us. I50 tackles were up 8-3, but we just have lost all ability to make the right decision — game-plan adaptation or implementation issues, or just poor run of disposals/decisions? Makes d50 looks really poor but I’m not convinced it is, whilst it’s not great it’s more about where we are turning it over and our inability to get chains together. Intercepting non-existent at present, but Freo look like a COMPLETELY diff side, very strange I’m not throwing baby out with bath water despite being obviously shattered at what I’m seeing..

Becomes all about confidence for next week now I guess — let’s hope for some spirit at least. 

But maybe with Gus $$$ we could enter race for Smith… he’d add some solid midfield depth and is young enough to learn to play like a Dee!!! or English (unlikely as I rkn it’s WA or stay but still) to take us post Max era but we all know the next 2yrs if Max is still gonna mean no one comes that isn’t a kid as they all know they’ll be 2nd fiddle!

Lord I WISH!!!.. I think he’s the best key fed prospect I’ve seen since Franklin tbh — moves so well as is typical with late growth-spurt tally! But he’s a dogs man for life now we’d have muncher better shout for English or Jamarra neither of which would be even a modicum of excitement in comp to Darcy!

But Kalani is exciting and could have plenty of growing left as well 🤔 

I’m genuinely excited by this pick — Kid has a crack as shown by highlights, def more of a JVR type than Jeffo type as in seems to be able to impact the contest with physicality and can pinch-hit in ruck. Coaches have all said he’s a ripper and that he’ll make an impact fast which is always a good sign.. Welcome to Demonland ‘Kenter’ as I’m already calling him.. exciting prospect that I’m glad we called out.

Gents another excellent podcast as always appreciate your time and effort!

Tommo — so happy for him, he’s far inferior to Lever in terms of reading play & first-step but he did a great job to show he can play May-type role but he’s not an interceptor as Binman adroitly pointed out! Likely gone at seasons end esp if Battle is target (battle would be an upgrade from an intercepting standpoint). Gameplan is as I said lw, clearly designed to not be as banged-up physically come finals and Binman has referenced this long-ago and is spot-on, players have confirmed it in the media so anyone not across this needs to be aware of it and factor it in! We’ve finally changed, it is the definition of insanity to repeat the same thing and expect a alternate result or outcome — I can’t wait to see us go hell-for-leather come August-September! 
 

Salem — Couldn't be more impressed with how we used him, on lvl2 view it was super clear that the strategy was to find him and his 13 marks reflected it, other teams might start to play him defensively but we have Bowser, Mcvee whom can play a similar role albeit not to same extent, but it adds another gear to use when needed & my only feedback was his lack of penetration on kicking inc the shot he didn’t take, he is def not able to flush the ball atm or perhaps ever based on recent evidence, but let’s see. 

Just on Hunter, I like both he and Billings similarly they play a role but that’s just the point, it’s a role.. but some things are intangible inc per player rating and first game back Hunter absolutely added enough per his role & Goody has been crying out for players to keep playing their role & both do that fairly well but Hunter can finish so I give him a slight edge. Very interrupted pre-season for Hunter so think it’s slightly unfair not to call that out as well but it’s a role that requires experience and Ed is the cream of the wing crop certainly, however his rating was far less than even Hunter’s yet again, he added intangibles, played a great neg role as a fwd as did Hunter filling space defensively. Neither got a tackle but both also stayed wide in their roles & didn’t get a heap of opportunities for tackles either. But this happens, player go weeks without tackles all the time outside of inside mids and rucks.

McAdam is finding fitness and touch, seriously ppl are just so ridiculously critical of players it’s quite startling to be fair — 6 tackles and ran his guts out all day, he’ll show his wears just wait and see & watch the eeyores backtrack! Kick he didn’t make distance was a stab Andy, absolute stab!
 

McAdam and Kos are TOLD to fly for marks, it’s part of our entry strategy for goodness sake haha! And McAdam has FAR more runs on board for high-marks than Kos, that’s for sure — he looked exhausted and I love that cus it means he gave everything & his tank will build as a result that’s how it grows exponentially and why GAME exp is needed to get that tank elongated. 
 

Petty one is a tough — I think Jeffo is far from ready although he couldn’t be any less perf wise based on many other thin slight fwds ie Jones, Amiss! JVR was held cus he had other options so think that comparison fails scrutiny somewhat — he’s close! 
 

Petts undoubtedly adds much needed presence, he brings ball to ground, takes best def and WILL start clunking them although yes, it’s wearing then to defend him but I suggest he’s going nowhere, as JVR is better for Petts being there it’s that simple. He’s such a bloody star I can’t wait to see him in a couple years he’s so sublime & that goal when being tackled was just beyond good, it was strength personified!!!  

8 minutes ago, D Rev said:

Completely agree on Windsor needing a rest, but Goody doesn't like changing winning teams and our fitness staff don't seem to love resting players.  I thought Hunter was good, though lazy.  You can get away with that against the Saints, not teams that have a go.

Yep agreed.