btdemon

Its been apparent for the last three years, even when we one the flag, that other teams are too big and strong. Crows, Lions, Roos are all big across the ground. There is no doubting the courage or determination of our players but they are constantly battling against far stronger opponents in the midfield. Purcell is a massive loss. Notice that Hanks, McNamara, Mithen and other tiny players are being expected to to win midfield contests. As skilful as they are, they get pummelled every week. I am in awe of their courage but it's going to wear them down. They also much less effective than they were in previous years because they are being expected to play the role that Purcell, Paxy and Daisy played previously. We threw Zanker into the middle a few years ago just to add some grunt. As it is, the ball isn't getting down to her in the forward line. I think Bannan is also wasted up forward. She is way more effective with her speed on the outside. Expecting her to develop as a tall forward is denying her the real weapon she has, which is speed on the outside. She is not heavy enough to be a tall contested marking option. ATM Kate Hore, our best player, is being asked to plug holes everywhere and other teams are working this out. Stop Her and you stop the Dees. Goldrick has been awesome but again she is punching way above her weight. I love Mackin and the way she has developed her kicking over the three seasons. It was very hit & miss but now she's kicking very smartly. Our recruiting team need to draft for SIZE and footy smarts. I know that's a statement of the obvious and is easier said than done. I agree that Mick's plan can look wonderful against a less powerful opponent but most of the other teams have gone past us now. Against North we fought tooth and nail and I am in awe of the courage and spirit displayed, but they are just TOO SMALL over the whole line up. PS I like the look of Pisano's footy smarts

The standard of the AFLW is and now fantastic. I was just watching the prelim between Lions and Cats but I'm so frustrated by the standard of umpiring. They miss so many incorrect disposals, head high tackles, holding while not in possessions, diving on the ball, and the list goes on. At the same time they are allowing the play to continue when it should be balled up. I have thought this all year and it has meant that a number of very close games have been decided or at least influenced, by the poor umpiring. They are also letting niggly push and shove behaviour happen that would probably be penalised in the mens' game. I love the AFLW and the way the game has progressed so quickly. It's getting faster, tougher and the skills are wonderful. But the umpiring is frustrating the hell out of me. Sheesh!

My thoughts exactly. When the pressure's on, it's skill, disposal and brains as well as toughness. It's the flaw in our list. It's why Collingwood are doing well too. We have fantastic competitors but even our super A-grade mids, Clarry & Trac, don't kick consistently well. Swans kicking was much more surgical and their pressure equalled ours.

Well? Binman??????? (Cue Al Pacino) WHADDYA GOT FOR US?

To all of us who suffer from MFCSS (Andy, this means you too), it's time to let it go. Cleanse your psyches. It's no longer relevant. The next phase is to not get too arrogant, to learn to enjoy success like a normal person. I'm not sure how I'll go but I'm trying. A friend was a long suffering Royboy, confessed that after the Lions third consecutive flag, it wasn't as satisfying. A bit like too many chocolates. However, I'm willing to test that hypothesis.

I too am disappointed to see Lockhart go. Nev was sadly finished. It was so sad to see him miss out on the big one and I dearly hope that keep him as a specialist coach. Such a wonderful guy. Remember that we also have Marty Hore to come back in an Daniel Turner looks good. Gibbo has another year left in him on recent performances.

Actually, you just reminded me why I have curtailed partaking in forum discussions. Over and out.

I haven't posted for a long time. I was just listening to the latest podcast. Andy and Binman defending Spargo as NOT being a ducker. I love Charlie Spargo and I'm glad he's playing for us. He is smart, tough and seems to be a wonderful team player. However, he is rivalling Selwood and Mathieson as a pro-ducker. he has a different technique from Selwood and Mathieson. Selwood drops his knees as a first response to feeling a tackle. Mathieson does the same and throws his head back dramatically. Spargo is like a cat rubbing its head up against your leg. He immediately leans his head into the armpit of the tackler. Being small he gets rewarded for it consistently and has made it an important part of his armoury. Yes, it's smart but if I was an opposition supporter I would hate it just like I hate it with Selwood and Mathieson. But Spargs, keep doing what you're doing.

Aside from his marking, Weed seems to move snd react slowly. It's the opposite to Trac and Kozzy, who's brains seem to be working way faster than the average. Their bodies are making quick changes in direction all of the time. I think this reflects the fact their brains are working very quickly when it comes to spacial awareness and the movement going on around them. Weed seems to be very slow in his reaction time when chasing or reacting to the players around him. This makes him look a little uninterested at times. I have no doubt about his courage or desire. You can see him hitting packs and flying with great determination. Maybe he just needs to start clunking them with more regularity, his confidence will build and he might relax a bit. I'm pretty certain that he feels under tremendous pressure at the moment. TMac is flying, Jacko is quickly developing and Brown is just waiting for another opportunity.

I think we're going to quickly learn to hate Izak Rankine. Hi extraordinary arrogance is actually matched by his level of skill. They've got a few Ferraris in that team. I reckon they'll be right up there with Brisbane in the next few years. Incredible debut!

He won us the game. He also nearly lost us the game with his horrible field kicking and resultant turnovers.

No way was Morton an 'elite' kick. Maric couldn't get the ball and neither could Strauss. Toumpas was also touted as an 'elite' kick. He wasn't. Both he and Morton had very flawed techniques which crumbled under pressure (I have railed on this forum about the flaws in their kicking). I just think that we recruited competitive beasts, many of whom are not good users. The ideal is, of course, to have a combination of combative, smart and skilful. ATM we are out of whack.

It makes guys like Melksham's entries really important.

The difference between us and the Tigers is that they have more pace and skill. They apply pressure through great defensive positioning and pace. We can't quite match them in this regard. Their offensive running is better and smarter too and they have some great forwards in Reiwoldt, Martin, Rioli, Lynch, Castagna etc. While they are not necessarily brilliant, their system is. Ours requires a higher level of physical contest and has taken its toll. I hope that Goodwin and the coaching panel have a development plan. The current one is not sustainable.

I was listening to the "Dee Brief" last night, and I tend to agree with an opinion expressed there. That we have relied solely on contested ball, chaos footy and now we are already knackered. With a shipload of injuries and a massive drop-off in skills. In relation to recruiting young Kyle Dunkley, he looks like he can win the ball and has footy smarts. His kicking (on the very small sample of video footage available), looks average. This is a great shame. I believe in Clarko's mantra, in that he "won't recruit anyone who is not a good kick". We have way too many NQR kicks. This bloke looks like he can get the ball, and is smart, but that kick looks pretty 'agricultural'. Demons who I trust with ball in hand - the best ones in bold Nev (great up to 40 metres. Rarely wastes it) Salem (although he does stab at it too much and the trajectory could be flatter. Too much air time) Lewis (sometimes) Melksham (providing he is not having a set shot) Weideman (providing he is having a set shot) Baker (maybe, not sure yet) Lockhart (mostly very neat with a nice low trajectory) Hibbo (most of the time) Fritsch (Beautiful style but slow to put it on the boot. He is adventurous and although he has been butchering it lately he is still very creative. Sometimes he doesn't control the depth of his kicking) Max (up to 35 metres) Lever (kicks well within his capabilities) Gus (crap lately, but generally ok. Needs to think more about it) Hore (ok but floaty. Misses some targets) Jones (seems to be getting worse again. Like he was in his early career. It could be because he is older and slower and needs time to balance) Demons who make me nervous with ball in hand - Clarry (haphazard but good distance. Generally predictable, in that he wheels on to his right foot and bombs long, with too much air time) Petracca (field kicking good, but ball drop crazy. natural hook. Set shots - massive yips!) T Mac (set shots from inside 40 only! Field kicking is horrible!) Hunt (some set shots are ok from within 35, otherwise its a lottery) Frosty (been kicking well when balanced to targets that are no more than 30 metres away) ANB (disposal sh!ts me. Turns it over consistently) Viney (as per ANB, but a bit worse) Oscar (generally good but limited to shorter distances) Jeffy (yips) Spargo (ok but can't kick over 35) Harmes (improving. This bloke seems to be thinking about his kicking and working on it. It's still not consistent) Hannan (He has an iffy ball-drop but is good enough to get away with it most of the time) There are others we haven't seen enough of yet. But what this list says to me is that our kicking skills are NOT GOOD ENOUGH under pressure. The contrast with GWS was so stark on Sunday. Our game plan relies way too heavily on the 'chaos' game. We haven't been able to maintain it this year because it's exhausting and bruising. There is no substitute for good skills and accurate kicking. It can keep you in the game when the pressure is on. PLEASE Jason Taylor, don't recruit guys just because they are 'goers'. We have heaps of them. Recruit some silk and some footy smarts. For those who think we have the list to win a premiership, I respectfully disagree. It needs significant repair and augmentation before we will be ready. Have a look at the other top teams - GWS, Tigers, Cats and Collingwood. All have better smarts and skills. Other teams like the Lions will be there very quickly. Quality footballers all round. We have a way to go and need the injection of real class