Earl Hood

Apart from TMacc, May, Langdon and Lever everyone else is struggling. Oliver and Tracc getting possessions but their delivery is all over the place, getting caught, coughing it up. Need a big last quarter!

Should be 4 goals up. We kicked well early but missed 2 soda set shots there and Tracc needs to nail those snaps if he is to be elite. Hopefully second half we get our goal kicking accuracy right.

The policing of the 15m kick rule has gone out the window that’s for sure. Just seen two 8m passes to a forward in 5/minutes.

Gee where is Dusty when the Tiges are under the pump? No where to be seen.

Yes when you slow it down it looks premeditated. Try playing at normal speed, in a second, I grab possession in heavy traffic, I see a tackler coming at me at speed and low, I fend off or take the full force of the hit/tackle. This is not the case of a tackler choosing to bump rather than tackle the ball carrier, this is a ball carrier facing an aggressive tackler and looking to protect himself and escape traffic. Hawkins flailing about is careless too! A bit like Steven King rearranging Jeff White’s face with a flailing boot back in 2005. Deemed to be just one those things!

It seems it all depends on the AFL definitions for accidental vs careless. Is it as simple as if you aren’t looking at the guy you hit, it’s accidental. If you are looking at him it’s careless?

Yes great stats but did look uncharacteristically fumbly early but that was because our midfield was applying zero pressure up field in the first half, allowing North to bring the ball with ease, straight through the centre corridor, a backman’s nightmare. But when we needed May he delivered I thought, so I gave him votes.

6 Fritsch 5 Salem 4 Kossie 3 May 2 Langdon 1 Oliver

North not missing a kick as they have numbers around the ball and waltzing straight through the corridor. Can’t believe our lack of pressure on the ball carriers. Max having a shocker seems to have an effect on everyone. May looks shaky, TMac absent many others ball watching. Oliver and Tracc need to take control in the second half. Jonesy has been good.

What’s changed? Lever, May, have finally clicked working as a well drilled unit now with Tomlinson allowing Lever to play the old Josh Gibson role intercepting everything. numbers around the ball, replaying the match today I was astounded at how good we were on the outside against the benchmark, Richmond. Langdon has been huge for us and Brayshaw is becoming very good on the other wing. The Hunt/Langdon running duet must be giving opposition coaches nightmares. We still have the inside grunt but now there are numerous outlets. The way we flicked the ball around against the Tiges was the equal of the Bulldogs so kudos to Yze I believe. Delivery into the forward line has totally transformed. Gee TMac must be so pleased that he is not camped in the goal square with the 50 meter bomb coming in on top of his head surrounded by 3 defenders who know exactly where the ball is going. Now the ball carriers are running the ball to the fifty and lowering their eyes looking for a moving target. Why that has taken so long I have no idea? And looking at individuals Max is just playing an extraordinary role, dominating the ruck and dominating the air to an extent I haven’t seen since Jimmy’s Brownlow year. And Langdon has been a great recruit giving us so much run on the outside and because he is always there as an outlet I believe he gives others the confidence to go for the ball in traffic knowing he will always be to you left or right for a receive. Lever of course, now in All Australian form, and with May allowing Salem the time and space to maximise his attacking strength off half back.

I saw a few other Demon tragics saying they were paid out on FB. What is SportsBet up to?

Agree it is exciting. The missing piece for me is the inability of our midfielders to take full advantage of Max’s hit out dominance in the centre and at other stoppages. Get that right and we become close to unstoppable while Max is playing and flying.

Except we didn’t pick that No 3 bloke!

Yep that looks about right 6 Salem 5 Tracc 4 Oliver 3 Gawn 2 TMacc 1 Jackson

History says He will get off the leash at some stage just hope we are far enough ahead to absorb it.

If Tracc can get going who knows. Oliver good that quarter. Viney lifting.

Where is the midfield? Our outside, role players are keeping us in it. Where is the engine room?

For Info I Road past Gosch’s this morning (9.00 am) and they are setting up for a Captains Run session. If anyone can get there to report.

Especially when they will squeeze everyone into 85% of the seats and leave large blocks empty. Can’t work it out myself.

If he sustains his recent form it won’t stay quiet for too long. He has been massive this season in a settled backline. What was all that discussion about draft decisions and Josh Kelly a few years ago?

He has always impressed me at training, he moves well, has speed and good hands but at VFL level he did not seem to be able to get his own ball. If his disposal count at VFL was often counted in single figures I doubted if he could make the jump but he is only 20 so plenty of upside. A few more breakout games in the VFL please before we give him his chance. But it does look as if he might meet the modern requirements for a small forward, that is endless running, foot speed and ferocious defensive tackling and yes you do need to kick the odd goal yourself.

And Josh Kelly no where to be seen!

If everyone is available it is May back in for Petty and Fritsch for M Brown. Weid and Brown another solid hit out at Casey. Need to try to maintain consistency of personnel and roles with the caveat that all players maintain their form and younger ones might need a rest. Injuries will inevitably provide opportunities to bring in new role players.

Gee controversial Nasher. So in all sports, you have just written off the likes of Ronald Dale, Polly Farmer; in tennis, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, cricket Don Bradman, Bill Lawry; golf Gary Player, Jack Nicholas...etc. It is a minefield and maybe you are right based on modern training, bigger physiques, full time professionalism etc but those playing 60 years ago can only compete against their peers, win and dominate.

You forgot to add his clearances today, more than some of our designated running midfielders.