Oppo Camp Non-Essendon Football Thread XVI

[eth-dog]

Bones of Freo have been there a long time. Just finally getting going.

 

[JayJ20]

Frederick is so good. Bailey as well.

 

[windyhill]

Frederick is so good. Bailey as well.

One of my faves Freddy, brilliant to watch his progress.

 

[pepsi]

I'm on the Freo train in 2022. Do wonder if Fyfe will disrupt their balance however.

 

[MiguelM]

Colyer’s running capacity has always been very good but I reckon he’s become an even better runner since he crossed over. Certainly a smarter runner with better craft.

His disposal seems cleaner.

Makes you wonder if we even have skills coaches.

 

[Zach Package]

His disposal seems cleaner.

Makes you wonder if we even have skills coaches.

Easier to execute your skills when you’re in more space, under less pressure and are less tired. And the player you are kicking to has busted their arse to get 10 metres on their opponent to give you a margin of error.

 

[Darealrath]

Colyer’s running capacity has always been very good but I reckon he’s become an even better runner since he crossed over. Certainly a smarter runner with better craft.

He might have improved in that respect but I always thought he looked his best working up the wings, especially as he's an underrated mark for his size, but our coaches saw him more as a small forward where he was a lot more hit and miss.

 

[Lore]

 

[Mercurial89]

Easier to execute your skills when you’re in more space, under less pressure and are less tired. And the player you are kicking to has busted their arse to get 10 metres on their opponent to give you a margin of error.

Freo are breaking sides with their run and toughness on the inside, though Freo have a lot of pace as well.
Think we may be seeing the next level of running capability that other teams are going to have to reach.

 

[BrunoV]

SDK has been on the Cats list for 3 pre-seasons.

As good as he is he should not be the rising star.

 

[Mercurial89]

SDK has been on the Cats list for 3 pre-seasons.

As good as he is he should not be the rising star.

I'd be hooking some of the media commentators up to lie detectors and asking whether they had any money on him when he was paying over 40-1.

He's been good, I don't think he has been as good as some are saying. Considering the form of others (Newcombe, Martin, daicos, I'm sure I'm missing others)

 

[BrunoV]

There has been an even bigger lag on sorting out how good the top 6 is than usual.

It's very interesting that Melbourne wilted twice in a row the first time they were challenged. I would have thought challengers would have been enough motivation for Melbourne. They're a gettable number 1 seed.

Sydney's erratic form makes it particularly hard to get an accurate read because I'm tempted to say Brisbane hasn't beaten anyone either. Neither GC or Sydney was up and running for the Lions who were controlled by an understrength Fremantle and Geelong.

I'd say Fremantle's total form line to date is the best by far. Their 2 recent losses look like a flat spot, to sides who might not play finals, given that they've beaten 1 and 2 in the two following weeks.

We won't definitely know how good Geelong is until round 17 by which time they'll have played Richmond and Melbourne. They have beaten bogey sides. It also doesn't feel like they've had a loss of consequence other than Fremantle (who despite their dominance won by less than a kick).

Saints could be the real deal which we'll know in 3 weeks time (which covers Lions and Swans games).

My top 3 sides at this point are Fremantle, Melbourne and Geelong.

I can't split Swans, Saints and Lions for the rest of the top 6.

My provisional listing is:

1. Fremantle
2. Melbourne
3. Geelong
4. Sydney
5. St Kilda
6. Brisbane

 

[faible]

There has been an even bigger lag on sorting out how good the top 6 is than usual.

It's very interesting that Melbourne wilted twice in a row the first time they were challenged. I would have thought challengers would have been enough motivation for Melbourne. They're a gettable number 1 seed.

Sydney's erratic form makes it particularly hard to get an accurate read because I'm tempted to say Brisbane hasn't beaten anyone either. Neither GC or Sydney was up and running for the Lions who were controlled by an understrength Fremantle and Geelong.

I'd say Fremantle's form totally form line to date is the best by far. Their losses look like a flat spot, to sides who might not play finals, given that they've beaten 1 and 2 in the two following week.

We won't know how good Geelong is until round 17 by which time they'll have played Richmond and Melbourne. They have beaten bogey sides. It also doesn't feel like they've had a loss of consequence other than Fremantle (who despite their dominance won by less than a kick).

Saints could be the real deal which we'll know in 3 weeks time (which covers Lions and Swans games).

My top 3 sides at this point are Fremantle, Melbourne and Geelong.

I can't split Swans, Saints and Lions for the rest of the top 6.

I dont rate t

I'd say the Top-3 is a step ahead of the rest of the chasers. I think Melbourne is still clearly the best side in it, but the gap has closed a bit and both Brisbane and Fremantle will have belief their best is good enough to get it done, and all 3 are sides I can see getting the consistency in finals to get it done.

Melbourne has star power in the middle, Brisbane have the big KPFs that can turn a game, and Fremantle are just a cohesive unit right now.

Geelong on their day will threaten most sides, but can't see them getting it done 3 times in a row to win a GF. St Kilda / Sydney / Carlton are a step behind, with a fair drop off to whoever is in 8th (currently Collingwood).

 

[Mercurial89]

There has been an even bigger lag on sorting out how good the top 6 is than usual.

It's very interesting that Melbourne wilted twice in a row the first time they were challenged. I would have thought challengers would have been enough motivation for Melbourne. They're a gettable number 1 seed.

Sydney's erratic form makes it particularly hard to get an accurate read because I'm tempted to say Brisbane hasn't beaten anyone either. Neither GC or Sydney was up and running for the Lions who were controlled by an understrength Fremantle and Geelong.

I'd say Fremantle's total form line to date is the best by far. Their 2 recent losses look like a flat spot, to sides who might not play finals, given that they've beaten 1 and 2 in the two following weeks.

We won't definitely know how good Geelong is until round 17 by which time they'll have played Richmond and Melbourne. They have beaten bogey sides. It also doesn't feel like they've had a loss of consequence other than Fremantle (who despite their dominance won by less than a kick).

Saints could be the real deal which we'll know in 3 weeks time (which covers Lions and Swans games).

My top 3 sides at this point are Fremantle, Melbourne and Geelong.

I can't split Swans, Saints and Lions for the rest of the top 6.

My provisional listing is:

1. Fremantle
2. Melbourne
3. Geelong
4. Sydney
5. St Kilda
6. Brisbane

I'd agree with that, but I think lions form is hard to rate too much with Joe out.
They are a different side with him, I don't think too many can match their firepower when they are on.
The question is will they be firing when it's needed as the gap between their best and worst is larger than usual for a contender

 

[BrunoV]

I'd say the Top-3 is a step ahead of the rest of the chasers. I think Melbourne is still clearly the best side in it, but the gap has closed a bit and both Brisbane and Fremantle will have belief their best is good enough to get it done, and all 3 are sides I can see getting the consistency in finals to get it done.

Melbourne has star power in the middle, Brisbane have the big KPFs that can turn a game, and Fremantle are just a cohesive unit right now.

Geelong on their day will threaten most sides, but can't see them getting it done 3 times in a row to win a GF. St Kilda / Sydney / Carlton are a step behind, with a fair drop off to whoever is in 8th (currently Collingwood).

Shit, I forgot Carlton.

Injury hurts them.

Jury's out. With everything up and running i think they could have St Kilda and Brisbane covered.

 

[BrunoV]

I'd agree with that, but I think lions form is hard to rate too much with Joe out.
They are a different side with him, I don't think too many can match their firepower when they are on.
The question is will they be firing when it's needed as the gap between their best and worst is larger than usual for a contender

I dont rate them. They don't defend well and for all the talk about their fire-power McStay doesn't hit the scoreboard and Hipwood isn't exactly prolific.

Daniher and Cameron are the real deal. Bailey is a very good player too. Of the competitinon it's really only Melbourne and Fremantle who don't have the forward names covered for ability.

 

[faible]

The question is will they be firing when it's needed as the gap between their best and worst is larger than usual for a contender

This basically describes Joe Daniher as a player.

 

[citizen-erased]

There has been an even bigger lag on sorting out how good the top 6 is than usual.

It's very interesting that Melbourne wilted twice in a row the first time they were challenged. I would have thought challengers would have been enough motivation for Melbourne. They're a gettable number 1 seed.

Sydney's erratic form makes it particularly hard to get an accurate read because I'm tempted to say Brisbane hasn't beaten anyone either. Neither GC or Sydney was up and running for the Lions who were controlled by an understrength Fremantle and Geelong.

I'd say Fremantle's total form line to date is the best by far. Their 2 recent losses look like a flat spot, to sides who might not play finals, given that they've beaten 1 and 2 in the two following weeks.

We won't definitely know how good Geelong is until round 17 by which time they'll have played Richmond and Melbourne. They have beaten bogey sides. It also doesn't feel like they've had a loss of consequence other than Fremantle (who despite their dominance won by less than a kick).

Saints could be the real deal which we'll know in 3 weeks time (which covers Lions and Swans games).

My top 3 sides at this point are Fremantle, Melbourne and Geelong.

I can't split Swans, Saints and Lions for the rest of the top 6.

My provisional listing is:

1. Fremantle
2. Melbourne
3. Geelong
4. Sydney
5. St Kilda
6. Brisbane

Challengers in June is less an issue v. later in the year.
Some blips for the Dees, but I still think they're ahead by a margin of the teams behind them

 

[faible]

Shit, I forgot Carlton.

Injury hurts them.

Jury's out. With everything up and running i think they could have St Kilda and Brisbane covered.

Not sure they have the defence to handle a fully fit Brisbane forward-line; Daniher, Hipwood, Cameron can all blow a game apart individually.

McKay and Curnow the other way similar, but Brisbane's defensive unit looks better than Carlton's to me.

 

[JayJ20]

I dont rate them. They don't defend well and for all the talk about their fire-power McStay doesn't hit the scoreboard and Hipwood isn't exactly prolific.

Daniher and Cameron are the real deal. Bailey is a very good player too. Of the competitinon it's really only Melbourne and Fremantle who don't have the forward names covered for ability.

I do rate Brisbane, but I think they fall into the Port Adelaide 2020-2021 and Geelong 2017 - 2022 role. The perpetual bridesmaid/best man. They haven't proven themselves to be capable of standing up under pressure yet. Their only finals win was an inconsequential home qualifying final vs the eventual premiers who didn't have Lynch playing.

They are one of the best teams in the competition, but they falter to anyone that establishes themselves as a contender. When Melbourne surpassed them last year, you just knew they were going to lose to them like they lost to Geelong and Richmond in previous years.
Fremantle consolidated themselves as contenders and they couldn't keep up. If they played Sydney next week, they'd probably lose to them. I still have them only behind Fremantle and Melbourne though.

I'd have my ranking as follows:

1. Fremantle
2. Melbourne
3. Brisbane
4. St Kilda
5. Geelong
6. Sydney

 

[BrunoV]

Challengers in June is less an issue v. later in the year.
Some blips for the Dees, but I still think they're ahead by a margin of the teams behind them

Melbourne is very inefficient. They dont score easily enough consistently.

They broke Geelong and the Dogs in the finals but they otherwise didn't consistently score heavily. They didn't have dynasty percentage.

 

[citizen-erased]

Melbourne is very inefficient. They dont score easily enough consistently.

They broke Geelong and the Dogs in the finals but they otherwise didn't consistently score heavily. They didn't have dynasty percentage.

agree. but defensively they are set up very well.
Will say McDonald and May are big for them though. when they're down they do look a little exposed.

But come finals, with the pedigree of Gawn, Tracc, Oliver...I'd back them over any others at the moment.

Freo are my watch for the year. Keen to see how they're 2nd half goes.
The other one is Sydney.

And can't write the blues off when McKay, Pittonet & Weitering are back
Have the midfield and spine to win finals.

 

[Lore]

 

[BrunoV]

Surely Lloyd is trolling.

If North is going to part ways with Nobel, Simpson makes a lot of sense. There is no point starting that rebuild at WCE only to be turfed having done most of the hard work.

But David King? What is the latest example of a principle he doesn't cite reql world examples of, the leg drivers?

The guy is still raving about our list, almost like we still have Saad and McKenna doing everything from half back.

I almost fell of my chair when he cited Parish as an ineffective midfielder. Clearly his shadow writer got it right, for once.

 

[Howard Moon]

There has been an even bigger lag on sorting out how good the top 6 is than usual.

It's very interesting that Melbourne wilted twice in a row the first time they were challenged. I would have thought challengers would have been enough motivation for Melbourne. They're a gettable number 1 seed.

Sydney's erratic form makes it particularly hard to get an accurate read because I'm tempted to say Brisbane hasn't beaten anyone either. Neither GC or Sydney was up and running for the Lions who were controlled by an understrength Fremantle and Geelong.

I'd say Fremantle's total form line to date is the best by far. Their 2 recent losses look like a flat spot, to sides who might not play finals, given that they've beaten 1 and 2 in the two following weeks.

We won't definitely know how good Geelong is until round 17 by which time they'll have played Richmond and Melbourne. They have beaten bogey sides. It also doesn't feel like they've had a loss of consequence other than Fremantle (who despite their dominance won by less than a kick).

Saints could be the real deal which we'll know in 3 weeks time (which covers Lions and Swans games).

My top 3 sides at this point are Fremantle, Melbourne and Geelong.

I can't split Swans, Saints and Lions for the rest of the top 6.

My provisional listing is:

1. Fremantle
2. Melbourne
3. Geelong
4. Sydney
5. St Kilda
6. Brisbane

The people in the know reckon Melbourne are doing a mid season heavy training block again , ready to taper off toward the finals...if so maybe don't write them off too soon