Adam Cooney

I mean, there's not just a team that just goes all out, attack, fast, fast, fast 100% of the time.

And then similar to, I mean, not similar to Brisbane because Brisbane are the best at gear changes and being able to control the game when they need to and completely take the ball off the opposition with uncontested marks and work their way through.

So their game in terms of those layers is better than most.

And it's one of the reasons why they are back-to-back premiers.

But the Ds aren't just all out attack.

I mean, they've got some good control in their game as well, being able to just work their way through and use the wide expanses of the MCG and hit those 45s and switches and take the ball to the far side of the ground.

And I mean, they're doing that.

as well so they've got some layers in their game too but I mean the big thing is just the improvement we talk about it all the time the improvement that Stephen King has got out of some of these fringe players has been just incredible and then the progression of some of their younger players as well and new roles for Langford playing more outside than inside I thought he was going to be an inside mid but him playing on the wing has been a revelation for them and then Windsor going more inside who I thought that Windsor was just going to be a winger

So, I mean, just those little shifts, Tholstrup to playing that negating role, he can play as a tagger in the middle of the ground, but they've also deployed him recently, just shutting down the best small forward that comes up against them each week.

So I'm loving what they're doing.

I enjoy watching them play.

Max Gorn is obviously an amazing leader.

But they do.

They have the freedom to play and express themselves, which they've probably been choked up a little bit under Simon Goodwin over the last few years.

And I think that's why we're seeing that spike in performance at the moment because they have released the shackles a little bit.

And we'll see how long it lasts because that can't go forever because Stephen King, once the expectation rises...

He'll become a bit grumpier.

He'll become a little bit more defensive, as coaches do naturally, because once the pressure is on, it does change a little bit.

So they're riding the wave at the moment.

Let's see how far they can take it this year.