POST MATCH DISCUSSION - Round 20

[Dee Zephyr 17,395]

Anyone watch the full presser from Goody?

Have the news going on in the background and overheard a snipet, something about where we sit Round 23. Didn’t even realise they were talking about us until I heard that. 

Edited August 5, 2018 by Dee Zephyr

[ShaneJ 88]

30 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Anyone watch the full presser from Goody?

Have the news going on in the background and overheard a snipet, something about where we sit Round 23. Didn’t even realise they were talking about us until I heard that. 

Think he just said we're going to play our best or our brand each game and where we sit in Round 23 is where we sit. The psychology seems to be working so far, I think. Though it will be the next 3 games that test whether we've improved from last year or not.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

4 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

IMO that was the worst side to set foot on the field in the history of the AFL.

We were average and would have struggled against 15 other teams today.

The backline continues to be a major concern. Oscar McDonald and Bernie Vince will be exposed against a better team if they don't lift.

The most unsatisfying 96 point win I will probably ever experience but glad it's over and our percentage is looking good.

Fritsch's kicking has turned into a Melbourne players' now and his skills were poor apart from his great pass to Braysahw in the centre.

Unbelievable negativity. 

[Watts the matter 1,235]

6 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Unbelievable negativity. 

You could add a bit more to the discussion rather than being so negative.

What do you disagree with in those statements?

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

One more win gets us into the finals with our fantastic percentage. Basically, our finals series starts next match with a TRIPLE chance. 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,169]

2 minutes ago, Watts the matter said:

You could add a bit more to the discussion rather than being so negative.

What do you disagree with in those statements?

OK, what an unfounded assumption to state that we would have struggled against 15 sides today. Not very logical. Don't you think players respond to stronger opposition? 

Fritsch is a great , accurate kick. He will rival the likes of Oliver and Salem in this area.

How can you say GC were the worst side in the HISTORY of the AFL? Have you seen every team since inception. Sure, they are not strong but you can't make unfounded statements like that. Your thoughts mate but I have to disagree with you.

[Watts the matter 1,235]

48 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

OK, what an unfounded assumption to state that we would have struggled against 15 sides today. Not very logical. Don't you think players respond to stronger opposition? 

Fritsch is a great , accurate kick. He will rival the likes of Oliver and Salem in this area.

How can you say GC were the worst side in the HISTORY of the AFL? Have you seen every team since inception. Sure, they are not strong but you can't make unfounded statements like that. Your thoughts mate but I have to disagree with you.

I'll leave the first one as it's something that we would never know, but you would hope so. However, it is connected to my view that the GC team that took the field today is the worst team in the history of the AFL. They are a poor team at full strength and were missing the following players today: Lynch, May, Swallow, Martin, Thompson, Wright, Day, Hall, Ainsworth and Rosa. This list includes their top 5 key position options. Considering I've seen Melbourne in 2013, Fitzroy and PA, Freo, GC and GWS entering the competition I think I am fairly well placed to make that call and I would challenge anyone to name a worse team. There is a reason they were paying $15 prior to the game.

I agree Frisch is generally a good kick and I love the ball in his hand but his kicking was shocking today. Oliver's kicking was also quite poor today after the gem to JKH in the first quarter. 

Edited August 5, 2018 by Watts the matter

[Sir Why You Little 34,430]

1 hour ago, Watts the matter said:

I'll leave the first one as it's something that we would never know, but you would hope so. However, it is connected to my view that the GC team that took the field today is the worst team in the history of the AFL. They are a poor team at full strength and were missing the following players today: Lynch, May, Swallow, Martin, Thompson, Wright, Day, Hall, Ainsworth and Rosa. This list includes their top 5 key position options. Considering I've seen Melbourne in 2013, Fitzroy and PA, Freo, GC and GWS entering the competition I think I am fairly well placed to make that call and I would challenge anyone to name a worse team. There is a reason they were paying $15 prior to the game.

I agree Frisch is generally a good kick and I love the ball in his hand but his kicking was shocking today. Oliver's kicking was also quite poor today after the gem to JKH in the first quarter. 

Psychology has a lot to do with it. It’s hard to give your best, when you are not challenged. We won by 96 points

Next week will tell us a lot more....

[What 18,810]

Not sure what Hogan did during the week, but he looked like a new man.  Was moving beautifully and his closing speed was great.  

Garlett also looked great  ...   yes I know the opposition was atrocious, but if he takes confidence from that game it will help a lot.

[Deemania since 56 6,131]

6 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

The game went the opposite of how I thought it would. I expected a crappy, low scoring first quarter followed by us pulling our socks up in the second and third.

Instead, we played breathtaking football (even accounting for the low quality of the opposition) for the first 30 minutes and then took the foot off the pedal considerably.

Some of the second and third quarters was just terrible from us. Too many turnovers but, worse, too many forward 50 forays breaking down at half forward (our biggest problem). 

That's nitpicking a bit but we should still be looking at how we can improve even when we win by 96.

Thought Salem was outstanding today. Every time he goes near it I feel comfortable. A much harder edge has developed in his game. I was also impressed with Garlett's work rate - much better two-way running and he got involved a lot more as a result.

I'm not sold on JKH and if we didn't have the injuries we do have, I wouldn't be playing him. I thought VDB was just OK, nothing special. Should get at least another game and another crack to get up to AFL speed but he's another who wouldn't be playing if we didn't have injuries.

Terrible luck for Smith. I thought he showed something today, more than previous weeks. A lot more dash and a willingness to get involved in the offensive part of the game. Just awful to see him do the other shoulder.

Really looking forward to Sydney. They can't score outside of Franklin and I think we match them well in the middle. But the pressure is right on us now and with Sydney's experienced heads also under pressure, it should be a ripper.

Big improvements and efforts from Salem and Garlett; some of Jeffy's shots were very near misses so it looks like he may be coming back towards lethal. Salem was terrific. Vanders was good for a return match and should stay in the side to fully recover his mojo for the game. Smith is already a great loss as he was really good for most of his game time - will be sadly missed with what appeared to be a broken clavical. Sydney is going to be a test and Franklin does appear to be the only avenue to goal for them at the moment. Their outside run needs to be quelled early so our use of the bench to match them in this regard across the game has to be very strategic. Frosty needs to be on his game to challenge Buddy body on body. His pace will help him stay in contact where Franklin can be spoiled these days with close attention. I'd like to see Kent come in to display his pace and aggression, and to contribute to the accuracy of passing inside 50 and goalward. I noticed before the Suns game in the clubrooms how 'left out of it' Kent looked as the players left for the ground - he was 'burning' to play, getting back to stinging any opponent, and he would probably be a better tool against the Swans than JKH. OMac on the wing was slow and stuffed up again several times but passing was serviceable and height was useful. I'd reckon Frosty is starting to 'ace' the Fullback position and is blending well with teammates. His disposals by hand and foot can be errant but his body work and positioning are very good. After the first quarter, we had a few players down on recent indicators so let's hope that such lapses disappear against the Swans. 

[Deemania since 56 6,131]

4 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

The backline continues to be a major concern. Oscar McDonald and Bernie Vince will be exposed against a better team if they don't lift.

Fully agree - in nearly every involvement. Slow, exposed, beaten, left standing, limited physical contact, not reading the play with virtually no anticipation; ball rebounded negatively most of the time. Possessions and despatch are both rarities - no more chances.

[Rollo2 64]

7 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Really looking forward to Sydney. They can't score outside of Franklin and I think we match them well in the middle. But the pressure is right on us now and with Sydney's experienced heads also under pressure, it should be a ripper.

We haven't done it much this year but I think the team needs to consider moving T-Mac back onto Buddy if/when he starts having his way with O-Mac or Frosty.

[Brownie 5,151]

8 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Frost did some great work again today I thought.

He is such an enigma though.  Remember him taking a great mark in the second or third quarter and thinking to myself "now don't cough it up doing something stupid" - following which he passes to Lewis in deep back 50m, screwing the kick up and I think it was only that they took Lewis high in the tackle that saved us.  Generally though he did dispose of the ball quite well on some occations.

I like Frosty as a player and I think he is of good value to the team dispite his too frequent screw ups.  Alot of players wouldn't win the turn overs he does to get possession in the first place.  I've also noticed that often when he does turn it over, he's more than cleared our deep defensive zone and gained 75 or so meters feild position for us before turning it over, which gives us sone time to reset our defense.

IF he could gain some composure with his more of his disposals he would be a total weapon.

Yeah there's some real heart in your mouth stuff every time he gets the ball. You never really know what's going to happen.

He also had some accountability probs where he'd come off his man chasing the ball and get caught out.

It's interesting to watch him slowly improve his game.

He could end up being a really good and damaging player for us.

[What 18,810]

James Harmes is quietly having a breakout season and adding another young dynamo to our already talent laden midfield.    Will he tag  Parker, Kennedy or Heeney this week?

Edited August 5, 2018 by Petraccattack

[Nasher 33,047]

1 hour ago, Rollo2 said:

We haven't done it much this year but I think the team needs to consider moving T-Mac back onto Buddy if/when he starts having his way with O-Mac or Frosty.

TMac will never set foot in the backline ever again.

[jacey 333]

For someone who backed mfc by 100, I'm bitterly disappointed considering the vfl team listed by gc. 

Hhowever it was a professional performance by dees. Belting the opposition as quickly as possible and coast home ala hawthorn 4 years ago or Usain bolt.

[Demon Dynasty 15,353]

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Not sure what Hogan did during the week, but he looked like a new man.  Was moving beautifully and his closing speed was great.  

Garlett also looked great  ...   yes I know the opposition was atrocious, but if he takes confidence from that game it will help a lot.

Jeffy's effort and endeavour was probably the best for the year so far.

Only criticism was he failed to hand off (pass) to a player in much better position for a much more likely goal on at least 2 occasions and instead went the selfish option and missed.

T-Mac also had one or two obvious better options available which he missed, more likely just through lack of awareness but no less damaging.

We are still messing up a number of opportunities to ice the good work up the field in the forward 50.

Whilst in isolation and in the context of a 90+ point win this criticism might seem over the top.  But let's consider this was a tight game against rated opposition (Swans next week?), this could well be the difference between a win or loss (and maybe finals!).  The run for the eight is that tight, securing our place just might come down to something as innocuous as the above.

Regardless of a close win or a blow out, playing this way (a la the Hawks) is also a great team lifter and just might be the catalyst that helps turn the tide for a slightly out of form or struggling player.

[Pates 9,536]

1 hour ago, Rollo2 said:

We haven't done it much this year but I think the team needs to consider moving T-Mac back onto Buddy if/when he starts having his way with O-Mac or Frosty.

As always curtailing a forwards influence rests a lot on the midfield and ensuring he doesn’t get good delivery. It’s a cliche but win the midfield and win the game. 

Something that concerned me a little bit was particularly in the second half GC won a lot more clearances than I would’ve liked. Now it could well have been we were trialing some new set ups against real opponents when the game was done and dusted but we want to be switched on in that department for our final three games. 

Also would like see us making better use of our forward entries, still seems to bounce out too quickly and easily. 

[buck_nekkid 5,464]

8 minutes ago, Pates said:

As always curtailing a forwards influence rests a lot on the midfield and ensuring he doesn’t get good delivery. It’s a cliche but win the midfield and win the game. 

Something that concerned me a little bit was particularly in the second half GC won a lot more clearances than I would’ve liked. Now it could well have been we were trialing some new set ups against real opponents when the game was done and dusted but we want to be switched on in that department for our final three games. 

Also would like see us making better use of our forward entries, still seems to bounce out too quickly and easily. 

I think there were a lot more use of the bench for max and Clarry than normal.  Clarry also rested forward a lot.  I think this was really smart by the coaches.  I will check the TOG but I reckon it may be Max’s lowest for the year.  He also let others take forward half ruck contests and sat on the wing a kick behind play.  I think this contributed to us going 5:1 in the clearances to more breakeven.  Also, We were brought down to their level a bit, and they did step up and make an effort (even if it was NEFL standard).

[Demon17 4,541]

6 hours ago, Watts the matter said:

I'll leave the first one as it's something that we would never know, but you would hope so. However, it is connected to my view that the GC team that took the field today is the worst team in the history of the AFL. They are a poor team at full strength and were missing the following players today: Lynch, May, Swallow, Martin, Thompson, Wright, Day, Hall, Ainsworth and Rosa. This list includes their top 5 key position options. Considering I've seen Melbourne in 2013, Fitzroy and PA, Freo, GC and GWS entering the competition I think I am fairly well placed to make that call and I would challenge anyone to name a worse team. There is a reason they were paying $15 prior to the game.

I agree Frisch is generally a good kick and I love the ball in his hand but his kicking was shocking today. Oliver's kicking was also quite poor today after the gem to JKH in the first quarter. 

The wind at ground level was incredible during the game, esp at the city end.

It was a wonder Fritschs last kick even made a score from that distance.  Ball drop to foot was very tricky and mistakes were always going to happen.

I can't believe the negativity of some on Dees skills in this post - esp about fritsch.

[Demonised 1,198]

Anyone else startled at Ronny Lerner in The Age giving the Suns' Alex Sexton 8, equal BOG with Oliver? I mean, he was the Suns' best, but really? 

[Demon17 4,541]

8 minutes ago, Demonised said:

Anyone else startled at Ronny Lerner in The Age giving the Suns' Alex Sexton 8, equal BOG with Oliver? I mean, he was the Suns' best, but really? 

10 disposals  and 1 tackle - you cannot be serious, even for 5 goals

[Gator 16,891]

10 hours ago, Jaded said:

Can we talk about Gold Coast for a minute. I feel very sorry for their players. Honestly can you blame a star like Lynch for leaving? They have no soul, no support, the AFL threw them in the league, gave them an Ablett who didn’t give a flying f about the club, and are leaving them to struggle. They are in trouble. 

They'll be fine.

Apparently the Jones Brothers are heading up there to lend support and leadership.

Edited August 5, 2018 by ProDee

[Mazer Rackham 14,969]

10 hours ago, Jaded said:

Can we talk about Gold Coast for a minute. I feel very sorry for their players. Honestly can you blame a star like Lynch for leaving? They have no soul, no support, the AFL threw them in the league, gave them an Ablett who didn’t give a flying f about the club, and are leaving them to struggle. They are in trouble. 

Acknowledge all your points but I don't recall any sympathy from anyone when we were down and just about out.

It's the AFL's job to patch up GCS.

It's our job to gloat about victories and march ever on to more of them.

[Mazer Rackham 14,969]

9 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Just got a txt from a friend on Lombok Indonesia, they just had a massive earthquake 7.0 and an active tsunami warning has been issued...she said there is huge damage.....hope everyone there is ok.

No, that was the noise from the GCS cheer squad when Sexton put through his 5th