We have the MOST handballs out of any team. Ratten's plan (and he and Riley know us well) was to pressure our young players early and we would cough it up. It worked well,

It's hardly rocket science but we need to be more prepared to counter it with some bold moves. Perhaps start Davey at CHF to run in to the centre square, Back pocket etc.

We gave a stupid free kicks (most were actually poor decisions) but we allowed ourselves to get sucked in to retaliating and getting caught just a fraction high etc. The umps are looking to impose themselves on the game (aaarrggghhh) but that is the way it is.

We need aggression at the ball and the ball carrier. That's what we did when we were winning. We also played on at all costs particularly from kick ins.

C'mon Dean give us something!!!!!!

Not that it matters now but at the time it may have

When Bate recieved his 50 metre penalty he was well inside the 50 metre line yet kicked the ball 15 metres from goal and missed

Should have used some initiative in pointing out to the umpire that his kick should be on the goal line

I checked this and the 50m was measured correctly. He was around 10-15m outside the 50m arc when hit.

But someone else should have taken the kick as he was groggy.

The few times we have started well this year we have gone on to win or lose (Filth, Dogs)

Oh really.

Well, whenever we've had a great start we've gone on to be competitive throughout the rest of the game. (Collingwood, Bulldogs, Brisbane, Richmond) But the other times? It's taken us until the second half to get to our best, and by that time we're just trying to catch up. Something needs to be said to the players about this D:

Oh really.

Well, whenever we've had a great start we've gone on to be competitive throughout the rest of the game. (Collingwood, Bulldogs, Brisbane, Richmond) But the other times? It's taken us until the second half to get to our best, and by that time we're just trying to catch up. Something needs to be said to the players about this D:

From Nathan Jones' twitter:

"Boys will be training hard all week to rectify the start and intensity, big week with the QB clash Monday vs the pies hope ur all excited!!"

"Good day at the club, the match review meeting resulted in us cementing the importance of a good start to games"

I think you mean "The few times we have started well this year we have gone on to DO WELL, win or lose ..."

And you're right. If we start badly, we continue badly - once we've lost our mojo we don't seem to be able to get it back. We can tell after 10 minutes whether we're "on song" or not.

Surely this implies something seriously wrong with the preparation. No other team gets so regularly (and predictably) jumped at the start like we do.

Correct!

From Nathan Jones' twitter:

"Boys will be training hard all week to rectify the start and intensity, big week with the QB clash Monday vs the pies hope ur all excited!!"

"Good day at the club, the match review meeting resulted in us cementing the importance of a good start to games"

That is encouraging.

Would love to see McKenzie in. IMO he and McDonald were a barometer for the side.