Game Day Thread (Round 3)

[Pipefitter 2,168]

If he dropped that basic uncontested mark in the first 30 seconds of the game, you might not have remembered it. Look at what Jones did right and what he did wrong. If the good outweighs the bad, then I'd say he's had a good day, regardless of when his errors occurred. Having said that, perhaps he dropped the mark because he couldn't handle the pressure of the situation, in which case your point has more validity.

Jones was pivotal in our comeback. His run is underrated. Sure he stuffs up but he only looks one way and you have to commend with that. He's a determined albeit limited young bloke but if he learns to work to his strengths i think he will be a handy contributer.

[Sir Why You Little 37,161]

Just watching the Essendon game where Hurley just attacked the ball hard, and ran off an opponent to kick a strong goal. I have never seen Watts do that.

I know Bailey gave Jack Watts at least one bake today. You could hear it on the Radio!! So maybe the patience is wearing thin.

We cannot have passengers, otherwise this soft underbelly will never leave us.

[DirtyDees DDC 187]

I thought there were good signs in the 3rd quarter. I was worried when Brisbane kicked 2 quick goals and it started to pour down, but the team toughed it out and kicked the last 4 goals for that quarter.

Good to see Martin get involved in the game, and Gysberts has something. He has been criticised by some for his kicking but he hit his targets today.

We still our lose structure at times. I worry when we kick it long to the forward line where our tallest and only player is Wonaaemirri.

Thank god for Jurrah.

[Gorgoroth 13,026]

My thoughts on today.

Gysberts was brilliant, worthy of the #5 from the great Ox.

Rivers second half was sensational.

Jamar was great all game.

Moloney was good all game.

Jones actually used the ball well second half.

Tapscott continues to impress

Jurrah and Aussie together in the F50 looks more dangerous than it has for a while.

I noticed 3 times we should have kicked to Watts but didn't, one was in the Goal square against McGrath, another alone at the top of the 50, the other through the square/wing section. I think Watts will defiantly be a very good player for us, once others around him, notice the areas he moves into and can use the skills to get to him.

We looked scared to lose.

Our decision making at times is very very poor.

We will have a loooooong year this year.

Our defensive pressure when we turn it over in our F50 is poor.

Overall not a good effort, I really truly worry about next week.

[DeeSpencer 26,084]

Some top ideas in this thread.

1. Drop Davey - oh yeah top idea that, because he's struggled with a tag so let's get Sylvia tagged instead and bring in Maric or some other star.

2. Bring in Warnock - oh year we're playing a team full of kids but we really need a gorilla keeper full back. It's not like Frawley is AA, Garland's done 2 good jobs and Rivers was top 3 on ground today

Anyone else have any brilliant suggestions?

I would however, suggest:

1. Keep Watts in. Dunn and Green will never be AFL key forwards. Watts might be. Let's keep giving him chances, he wasn't that bad today. He laid a few tackles.

2. Drop Morton. Bringing him in was a bad idea. Again he wasn't horrible but I think he felt the pressure on trying to make a difference when he hasn't played a game all season. Let's get him back for some full game time in the VFL. My suggestion would be Maric to come back in up forward. Bennell to start in the midfield. Trengove (who was down today) to play as the sub.

3. Seriously consider Newton to give us a genuine target at FF. Only problem is to keep the run in the side it might have to be Dunn to make way. Any objections?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

We still our lose structure at times. I worry when we kick it long to the forward line where our tallest and only player is Wonaaemirri.

I feel sick when I think that Petterd was playing for Casey while Morton fell over himself and floated around today.

[Nasher 33,617]

Wonaeamirri and Gysberts showed us today why a threatening small forward and a genuine clearance winner (respectively) are so critical. Gysberts looks very composed in traffic - hard to believe that was game number 4.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Wonaeamirri and Gysberts showed us today why a threatening small forward and a genuine clearance winner (respectively) are so critical. Gysberts looks very composed in traffic - hard to believe that was game number 4.

The small forward is very underrated by people on Demonland.

[John Crow Batty 8,879]

Can't fault the great recovery from such a miserable start. Last quarter was lame though and when are we going to get some killer instinct? We let them make all the play in the last quarter. A better side would have overran us. Impressed with Martin, Gysberts and Wonna's return. Jones looked good in the wet. Drop Watts for Pettard next week. Improvement in centre clearance work but errors and disposals still a problem. Keep Davey up forward. Umpiring was woeful.

Edited April 10, 2011 by america de cali

[sylvinator 96]

Some hysterical posting once again post-match.

I feel like some people aren't even trying to think about the big picture. The big picture is that we will be contending for the top4 and premiership from 2013 onwards, NOT 2011.

At the moment we pretty much have our best 22 on the park (minus Scully, McKenzie and arguably Petterd). We DON'T need to drop Morton, Jones, Watts, Davey and every other player.

What we DO need, is to keep playing these guys, get them playing 30, then 50 and then 70 games playing together as a team. Learn how to play as a unit, develop and improve together. By 2013, Watts, Gysberts, Grimes, Trengove, Scully, Morton, Tapscott, Bennel and Jurrah will have more than 50 games- people forget they are still babies in terms of AFL experience.

It is going to be a frustrating season this year for sure. For the first time in 4 years, we actually have high expectations. But we cant' lose sight of the big picture, and we have to persevere.

One day it might all just click for guys like Trengove and Watts, and we'll wonder why we ever gave them such a hard time when they were teenagers, trying to develop and learn the game.

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

please excuse this post

Edited April 10, 2011 by Al`s DEMONS

[stranga 328]

A rubbish win against a rubbish team. I take nothing from that game other than promise from gysberts. Same issues as the past month except Brisbane are very bad.

[titan_uranus 25,045]

The first quarter was horrendous. Just like the second half last week, we were listless, lethargic, weak and stupid.

Luckily something changed at quarter time and things looked a lot better in the second, effort-wise anyway. The skill level was down all day but at least for the last three quarters we looked like we were trying.

Some strong signs in the second and third quarters. Jurrah's performance was notable not just for the 5 goals but for the chasing and pressure he applied. He needs to keep working on introducing those things into his game.

Jamar was immense. Moloney too.

Rivers was outstanding in defence, and Frawley improved as the game went on. Bartram was poor though. Dunn too. Watts again did a lot of hard work that people seem to ignore or not notice, and his hands were good again, but he still isn't getting enough of the ball.

Wonaeamirri justified his inclusion over Maric ten times over. Maric needs to go and look at Wonna's work rate, pressure, and defensive work if he wants to get back in the side.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,095]

The small forward is very underrated by people on Demonland.

How can we underrate small forwards when they kill us week after week? Our defence is great against talls and gorillas, but play someone like Carlton with a small mobile forward group and we're toast every time.

[Guest Checker]

A rubbish win against a rubbish team. I take nothing from that game other than promise from gysberts. Same issues as the past month except Brisbane are very bad.

Yep, my thoughts exactly. A decent side would have torn us apart today. Thought Stef Martin showed promising signs, wish i could say the same for Jack Watts. Back to Casey, he was terrible today.

[Felix 92]

Yep, my thoughts exactly. A decent side would have torn us apart today. Thought Stef Martin showed promising signs, wish i could say the same for Jack Watts. Back to Casey, he was terrible today.

Why put him in casey when he will probably show his wares against the Suns next week, I would stick with him for the full season. Juice is due for a call up after 6 goals yesterday.

Stef Martin has had a good start so far, he is what Jamar needed, he can play just about anywhere. He kicked a few goals for Casey last year, so we know he can play up forward & down back.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,095]

Big Stef had a great game today. He's really starting to use his athletic attributes now. If we can teach him to kick he'll be a star.

[Jaded No More 68,974]

A rubbish win against a rubbish team. I take nothing from that game other than promise from gysberts. Same issues as the past month except Brisbane are very bad.

It was a pretty miserable day, especially sitting in the rain watching that first quarter where the players really couldn't get out of first gear. The supporters were actually booing them, that's how badly we played.

But at the end of the day we won plenty of those critical stats that we look to for improvement. Clearances, Inside 50s etc.

Brisbane pressured us really well, and that is what poor teams do, they pressure the ball carrier to try and manufacture a turnover.

The disappointing thing for me was how easily we let them switch play. They found the open side of the ground a lot better than we did.

We also missed some very easy goals, which didn't flatter the overall result.

But at the end of the day, winning ugly is better than losing pretty, isn't it?

The expectations of some that we were going to win by 10+ goals were stupid to begin with, and if you go in with ridiculous expectations than prepare to be disappointed.

The thing that keeps annoying me is that the players who get plenty of the ball, like Jones, are not very good players (although Jones was very good today, so not taking that away from him), but our better players just don't get enough of the ball. I want Davey, Bennell, Sylvia etc to dispose of the ball 20 times a game each, not half a dozen times, and that is the problem at the moment.

And finally, Gysberts is a gun.

[Demon_spurs 1,872]

A win is a win. To play under your potential and win, can't be a bad thing, it is still April, we will improve as the season unfolds, when you sit mid to bottom of the table confidence is everything, at the moment we don't believe we are good enough and it shows. So as supporters we need to make them believe they are good enough and they are !

[old dee 23,872]

Why put him in casey when he will probably show his wares against the Suns next week, I would stick with him for the full season. Juice is due for a call up after 6 goals yesterday.

Stef Martin has had a good start so far, he is what Jamar needed, he can play just about anywhere. He kicked a few goals for Casey last year, so we know he can play up forward & down back.

He should be at Casey because he contributed nothing today and little last week.

He should have been rested / at Casey late last year.

You cannot continue to play someone who gives the team little forever even if you are the No.1 pick.

Stef martin is the most improved after the first three games.

[old dee 23,872]

A win is a win. To play under your potential and win, can't be a bad thing, it is still April, we will improve as the season unfolds, when you sit mid to bottom of the table confidence is everything, at the moment we don't believe we are good enough and it shows. So as supporters we need to make them believe they are good enough and they are !

You are right a win is a win, I would normally say that to win when you play poorly is a good sign.

Then how come a feel so little joy?

Based on today I cannot see us beating West coast, Adelaide or North.

[old dee 23,872]

Well that's that - 11 points

I'll take the 4 points.........but nothing else

DC what about Stef martin? add that to your list.

4 points and Stef.

[Arrow 1,257]

Not sure how many watched it on Foxsports and how many were at the game so disregard if you weren't watching the TV coverage but every single thing did Brian Taylor blew so much smoke up Frawley's a55. Good some Melbourne players are finally getting recognition but I cant help but think given his uncle was sitting right next to Brian he was led to be extra nice. One time Frawley put a ball on the toes of Sylvia yet Taylor wouldn't shut up about what a beautiful kick it was until Gerard Healy told him it ended in an error.

Anyone else notice it?

[old dee 23,872]

Morton was woeful. But it was hardly his conditions today. I'd leave him in and see how he goes on a dry track up at GC. But I definitely think we need Petterd in the team. There was just not enough targets to kick to up forward today. Maybe drop Watts for Rick (though I'm told Watts was decent early – I missed the first half).

Not from where I sat and he was subed out so that about says it all for me.

[Felix 92]

He should be at Casey because he contributed nothing today and little last week.

He should have been rested / at Casey late last year.

You cannot continue to play someone who gives the team little forever even if you are the No.1 pick.

Stef martin is the most improved after the first three games.

Thats fine, put im Casey for the next 5 games, get his form back and then ack in the side, once back in he still does not perform to the standards required of him, do we still persist or call it a loss and trade him????

We need the core group to plat together, whats the point of building a team if your not going to play them together?