Watts' 50 metre pass to Trengove into the 50 was sublime

Absolutely, as was his perfectly weighted 40-50 metre kick on the same wing (going the other way) with his left foot to a dee (i can't recall who - perhaps trengove). Gorgeous kick and gutsy too as if it had dropped short even by a bit the GWS player would have swallowed it and it would have come back over his head

When Nik Nat can do that come and tell me we made the wrong choice!

Edited June 24, 201213 yr by binman

My two cents on today...

Anybody who thinks they were going to play Cook or Davis today is dreaming. There are plenty of other opporunities later in the season, like North or Richmond etc, not the one game we absolutely had to win. Let's be honest, if we didn't win today, the whole club would probably have imploded.

So, we brought back in our bigger bodies, and experience. And it worked a treat. Can anybody tell me the last time Dunn, Sylvia and Bate had 70-odd touches between them?

Some random thoughts:

• Mitch Clark would have kicked 10 today. He was jumping out of his skin to absolutely monster those puny defenders. That injury was such a shame. He is a double edged sword though, because the way he gets his goals is the same way he constantly gets himself banged up.
  
• Forward defensive pressure was outstanding. Maybe having defenders up there helped, but on numerous occassions Davey, Rivers and Garland pinned the ball in our forward 50.
  
• Howe is eventually going to be a great midfielder. His hands (once he actually picks it up) are incredibly sharp.
  
• Tom Mac - 6 kicks and 20 handballs! I reckon 4 of those kicks were clangers and once he irons this out, he will be huge back there. Loved his forearm to the back of Patton's head, putting his face in the dirt after bringing him to ground.
  
• Sylvia pulled his finger out. I think his busted back was a lot more damaging than people give him credit for, and I genuinely think he has bought in to Neeld's system. He was busting his guts today.
  
• Sellar has come into his own down back and actually looks ok at this level now.
  
• Neeld has obviously decided that they have the 'defensive' bit down, because they are obviously being instructed to go up the guts more. Looks wonderful.
  
• Dunn kicked it to, yes, the centre circle. That's one way we haven't yet tried to beat those annoying presses. We should give it a bash against Collingwood next time out...
  
• Watts using his body to bump out the other guy, bolting off the wing, and putting it down Trengove's throat was poetry in motion. Stuff the KPF stuff, he is much more valuable to us in what he is doing now and, if either Rivers or Garland bed down that role, he is freed up anyway.
  
• All Beamer did all day was smash James McDonald (accidentally, of course).
  
• Davey haters, I think its time to get off his back. He was solid today.
  

We're on track, finally.

Just watched Sheedy's presser. Wow. He made light of Junior's sacking on a couple of occasions with the man sitting right beside him. Ensured that what was already an awkward moment for Junior was a given a firm nudge towards being a humiliating one. I'm sure he meant nothing by it but it was really stupid stuff from Sheeds.

On the plus side, Junior seemed open to returning to Melbourne after his playing career, describing it as a "romantic" idea. Hope he does.

Edited June 24, 201213 yr by P_Man

I rest my case. You have low-level literacy, it seems.

Does it seem that way does it? Probably only to you Ned.

You said that you would not have been distressed had we lost that game - saying that I find that amusing is the most polite thing I could say.

(And ease up on the personal stuff, you'll get into bad habits.)

And we are going up the guts because there are players willing to push and spread and get into that area, it is fantaastic to see but people give Neeld too much credit here.

The players are the ones that didn't do this and gave us our second worst start to the season since 1919 - now they are spreading and pushing hard and that is why there are options in the middle of the ground.

And I really think that Cook and Davis not playing says more about the players that are in the team fighting for their career. Bate, Dunn, MacDonald, and to a lesser or far lesser extent Sylvia and Davey should look no further than the next week.

like neelds experimentation - better than last year where Bailey.

Rivers has the best anticiapation and ball sense in the AFL and is our most dependable kick.

Neelds move of him to forward line is an inspiration IMO.

Is it really a surprise this is working?

Just watched Sheedy's presser. Wow. He made light of Junior's sacking on a couple of occasions with the man sitting right beside him. Ensured that what was already an awkward moment for Junior was a given a firm nudge towards being a humiliating one. I'm sure he meant nothing by it but it was really stupid stuff from Sheeds.

On the plus side, Junior seemed open to returning to Melbourne after his playing career, describing it as a "romantic" idea. Hope he does.

He will.

I'm absolutely stoked about that game. So many positives.

For all of the Dunn and Bate haters on this site, show some credit where it's due. IMO the continual bashing of these two guys is boring in the extreme - they're both hard at it, and bring much needed experience to this list.

In fact, if Dunn was an Aussie Digger POW in WW2, I'm convinced he'd be the most popular guy in the prison camp as he'd constantly be stirring his captors and standing up for his mates. We need this bloke.

Davey - good game. Seemed to regain some confidence. He really added to our forward line. Looked to have recovered some pace too.

Sylvia. I have watched that raging bull goal about 10 times already. I really love this bloke in the red and the blue. He's as classy as anyone in the game.

Clark. He is genuinely in All Australian form. Hope he's okay for this weekend.

Neeld. Surely his quality is there for all to see now. In spades. Yesterday, he created so many options where our coaches previously would've made us (in particular our forward line) look flat footed and one dimensional.

There's a real spirit in this list that seems to have emerged. That Essendon win was one of the most important wins I have ever seen in my time following this club.

Bring on the Lions.

In fact, if Dunn was an Aussie Digger POW in WW2, I'm convinced he'd be the most popular guy in the prison camp as he'd constantly be stirring his captors and standing up for his mates. We need this bloke.

lol

WTF?

Agree with most of what you say but I really doubt whether Bate and Dunn will be around next year - unless they are mainstays from here on in - they can go whereever they want for whatever they want as they are UFAs. Whether or not I think Dunn is worth persevering with is moot at this point I would wager.

Rivers has the best anticiapation and ball sense in the AFL and is our most dependable kick.

Neelds move of him to forward line is an inspiration IMO.

Is it really a surprise this is working?

It's more a surprise the backline is working without Grimes, Rivers and Garland, our mainstays of the past few years. Tom MacDonald's form has partly allowed thiese moves to happen...

<snip>

Watts takes on his man, leaves him for dead on the wing, has a bounce and then pinpoints a pass to Trengove who slots the goal. All the more sweet because Scully was the man who was left scrambling ineffectively to try to spoil.

Trengove again takes a ripping hanger at half forward and pumps the ball into the 50.

Davey's tackle for a holding the ball decision right in front of goal. It's been years since we saw that from him. Interestingly, for a few minutes after that he regained a bit of the old strut and attacked the game more. Sadly, it faded out again and he returned to the disinterested norm.

<snip>.

the best thing about the watts-to-trengove goal was it was also $cully who kicked it out of the defense, to have Watts cut it off.

After Davey's second goal, i think thats the first smile i've seen from him in a while.

And Tommy Mac is a star! Love his growing confidence. A couple of times he looked keen for the shot from outside 50. He was shattered when he had that great opportunity only to mis-bounce the ball, but Silvia mopped up for the goal. You could see him kicking himself as he made his way back to defense

It's more a surprise the backline is working without Grimes, Rivers and Garland, our mainstays of the past few years. Tom MacDonald's form has partly allowed thiese moves to happen...

Sellar has a hand too - we don't need Rivers as third up as much any more.

Rivers has the best anticiapation and ball sense in the AFL and is our most dependable kick.

Neelds move of him to forward line is an inspiration IMO.

Is it really a surprise this is working?

That mark where he just watched the ball and completely wrongfooted Mohr was fantastic.

His best asset has always been his ability to read the play. Surprisingly, he is actually a much better kick for goal than he is a field kick.

A fantastic move and I think, in the end, I prefer him up forward to Garland.

Why did GWS play in a white jumper today.

Please Mr. AFL do not tell me there was a clash.

Grey and orange vs Red and Blue!!

Oh please

totally agree od. and didn't the predominately white just look awful. just a joke.

Dunn was very good yesterday. The bloke hits targets by foot! Tom McDonald is a long term prospect.

Did I hear wrong... Bad internet connection at work but I think I heard that the players presented to the coaches with a style/gameplan that they wanted to play. Sounds like Neeld has run with it a bit as long as they keep the non-negotiable structures going. This might explain a better style of ball movement/spread the last few weeks than earlier in the year, which was just awful. Correct me if I'm wrong as I only heard glimpses but sounded interesting anyway and certainly makes sense. Hats off to Neeld for listening to the players when things werent going too well.

Dunn was very good yesterday. The bloke hits targets by foot! Tom McDonald is a long term prospect.

Yes he was, he has talent. People have bagged him this year but he's done very well considering how many times hes had limited game time.

Also hits targets as you say and brings a real aggression to the side, always trying.

Did I hear wrong... Bad internet connection at work but I think I heard that the players presented to the coaches with a style/gameplan that they wanted to play. Sounds like Neeld has run with it a bit as long as they keep the non-negotiable structures going. This might explain a better style of ball movement/spread the last few weeks than earlier in the year, which was just awful. Correct me if I'm wrong as I only heard glimpses but sounded interesting anyway and certainly makes sense. Hats off to Neeld for listening to the players when things werent going too well.

What are you listening to?

I am in no doubt that the players are the ones that have decided to spread and run, but I very much doubt that Neeld required convincing of the need for it.

This forum is hilarious.

When we lose, they are all useless. When we win, we have finally bedded down the defensive game plan, Sylvia is the best there is in the AFL, Bate and Dunn are the new Selwood/Bartel combination, only more dependable.

It was great to win. BUT.... what a good side would have done to us is not funny. Are if anyone seriously thinks Rivers is the answer up forward against a reasonable side, they are seriously dreaming. We got a lot of easy ball of a bunch of kids yesterday, don't kid yourselves.

For me the big test is this week, in particular the first half. If the players drink their own bathwater like they did after Essendon, we will get smashed. If they buckle down and beat the Lions, I think we could say progress has been made.

Yes he was, he has talent. People have bagged him this year but he's done very well considering how many times hes had limited game time.

Also hits targets as you say and brings a real aggression to the side, always trying.

Yes, he is incredibly trying...

He doesn't 'always' hit targets and his aggression is usually directed at his opponent in the form of sledging and jumper punching. It's as intimidating as my cat.

I am glad he has been given the chance, with Bate, to ressurect his career but let's not let one game cloud our thinking here. He is an UFA at the end of the year and it might be best for him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Glad for the win. But I took nothing else out of it. The boys did what they had to do and I'm happy for them. I just kept feeling like last year with interstate teams. It tells us nothing. The Essendon win was far sweeter.

This says it all for me.

Yeah i sort of got that from the presser too. Seemed like the players and the coach really collaborated on a plan and structure for the week.

What are you listening to?

I am in no doubt that the players are the ones that have decided to spread and run, but I very much doubt that Neeld required convincing of the need for it.

Neelds press conference from yesterday. You may be able to hear it better.

Is there a way to watch the replay on the AFL site, or does that get uploaded later in the week?

Just watched kevin sheedys post match presser, is this guy off his rocker or what? Was he mocking Junior? What a [censored], the guy seriously needs to pull his head in

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by Jonesbag

This forum is hilarious.

When we lose, they are all useless. When we win, we have finally bedded down the defensive game plan, Sylvia is the best there is in the AFL, Bate and Dunn are the new Selwood/Bartel combination, only more dependable.

It was great to win. BUT.... what a good side would have done to us is not funny. Are if anyone seriously thinks Rivers is the answer up forward against a reasonable side, they are seriously dreaming. We got a lot of easy ball of a bunch of kids yesterday, don't kid yourselves.

For me the big test is this week, in particular the first half. If the players drink their own bathwater like they did after Essendon, we will get smashed. If they buckle down and beat the Lions, I think we could say progress has been made.

Your post is also hilarious.

I think most people would be happy with the win & spread from the players, hardness etc. But I think you will find that most people would also be still a bit worried on our skill areas. Not once have I read by anyone on here that Bate/Dunn are the new Selwood/Bartel however it is also good to see them improving.

As for the rest of your post, yes it was GWS but we did beat Essendon and outscored Collingwood 83-74 after giving them a 55-4 head start, so thats what I'm going to judge our improvement on, not this game. Wake up.