Positive thread

[Young Dee 1,303]

Ok so we lost ...........again (no surprise)

I though the first half of the game was great - we played like a different team. Once everyone calms down we can begin panning for the positives.

Our only problem is when things go against us (frees and a small margin) the team drop their heads.

Clark: is a god (wish I did not remove from dream team)

Sylvia: has potential to be a god

N Jones: A true fighter

M Jones: Looked like a 100 gamer

Terlich: I will admit I thought he would never fit in to the team (again played like a 100 gamer)

Tappscot: thought he showed a bit early (like a chappy role - wish they put him in the mid)

Davey: thought he was dead - showed a lot early (just feel we have lost those exciting/motivating players - Jurrah and Wonna)

Trengove - moved freely for the first time in ages (he just has to build fitness and then can help Grimes and Jones)

Spread (first half)

What else?

[Chook 15,023]

Good thread. Oh how I wish we'd played poorly in the first half and well in the second. These forums would be a totally different place right now. But unfortunately people are sometimes a bit like goldfish. They only remember what just happened.

[stuie 7,374]

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I didn't even see the first half yet besides a few individual atrocities I feel ten times better than last week.

[Rocknroll 1,010]

M jones and terlich were very good today. Really like these two.

For stages in particular the second quarter or clearance work was really good

R bails heart as big as a lion, the kid can't take a trick but willing to get back up and go again

Go demons

[Young Dee 1,303]

Good thread. Oh how I wish we'd played poorly in the first half and well in the second. These forums would be a totally different place right now. But unfortunately people are sometimes a bit like goldfish. They only remember what just happened.

Exactly - the first half was great and I think some would benefit from watching it again. The devotion was there and for 2 quarters - last week it was 15min.

If we play with that devotion every game for 4 quarters we will challenge every team (that's a positive)

[PaulRB 6,435]

I think we are in a phase where Neeld has to keep cycling players with crap form out and the VFL best in until the performance improves.

I though all the INs (Bail, Evans, Tappy, Jetta and Padersen) were OK and should hold their spots.

With at least another 3 putting their hands up to be dropped.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Biggest plus for me was Tapscott. Quiet start but had a nice purple patch in the second quarter and just looked AFL-quality. Had him written off after Round 1, maybe too soon.

Also Neeld has brought in some rubbish recruits but Matt Jones has been one of his good ones. Can win the footy and use it well.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Good thread. Oh how I wish we'd played poorly in the first half and well in the second. These forums would be a totally different place right now. But unfortunately people are sometimes a bit like goldfish. They only remember what just happened.

I couldn't disagree anymore. We all know that the first half was ok, but the fact that the difference from one half to the next was so stark just illustrates how mentally weak, and perhaps physically weak, our list is.

[Young Dee 1,303]

M jones and terlich were very good today. Really like these two.

For stages in particular the second quarter or clearance work was really good

R bails heart as big as a lion, the kid can't take a trick but willing to get back up and go again

Go demons

Yes - I forgot Bail. Until that head knock I was loving his desire and speed

[Forest Demon 4,681]

But sorry, this was meant to be a positive thread, so scratch my last comment. At least there were some positives today.

[stuie 7,374]

The first half was NOT as good as people are thinking.

We had a few good link ups that ended in goals but our pressure was terrible.

Look at the first half stats for tackles, uncontested possies, and efficiency, they will tell you the effort was better but we were still very loose in defence.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

The first half was NOT as good as people are thinking.

We had a few good link ups that ended in goals but our pressure was terrible.

Look at the first half stats for tackles, uncontested possies, and efficiency, they will tell you the effort was better but we were still very loose in defence.

Where we are at, the first half was definitely acceptable. I didn't really care much for errors, but was impressed with the effort and intensity. I don't think anyone actually believes the first half was finals quality football or anything like that.

[PaulRB 6,435]

We lack midfield depth and with Jamar being patchy and useless when not punching/tapping (i.e. when kicking or handballing) we have periods of being absolutely thrashed out of the middle.

This then leads to Clark having to go back to stem the flow, we lose all forward line structure...

If we can get Gawn in the ruck and Dawes to come we would be able to clear more ball and keep a Clark and Dawes forward structure together for longer periods... this will improve us rapidly.

[Chook 15,023]

The first half was NOT as good as people are thinking.

We had a few good link ups that ended in goals but our pressure was terrible.

Look at the first half stats for tackles, uncontested possies, and efficiency, they will tell you the effort was better but we were still very loose in defence.

That's because our players aren't very good. They can't apply pressure because they don't have the fitness and intelligence to go to the man with the ball before the man with the ball gives it to someone else.

This can only be rectified by bringing in PLAYERS who do have the intensity and physical fitness to stick to structures and zone off when needed.

[Young Dee 1,303]

I couldn't disagree anymore. We all know that the first half was ok, but the fact that the difference from one half to the next was so stark just illustrates how mentally weak, and perhaps physically weak, our list is.

Its a glass half full and a glass half empty debate. No doubt our team is mentally weak but I think it is a positive in that we know what the problem is and it is fixable.

If we were to play with that aggression and devotion for 4 quarters we are a different team - there is no certainty that it will happen but once we can fix that we are halfway there.

[stuie 7,374]

Where we are at, the first half was definitely acceptable. I didn't really care much for errors, but was impressed with the effort and intensity. I don't think anyone actually believes the first half was finals quality football or anything like that.

The effort was better sure, but the things we need to improve on, tackling, pressure, and keeping close to your man were still poor.

[stuie 7,374]

That's because our players aren't very good. They can't apply pressure because they don't have the fitness and intelligence to go to the man with the ball before the man with the ball gives it to someone else.

This can only be rectified by bringing in PLAYERS who do have the intensity and physical fitness to stick to structures and zone off when needed.

Doesn't take talent to stick close to your man.

Doesn't take talent to give a 4 qtr effort.

Doesn't take talent to tackle.

[titan_uranus 25,186]

Get bent, Stuie.

Our first half was great. For a team coming off a performance like last week's, it was inspiring and good to watch. Our midfielders were having a go (we were leading clearances at half time), Clark was leading from the front, and we had a few links from full back to full forward which were perfect. We played as a team, and we looked so much better than the last two weeks.

Yes, our second half was awful, but from watching the game you'll see that our problems this week weren't effort, they were mainly talent. Our bottom 6 is so, so bad (and, in fact, is more of a bottom 12).

If you didn't see any positives today, then get out of this thread, because many of us did.

[Young Dee 1,303]

The first half today made me think that most of the talent is there, it's just a matter of harnessing it. AGGRESSION, DEVOTION and CONFIDENCE that's what we need. Reward the players that show this and drop the ones that don't - the culture has to change (our form will follow)

[DeeZee 7,445]

I actually saw a future out there today.

[PaulRB 6,435]

First half was enjoyable, Davies snap, Howes snap,...

If I'd left at Half time I'd almost be in a good mood.

[titan_uranus 25,186]

To return to the OP:

Clark is a total gun. Neeld's decision to move him from FF was bad (I'm sure the idea was 'he's not getting the ball at FF so let him move up the ground to get some of the ball'), but he's a FF to the core and needs to stay there.

Evans showed me a lot more than I expected to see from him; combined pace with smarts.

Our ball movement in the first half was actually quite good. We had a plan, we didn't freak out as often as the last two weeks, and we had a forward line to work with.

Sylvia showed a lot more this week than the last two as well.

[Return to Glory 8,470]

The first half was NOT as good as people are thinking.

We had a few good link ups that ended in goals but our pressure was terrible.

Look at the first half stats for tackles, uncontested possies, and efficiency, they will tell you the effort was better but we were still very loose in defence.

What part of positive thread did you not get Stuie?

[Return to Glory 8,470]

On a positive note Stuie, Gawn to come in after very good game in the twos and blokes like Tynan and Blease did ok as well.