Some light at the end of the tunnel

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

First thread i have started so see how it goes,

One thing i have been really impressed with in the last two rounds in particular is we are kicking good scores,

for a team that is getting belted out of the middle basically every game, and the last two clark has kicked one goal and dawes has not played, to score 94 and 144 points in these games shows we have good options up forward and we can score that much without winning the ball out of the middle, against poor sides sure but we also scored 83 against west coast.

To me this says we are on the way to being a good team, if we recruit a couple of mids, start getting first hands on the ball, get the confidence up, the pressure comes off the defence which i think is quite solid, and we should in theory be quite a good team.

winning clearances with clark, dawes and hogan up forward next season and we might well be able to do something similar to what port power are doing this year.

if Mark Neeld is coach or not i think we may find we are nowhere near as far off as our on field performances are suggesting.

Thoughts?

Edited April 30, 2013 by Demonfan26

[jazza 1,323]

great post fella, ive had similar thoughts, all positive . our murder of the ball in 3rd on sunday was costly but at the same time i was thinking this looks good and with a bit of polish i thought the game was ours.

im counting every good thing that happens in this season and cant wait for every game.

were on the way

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

great post fella, ive had similar thoughts, all positive . our murder of the ball in 3rd on sunday was costly but at the same time i was thinking this looks good and with a bit of polish i thought the game was ours.

im counting every good thing that happens in this season and cant wait for every game.

were on the way

I agree, i can't understand those people who say we are 10 years off being good, the wheel is going to turn very quickly for us i think.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Some more positives: Silvia has really stepped up and playing consistant footy and I was really happy to see Davey get into a bit of a tussle and stand up for a team mate.

[Waltham33 475]

I agree, i can't understand those people who say we are 10 years off being good, the wheel is going to turn very quickly for us i think.

People say this when they have pretty much lost hope

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

People say this when they have pretty much lost hope

Maybe....

I had a quick look at the Lions game again this morning...... Two things on the negative stood out for me

1/ Lack of defensive pressure from the mids

2/ Clearances

I don't think Neeld has the resources to fix this for 2013 if you look at our list - this will take time sadly

I though the boys showed some real fight and good use of the ball for substantial periods of the 1st and 2nd qtrs - I agree with the OP it's not all doom and gloom.

[stuie 7,374]

We are one of the best teams for effectiveness inside 50.

We are one of the worst teams for getting it inside 50.

There may be a light, but it's a bloody long tunnel...

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

Some more positives: Silvia has really stepped up and playing consistant footy and I was really happy to see Davey get into a bit of a tussle and stand up for a team mate.

Really nice to see a bit of passion out there! I really hope Sylvia stays with us, i think we are now capable of getting his best football out of him

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,652]

It's not just getting hands on the ball first that we need to fix. We're still poor at defending when the opposition has the ball in any part of the ground but particularly through the corridor.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

It's not just getting hands on the ball first that we need to fix. We're still poor at defending when the opposition has the ball in any part of the ground but particularly through the corridor.

Agree mate, big concern

To stick with the positive though - It can be fixed by the team gaining experience together and high standards kept up by the FD.

The only sad thing I want to bring to this thread is that this will not be fixed overnight - it will take a couple years and the injection of improved talent in the middle

Edited April 30, 2013 by Unleash Hell

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

It's not just getting hands on the ball first that we need to fix. We're still poor at defending when the opposition has the ball in any part of the ground but particularly through the corridor.

Dead right, and that can be the fault of the coach in terms of set up, lack of fitness, lack of experience knowing where to be and what to be doing, i am inclined to think it's possibly abit of all of those

the big positive is, 3-4 years down the track, Trengove, grimes, jones, howe, clark, dawes, hogan, frawley, mcdonald, toumpas, viney and whoever i have missed plus no doubt more draft picks and people we gain from trades and free agency will all be in their prime and we again in theory could have a real crack at a flag

[jazza 1,323]

doesnt it feel good to have a positive group discussion for a change.

thanks for getting the ball rolling demonfan26

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Agree mate, big concern

To stick with the positive though - It can be fixed by the team gaining experience together and high standards kept up by the FD.

The only sad thing I want to bring to this thread is that this will not be fixed overnight - it will take a couple years and the injection of improved talent in the middle

That will hopefully be shorter considering some of the rookies we have and listed young guns coming through:

Evans this year.

Couch and Magner coming next year.

Hogan and Toumpas the year after that (possibly Viney aswell).

In between might be a good thought to pick up another Byrnes using free agency.

It will be tough to pay for but Watts' contract is up this year, and if he doesnt start to pull his weight (he has 16 more rounds to lift) then I reckon we should trade him.

Cant wait to see how Coauch and Manger fair in the AFL next year.

Edited April 30, 2013 by PJ_12345

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

That will hopefully be shorter considering some of the rookies we have and listed young guns coming through:

Evans this year.

Couch and Magner coming next year.

Hogan and Toumpas the year after that (possibly Viney aswell).

In between might be a good thought to pick up another Byrnes using free agency.

It will be tough to pay for but Watts' contract is up this year, and if he doesnt start to pull his weight (he has 16 more rounds to lift) then I reckon we should trade him.

Cant wait to see how Coauch and Manger fair in the AFL next year.

Couch and magner might well be a big midfield boost for us, with watts, clark is down so i think we should play him at CHF for the next 8 weeks, it's his natural position and see how he goes, the big fellas need time so back him in for the next 8 weeks, and if he fails we look at our options at the end of the year, we might get a first round pick for him and be able to get another good mid

[stuie 7,374]

That will hopefully be shorter considering some of the rookies we have and listed young guns coming through:

Evans this year.

Couch and Magner coming next year.

Hogan and Toumpas the year after that (possibly Viney aswell).

In between might be a good thought to pick up another Byrnes using free agency.

It will be tough to pay for but Watts' contract is up this year, and if he doesnt start to pull his weight (he has 16 more rounds to lift) then I reckon we should trade him.

Cant wait to see how Coauch and Manger fair in the AFL next year.

I don't think "Coauch" and "Manger" will be the midfield saviours. Handy depth players, but if they are regular 22 we are not getting anywhere.

[jazza 1,323]

think your right stuie, but was hoping everybody would stay positive on this subject for at least 2 hours for demonfan 26 sake

[stuie 7,374]

Cant wait to see how Coauch and Manger fair in the AFL next year.

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

I don't think "Coauch" and "Manger" will be the midfield saviours. Handy depth players, but if they are regular 22 we are not getting anywhere.

Have to agree with Stuie on this one

Both have played and handfull of AFL games - I would love to see them make an impact at AFL level, but I don't expect it to happen

I am happy to see these boys come in to the side - but who sits out? We don't want too many one paced mids in the side.

[rjay 24,615]

Sorry to say this but the scores have been a lot higher this year in the AFL. Nothing to do with our light, the game is flowing more due to the new rules.

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

Sorry to say this but the scores have been a lot higher this year in the AFL. Nothing to do with our light, the game is flowing more due to the new rules.

Don't care what rules are in play, to score around the 100 mark without your main forwards having any sort of impact and getting smashed out of the middle is a huge positive

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Couch and magner might well be a big midfield boost for us, with watts, clark is down so i think we should play him at CHF for the next 8 weeks, it's his natural position and see how he goes, the big fellas need time so back him in for the next 8 weeks, and if he fails we look at our options at the end of the year, we might get a first round pick for him and be able to get another good mid

He is has a great kick.

Also the ball tends not to reach our inside 50 much so he shouldnt be so tired

I don't think "Coauch" and "Manger" will be the midfield saviours. Handy depth players, but if they are regular 22 we are not getting anywhere.

Manger or Couch, preferably Magner (would like Couch to develop a bit more) will take a lot of weight off Jones: his work rate isnt sustainable and heaven forbid if something happens to him we will not have a midfeild.

Clearly was just a spelling mistake stuie, considering I spelt it right beforein the same post and previous ones, but great to see youve still got a sense of humor! With all those negative nancy posts and I thought you might have turned into WYL.

I'm not setting Magner or Couch up to be saviours. Will they improve the mid. Yes. Does it help to take the work load off nugget. Yes. Is it a chance for Magner to get some more AFL experience. Yes

They are better than nothing and only would be in because of Clark.

Edited April 30, 2013 by PJ_12345

[Crackers 67]

Tapscotts defensive pressure seems to be better this year in teh forward 50 as well. Hoefully it is a sign he is getting his body right, thus can train more and get fitter. Liked a couple of his legal, hard bumps that gave the opposition a bit of a rattle as well. That is a sign of him learning to be aggressive in a controlled manner.

[jazza 1,323]

just thinking demonfan26

if anybody on this site died , the posters would be 90% negative 5% positive and the saty would take up the other 5% in innuendo and

diatribe ??

[Ted Lasso 18,786]

just thinking demonfan26

if anybody on this site died , the posters would be 90% negative 5% positive and the saty would take up the other 5% in innuendo and

diatribe ??

I just hope we can find more reasons to be positive, the thought of coming through all this crap and winning a flag down the track always puts a smile on my face, if it will happen i don't know for sure but obviously i believe we are in with a chance

[Weedster 174]

I don't think "Coauch" and "Manger" will be the midfield saviours. Handy depth players, but if they are regular 22 we are not getting anywhere.

Same might be said of Tynan & Taggart - the invisibles