Yesterday I watched my first live game for 3 years. I am a paid member (and have been for 15 years) but with ongoing weekend commitments I can not attend games. Safe to say I won’t be going out of my way to go again for another 3 years.

I am hurting bad after seeing what I saw. I never thought we could be worse than we were in 1997, I was wrong. There is no way we can get worse than we are now.

Here are my observations of what is wrong.

1. Lack of work rate
2. Poor tackle technique and effectiveness
3. Lack of kicking skills
4. No commitment or desire

Reflection on the game:

Our best: Jack Viney (an 18 year old was our best – that says it all), Matt Jones (he had a real dip), Max Gawn (desperation and determination but he can’t be fit, didn’t ruck much he needs ruck coaching IMO)

Pass marks: Nathan Jones (he tries), Jordie McKenzie (killed Harbrow – why wasn’t he on Ablett from the start?), Colin Garland (as a 3^rd tall defender in a good side he’d be sensational), Chris Dawes*(see my comments below), Jeremy Howe (kicked most of our score), Dean Terlich (not bad) & James Strauss (I can see something there, good foot skills and was ok defensively)

That represents just 10 of our 22 that performed at a passable level.

*Couldn’t people at the ground see the work that Chris Dawes put in? He was one of very few forwards that put on defensive pressure, he lead up hard (but was not rewarded) and despite the fact that he had limited output he showed he will be a good recruit. Yes he dropped some marks due to poor technique (attempting chest marks rather than overhead) but he did not deserve Bronx cheers from some of the 13,000 in attendance.

Our worst:

1. Colin Sylvia – cheap kicks and a cheap shot out of frustration (time to go)
2. Jake Spencer – rucked most of the day and got killed – did people see the defensive 50 stoppage where he hit the ball 20m toward their attacking goal square??? (why did we resign him?)
3. James Frawley – will never ever be an All Australian again, he can not kick and has zero impact on a game of football now.

Nichollson & Evans can’t kick and Davey has about one effort in him per game (after his shot that missed toward the 20min mark of Q3 he demanded to come off the ground – even when there was a 5min stretcher break just before the effort).

How to get out of this:

1. Positive and supportive leadership from the coach/coaching staff (find it if this group can’t do that) and the executive
2. Use our top pick to bring in a talented mid (and hope he & Hogan are instant superstars)
3. Get a walk up top 22 talent via the preseason draft (see Stephen Powell in 1999 off-season) – encourage a player to not resign and then swoop with a high PSD pick.
4. Add talent via free agency (one mid and one defender)
5. Get rid of the dead wood

Section 5 examined further –

Here is a list of 20 players that I consider worthy of being on the list at seasons end: We need to take a list like this into the draft, preseason and trade period…

If players are not on that list, they have been delisted or traded.

Remember to get something we need to trade something. Assets like Jamar, Frawley & Watts may need to be moved for us to go forward as a club.

• Jesse Hogan
• Nathan Jones
• Jimmy Toumpas
• Chris Dawes
• Jack Viney
• Jack Trengove
• Mitch Clark
• Jordie McKenzie
• James Strauss
• Colin Garland
• Tom McDonald
• Jack Grimes
• Dom Barry
• Dean Kent
• Luke Tapscott
• Max Gawn
• Jeremy Howe
• Matt Jones
• Dean Terlich
• Jack Fitzpatrick

C’mon Demons we need to get this right.

I apologise if this is similar to other posts – I felt the need to vent after what I witnessed yesterday.

Jordie McKenzie, pass mark?

Sylvia in the worst?

Jack Grimes, Tapscott, jetta not up to it'. But Dom Barry is, any other untried players?

What the.....