If we play like this against St Kilda we will get smashed.

 

Oliver being himself. Viney having a shocker. Viney could lose his spot after this game. He is no where near up to scratch.

4 minutes ago, billy2803 said:

My half time views;

- Oliver is a freak

- Salem can't play a defensive role. So much more effective when he's not worrying about an opponent.  not sure if that's good?!

- Our backline is better with Jetta

- Dom and Watts are rusty as

- Max is an elite ruck. Not a newsflash I know, but I'm glad he's come back in form at least an equal to 2016

- We're playing like [censored] and we're less than 2 goals in it

 

Viney and Jones as captains have given us nothing

Clarry Choo Choo absolute Freak

O Mac cannot play!

1 minute ago, chook fowler said:

I think Clarrie is now our number 1 midfielder. He looks a cut above. 

ANB, Harmes, Garlett and Bugg are depth at best.

Garlett?

Garlett is exactly what we are missing tonight.

Lots of turnovers not necessarily under pressure. Few blokes playing their first competitive game so to be expected. I suspect ANB playing on Mitchell, his disposal has been sloppy but has tackled Michel ferociously. The backline will look a lot better with Frost and his run and carry. WCE very slick with their handball, kicking to position and playing keepings off.

 

Just now, Demon_spurs said:

I don't think watts plays tall, he plays more link and pushes forward

Possibly, but I still think it's too tall.  We need those smalls to sit at their feet and provide the pressure.  The Eagles have been running it out of there too easily tonight and I think being too tall is part of the problem.  

2 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

We're doing an awful lot of chasing

Hunt and Jeffy aside, we are still a relatively slow team IMO and might struggle a fair bit against more speedy sides.

We'll need to be significantly above AFL average in clearances and hitting targets if we are to win our fair share against any team who has this advantage.

I love Viney, but that that last 5min would be some of the worst I've seen from him. Can only hope he learns from it. 

8 points down in Perth v Eagles, its a pre-season game so there's going to be some scrappy elements to it but it's so far been a good hit out. 

Oliver easily the standout for us, Lewis has been handy without damaging, Gawn the dominant ruckman on the ground and Spencer is really putting up his hand for round one, Melksham's been good, and Hunt looks dashing when he gets it. 

Lots to improve on, Harmes looks a liability at the moment and our defence is really all over the place. We really miss the presence of a proper small forward as there's been plenty of ball into the forward line but no crummers there mop up the scraps. 

Looking forward to the second half, this is a really good hit out before round one. Most importantly, no injuries to report. 

2 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

I think Clarrie is now our number 1 midfielder. He looks a cut above. 

ANB, Harmes, Garlett and Bugg are depth at best.

Garlett I would have in the best 22 Chookie agree with the others though. 

Oliver a gun but caught out by Priddis sneaking forward on him...will learn.

Viney doing what I said he does on another post, trying to do too much, poor decision making...not sure the captaincy is going to help him this year.

ANB still VFL level at the mo, Harmes probably the same along with some others.

The real concern is the ball getting over the back to WC forwards (mainly Lecras)...this happened continually against the Saints and cost us badly...not good that we haven't adjusted the game plan to stop this.

Not being at the ground it's difficult to see where the problem is coming from, maybe turnovers (in which case I can't blame the game plan) or maybe just poor positioning (a game plan or learning issue) but it could be just the game plan.

Just now, Socrates said:

If we play like this against St Kilda we will get smashed.

 

We are going ok. West Coast at home are one of the hardest assignments in the draw.

Just now, Socrates said:

If we play like this against St Kilda we will get smashed.

 

We're 8 points down in Perth against a full strength Eagles side who will push for Top 4 this year.

We are not playing great footy, but to suggest the Saints will smash us is a little far fetched.

I think west coasts spread is incredible, and we're making some bad errors, all in all I am pretty happy, we lack a little polish but are having a real crack

Hopefully the Weed gets a bit more of it in 2nd half.

Melbs line is +23.5...get on.

I don't think we can carry Weid into round 1. Just has no impact.

3 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd rubbished that idea a month ago.  I'm not convinced yet, and they maybe me being stubborn, but he has certainly done more than Weideman at this point.

The one thing that won't happen is having Hogan, Watts, Spencer and Weed in the same side.  We're too top heavy with that.

Agreed. I would never have thought it a month ago but its pretty clear that we need a second big forward and Weid isn't ready. I would prefer to go with the big pencil even if he is guaranteed to miss some shockers. 

Getting beaten at the clearances which I can't imagine is our game plan. Oliver is a ripper but we need someone else to step up around the contest. Tyson looks out of touch which is understandable. There is a cleanness around the way the eagles are moving the ball around the contests that we are struggling to compete with. Let's not forget 18 months ago Shuey, Priddis and Gaff played on Grand Final day. They are very handy.

Dont think ANB has the skills to go at this level. He just looks a touch behind everything.

Gees our kids look nice though. Oliver, Salem, Brayshaw, Petracca, Hunt and Hogan. Wow.

19 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Watts' decision making from a mark is insipid.

He either drifts off the mark forcing the umpire to call play-on (therefore is suddenly under pressure) or he doesn't get back behind the mark quick enough and is under pressure from the man on the mark.

Calm down. He was trying to move it on quickly, but Hogan was out of position so he had to pull back. Regardless, he drew two defenders and almost set up a goal.

Just now, rjay said:

Oliver a gun but caught out by Priddis sneaking forward on him...will learn.

Viney doing what I said he does on another post, trying to do too much, poor decision making...not sure the captaincy is going to help him this year.

ANB still VFL level at the mo, Harmes probably the same along with some others.

The real concern is the ball getting over the back to WC forwards (mainly Lecras)...this happened continually against the Saints and cost us badly...not good that we haven't adjusted the game plan to stop this.

Not being at the ground it's difficult to see where the problem is coming from, maybe turnovers (in which case I can't blame the game plan) or maybe just poor positioning (a game plan or learning issue) but it could be just the game plan.

I so want to like ANB - I love his attack on the footy, he gets to the right spots, has a dip etc.  He just makes too many mistakes, and he's cost us a few goals tonight.  Same can be said of Harmes.

Handy depth players to have.

Just now, Wiseblood said:

Possibly, but I still think it's too tall.  We need those smalls to sit at their feet and provide the pressure.  The Eagles have been running it out of there too easily tonight and I think being too tall is part of the problem.  

I agree. I think we either go Hogan, Watts & Weideman or Hogan, Watts & Spencer (at this stage).

I'd say at Etihad I'd go the former and have Watts back up ruck and at the G on a clear day I'd think about using Spencer.

I still think if Pederson is the better option this year over Weideman then he must play where available. We need to win at all costs, not play young guys based on potential. 

If his form warrants it then he can push him out.

Quick half time wrap.

Oliver and Lewis sensational.

Salem, Hoges, Hunt, Gawn impressive

Neal-Bullen probably playing himself into side for Rd 1 barring a second-half fade out by him.

Garland yet to make a mistake and also could be a chance now for Rd 1.

Negatives

Our zone is getting spanked as they switch sides quickly, whereas we have often failed to switch the play, instead going up the line.

McGovern impassable and Shuey and Priddis and now Mitchell very difficult to beat - although Oliver is trying.

Worst half of football seen by Viney - get him out of your SuperCoach team. But note, he will be one of the few buttering up this half.

We have to choose between Spencer and Weid for Rd 1 - based on first half Spencer wins easily.

Tyson will have to impress in VFL next week to get a game Rd 1.

 

 

4 minutes ago, picket fence said:

 

O Mac cannot play!

That is really becoming tiresome. 

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Garlett?

Garlett is exactly what we are missing tonight.

Probably meant Garland.

Just now, Wiseblood said:

I so want to like ANB - I love his attack on the footy, he gets to the right spots, has a dip etc.  He just makes too many mistakes, and he's cost us a few goals tonight.  Same can be said of Harmes.

Handy depth players to have.

and of Tyson (hurst me to say that!), and Jones, and Viney, and Vince.

Get my point?

I do have a slight bias toward ANB, but he's far from our worst out there at present.