52 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

I especially worry about how that scoring comes in uncontrolled bursts and without a single goal against the flow.

* 7 goals in a quarter by Fremantle.

* 5 Goals in barely 10 minutes of play by Geelong.

* 5 goals in a row for Carlton, from mid 2nd to mid 3rd quarter.

* 5 goals in a row for St Kilda, midway through the first until early in second.

 

So that's a third of the goals scored against us over four games, coming in unanswered runs.

 

 

 

That's been happening to just about every team: it seems to be the nature of the modern game.

53 minutes ago, dieter said:

That's been happening to just about every team: it seems to be the nature of the modern game.

I agree that it has been a season of volatile, 4-5 goals bursts and most clubs have copped them. There have even been multiple games which have featured big surges going both way - as you say, part of the modern game.

What troubles me is that the teams which have copped those bursts are overwhelmingly in the 'loss' column for that week. In fact, flicking back over the score-worms for games so far, it looks like about 3/4 of games have been decided by these bursts.

It is common, but a negative, and a problem that it has happened to us every game so far this season.

Two from four.

50% success rate.

average pass mark so far.

17 hours ago, chook fowler said:

If I hear the word journey again I'll throw up 

would you prefer pathways, chook? 

5 hours ago, A F said:

I think there was always going to be a bit of a teething period with our defence. I don't expect us to get it right until at least 2018, but I expect us to make tweaks along the way this season that enable our defence to hold up enough to get us into the finals. We're backing our attack to kick more than our defence concedes. It's the same ethos my other football club Liverpool has used unsuccessfully for the past 4-5 years. But if it gets us into the top 8 this year and we make further tweaks and adjustments over the summer to strengthen our defence again going into 2018, I think this is the right direction.

I find your comments really interesting, mate. Mostly because I know you were a massive Goody fan prior to this year. Very intriguing. I gather you're just calling it how you see it, but I personally don't see any parallels between the Buckley transition and the Goodwin one.

Buckley's wasn't a smooth transition for starters. Buckley's magpies weren't playing elements of his game style for a year before he even sat in the top seat.

As a result, our players seem to really respond to a Goodwin lesson at the breaks. They responded at quarter time against St Kilda, three quarter time against Carlton, quarter time against Geelong and finally quarter time and three quarter time against Fremantle. The turnarounds after these breaks have been noticeable. This gives me great hope for Goodwin.

He seemingly has a knack for not panicking and calmly outlining what the players need to do to turn things around. I haven't seen any shouting or pointing at players. He appears measured and players seem to really respond to him.

a lot of it was just frustration I think mate but I do have some minor concerns. 

The biggest thing is now how we respond, does our season go into free fall or do we bounce back? 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Two from four.

50% success rate.

average pass mark so far.

Very....very ...average 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Two from four.

50% success rate.

average pass mark so far.

Not a pass mark ... it would be if we had a average list OD.

3 & 1 would have been acceptable. 

We need to win at least 2 of the next 3 and with Hogan back next round & Lewis ready for round 6, we can do.  We can win all 3 if we're switched on.  However, if we lose 2 of the next 3 or lose all 3, we're in trouble.

We've got the Crows in round 8 and our nemesis (North) in round 9 so we need to win now.

One week at a time is for those who are actually involved.

These inconsistencies are going to happen. his team is young and we still don't have the depth of experienced players and the on field leadership (it would have been handy to have Lewis to help turn things around) to lead the team when things go awry.

I like the noises that Goodwin is making and I see him using these past four games as learning experiences. As much as I want us to figure prominently in September this year, a pass mark would be to improve consistency, win as many or more games as last year. This may get us in to the finals but may not. 

What I do see is a different game style and one which has the potential to win more games. If he can patch up the leaks then we will be on the road.

9 hours ago, Redleg said:

If that poster who said Jones just walked back to the middle with his head bowed, not speaking to his teammates after that run of Dockers goals is correct, that is a real problem.

If our players are dumb and can't follow what should have been hammered into them over summer, then it is compounded by poor leadership in not reminding them or encouraging them, that is a problem.

Even though he was stupid for the report, Lewis was badly missed yesterday for his leadership and knowledge of what to do on the field.

While I am at it, Hogan too, as he would have straightened us up and not had us chip around sideways until we turned it over, because of a fear to go to Weid.

The instinctive quick football, played when our forward structure is ok,  is what will win us games. Coupled of course with grunt in the middle and smart defensive set ups.

Lewis could've punched Fyfe, Mundy or Neale in the head and we would've won.  It's the golden ticket though, we can only use it so many times a year.

Hogan could've punched McCarthy and Blakely just because they deserve it. 

Edited April 16, 20178 yr by Fifty-5

5 hours ago, daisycutter said:

would you prefer pathways, chook? 

Absolutely not.

On 4/15/2017 at 9:10 PM, leave it to deever said:

Agreed on the co captain. Poor bloody Watts now hes blighted by the club. Viney has along way to go and just cos his dad played for us is not an auto pass to be captain which is clearly the case. Hes a nice guy and a good player and will improve but talent, comitmnent and experience should come first which brings a few others into the mix b4 Jack.

This is telling! And I'll ask another question... Why was Ollie Wines was not recruited in Todd's tenure??? Eh??

And don't anyone tell me Bloody Jimmy Toumpas was the player reputed to be our saviour when we were crying out for inside mids!

40 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

Lewis could've punched Fyfe, Mundy or Neale in the head and we would've won.  It's the golden ticket though, we can only use it so many times a year.

Hogan could've punched McCarthy and Blakely just because they deserve it. 

Either one of them could have just played. That would have been enough. 

5 hours ago, Abe said:

a lot of it was just frustration I think mate but I do have some minor concerns. 

The biggest thing is now how we respond, does our season go into free fall or do we bounce back? 

Sheeeeit we had the chance to respond this week and what happened?? Too many players just content to play AFL with no desire, skills or footy smarts to be any more! We should be called Mediocremelb FC

3 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

Lewis could've punched Fyfe, Mundy or Neale in the head and we would've won.  It's the golden ticket though, we can only use it so many times a year.

Hogan could've punched McCarthy and Blakely just because they deserve it. 

Really? You're better than this, 55. Are you frustrated as well?

On 15/04/2017 at 8:36 PM, dieter said:

After our opening round win last year Demonland was euphoria incarnate.

Next week the Demons collapsed against Essendon. Back to Downdumpland.

I noticed that the players acted calmly and coolly when the siren sounded yesterday. That's how we Demonlanders need to react. There is still a long way to go. 

However, I feel very assured that we're heading very much in the right direction.

Oliver, Petracca and Hogan were stunning yesterday.

Ditto Gawn, Jones, Lewis, Garlett, Jetta and Uncle Tom. All players contributed yesterday.  Lots to like.

Let's now calmly deal with Carlton who, like Essendon, have also had the wood on us recently.

Hogan didn't play....

7 hours ago, A F said:

Really? You're better than this, 55. Are you frustrated as well?

He'll never be at your level A F. 

10 hours ago, picket fence said:

This is telling! And I'll ask another question... Why was Ollie Wines was not recruited in Todd's tenure??? Eh??

And don't anyone tell me Bloody Jimmy Toumpas was the player reputed to be our saviour when we were crying out for inside mids!

Stuff that, why the bloody hell did we sack Norm Smith!

20 hours ago, Redleg said:

If that poster who said Jones just walked back to the middle with his head bowed, not speaking to his teammates after that run of Dockers goals is correct, that is a real problem.

If our players are dumb and can't follow what should have been hammered into them over summer, then it is compounded by poor leadership in not reminding them or encouraging them, that is a problem.

Even though he was stupid for the report, Lewis was badly missed yesterday for his leadership and knowledge of what to do on the field.

While I am at it, Hogan too, as he would have straightened us up and not had us chip around sideways until we turned it over, because of a fear to go to Weid.

The instinctive quick football, played when our forward structure is ok,  is what will win us games. Coupled of course with grunt in the middle and smart defensive set ups.

He's always been like that. 

30 minutes ago, praha said:

He's always been like that. 

It is strange that so many people have never noticed this before. 

I like Jones but i have never been that impressed with his Captaincy. It is just not natural to him, not his fault. 

You either have it or you don't

After the Carlton game I was happy to see some mongrel in the Dees side, but upon reflection it's cost us big time. Lewis deserved what he got, but I am still unsure about the Hogan incident. But it's done now so let's move on.

Lucky it's only round 4, 20 rounds left. But to put some perspective on it, the competition is very even. Apart from GWS, Adelaide and maybe Port the comp is very very even.

Losing. the 4 points to Freo may cost us this year but hopefully it's a great learning experience for our young guys who carried the load.

Edited April 16, 20178 yr by Unleash Hell

A few posts here have touched on leadership during that 3rd q barrage. What struck me watching live was indeed the body language after only 2 or 3 of the 7 straight Freo goals. 

 Hands on hips/heads, heads down, no communication. There was no one revving up, encouraging or directing others. 

And unfortunately, Jones stood out like a sore thumb (maybe it's his nice shiny scone) guilty of this. And surely you'd expect more from Viney in this area. 

We'll miss Gawn in those situations. You always see him encouraging others when the chips are down. As for Lewis....well let's hope he'll make amends in spades. 

Gotta lift each other, lads, if we are to pop the Tiggie's balloon. 

1 hour ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

A few posts here have touched on leadership during that 3rd q barrage. What struck me watching live was indeed the body language after only 2 or 3 of the 7 straight Freo goals. 

 Hands on hips/heads, heads down, no communication. There was no one revving up, encouraging or directing others. 

And unfortunately, Jones stood out like a sore thumb (maybe it's his nice shiny scone) guilty of this. And surely you'd expect more from Viney in this area. 

We'll miss Gawn in those situations. You always see him encouraging others when the chips are down. As for Lewis....well let's hope he'll make amends in spades. 

Gotta lift each other, lads, if we are to pop the Tiggie's balloon. 

This is what Senior Coaching is all about. 

I thought Hardwick was done, still could be if the Demons rip his side apart. But we can ill afford to lose 3 in a row. 

The players all love Goody, so we are told. 

How much, we will get a fair idea next monday evening. 

All this ranting and raving about the 3rd quarter but no acknowledgement of the 4th quarter response

So we are judging him after 4 games???

I believe at this stage Goodwin does not deserve criticism or praise. He has one hell of a culture change job to do. Don't envy him for it.