14 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Stayed out of the game day thread today.  Enjoyed the game way more.

It was a fantastic performance... after half time.  The first half was a disgrace to football as a whole.  The less said about it the better.

However, in the second half everything just... clicked.  Gawn was in sync with the midfield and we waltzed it out of the centre with ease.  Many player who had underperformed began to regain some confidence and impact the contest in a positive way.  We stopped bombing it long to contests and actually looked to hit targets inside 50.  Our backline, which was left exposed in the second term when we went back to our old ways of allowing sides to run it easily out of defence, came together and repelled almost everything that came at the them.  The third term was what our side CAN look like when we worked together as a unit.  

There were some real positive performances today.  Hannan and Fritsch, in the same side together for only the second time this year, worked perfectly alongside each other.  Spargo had a ripping little debut and gave us a spark that Garlett hasn't really given us all year.  Gawn continues to have an amazing season.  O Mac killed Daniher to add yet another scalp to his ever growing list, while Jetta and Hibberd were also excellent.  James Harmes also played his best game for the season and our tackling and hunting of the footy was terrific.  Jake Melksham was also sensational - had a hand in a heap of goals and kick a couple of rippers to go with it.

There is still plenty to work on.  The first half was awful stuff and we let ourselves be brought down to their level and we couldn't find a way to stop it.  We ran out of legs a little bit in the last 6 minutes to cough up goals, and I know some will whinge about it until they are blue in the face, but we only played 5 days ago.  We went hard when it mattered and put the game to rest early in the last so when we ran out of petrol tickets it didn't matter.

It's great to be back on the winners list and even better to beat the Druggies.  Enjoy every minute of it and be happy that our season is now back on track!!

Good summary. I wonder if the improvement after half time was us changing things up, or them getting worse?

We've found one in Spargo that's for sure. 

Those 3 goals at the end we're an unwelcome sign of past habits 

I found it interesting that 10 out of our 16 goals were kicked by players that didn't play last week.

We shouldn't be happy with only playing one and a half good quarter though.

 

4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

mediocre performance against a team playing woeful football...

Supporters will see what they want to see.

Mediocre first half, terrific second half.

2 minutes ago, Flemo56 said:

A great debut and show of how too stick up for your team mate Spargo, we need more of his attitude pls.

Give me these types over bland mid / forwards just going through the motions any day!

Just now, stranga said:

This is it in a nutshell.  We are still a fair way off a finals side.

Just need to smack the crap sides and hope we can improve going into second half of the season.

That’s why that easy Tyson miss was so bad.

We could have really buried them but he allowed Essendon to get a small run on at the end.

ANB Out T.Smith In next week?

"Go hard for your teammates and your jumper."
— Paul Spargo

Great third qtr obviously but still work to be done. Would have lost if we played a top 8 side today. All inclusions played well.

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

The big positive from today for me was Angus Brayshaw effort in the midfield.

Brayshaw, Hannah, BF. all smart footballers

Just now, Drunkn167 said:

ANB Out T.Smith In next week?

I'd say Petracca is the one to come straight in.  No need to make any more changes than that I'd say.

 

1 minute ago, Rusty Nails said:

Give me these types over bland mid / forwards just going through the motions any day!

Garlett may find himself in the magoos for a while going by today's performance.  Spargo, Hannan and Fritsch combined for 8 goals to go with some excellent synergy when playing alongside each other.  The second half was the best our forward line has functioned all year.

Thank God for the five players we brought in. Four of them kicked the majority of our goals! ?

Great to be back on winning list.  Lesser lights Hannan, Fritsch showing up more talented players.  Mentally now need to re-start season and meet expectations.  Tasty to belt the bummers...delicious!

3 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Give me these types over bland mid / forwards just going through the motions any day!

It was a really big message. Hope our leaders saw it. 

FMD! This team  drives me to distraction.

We'll make a mess of someone if ever we play four quarters.

 

Just now, Soidee said:

Great to be back on winning list.  Lesser lights Hannan, Fritsch showing up more talented players.  Mentally now need to re-start season and meet expectations.  Tasty to belt the bummers...delicious!

I think Hannan and Fritsch have a ton of talent. 

Sammy Weidemann took some great pack marks in the second half, magic to see.

and IIRC, Milkshake is a left footer, that banananana that he kicked in the left fwd pocket off his right foot was GOLD.

an ugly win is still a win. Go dees.

Spargo gave 10 times more than Garlett gives most games.

4 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd say Petracca is the one to come straight in.  No need to make any more changes than that I'd say.

 

Garlett may find himself in the magoos for a while going by today's performance.  Spargo, Hannan and Fritsch combined for 8 goals to go with some excellent synergy when playing alongside each other.  The second half was the best our forward line has functioned all year.

Cant argue with any of that.

Not sure if Weids is up to it either.  Maybe one more week but for me it has to be Pedders or T Smith if we are to be any chance against better rated opponents.  As we have seen with Jeffy, you can't afford to have a player in the team who contributes very little overall on the day.

12 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

The big positive from today for me was Angus Brayshaw effort in the midfield.

Amazing what happens when players play in their natural position. Still hate Tyson on the wing. He is a pathetic user of the footy. 

 

Spargo Fritsch Hannan and Tmac made a massive difference up forward - Def was good and the Mids got it right in the second half - Good win in the end ! 

12 minutes ago, the rolling fog said:

...

Those 3 goals at the end we're an unwelcome sign of past habits 

 Disagree.  We had the game sewn up and experimented with Weid in the ruck for the last 10, Gawn up forward and Tmac and Hogan on the bench. 

3 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Cant argue with any of that.

Not sure if Weids is up to it either.  Maybe one more week but for me it has to be Pedders or T Smith if we are to be any chance against better rated opponents.  As we have seen with Jeffy, you can't afford to have a player in the team who contributes very little overall on the day.

Remind me how often Weids was outmarked today? May get dropped for a smaller forward dynamic but won’t based on his output for Ped or T Smith in that role. 

Tyson, Oliver and Lewis all had under 20 possessions, which must be very rare for all three in the same game..  doubt its ever happened before actually.

Harmes, Salem and Brayshaw really stepped up in the midfield.

7 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Cant argue with any of that.

Not sure if Weids is up to it either.  Maybe one more week but for me it has to be Pedders or T Smith if we are to be any chance against better rated opponents.  As we have seen with Jeffy, you can't afford to have a player in the team who contributes very little overall on the day.

Weids is having a crack clunking a few and improving each week - we must persist with him 

Edited April 29, 20187 yr by Micksdemons
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