Can We Save Our Season?

[WERRIDEE 5,518]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-23/analysis-how-demons-can-save-their-season

Nothing that hasn't been said before.

Stop bombing.

Vince and Lewis don't work, need Hunt

Too small down back, need Petty.

Need an opportunist forward, need Garlett

Petracca has to lift.

Any others? Thoughts?

 

[praha 11,240]

The loss was not the end of the world. We're going to win some and lose some against top 8 sides. It's a step forward against what should be a top 4 side, whereas we struggled against both Richmond and Collingwood. So there is improvement and I'd argue that over the course of the season, Port will overtake Collingwood. at our best I have zero doubt we are a top 4 side, at our worst we're lingering in that 5th-10th range of teams. That is what is dangerous, because if we can't notch at least one win against the Crows, Swans, Cats, Eagles and Giants, we will likely miss the finals again. Yes we failed in some key areas last night but if we bring that urgency and standard to every game, we may not lose again for the rest of the season. This could well be the match that kickstarts a new swing of momentum for us. Or it could signal the middle of a slump. I think we are lucky to be coming up against a string of lower placed sides. We absolutely need to notch consistent performances and wins over the next 3 weeks.

[DV8 2,271]

13 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-23/analysis-how-demons-can-save-their-season

Nothing that hasn't been said before.

Stop bombing.

Vince and Lewis don't work, need Hunt

Too small down back, need Petty.

Need an opportunist forward, need Garlett

Petracca has to lift.

Any others? Thoughts?

 

schight yeah..

Why couldn't we, but does it really need saving.... by whoz judgement, does it require a saving??? the way I see it is we are just on half way and we are around 4th/5th?  watts to save?

4th or 5th is higher than I hoped for, or expected, and we are still in the learning/hunting mode.

[What 18,810]

The Essendruggos might be our biggest friend in the run home.

They have found form and they play North and Collingwood the next two weeks, as well as Sydney and Hawthorn in Rounds 19 and 20, and Port in Round 23. 

Never thought Id say this as I despise them so much but I hope they keep up their form and win a few of those.

[deelete my account 1,194]

[DeleteUser 638]

No.

we're stuffed. Finish 12th

 

[Adzman 2,154]

Season isn't lost, we just have to win against some quality opposition. It's no fun just beating up on the bottom 6 then getting done by the top 8.

Vince and Lewis aren't a viable option down back together, but there aren't too many other options to replace them given neither player can move into the middle. Not sure who could go back, shame Hunt is injured.

Would like to see what we have in Petty, Baker, Weeds and even Balic in the back end of the season. Not saying they will immediately help but will give us an idea of where they fit next season.

 

[Mr Steve 3,820]

Tigers last year were 8 -5 at the same time and had only beaten one top eight side. Season is a long way from lost. 

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,294]

Season is far from gone.

We are still the highest scoring team in the comp with the 2nd best % and 3 winnable games coming up.

I`m more confident we will make it now despite the loss on Friday.

Opposition coaches are onto how dominant we are at getting the ball inside 50 and are coaching accordingly. We must find a way around this, lower the eyes and outsmart the opposition.

[Deespondent 8]

I  agree with much of Goody's post match and what he said agin on SEN on Saturday. We need need to continue to improve and learn. I liked 90% of what the Dee's put up on Friday night. We know there is a hole in our defence atm and that delivery into the forward 50 was not good enough.  Aside from those things the way they played was fantastic. Ferocity and commitment to the contest was fantastic. Gawn and the mids were great. Opposition teams will know that we are the new "unsociable" team. No one is going to like playing against us by next year.

All the hype about us going all the way this year was just that, hype. We are not quite ready. We need another classy mid and we need Petty to come through. The age/experience profile will be much better next year. I will be happy if we get a couple a finals games experience this year. If we do better, that will be great. 

I hated losing that game because I know our run to the end of the year isn't easy but we should start by taking that same intensity to the next few games and absolutely pulverising some weaker opposition. The Swans, the Tigers and the Eagles are all ahead of us at the moment but the Giants are vulnerable. That is a game which I saw as a very likely loss but now presents an opportunity. I also don't rate the Cats. They have a huge home ground advantage but I think we are better than them otherwise. 

Too much doom and gloom after the PA game. We're on the right path. Have patience, grasshoppers.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Deespondent

[brendan 3,437]

5 minutes ago, Deespondent said:

I  agree with much of Goody's post match and what he said agin on SEN on Saturday. We need need to continue to improve and learn. I liked 90% of what the Dee's put up on Friday night. We know there is a hole in our defence atm and that delivery into the forward 50 was not good enough.  Aside from those things the way they played was fantastic. Ferocity and commitment to the contest was fantastic. Gawn and the mids were great. Opposition teams will know that we are the new "unsociable" team. No one is going to like playing against us by next year.

All the hype about us going all the way this year was just that, hype. We are not quite ready. We need another classy mid and we need Petty to come through. The age/experience profile will be much better next year. I will be happy if we get a couple a finals games experience this year. If we do better, that will be great. 

I hated losing that game because I know our run to the end of the year isn't easy but we should start by taking that same intensity to the next few games and absolutely pulverising some weaker opposition. The Swans, the Tigers and the Eagles are all ahead of us at the moment but the Giants are vulnerable. That is a game which I saw as a very likely loss but now presents an opportunity. I also don't rate the Cats. They have a huge home ground advantage but I think we are better than them otherwise. 

Too much doom and gloom after the PA game. We're on the right path. Have patience, grasshoppers.

Good post, we are on the right path how far that takes us this year I don’t know, I think we will have a breakthrough win against a better side just not sure who that will be I’m hoping Sydney I think we need it for the players to realize what they can do 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Good to hear that the sentiment in this thread is that our season is far from gone.  Thank goodness for some common sense.  Imagine if the players returned to Melbourne with the belief the season was already done and dusted?  It's madness.

It's not as if Port were some bottom 4 side who were struggling.  They've now won 5 of their last 6 (with the one loss being by 3 points to the Hawks in Tassie) and are in very good form.  We played our brand of footy and dictated terms for most of the night.  Poor use inside 50 aside, we had them cooked.  

If we bring that intensity each week for the second half of the year then we'll play finals.  No doubt in mind.  I'm not convinced as to what we can do come finals time yet, but we can most certainly still play in them.  Our season does not need to be 'saved' at all.  It's alive and kicking.

[deespicable me 1,498]

Bakes. Oscar Baker will be the cult figure that adds the x-factor we need.

He will be a big upgrade on either Lewis or Vince off half back in time. just waiting for injury or suspension, in he comes , away we go!!!!!!!!!

[jumbo returns 6,741]

7 hours ago, praha said:

The loss was not the end of the world. We're going to win some and lose some against top 8 sides. It's a step forward against what should be a top 4 side, whereas we struggled against both Richmond and Collingwood. So there is improvement and I'd argue that over the course of the season, Port will overtake Collingwood. at our best I have zero doubt we are a top 4 side, at our worst we're lingering in that 5th-10th range of teams. That is what is dangerous, because if we can't notch at least one win against the Crows, Swans, Cats, Eagles and Giants, we will likely miss the finals again. Yes we failed in some key areas last night but if we bring that urgency and standard to every game, we may not lose again for the rest of the season. This could well be the match that kickstarts a new swing of momentum for us. Or it could signal the middle of a slump. I think we are lucky to be coming up against a string of lower placed sides. We absolutely need to notch consistent performances and wins over the next 3 weeks.

This ^^

Fridat night's intensity should now be seen as an absolute minimum requirement to bring to every match

[Mondê 525]

Here is some perspective, this time last season Richmond were 8-5 in essentially the exact same position as us. It'll click

[whatwhat say what 22,950]

We lost by ten points to a team that most pundits had pegged as a top four, even top two, side on their home deck

Yep we struggled to convert opportunities, but at least we created em

Ive said all along it’s all coming down to R23 vs GW$ and I see no reason to alter that assessment 

FWIW, I had us pegged as coming 10-12 at the start of the season...I now think we might finish 9th

It'll hurt, but ultimately we don’t look good enough

[Dr.D 1,771]

why are all of these reactionary posts? we weren't favourites going into the game so nothing changes. we should have won the game. if we werent so wasteful and the umpires werent sucked in by the crowd noise we would be talking about top 4 right now

[DV8 2,271]

3 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

This ^^

Fridat night's intensity should now be seen as an absolute minimum requirement to bring to every match

Yep,,,  just add more composure across the centreline going forward.

We have to be more mindful of our entries, Huge Hefner says .

[monoccular 17,577]

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-23/analysis-how-demons-can-save-their-season

Nothing that hasn't been said before.

Stop bombing.

Vince and Lewis don't work, need Hunt*

Too small down back, need Petty.*

Need an opportunist forward, need Garlett

Petracca has to lift.

Any others? Thoughts?

 

In case you didn’t realize Hunt is gone for a month or two.  

*Maybe Frost as a fast tall option unless and until one or both of these (Hunt / Petty) demand selection.  I do realize he has some headless crook moments but so do others without his  leap and athleticism.  

Sure, stop bombing it is just so obvious but also obviously not so easy to execute otherwise we would have done it already. 

Stating the bleeding obvious, BIG wins in the next three are absolutely essential.

Edited June 24, 2018 by monoccular

[brendan 3,437]

As a comparison I have looked at Richmond as they were 8-5 same time last year they beat 

WINS

Carlton

collingwood

brisbane

westcoast

melbourne

essendon 

norf 

carlton

LOSSES

adelaide 

bulldogs

fremantle

gws 

sydney 

so by same stage last year they had beaten 1 top 8 side in west coast, all there losses came to top 8 sides apart from freo, lost a couple of close games to top 8 sides as we have, so this does give me a bit of hope that we can get on a bit of a run 

 

 

 

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

I think the question is not the right one. I don’t believe we need saving at 8-5. A better question would be can we improve as the year goes on?

Most definitely IMO...and just remember what happened around this time last year. We weren’t blessed on the injury front as it was, then we lost some more key personnel. Goodwin has a lot more to work with than this time last year. 

 

[Brisbanedemonfan 26]

We have to stop this mindset of oh we have these high draft picks or exciting players in the VFL who need to come into the side because X y and z player is doing badly.

Roos and Goodwin have the mindset that a player should never be played in til their ready, until they can handle it. Grimes, Trengove and Watts were ruined by being thrust forward to young as saviours of the club. 1 players doesn't make a better team. 

Goodwin is managing our players, it may seem frustrating when our favourites are in the VFL, but they are there for a reason, they will get games in when the time is right. 

[censored] teams play high draft pick high talent players too early, good team develop them until they're ready for Afl level footy. Alot of the vfl draft talent are sheltered and play in an environment completely different to AFL and when played too early they can't handle it.

I would highly suggest more posters read Paul Roos' book Here it is. Would give Alot of us a massive eye opening and make us all a bit more patient. 

[beelzebub 23,383]

Yeah...

Hmmmm

And what happens when expectations aren't met ?

Seems one rule for some... golden tickets for others.

[Skuit 10,031]

2000: 6-7

 

[spirit of norm smith 16,589]

The big ticks

1- Oliver is a star.  Brayshaw is a star. Viney is a star. 

2- Hogan could be a star

3- Melksham has stepped up

4- big Maxy is the best ruckman in the league 

5- attacking footy is on the menu

Wish list

1- a second big defender Petty or Frost

2- Gartlett needed and hopefully we get 100% effort

3- smart footy. Not just aimless bombs or kick to the pockets. Petraccas IQ to lift 

4- Pace and pace. We need more to break up defensive structures

5- a healthy run ahead ... Lever was a big loss