Cue in the rack lads - all will be revealed with our performance vs Port. Then Geelong.... then....No panic yet.

Biggest concerns of today are our lack of cohesion in the back half (defensive side of our game) and the injuries we have sustained.

[censored] is Joel Smith limping?

Just now, Purple77 said:

Not really concerned about this performance. It's incredible how little this matters; just supposed to be a warm-up for the real stuff.

... I like to think I'd be saying the same thing if we were winning by 10 goals, but honestly I can't say for sure :-X

Exactly.

Are there premiership points today? If not, there is not too much to worry about, excluding injuries and maybe May.

40 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

The only thing I don't like so far is our pressure in the forward line when he ball hits the deck.  They have run it out far too easily this term.  We need to be better with this.

Stands out doesn't it, the ball hits the ground and they just sweep it away.

Our backline is a shambles. 

Edited March 9, 20196 yr by pewpewpew

Lol Joel Smith limps after every play he f*cks up. 

1 minute ago, Lord Travis said:

We're going to get blown away by quick teams this year.  The rules are now designed to create space and promote quick movement. We are a contested ball team that thrive on getting numbers around the ball. When it gets into space, we are one of the slowest teams in the league. Hopefully players like Sparrow and Bedford come on quickly, as we still need genuine leg speed IMO.

Disappointing to see us have another team (likely) kick 100+ against us again. We've got a lot of work do on our defensive running.

I have to agree on that.  Our lack of run and speed at this point, albeit way early, is a worry.

The other factor that will play out under the new set up rules and extra room kicking in is hitting targets by foot.

Expect teams who are super at this to do very well this year.  Clarko's teams are usually right up there in this regard and wouldn't be surprised to see the Hawks have a very solid season (again).

1 minute ago, loges said:

Stands out doesn't it, the ball hits the ground and they just sweep it away.

I still think we're alright in that regard, we've just not done it well today.  I actually think, with our clearance work, that it will be even better when we know it's man on man and they can't drop someone back from the centre bounce.  If we work it out well then we can be super dangerous down there.

Time will tell, but I just wonder whether we've got a bit ahead of ourselves and completely stuffed up any sort of continuity with our back 6 last week.

We managed to play two quarters last week and managed one quarter this week.

There are a bunch of guys who clearly haven't improved their deficiencies. Vandenberg still can't handball (he only brings tackling - nothing else). Petracca is still lazy with ball in hand. Stretch is still a poor decision maker and an ordinary kick. JKH was ordinary last week. It's those fringe players that we need to take that next step. Hunt has shown no sign that his kicking or decision making has improved either. 

Can this game just end already? It’s an injury a minute at the moment. 

 

Petracca injured too? Wrist?

Can’t even burn my membership card - haven’t got it yet

3 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Lol Joel Smith limps after every play he f*cks up. 

I used to do that when I got dragged. 

1 minute ago, pewpewpew said:

Petracca injured too? Wrist?

He’s still playing so mustn’t be too bad 

Can we just get Gawn off the ground please. 

5 minutes ago, Chook said:

Haven't seen anything to suggest we'll get near it this year at all. May looks slow and out of position constantly.

Lucky it's just preseason but my expectations were shot to pieces on that day at Optus Stadium and they haven't recovered yet.

Let’s not forget how long it took for Lever to find his feet in our back line. I’ll reserve judgement until at least a month of footy. 

Anyone ever fumbled more than ANB?

Just now, pewpewpew said:

Can we just get Gawn off the ground please. 

Or at least stick him at FF away from the action. 

Just now, pewpewpew said:

I used to do that when I got dragged. 

Yep, trying to create excuses for not copping a bake.

"Come on coach, i'm sore". Junior high school football stuff, lol.

Excuse me Goody. Can you please take Max off now

Edited March 9, 20196 yr by The Swimming Dee

Just now, Clint Bizkit said:

Anyone ever fumbled more than ANB?

Jordie McKenzie

1 minute ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Anyone ever fumbled more than ANB?

Don't know, but it's nowhere near as bad as seeing Stretch fall over himself in the middle of the ground with no-one within kooee of him

Hunt is just so dumb. Why?