POSTGAME: Rd 14 vs Fremantle

[ding 5,126]

3 minutes ago, Sorry kids said:

Great for all the players, coaches and supporters to get a win. My wishes now are to win as many as we can, pretty obvious, but to also find four players for the year. It looks like we found May, Hore and Lockhart so far. Like to see at least one more put themselves forward for .next year. 

Oskar Baker.

Lock.

It.

In.

[ding 5,126]

2 minutes ago, Monocology said:

This pleases me greatly.

Missed game due to a wave & sunshine feast on Sunshine Coast, replay, hamburger & beer will wrap day up.

I have no idea what this posts means, but i liked it nonetheless.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Diamond_Jim 12,393]

I see according to the AFL stats we almost broke even on centre clearances.

Strange because I can barely remember one good clearance. I raise this because we have the best or second best ruckman and Oliver who is at the top of the clearance specialists.

What I saw was a lot of fumbles and good wide clearances by Freo that were then well defended by our Defence who no doubt won us the game.

Great win and hopefully a good follow up next week against the Lions... Could Preuss get a game..probably not

[praha 11,220]

10 minutes ago, RalphiusMaximus said:

A mathematical chance is still a chance.  ?

giphy (1).webp

[jumbo returns 6,713]

There were parts of that game that were really, really horrible to watch

But!

Thank heavens for Ollie and Brayshaw - both very clean today

And!

May is a presence - I was hard on him, but he is enormous and intimidating....hope he serves us well

[Cards13 9,117]

I chit canned them all day just for them to go an get a win on the board... bastards!!

Well done Tmac, good to see some positive signs, along with Viney. 

So you’re saying we’re still a chance... 

[Sorry kids 635]

2 minutes ago, ding said:

Oskar Baker.

Lock.

It.

In.

Thanks, I forgot about him, which I should not have as I see him as a long termer. To expand on my thinking if we pick up another four next year again our depth and top 22 will be greatly improved.

[nosoupforme 3,085]

TMac that goal from right on 50 was one sensational goal You kicked from 55 metres out and sailed right over the goal umpire another 15 metres. The crowd was out of their seats with joy and cheering so loud that if it was last week the security would have escorted all of us out. IF THEY COULD!

TMacs 3 goals in the second half finishing with 28 poss and 7 marks. 

[Jaded No More 68,692]

22 minutes ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

 

It’s like he played at GC his whole career and has never had a win.... 

Edited June 22, 2019 by Jaded

[Cards13 9,117]

1 hour ago, ding said:

If anyone wants some extra likes for their posts, just hit me up with a PM before this Chivas wears off.

MFC got me in the mood

Told you what the outcome would be.... 

Edit: Nostracardemous13 is my new handle...

Edited June 22, 2019 by Cards13

[nosoupforme 3,085]

I just want to say that Nathan Jones has got some good footy to play yet. Today's game was a tough affair and needed some of us to stand up and lead from the front and he certainly did that when it counted.

He went through Walters with a hip and shoulder and gave the free and a 50 away when he didn't need to do. The 50 wasn't there IMO However he was backing Lockhart for a hit he took from Walters the thug. Jone did his job today and did it well.

 

[buck_nekkid 5,831]

Steven May was huge today.  An awesome recruiting pickup.

[Adam The God 29,679]

24 minutes ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

 

Love that he's not taking any wins for granted. Showed great leadership today.

[ding 5,126]

5 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Told you what the outcome would be.... 

Sorry mate, i can only like your posts once each time

[Demon trucker 1,800]

The only reason we won is because we kick more goals then behinds, kick straight against west coast and Adelaide and we win by 4 or 5 goals, the game is a game of inches.

[DeeSpencer 24,967]

18 minutes ago, A F said:

We really ground that one out well.

We were utterly hopeless at times in the first half and a bit, but finally got our act together lead by Oliver and Gawn.

Lockhart is a gem too. The cleanest first year player in a Melbourne jumper since Oliver started. Makes the right decisions and FCS, kicks to the advantage of his other forwards.

Steven May's game, in particular, his last ten minutes, was instrumental. He's going to be a beauty for us. Can't wait to get Lever back in there next to him.

Our midfield's defensive transition still needs so much work. We get cut up far too easily.

If there's one player that was emblematic of today's game it was Tom McDonald. Untidy, a game littered with often terrible decision making and skill execution, but finally managed to get things working in the last quarter and a bit.

Some will point to the fact that he was one of our leading disposal getters all day, which is true, but he was laughable in the first half. It was great to see him turn it around in the last though. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Finally, it was interesting to note how many uncontested possessions we had today. I wonder if it's a hint at a new direction? I'd like to see us switch it a whole lot more. May's penetrating kicking will be helpful in this respect. 

I reckon Freo are a top 4 spreading midfield, if not higher than that. Mundy, Conca, Walters and fit young mids inside, then Hill and Langdon outside, plus hard running forward flakers. They are built to chop up teams and nearly did - might have without injuries. Fyfe's a lazy spreading player but they have 1, we have 4!

Harmes looked off for most of the game. Viney was on. Clarry and Gus just meh. And then really babies on the wing in Fritsch and Baker. Plus playing Wagner (and Hore and Petty) as back flankers at times who really aren't suited to small quick opponents.

Given all of that I think we did very well to run with them.

A couple of preseasons for Baker and Fritsch or relegation to the 2nd and 3rd fittest wingmen and all of a sudden our outside mids have so much more run. Then clearly a big summer and big fitness focus for our inside bulls. Plus another quick flanker rather than Wagner.

I really think the transition defending is the easiest thing for us to fix. We're already about 10 goals better than we were in the first 3 weeks. 

Same goes for switching. Baker and Fritsch were options. In another summer they'll demand the ball. And again, upgrade Wagner/Petty with Lever and another proper flanker, some more match fitness in to May and it starts coming out the other side rather than in to traffic.

And it's not even switching that we need. The set up kick that looks like a switch then creates the open corridor kick and off we go. Just setting up and making the opponents cover the switch creates what we need.

[nosoupforme 3,085]

I just want to say that Nathan Jones has got some good footy to play yet. Today's game was a tough affair and needed some of us to stand up and lead from the front and he certainly did that when it counted.

He went through Walters with a hip and shoulder and gave the free and a 50 away when he didn't need to do. The 50 wasn't there IMO However he was backing Lockhart for a hit he took from Walters the thug. Jones did his job today and did it well.

 

[Dame Gaga 2,453]

Nearly didn't go today after the foul, cold weather yesterday. Was wondering, will it be worth it? Shame on me, I have gone to see my team when they were far worse off. So glad I did go to support the boys, because at some stages I'm sure those Freo fans were louder than us. The crowd was only 20,000 something, but gee in that last quarter the Demon fans came alive and found their voices. 

I could see Tommy Mac being frustrated with being held and manhandled while down the other end the Freo forwards were getting soft free kicks. But come the last quarter he broke out and found his confidence again. Kick the goal Tommy we have faith in you! And kick the goals he did. Took some nice marks too. Amazing what confidence can do after the first goal.

Good game from all the boys, special mention to Frosty for some steadying marks in the backline, Marty for his second and third efforts, Petracca for his effort and marking, Salem for his delivery, May, Oliver (great goal!), Jones, Viney, Lockhart, Oskar, etc etc. I could go on and on. And not forgetting the mighty Max. Another Brownlow medal three vote effort (?)

Well done boys, we all needed a good fighting win today and you gave it to us.

[Skuit 10,004]

1 hour ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

 

Mesmerising.

Can you also post here:

Thread should be pinned.

[Adam The God 29,679]

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I reckon Freo are a top 4 spreading midfield, if not higher than that. Mundy, Conca, Walters and fit young mids inside, then Hill and Langdon outside, plus hard running forward flakers. They are built to chop up teams and nearly did - might have without injuries. Fyfe's a lazy spreading player but they have 1, we have 4!

Harmes looked off for most of the game. Viney was on. Clarry and Gus just meh. And then really babies on the wing in Fritsch and Baker. Plus playing Wagner (and Hore and Petty) as back flankers at times who really aren't suited to small quick opponents.

Given all of that I think we did very well to run with them.

A couple of preseasons for Baker and Fritsch or relegation to the 2nd and 3rd fittest wingmen and all of a sudden our outside mids have so much more run. Then clearly a big summer and big fitness focus for our inside bulls. Plus another quick flanker rather than Wagner.

I really think the transition defending is the easiest thing for us to fix. We're already about 10 goals better than we were in the first 3 weeks. 

Same goes for switching. Baker and Fritsch were options. In another summer they'll demand the ball. And again, upgrade Wagner/Petty with Lever and another proper flanker, some more match fitness in to May and it starts coming out the other side rather than in to traffic.

And it's not even switching that we need. The set up kick that looks like a switch then creates the open corridor kick and off we go. Just setting up and making the opponents cover the switch creates what we need.

Fyfe is ordinary in defensive transition and I was hoping Harmes would give him more to think about, but at least he got one goal on him. 

Fyfe is see ball, get ball and a brilliant marker. I wouldn't have him in the top 10 players in the league, but some people love him. 

In terms of switching, I was thinking more between the backs. Often a Melbourne back would intercept mark or receive a mark at half back. We'd have May, Hore or Salem set up for the initial switch, which would then release to a quick running player in space like you note Baker or a half forward. Problem was, we didn't have the confidence to hit it.

Frost's kicks are too loopy and only May can really kick low and flat to enact the switch. The kicking from Lever, Salem and even Fritsch will be handy in this respect if we set up for the switch. We're far too predictable otherwise.

[Bang Na Demon 152]

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

Good to see Smith hit the scoreboard- just has to wipe that smirk off his face when he stuffs up.

I liked the smirk because  he's not getting down on himself then potentially missing them all. Would liked to have seen Trac do that after his run of outs

Edited June 22, 2019 by xiss

[Lucifers Hero 39,070]

50 minutes ago, A F said:

Finally, it was interesting to note how many uncontested possessions we had today. I wonder if it's a hint at a new direction? I'd like to see us switch it a whole lot more. May's penetrating kicking will be helpful in this respect. 

We were very controlled coming out of defence.  We slowed it down and did the WCE precise kick/mark thing.  It worked well a lot of the the time. 

Yes, I think it is a new direction.  The coaches seem to have accepted the stats that the 'slow play on'' teams are at the top of the ladder; the fast at the bottom.  The players have been trying to do it for a few weeks but haven't got the balance right until today.

Today our ball movement was much more precise, still fast at (the right) times but more deliberate rather than manic go. go, go.  And we lowered our eyes!

This 'controlled' play shows up in the scoreboard:  more goals than points.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero

[What 18,810]

1 hour ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

 

LMAO at this.

Jacks back baby.

[beelzebub 23,254]

1 hour ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

 

 

No apologies for bumping

This is just marvelous, just  BOOTIFUL  !! 

Thankyou

[Lucifers Hero 39,070]

Every time our player had a set shot, he took his time with his set-up routine.  No rushing and the goals/points reflects the calmness. 

Was rapt for Max to kick his 4th qtr goal.  He always sprays it left and I was praying for him to steer it right.  He did but at one stage it looked too far right but it managed to squeeze thru.

Nearly all our fwds did good things.  Great for their collective confidence.  Sam's marking was very good as was his shepherding and competitive play and took a superb mark in the last qtr.

Edited June 22, 2019 by Lucifer's Hero