4 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Random thought but would have we won a game in 2018 if we were missing all of Hogan, T Mac and Weideman? Probably against GC and Carlton...but anyone else....?

I know I’m sounding like an apologist but the forward line we’re putting out each week isn’t league standard,  and it’s cost us every week since T Mac got injured. That and our horrid skills all over the park.

Its an interesting one.

I am more intrigued on how a fully fit Tom  McDonald, Sam Weideman and Bayley Fritsch and even throw a Harrison Petty will all function next year?

Weideman, McDonald and Fritta never once played forward together this year.. at all. I also named Petty because in my eyes he is definitely worth training with the forwards over the pre season. He has got vice like hands and with McDonald and Weideman taking the 2st and 2nd key defender that leaves Petty with the 3rd tall and Fritsch to play as that roaming half forward.

6 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

A massive shout out to the lady in the front row of M52. Not only was she trying to voice us supporters up during the game but she did a great job telling Pie fans to remove themselves out of a Melbourne reserved area. Something the staff obviously couldn’t give two hoots about. I hope you read DL, you were stellar on a pretty bleak day.

Good on her. This happens too often. I heard today Collingwood supporters plonked themselves in the Melbourne reserved seats without being questioned by staff. Did they sit there quietly? No. They sit there on purpose to stir trouble and show everyone their lack of brain cells by being loud and obnoxious. Finally get told to get out. Still have to mouth off the usual s#*t when they leave and in the food queues. Arrogant twerps. 

Go West Coast, Go West Coast. ?

5 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Has been pointed out by a few already, but the O Mac goal was a rare moment of joy for the game for me and an even better moment for the man himself.  Yes in the context of the game, it was a pretty meaningless act and goal, but I just thought that it was great for a guy who has struggled all season and been kicked in the guts by the game itself, commentators and many of our own supporters to get a little moment in the sun like that. 

Where O Mac goes as a footballer from here is yet to be seen, but I think it's a great mark of his character the way he has fought on and persevered this season when he has looked so beaten at times it must be pretty hard to keep getting back up and presenting.

Not a big lover of him but I must say it put a smile on my sad face !

I think he was exposed this season especially because of all the back-line pressure. He's not a key position player but still could be a good defender with a bit of solid direction. Confidence will come with a few tough wins and a good leader for him in defence (MAY) He does need to get better/harder and I think he will !

Next Season Big O 

10 hours ago, Choko said:

Well I have to say I haven't posted in quite some time, but I am totally and utterly sick of the same players, and the team generally, making the same mistakes week in week out.

I don't want to name names for the players making the same errors week on week, but I have serious concerns about the coaching team's ability to influence and improve players' flaws. Too many players who choose the wrong options or can't execute basic skills. 

As for the team, we continue to be moths to a flame. We draw too many to the contest (at ground level and in the air) and don't defend on the outside. Every week. We half lead, not to advantage, then kick it to even less advantage. We fail to tackle well enough to stop the ball going out to the opposition's advantage. We cannot keep the ball in our forward line. 

Same every week

2019 in a single post.

10 hours ago, binman said:

Telling that Lever got moved off Mihocek

Sure, but Lever was never a one-on-one defender at Adelaide, let alone a KPD - he had Talia (amongst others) to do that job. His strength has always been his ability to read the ball and intercept mark/spoil, and that's what we need him doing - if ever we can get a full, settled team on the park. 

9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I have knocked him from pillar to post. But i did smile when Oscar kicked his first goal. Good on him. I'll give him credit, he actually went in hard into the the contest with such aggression that I have never seen from him.

With May going down I'd say he'll go back to defence for the remaining 2 games.

I'd prefer Petty went back and omac had another couple of games with a fair amount of freedom. It looks like he's smashed himself from pillar to post this year as well, so playing without as much pressure might do wonders for him heading into the preseason.

Lever is recovering from multiple injuries. He won’t go in hard until he feels confident to do so, next year. Why risk it in a nothing year. He knows that. He is a pro!

13 hours ago, binman said:

Two redeeming things for mine. Fritter looks god up forward and has such good hands. Petty also has good hands and loved the fact he supported fritter after he got knee dropped

Fritts and Petty were already positives before yesterday.

Yesterdays game was poor again, in skill and effort.

I am now looking at the coaching, as injuries are no longer the excuse for style of play, especially when your opponents injuries are far worse. 

This is is the second time in 3 years, where a decimated Pies side has belted us. Don’t be fooled by the margin at the end, like the Bombers last night, we got a few last minute junk time goals. 

I just can’t believe we had Coaches yesterday who left the most dangerous Pie unmanned the whole game. Sidebottom was actually laughing at times.

We seem to be labouring under a play on at all costs game plan, which with our poor skill, is destroying us every game.

Sad to say this, but you have to stop caring, because it is too upsetting.

This would have to be one of the most disappointing seasons for us in the last 50 years, as we had so much hope for the year.

Edited August 10, 20195 yr by Redleg

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

Fritts and Petty were already positives before yesterday.

Yesterdays game was poor again in skill and effort.

I am now looking at the coaching as injuries are no longer the excuse for style of play especially when your opponents injuries are far worse. 

This is is the second time in 3 years where a decimated Pies side has belted us. Don’t be fooled by the margin at the end, like the Bombers last night, we got a few last minute junk time goals. 

I just can’t believe we had Coaches yesterday who left the most dangerous Pie unmanned the whole game. Sidebottom was actually laughing at times.

We seem to be labouring under a play on at all costs game plan, which with our poor skill, is destroying us every game.

Sad to say this, but you have to stop caring, because it is too upsetting.

This would have to be one of the most disappointing seasons for us in the last 50 years, as we had so much hope for the year.

But not NOT caring enough to write posts about it?

5 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

But not NOT caring enough to write posts about it?

I would imagine if we all took that position, no one would post anymore on DL.

I was actually saying that I don’t want to upset myself with the results, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t discuss that with like minded people.

PS I occasionally discuss politics, not that I care much about the topic.

Edited August 10, 20195 yr by Redleg

22 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I would imagine if we all took that position, no one would post anymore on DL.

I was actually saying that I don’t want to upset myself with the results, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t discuss that with like minded people.

PS I occasionally discuss politics, not that I care much about the topic.

Apologies @Redleg if that came across as curt. It's a funny one - sometimes I can't believe how much I care about random dudes that I have never met running around in particular colours from 2017-2018 when we were winning things, after that apathy of the previous 10-12 years (aside from a bit of fun with D.Bailey) - and then to come back to apathy is well... quite sad. 

 

Edited August 10, 20195 yr by Engorged Onion

8 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Its an interesting one.

I am more intrigued on how a fully fit Tom  McDonald, Sam Weideman and Bayley Fritsch and even throw a Harrison Petty will all function next year?

Weideman, McDonald and Fritta never once played forward together this year.. at all. I also named Petty because in my eyes he is definitely worth training with the forwards over the pre season. He has got vice like hands and with McDonald and Weideman taking the 2st and 2nd key defender that leaves Petty with the 3rd tall and Fritsch to play as that roaming half forward.

Add a fully fit and in form Melksham (no where near his potential yesterday), Trac and Mitch Hannan or Charlie Spargo and I actually think we could have a pretty potent forward line. 

42 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Fritts and Petty were already positives before yesterday.

Yesterdays game was poor again, in skill and effort.

I am now looking at the coaching, as injuries are no longer the excuse for style of play, especially when your opponents injuries are far worse. 

This is is the second time in 3 years, where a decimated Pies side has belted us. Don’t be fooled by the margin at the end, like the Bombers last night, we got a few last minute junk time goals. 

I just can’t believe we had Coaches yesterday who left the most dangerous Pie unmanned the whole game. Sidebottom was actually laughing at times.

We seem to be labouring under a play on at all costs game plan, which with our poor skill, is destroying us every game.

Sad to say this, but you have to stop caring, because it is too upsetting.

This would have to be one of the most disappointing seasons for us in the last 50 years, as we had so much hope for the year.

Bang on.

8 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Its an interesting one.

I am more intrigued on how a fully fit Tom  McDonald, Sam Weideman and Bayley Fritsch and even throw a Harrison Petty will all function next year?

Weideman, McDonald and Fritta never once played forward together this year.. at all. I also named Petty because in my eyes he is definitely worth training with the forwards over the pre season. He has got vice like hands and with McDonald and Weideman taking the 2st and 2nd key defender that leaves Petty with the 3rd tall and Fritsch to play as that roaming half forward.

Joel Smith showed in the game at Casey (prior to him being made to play injured) that he could be our most dangerous forward.

Fritsch, Smith and McDonald is our best taller trio.

46 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Fritts and Petty were already positives before yesterday.

Yesterdays game was poor again, in skill and effort.

I am now looking at the coaching, as injuries are no longer the excuse for style of play, especially when your opponents injuries are far worse. 

This is is the second time in 3 years, where a decimated Pies side has belted us. Don’t be fooled by the margin at the end, like the Bombers last night, we got a few last minute junk time goals. 

I just can’t believe we had Coaches yesterday who left the most dangerous Pie unmanned the whole game. Sidebottom was actually laughing at times.

We seem to be labouring under a play on at all costs game plan, which with our poor skill, is destroying us every game.

Sad to say this, but you have to stop caring, because it is too upsetting.

This would have to be one of the most disappointing seasons for us in the last 50 years, as we had so much hope for the year.

Our season was a write off before it began red. The preseason was the coffin and the injuries the nail.

The pies only had the nails.

I actually think our game plan coveted over the cracks of our poor skill last year. 

We need some more skilled kicks in our team thi draft and trade period.

11 hours ago, Docs Demons said:

Whilst we had a few out we really were just about playing a Magpie 2nd 18. Need to realise we are just not good enough at moment and having the need to play to many guys that are just not up to AFL standard at present. Let's hope this improves next year big time but one player I am really concerned about is Hunt. Just running around ( and not fast) doing not much.

Big Trade period coming up and huge pre season for all players left on lis.

I have no doubt the Pies would have beaten us by >40pts if they had their full list on the park, but having said that, what they did have yesterday is still pretty formidable. We have no one near the class of Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Howe + a few others. They have a much more experienced side and even though this year has been a disaster, you still have to realise our list is just so young. Once you drop Jones and Lewis, the average age/games experience plummets.

1 hour ago, Red and Blue realist said:

I'd prefer Petty went back and omac had another couple of games with a fair amount of freedom. It looks like he's smashed himself from pillar to post this year as well, so playing without as much pressure might do wonders for him heading into the preseason.

Nah i prefer Petty, he is a strong contested mark and already thats good enough for me to give us something to work with. In fact I reckon he is a far better mark then Weideman.

24 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Add a fully fit and in form Melksham (no where near his potential yesterday), Trac and Mitch Hannan or Charlie Spargo and I actually think we could have a pretty potent forward line. 

Melksham would want to improve over the summer because that was plain disgusting of game from Melksham. Reminded me of the days where he was a genuine spud.

I am also a bit funny on Hannan, while I too like what he brings, he doesn't win enough of the ball across the half forward line and far too often goes missing when we need him to step up. Needs a HUGE summer.

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Nah i prefer Petty, he is a strong contested mark and already thats good enough for me to give us something to work with. In fact I reckon he is a far better mark then Weideman.

It was more about freeing up Omac and getting him back in a position where he is a good contributor for us again, plus I thought he was much better than Petty yesterday. Sydney don't really play tall (unless buddy comes back) so they both might stay forward, with Hore coming in for May.

I also thought OMac didn’t do too badly yesterday - he looked more comfortable in that position. I think you’d leave him there, at least over pre-season: his field kicking was actually pretty good and he didn’t do a bad job as 2nd ruck.

As someone has already pointed out, what is killing us, is getting too many drawn into the contest. We desperately need the outside run that can have the ball fed to them and then link up to the forwards. We also need some speedy defensive cover on the outside.

Positives for me was that the controlled game of the 1Q was working well, also the F50 entries were much improved - how good is it to see Fritta clunking those contested marks?

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Melksham would want to improve over the summer because that was plain disgusting of game from Melksham. Reminded me of the days where he was a genuine spud.

I am also a bit funny on Hannan, while I too like what he brings, he doesn't win enough of the ball across the half forward line and far too often goes missing when we need him to step up. Needs a HUGE summer.

Yes - not sure if Melksham was rusty yesterday, but that was the worst game I’ve seen him play for us - usually a great user of the ball.

It's probably been mentioned in the thread already, but I'm not torturing myself reading through all 7 pages...

I thought it was a coaching masterstroke to let Steele Sidebottom roam free for most of the game!

9 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Random thought but would have we won a game in 2018 if we were missing all of Hogan, T Mac and Weideman? Probably against GC and Carlton...but anyone else....?

I know I’m sounding like an apologist but the forward line we’re putting out each week isn’t league standard,  and it’s cost us every week since T Mac got injured. That and our horrid skills all over the park.

TMac played most of this season and was terrible. Weideman too. The latter didn't really impact contests last season until last year's finals series. Hogan a big loss, no doubt. 

Our forward line wasn't league standard and our skills were horrid across the park for the 3/4 of a season TMac played.

So yes you sound like an apologist. 

Can we just forfeit the remaining two games!

Its not like we turn up anyway and the weekend would be more enjoyable. 

Edited August 11, 20195 yr by DemonOX

Lever is not a great one on one defender . He is a third tall intercept defender. 

He hasn't been allowed to play his natural game. Putting him on the big bodied Mihocek was a poor coaching, May should have been on him from the start.

In Brayshaws post match interview he mentioned that players would look down the line and there was no one to kick to, so they had to kick it long which caused turnovers and opposition goals.

Theres your problem right there.

Either the coaches aren't coaching   properly to make sure there is a shorter hit up and therefore less turnovers , or the players aren’t working hard enough.

Would a Clarko let that happen?

I’d think not.

Coaching Coaching Coaching

Edited August 11, 20195 yr by DeeZee