Gawn.

That's as good as a captains game as it game. 

We can (can we?) thank Troy Chaplin for the improved conversions of I50's... right! right?

And of course my point is, what has changed, it's not really the game plan...that was there all along.

It’s worth listening to Jimmy Hannans post game interview. Nice to hear from someone that’s articulate and not cliche ridden. I think the forward line functions much better with him there.

I didn't have my heart in my mouth watching this game. 

13 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

We can (can we?) thank Troy Chaplin for the improved conversions of I50's... right! right?

And of course my point is, what has changed, it's not really the game plan...that was there all along.

As discussed earlier in this thread the game plan has changed a bit. And goody deserves a lot of credit for that.

On conversion two there are noticeable change in the last couple of games compared to the first few (and both hark back to 2018).

The first is through quick agressive ball movement and running in waves we have created more space inside 50 and more free players. Hayley's goal was the perfect example.

The second Is they are really looking for opportunities for the kick get into the corridor inside 50. There weren't as many yesterday but it certainly helps our accuracy.

Drafting Jackson and Pickett reminds me of a young Franklin and Rioli tag team. Not sure if any one of you follow them on instagram also, but the two are always cracking jokes and hanging out together. Love seeing it. 

6 minutes ago, binman said:

As discussed earlier in this thread the game plan has changed a bit. And goody deserves a lot of credit for that.

On conversion two there are noticeable change in the last couple of games compared to the first few (and both hark back to 2018).

The first is through quick agressive ball movement and running in waves we have created more space inside 50 and more free players. Hayley's goal was the perfect example.

The second Is they are really looking for opportunities for the kick get into the corridor inside 50. There weren't as many yesterday but it certainly helps our accuracy.

I hear what you are saying @binman, and I genuinely believe this was there all along. We already had the quick aggressive ball movement, we already had the running (at least offensively) in waves. I also believe we have also been aiming to be in the corridor (as we were in 2018), but an inability to create space, or hold marks has stopped us from conversions.

Slightly flippant musings.. has OMAC gone past TMAC in reliability? I posted in the game day thread that OMAC took a mark when he didn't even realise it was going to occur (perhaps the last qrt). That to me is a sign of sublime skill , or at least a player who has a great feel for the game.

Someone on here  likened TMAC to Dawes... what does he bring if he cannot take marks? Currently I am not sure what capacity TMAC fits back into the side unless an injury occurs.

Edited July 19, 20204 yr by Engorged Onion

How good is it to wake up on Monday morning knowing we won and not a lucky win but a solid FOUR QUARTER win. 
 

Makes for a nice change. 
 

Bring on the lions. This will be a real test to see where we are at. 

12 minutes ago, one_demon said:

I didn't have my heart in my mouth watching this game. 

Perhaps the best summary of the game.  
Only 1-2 occasions of “oh no” moments. 

19 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

I hear what you are saying @binman, and I genuinely believe this was there all along. We already had the quick aggressive ball movement, we already had the running (at least offensively) in waves. I also believe we have also been aiming to be in the corridor (as we were in 2018), but an inability to create space, or hold marks has stopped us from conversions.

Slightly flippant musings.. has OMAC gone past TMAC in reliability? I posted in the game day thread that OMAC took a mark when he didn't even realise it was going to occur (perhaps the last qrt). That to me is a sign of sublime skill , or at least a player who has a great feel for the game.

Someone on here  likened TMAC to Dawes... what does he bring if he cannot take marks? Currently I am not sure what capacity TMAC fits back into the side unless an injury occurs.

Agree on those elements being there in 2018.

But what is noticeably different is we are now somtimes playing tempo footy.

We actually started doing that last year, out of necessity as anything else I reckon in order to stay in games and stem the losses. But we struggled to play at two speeds.

We have tried to implement that two speed footy this year and have struggled until the last two games to make it work.

Which explains both why we have struggled to score and sometimes have been easy to score against in patches (though it must be said we have not been smashed this year so the defence has done well, even with smith).

To me this a pretty big change, one that would have been hard to implement for a team schooled on run and gun under goody (in 2017 and 2018). 

On demonland there were lots of comments after the first few games about the players looking confused, not quite gelling as team, not knowing quite what to do and making poor decisions. All valid points.

But I have no doubt that is all at least part a function of trying to bed down a changed (albeit not radically) game plan.

Something made harder by all the restrictions on training as a result of covid.

Credit where it is due for goody, who by the by by has also won the tactical battle the last two weeks against the master and his apprentice.

Edited July 19, 20204 yr by binman

14 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Absolutely rapt for Weid. Has copped the abuse, copped the bad luck with injuries, copped the non-selection and now taken his chances the last couple of weeks. Good on him.

 

Copped a nice shiner along the way there too somewhere, but it's not hard to see how.

Asides from the fact he got on a few good leads and pulled down some good marks, I thought he provided a great physical presence. 

You could see the genesis last week, but this week, I thought he stepped it up a notch again.  Some great crashing of packs led to valuable crumbs for our suddenly in form forwards to swoop on and move quickly and dangerously into our forward 50, with great effect.

WEEEEEID.

 

 

(P.S. I'm guessing the shiner came courtesy of that pos Straton hammering into him front on - should be looked at by the match review panel as careless/intentional, but I doubt it will be).

Edited July 19, 20204 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Woewodin.. but Mitchell is closing in on that  really quickly.

Horse [censored]. Woewodin had one brilliant year and deserved his win. That he could not back it up, or forgot what his strengths were and did not want to play to them any more is another story.

9 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

Kudos to the recruiting genius who had the foresight to persist with Bennell - the handball to Hannan was sublime. One of those players who seems to slow down time when he has the ball. Will win us a game off his own boot in the not too distant future. Only glimpsing his talent atm

True. He hasn't done anything that warrants adding to his highlight reel but he is still a positive contributor finding space and working within the pace of the game. It feels like he is building to something special.

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

We can (can we?) thank Troy Chaplin for the improved conversions of I50's... right! right?

And of course my point is, what has changed, it's not really the game plan...that was there all along.

Having the right mix of forwards has been the biggest reason for the improvement.

In fact, it's no coincidence that the last two weeks when team selections have been less cute and more addressing fundamental problems that the team has played better.

Clayton Oliver was incredible yesterday. Some of his ball handling and clearances were absolutely ridiculous. If it wasn’t for Gawn and Trac being distractingly phenomenal we’d be talking about Clarry. Jet.

Edited July 19, 20204 yr by Surfer Dee

I wonder if Chris Fagan will call Clarkson this week for some insight. 

That was a good win (intended). Max was a leviathan, great match. Go Deees!

Sorry if it's been said before in this thread, but how bloody good is Max Gawn?

Not only was yesterday a  master class in ruck work and marking around the ground, but his collection of the ball off the ground and general play with the ball are stuff that ruckman are not suppose to do.  At one point he out manoeuvered $culley for a ground ball as if he was a nimble 5'10" rover.  Oliver did one of his occational hand balls out of know where to a totally unexpecting Gawn deep in the backline (who I actually suspect was trying to recover he breath from copping a hard knee to the back of the rib cage) and Gawn sucessfully moves on to a team mate and out of the area.

You could tell that in the second half Hawthorn were trying to double team and were putting in a concerted effort to try to take Gawn out of the arial contests, but were mostly hapless to stop him.

I temper this somewhat that while McEvoy was a quality ruckman at one point, like a fair percentage of Hawthorn's list he is clearly past it and was pleasing to see Gawn towl him up.  I was also glad to see Gawn rested for reasonable periods and Jackson give him a chop out int the ruck (of which he did quite a credible job).  Huge game against Steff Martin next week.

42 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

True. He hasn't done anything that warrants adding to his highlight reel 

No?

How many players, moving through traffic (having set up the scoring chain in the center) could hit a player 20 metres away with a handball fired from round his head to set up a gimme goal?

And his first goal back  though easy  will certainly make his end of career highlight reel.

(Note: the above sounds a bit argumentative - it wasn't meant to)

Was really disappointed that AVB didn't tackle Scully into the deepest circle of hell but apart from that things were positive.

28 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Sorry if it's been said before in this thread, but how bloody good is Max Gawn?

Not only was yesterday a  master class in ruck work and marking around the ground, but his collection of the ball off the ground and general play with the ball are stuff that ruckman are not suppose to do.  At one point he out manoeuvered $culley for a ground ball as if he was a nimble 5'10" rover.  Oliver did one of his occational hand balls out of know where to a totally unexpecting Gawn deep in the backline (who I actually suspect was trying to recover he breath from copping a hard knee to the back of the rib cage) and Gawn sucessfully moves on to a team mate and out of the area.

You could tell that in the second half Hawthorn were trying to double team and were putting in a concerted effort to try to take Gawn out of the arial contests, but were mostly hapless to stop him.

I temper this somewhat that while McEvoy was a quality ruckman at one point, like a fair percentage of Hawthorn's list he is clearly past it and was pleasing to see Gawn towl him up.  I was also glad to see Gawn rested for reasonable periods and Jackson give him a chop out int the ruck (of which he did quite a credible job).  Huge game against Steff Martin next week.

Could not agree more. Fantastic game. Blimey he must be fit. 

I mentioned that handball from Oliver to a mate when talking to him.about how well maxy played. What presence of mind to clear that ball! He would have never thought in a million years oli would give that to him. Why would he?

In the 2018 semi I was filthy at the hawks tactics on gawn. They smashed him all day and took every chance to hurt him. Doubt gawny has forgotten. Played like he was on a mission. 

11 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

BTW how Tom Mitchell ever won a brownlow is beyond me.

You couldn't find a more bland and boring footballer who racks up useless stats that has zero influence or hurt factor.

 

What can you expect when umps are the judge?

1 minute ago, jnrmac said:

What can you expect when umps are the judge?

He's just very meh to me Jnr..

13 hours ago, DubDee said:

The best part is Kozzi has no idea what he is going to do next so how can the opposition predict it?!?

The best part was he made time to look up for where the support was coming . He then delivered to that best option. Great handball in front of player moving with pace.

1 hour ago, pitmaster said:

True. He hasn't done anything that warrants adding to his highlight reel but he is still a positive contributor finding space and working within the pace of the game. It feels like he is building to something special.

You're clearly a hard marker.

Bennell's 20m bullet handball for a goal was outstanding.

 

3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

It's all about standards - they can play happy, angry, sad, bored, etc  -as long as they play with urgency and composure. Today was a tick. 

On Viney - I've always (perhaps we all have) likened him to his Dad - courageous, tough, great work ethic, ordinary kick. The last two weeks, he has been very very considered and accurate. And it feels like such a marked difference, and I can't quite put my finger on how it has come to pass. What I mean is, he has always had the skill to be accurate (otherwise he couldn't have the last two weeks) so what is enabling it? Is it him? Is it the players he is kicking to? 

I'm thrilled for him, that he can prove to himself that he can execute, at an urgent pace.  He was bloody ferocious.

He has slowed down his thought process that used to run a mile ahead of his body.