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Posted
14 minutes ago, A F said:

With all their changes and with one man down early, we were always going to be safe going into the last quarter, but there's one thing we got right in the last quarter in particular. We got the midfield set up right. Instead of having Viney run into Petracca every second stoppage, we had the right mix of Oliver, Gus and Petracca in the middle for most of the last quarter.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Gus played a single minute in the midfield in the first half. 

As soon as Viney went into stoppages in the final quarter, our set up was decidedly less effectively than having Oliver as the first ball stoppage winner.

Jack had a good first half, but his goal in the final quarter is what he'll need to do IMO. He needs to spend significant time forward, with occasional midfield bursts. 

That was not Oliver's best game, but he was best afield by quite some stretch. It was against very ordinary opposition, but he can do that against the best too. Posters calling for him to play forward are totally misguided IMV. The most talented player we've had at the club in my 33 years. People expect the world from him, when he's already won 2 BnFs and AA rep at the age of 23. The guy is a star and elite most weeks.

The other guy I wanted to talk about is Jackson. Really excited by his nous. I liked the idea of throwing him into the ruck in the second quarter and it worked to throw out O'Brien's dominance of Gawn. But he's a smart player around stoppages, when the ball is on the deck and positionally in the forward half.

I really liked the interplay with Weideman and Jackson tonight and our forwardline looks immediately less congested without McDonald. I thought AVB and ANB's pressure was good tonight, because Bennell looks like he's trying to get through games and avoid contact, and Fritsch looks to avoid contact where possible too.

Against good sides we would have struggled tonight, but hopefully that last quarter restores a bit of the confidence we seemed to have built going into the Brisbane game. 

Not sure about the minutes but Brayshaw started in the centre square at the first bounce. Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw with Petracca up forward

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Posted

appalling umpiring.

some appalling decision making by us for three quarters

and our usual appalling display of skills for three quarters.

Goodwin has to go.  He'll never fool me.

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, pinkshark said:

Good.  He's hopeless.   Never has been any good.  Never will be any good.

I find him frustrating myself. He is very panicky with ball in hand and fumbles a lot. However, and ironically, he is somewhat of a good tackler. He adds to our forward pressure in some weird way. This is something my namesake should look to emulate. Perhaps we can replace him with Hunt. 

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Posted (edited)
30 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Clearly hampered him tonight. Now he faces the most in form ruck in the comp with it worse and off a short break. It's a tear too btw, not sure how that gets better by keeping going. Strange comment.

Medical advice was he should miss 2 games, Max made the call himself that he would play, otherwise known as a captain's call.

Let's hope it doesn't backfire.

Many sprains and strains (tears) get better whether you rest or keep going. Rest has been shown to make a lot of injuries worse.

Edited by My name is legion
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Posted
48 minutes ago, Razor said:

Just showed some clips of Oliver bursting away from stoppages - like Judd

Thought it was a very good analysis actually from David King, who flip flops from one week to the next in terms of how he rates Clarry. At least he recognises he's had a very good season and that he's capable of beautiful kicking, which is absolutely true.

I liked the comparison between Oliver and Dangerfield, and where Clarry can take his game to the next level and add scoring to his armoury. 

For the benefit of those who didn't see the piece of footage, it showed Oliver winning the clearance in the middle and bursting goal-ward, but instead of either sprinting towards 50 and kicking for goal like Dangerfield would or drawing the nearest man and handballing to his opponent, Clarry kicked inside 50 (and not very well).

If he'd nailed the pass it would have been alright, but I think King is right in this instance. Clarry needs to trust his kicking more and shoot at goal.

Adding goals from the midfield to his game will make him a frightening prospect and put him up there with the likes of Dangerfield and Judd.

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Posted

Thinking it could have got ugly at 3/4 time. Glad we kicked the first in the last and a stress free last 10 mins.

Oliver clear BOG, I’d have May 2nd best and Jackson was the real pleasing thing to come from tonight. The kid has learnt, hardly bodied up in the ruck and he is dynamic when it hits the ground. 

Swallow looks good. I think he will be handy. 

A lot of passengers tonight and our skills are still shocking for the most part. Need to get Pickett, Rivers and Hannan back in. And lets see how Jordon goes. We just need to play/find players with a better skill level. Otherwise we are going nowhere. 

Posted
2 minutes ago, My name is legion said:

Many sprains and strains (tears) get better whether you rest or keep going. Rest has been shown to make a lot of injuries worse.

Explain Gawn's poor game tonight then, and tell me how it will mean he'll play well in 4 days time.

Posted
54 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

He fumbled a lot tonight but his positioning and run is critical. He does so much good work for us.

He can improve on the fumbles, and by jeepers I'd like him to kick a bloody goal next time he gets a shot, but you're a long way off it if you think he should be dropped.

Was probably a bit of hyperbole on my behalf, but his kicking/fumbles in the first half, coupled together with some of the worst umpiring I’ve ever seen, had me nearly blowing a gasket. 

Posted

If one had to do a synopsis of the umpiring, aside from calling it disgraceful, we would have to say that MFC actually had to earn the result. As at the same time weathering the first half migraine producing stultification of the rules  and then seeing the error of their (MFC's) ways and run away with it. Now they know what to do..... onward and upward. 

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Posted
58 minutes ago, Yze_13 said:

VDB fractured eye socket apparently.

That's big. His pressure is what makes our forwardline work. I hope he makes it up for the North game, but it doesn't sound likely. :(

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Posted
46 minutes ago, Tracca said:

Tomlinson back was fantastic. Clearly he hadn't played there much but hes a big body and can kick. His run was great as well. I'd love to see Goody persevere with him there. So much better than Oscar. And could play on tall or smalls 

hahahahaha . . . for a minute i thought you were serious Tracca. 

Posted
26 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Unrelated to the win but very happy with how the Demonland server has held up post match the past 3 weeks. Changes made have been ?. Not missing a beat. Barely a lag under a heavy post match load.

Easily the best tactical move of the last couple of weeks

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Posted

If we can get up over North with both of us having short breaks, we'll have a 2 day extra break on the pies the week after, and we'd have to be a chance to push into the 8.

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Posted
1 hour ago, nosoupforme said:

Brayshaw's second half was hard working and had an influence in the game when it counted in the last quarter. Hopefully now he might recognize how should be playing.

Oliver is a super human magnet he just wants the ball in his hands at all costs and reads the game better than anyone. 

He can't really do it if he's not given enough midfield minutes.

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

I'm pleased for Weid, bobs up for 2 goals a game...even in an inconsistent side.

Coleman medal form.

Imagine if he had decent service.

I think he still needs to be stronger in the air, but he's getting much stronger in the contest, which is a good step forward. The thing is really does well is he straightens up our forward set up and he's just now, starting to draw the ball, which good KPFs do. Encouraging signs.

1 hour ago, Seraph said:

Mate he started in the middle at literally the opening bounce and had 1 touch to half time.

Okay he looked better against a poor, tiring side after half time but come on.

Could someone with the AFL Pro ap please post how many first half stoppages Gus attended? I don't think it was many. I didn't think he'd started in the middle at all in the first half, but if others remember it, I stand corrected.

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Posted
1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

Clarry was brilliant tonight.

They have to stick with Weed and Jacko up forward as they will just get better and better as they get bigger and stronger.

I was very impressed with Jacko.

The only bit of the in-game commentary I liked was Dermie banging on about their understanding together. He seemed big wraps for them.

Could yet be two guys to build a forwardline around. Hats off to Jason Taylor again, hey?

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Posted
5 minutes ago, A F said:

He can't really do it if he's not given enough midfield minutes.

I think he still needs to be stronger in the air, but he's getting much stronger in the contest, which is a good step forward. The thing is really does well is he straightens up our forward set up and he's just now, starting to draw the ball, which good KPFs do. Encouraging signs.

Could someone with the AFL Pro ap please post how many first half stoppages Gus attended? I don't think it was many. I didn't think he'd started in the middle at all in the first half, but if others remember it, I stand corrected

2 out of 6 in the first quarter.

2 out of 5 in the second quarter.

 

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Posted
26 minutes ago, No Plan B said:

Was probably a bit of hyperbole on my behalf, but his kicking/fumbles in the first half, coupled together with some of the worst umpiring I’ve ever seen, had me nearly blowing a gasket. 

Understatement. Barely a player I’d rather have in our team this year, thus far than Langdon.

Posted
49 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

So happy to hear Simon Goodwin stick up for Max. Has fired shots at the umpires for not looking after him behind play.

It is very obvious that he gets belted behind play and in marking contests and never gets rewarded with free kicks.

I tip my hat to Mr Goodwin for taking a stance on behalf of our skipper

I thought he came across pretty agitated. I was glad to hear him stick up for Max as well. From recollection he also made the point that our on ballers had been copping unfair treatment as well. Hopefully Goodwin keeps raising it as it goes unnoticed most weeks and clearly hampers players like Oliver, who knows the effect it has on the results of games.

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Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, A F said:

Could yet be two guys to build a forwardline around. Hats off to Jason Taylor again, hey?

We planned around TMac. We got it wrong - but other than the hindsight heroes on here there's not a lot of blame to pass around. He looked the goods up forward. Got foot injuries, structure changed, is spent earlier than expected. The best and only thing we can do now is continually play Weid and Jacko and develop them into our one-two up-front combo. TMac goes to pasture. It's unfortunate but necessary. Edit: Or we recruit a forward. 

Edited by Skuit
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Posted

Luke Jackson  is coming on well and is showing his skills in the big time as an 18 yo. Played his part in the Ruck with 14 HO and kicked two goals when playing deep forward. Laced one out to I think it was Melksham in the last Quarter for a goal. He certainly has class written all over him. 

I know it was Adelaide  however once you cross the white line you are there to showcase  your skills and play for the jumper and do your best. For an 18 yo that is what he did. That is part of our future.

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Posted
50 minutes ago, 3Dee said:

Jackson's style probably compares close to NicNat in his agility and attack on the footy. 

Gus should feel good about his game, if he can build from his solid 2nd half and regain form it might just be the difference that sees us play finals.

I like Sparrows compete. 

The Weed/Jacko fwd combo with no TMAC remains undefeated.

Heart wasn't confident, but head said we would run away with it in the 4th quarter, GO DEES!

Completely agree. If we play finals this year it'll be because Gus is given more midfield time. We look a completely different team when he's going.

47 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I felt for most of the night that if we could get a 4 goal break on them we'd be fine but it would have been good to have done that a little earlier in the game. Tracca has found it a little hard to break tackles these last couple of weeks. I wonder if we can reinvent T-Mac in another role as he'll find it difficult to get back in the side as things look right now. Weid seems to have come into his own a little now that he is the senior tall in the forward line. Injuries aside you'd think Nev might struggle to get back into the 22 now. 

Unless there's a significant drop in form or injury from Weideman and Jackson, I wouldn't play Tom again.

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Posted
5 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

I thought he came across pretty agitated. I was glad to hear him stick up for Max as well. From recollection he also made the point that our on ballers had been copping unfair treatment as well. Hopefully Goodwin keeps raising it as it goes unnoticed most weeks and clearly hampers players like Oliver, who knows the effect it has on the results of games.

Exactly. I think another poster started a thread on here this week, which highlighted the ‘pre-tackle’ tactics. In the second-half of tonight’s match, the umpires finally started paying them.

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