Time to panic?

[3183 Dee 2,841]

No - not time to panic.

As I see it, we are in Year 1 of hopefully a few year stretch at the top end of the ladder. To be sitting top 2 for the season so far is way beyond what I expected for this year and there’s no getting around the fact that we need to ‘learn’ how to be a consistent Top 4 team. The others in contention (Port, Geelong, Brisbane. Bulldogs) have been thereabouts for at least a couple of years now and will be more comfortable with the pressure, comfortable with being ‘the hunted’. For us, it’s a new experience, which we will hopefully also get used to over the next couple of years.

We’ve shown on several occasions this year, against quality opposition, that we have the bottle to stay in the contest and tough out wins, as required. However, as many on here have pointed out, we have to fix our forward line. I expect that during pre-season, Goody and co were getting pretty excited about having a fit and firing Weid and Brown combo to round off our team. Obviously, this has not been the case, and I see it as our major potential stumbling block. All the other contenders have their dominant talls and this helps them kick away during games. I suppose in our Sliding Doors moment, it would have been Hogan up top for us now, clunking everything that came near him, but not to be.

I’m not sure what the answer is - I would prefer an aggressive tall to be traded in, to compliment our defence and mids, but that’s not going to happen before the end of the season. I don’t know how far the current forward line will take us - here’s hoping deep into finals.

[Jjrogan 1,416]

1 hour ago, 3183 Dee said:

No - not time to panic.

As I see it, we are in Year 1 of hopefully a few year stretch at the top end of the ladder. To be sitting top 2 for the season so far is way beyond what I expected for this year and there’s no getting around the fact that we need to ‘learn’ how to be a consistent Top 4 team. The others in contention (Port, Geelong, Brisbane. Bulldogs) have been thereabouts for at least a couple of years now and will be more comfortable with the pressure, comfortable with being ‘the hunted’. For us, it’s a new experience, which we will hopefully also get used to over the next couple of years.

We’ve shown on several occasions this year, against quality opposition, that we have the bottle to stay in the contest and tough out wins, as required. However, as many on here have pointed out, we have to fix our forward line. I expect that during pre-season, Goody and co were getting pretty excited about having a fit and firing Weid and Brown combo to round off our team. Obviously, this has not been the case, and I see it as our major potential stumbling block. All the other contenders have their dominant talls and this helps them kick away during games. I suppose in our Sliding Doors moment, it would have been Hogan up top for us now, clunking everything that came near him, but not to be.

I’m not sure what the answer is - I would prefer an aggressive tall to be traded in, to compliment our defence and mids, but that’s not going to happen before the end of the season. I don’t know how far the current forward line will take us - here’s hoping deep into finals.

Agreed we need a big forward, but in terms of our list, i think we also need a midfielder who is elite by foot. 

As long as harmes, trac, oliver and viney are getting a lions share of inside 50 entries, forward connection will remain a problem whomever is in the forward line.  

[DubDee 25,433]

7 hours ago, Dr.D said:

people talking about grand finals need to have a good hard look at themselves. 

No teams that has the most weeks at the top of the ladder has the right to talk of grand finals ??

Edited July 4, 2021 by DubDee

[Dr.D 1,771]

Definitely no need to panic. There's currently an article on the AFL website that says we may struggle to make top 4. What a crazy, negative thing to say.  We should all rally together and tell them we don't like their opinion and therefore it is wrong.

Thanks for the PM's from all the people that have now admitted that they were wrong and I was right (again) and a week ahead of the mainstream media. 

I'm also not hearing as much about my Kozzie Pickett projections. hmmm

Edited July 4, 2021 by Dr.D

[DubDee 25,433]

13 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Definitely no need to panic. There's currently an article on the AFL website that says we may struggle to make top 4. What a crazy, negative thing to say.  We should all rally together and tell them we don't like their opinion and therefore it is wrong.

Thanks for the PM's from all the people that have now admitted that they were wrong and I was right (again) and a week ahead of the mainstream media. 

I'm also not hearing as much about my Kozzie Pickett projections. hmmm

Hope you are ok mate. Your pathological need to be right is strange. If you ever need or want to talk, pm me

[Hopeful Demon 1,517]

28 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Definitely no need to panic. There's currently an article on the AFL website that says we may struggle to make top 4. What a crazy, negative thing to say.  We should all rally together and tell them we don't like their opinion and therefore it is wrong.

Thanks for the PM's from all the people that have now admitted that they were wrong and I was right (again) and a week ahead of the mainstream media. 

I'm also not hearing as much about my Kozzie Pickett projections. hmmm

I don't think you're right. We're still second on the ladder and we've got seven more games to maintain our position in the top 4. Even if we don't make the top 4, would finishing 5th really be that bad given how underwhelming our last two years have been? 

As for your "Kozzie Pickett projections," give the guy a break for once. He's barely even 20 years old and he showed numerous times early in the year that he's got the potential to become a star. Two years ago I was reading some pretty insane Christian Petracca projections (e.g. he will be traded, he'll never get fit, he's not going to be a star). Look how those projections have turned out.

Edited July 4, 2021 by Hopeful Demon

[kev martin 9,549]

I can feel a panic.

We should be getting better, not worse. Even the old problems are there.

Not wanting to play 4 quarters, falling off in the time on periods, not converting from the numerous times we get it in the 50 arc, not getting the ball, allowing teams to go quickly through the middle, and most importantly not having a functional forward line.

Hard to kill off bad habits. Hoping mental weakness doesn't come back as our label.

Bathwater and getting ahead of themselves, has.

They can't pick and choose when they want to go hard.

Our leaders were able to change the style of game or switch the momentum during the quarters in the early part of the season, now we have to wait till the half-time rev up.

It is good that they believe they can chase anyone down, but the other teams are getting full fitness and can now run out the game as well. We shouldn't get ourselves in that position. 

What happened to play angry?

Looks like play "happy".

Hoping it is just two steps backwards and we are now ready for a some improved development of our skills and game plan.

 Really we could be fine tuning but we are searching for answers.

Panicking, because losing can be just as contagious as winning. 

Edited July 4, 2021 by kev martin

[KingDingAling 3,752]

No need to panic. Too many positives. We need to double down on our processes and sticking to them always - especially in the face of adversity. Mostly we’ve done this. We’ve had to too much - because we always give away starts.

We should focus on winning clearances. Yze has had his time in there and failed us miserably. Time to get someone who is an experienced midfield coach. Solving our midfield goes along way to fixing our forward 50 entries, which in turn helps us score, and takes pressure off our defense.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 4, 2021 by KingDingAling

[leave it to deever 17,506]

5 hours ago, kev martin said:

Really we could be fine tuning but we are searching for answers.

Good point.

And smashing the odd team.

Its a bad time to be losing momentum but there is still time to change.

[Pates 9,649]

Not time to panic, but time to be ruthless about what’s working and what isn’t. If that means Viney needs a game in the magoos to gain some form and confidence then so be it. If we have to drop a developing kid to fit Brown into the forward line to restructure things then do it. 

We have time to work out what our finals mix will be but we can’t sit back and expect things to fix themselves. 

[Kent 2,905]

looking at the Live ladder we could easily sink to 6th after next week end 

Now I"m really starting to worry?

[640MD 3,337]

No panic but get the side settled for the finals, and rested perhaps, or refreshed.

I also did a ladder through to round 23   taking what I thought was worst case for the Dees.

Had us winning 3/7, Bulldogs 5/7, Brisbane 7/7, Port Adel 6/7, Cats 6/7, Swans 7/7, West coast4/7, GWS 5/7, Tigers 4/7, Freo 2/7, and saints 1/7.

ladder

Brisbane 72

Bulldogs 68 percentage

Port Adel 687

Geelong 68

Swans 64

Demons 60

GWS 50

West C 48

 

9th Tigers 44

Freo 36 and saints 32 

But remember , I am a lousy tipster get a lot wrong. Hell I thought we needed a target in the goal square in the last quarter, let alone the rest of the game.

[Kent 2,905]

9 minutes ago, 640MD said:

No panic but get the side settled for the finals, and rested perhaps, or refreshed.

I also did a ladder through to round 23   taking what I thought was worst case for the Dees.

Had us winning 3/7, Bulldogs 5/7, Brisbane 7/7, Port Adel 6/7, Cats 6/7, Swans 7/7, West coast4/7, GWS 5/7, Tigers 4/7, Freo 2/7, and saints 1/7.

ladder

Brisbane 72

Bulldogs 68 percentage

Port Adel 687

Geelong 68

Swans 64

Demons 60

GWS 50

West C 48

 

9th Tigers 44

Freo 36 and saints 32 

But remember , I am a lousy tipster get a lot wrong. Hell I thought we needed a target in the goal square in the last quarter, let alone the rest of the game.

That's what I got also 640!! Its concerning that we have lost against lower sides when we had the opportunity to build a commanding position

[Clintosaurus 7,808]

42 minutes ago, Kent said:

looking at the Live ladder we could easily sink to 6th after next week end 

Now I"m really starting to worry?

We are 3 games clear of 6th. 5th is the worst possible scenario for a few weeks, and dropping further would require Sydney to beat the Bulldogs this week.

[Redleg 40,775]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Good point.

And smashing the odd team.

Its a bad time to be losing momentum but there is still time to change.

It is impossible to smash a side without good forward entry and multiple scoring options.

Atm I think we would all agree we have neither.

For example how do we compare with the Dogs? Bont, MacRae, Smith, Libba, Hunter, JJ and Treloar and Dunkley on return, can all dispose well under pressure, with Treloar probably the weakest, but so quick he makes metres. Then forward they have Naughton, English, Bruce, Weightman etc who are clearly better than our guys.

We have a better defence, but their  defence is under less pressure,because of their mids and forwards. 

[Kent 2,905]

20 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

We are 3 games clear of 6th. 5th is the worst possible scenario for a few weeks, and dropping further would require Sydney to beat the Bulldogs this week.

yes its the worst case agreed. Sydney look a chance to me they are hot

[Parmalove 91]

6 hours ago, KingDingAling said:

No need to panic. Too many positives. We need to double down on our processes and sticking to them always - especially in the face of adversity. Mostly we’ve done this. We’ve had to too much - because we always give away starts.

We should focus on winning clearances. Yze has had his time in there and failed us miserably. Time to get someone who is an experienced midfield coach. Solving our midfield goes along way to fixing our forward 50 entries, which in turn helps us score, and takes pressure off our defense.

 

 

 

 

In the first half we continually had one less player at stoppages. We fixed this in the second half. Coaches need to be quicker on theses sorts of things

[Doug Reemer 1,192]

18 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Like Covid here in Nsw.... things have taken a turn for the worse.
A few of us were talking about our grand finals tickets.
Yes I blame you people.
We are still 12 ...3 but are slipping down the ladder almost as fast as my Agl shares on the Asx.
We have a tough run home too.
Our mids have been all over the place and our forward line so many of us( well I was) ....excited about our options seems to have imploded.
Our slow starts are a mystery and a huge problem.
It may not be panic stations yet but its getting close.
How big is our Port game?
What needs to be done re
1.
Our fwd line
2.
Our slow starts.
3.
Our fifty entries.
4.
Our clearances.

Panic? At 12-3..

Moderators should delete this.

Three losses (worst 17 pts). Average losing margin of 9 pts.

[leave it to deever 17,506]

42 minutes ago, Redleg said:

It is impossible to smash a side without good forward entry and multiple scoring options.

Atm I think we would all agree we have neither.

For example how do we compare with the Dogs? Bont, MacRae, Smith, Libba, Hunter, JJ and Treloar and Dunkley on return, can all dispose well under pressure, with Treloar probably the weakest, but so quick he makes metres. Then forward they have Naughton, English, Bruce, Weightman etc who are clearly better than our guys.

We have a better defence, but their  defence is under less pressure,because of their mids and forwards. 

We have the best defence in the comp but our clearances and lack of scoring with poor entry, poor kicking and lack of options needs to be fixed asap if we want a top four.

We have won some great games but failed to bury anyone. Our percentage isnt great at 12.3.

If we lose to Port in Adelaide we will be in some trouble given the games after that.

I think its fair to say if we make top four from here it will be a very good effort.

Next Thursday is a must win.

The positive is we seem to play well when are backs are against the wall.

[Smokey 4,387]

17 hours ago, Dr.D said:

people talking about grand finals need to have a good hard look at themselves. 

Just like you do every time you get it wrong, right? 

Hot tip: You don't 

[deegirl 1,573]

You're all a lot less jaded than I am.  I'm currently here 

 

[Clintosaurus 7,808]

1 hour ago, Parmalove said:

In the first half we continually had one less player at stoppages. We fixed this in the second half. Coaches need to be quicker on theses sorts of things

On one of the podcasts it was mentioned it can take up to 20-30 minutes to get a change to take effect.

With this one the commentators noticed it - surely the players could see it and bring another forward up to the stoppage, if we want to maintain having the extra back?. 

[Brownie 5,967]

2 hours ago, Kent said:

That's what I got also 640!! Its concerning that we have lost against lower sides when we had the opportunity to build a commanding position

It's a familiar story.

Even winning four out of seven is likely to see us out of the top four.

So many wasted opportunities over the years.

[Wunders 397]

Depends what we define as panic?

1. Form as a team = have been worried for weeks.
2. keeping top 2 = Yes, panic as i can't see us keeping it unless we completely change something and that spark is hit.
3. keeping a top 4 spot = yes (as poster above alluded too, all the teams around us have easy draws and we play most of the top 8 teams... so we can make our own history, but i see us loosing most of current form).
4. Making finals = no panic - disappointment that we are not 2 wins higher.

[Brownie 5,967]

Titus O'Reilly's review of the game.

Melbourne (55) v Greater Western Sydney (64)

No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. No need to panic. NO NEED TO PANIC.