14 minutes ago, djr said:

I stated in my thread that we do have forward connection issues, as we did at this time last year. In that context we are tracking similar to 2021.

In terms of pressure, you're saying that you haven't been impressed with our pressure over the last three weeks. Those matches were played at a frantic finals pace. You then assume that because we had three wins in a row coming into the final round last year, we are far better prepared. So, who did we play against? 3 bottom sides, Suns, Eagles and Crows. We almost lost the Eagles game. This year we have played 3 finals teams and won 2 out of 3 with Collingwood just getting over the line against us. I will argue that this is a far better preparation than last year.

The clearance stat is meaningless. Last year we lost the clearance count against the Crows and broke even against the Eagles.

No, our pressure as an overall has been below the bottom 3 all year, not just the past 3 weeks. Those 3 games we lost simply because when the pressure was ramped up we simply could not stop the momentum.

Last year we were able to combat this in games and stem the tide towards our own game.

As I have already mentioned, our back half of the year and finals wins last year was built on the back of our fanatic pressure and forward half turnovers.

The past few games this has been non existent and that's the big concern in itself going into the finals that we haven't been able to rectify this. 

Our game plan is far too predictable starting from the kick out (teams have worked this out already by setting up numbers on the left side of thr ground) to us bombing it into the pocket going forward. 

We've had positional changes, but we haven't changed our method at all in proving to opposition teams that we have a plan B in place once teams get a run on.

Apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere and I’ve missed it, but did we send Fritsch to the backline for the last 11 seconds? This photo on the siren suggests so and on the replay it looks like it just can’t quite make out if it’s him. Wonder if this was planned for a tight finish or decided on the spot.

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by Dee Zephyr

1 hour ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Recall the same situation was allowed (once that i saw) in the previous round.

And in our game earlier, when Cripps played on outside the boundary, past the guy on the mark and then came into play and the umpire called play on. Love the inconsistency.

On 8/14/2022 at 9:00 AM, The heart beats true said:

You inferred we had no luck last year, which is untrue. I’m not saying we are in top form right now, but I think it’s important to remember that in 2021 we had a lot of things go right (which all Premiers need).

The nostalgia for 2021 focuses heavily on the football we played in the last half of the Grand Final. The draw to Hawthorn and the loss to Adelaide doesn’t come up much.

We had luck to throw away.

In terms of injuries we were very very lucky ...often with a full compliment to choose from.

Call it luck or maybe it was a well-timed club with a fitness staff keeping things going well.

But assuming they are still doing a good job we haven't been lucky with injuries.

Petty didn't start till late.

Salem missed a lot of the early eason.

Lever in and out due to injuries.

May had a few health issues.

Our fwd line lost Tmav just when he and bbb started to gel.( probably rubbed against frittas hairdo)

Bbb was injured.

There were a couple of other critical ones but I'd have to go back and check.

A few covid protocols changed not a few teams so yea last year we were much luckier..

Rembervthe year after we made the prelim and then had the injury season from hell.

Well it has not been too bad this year but much worse than last years dream run.

Anywho as the old saying goes....you make your own luck.

 

Whatever that means. Maybe it means in 90 sets you have the will and composure to forget the previous close losses and kick a winning goal with 14 sec left on the tic toc.

I don't know.

As the other old saying goes...the harder we run...the harder we tackle...the more we push ourselves....the luckier we get.

 

My favorite old wise saying is.....if a man's name is Jake is is still a lucky snake of a player.

 

And this weekend we will get very lucky and win by throwing the kitchen sink at Brisbane.  

 

1 hour ago, 1964_2 said:

Do we organise Maysie to take J.Smith, Chandler, Weid, JVR, Laurie, Hunt to Entrecôte and see how many more match winners he can develop? 

You might think that's an embrace of joy at first glance.

I interpreted it more as Maysie trying to make sure that Melk can't get his hands free! 😄

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

have already mentioned, our back half of the year and finals wins last year was built on the back of our fanatic pressure and forward half turnovers.

The past few games this has been non existent and that's the big concern in itself going into the finals that we haven't been able to rectify this. 

On a more serious note...

This is spot on Dazzle and evidenced by higher scores kicked against us this year.

I'm not sure what happened down back but it just seemed like a busted h20 pipe at times.

Maybe Salem and Petty missing early games.

Lever in and out. Bowie not there. Rivers form dipped

But the difference bw this year and last years backline was night and day.

Then there's tge fwd line but I wouldn't know where to start.

Interesting if we win the last h and a game again we will finish 2nd.

This team at its height with no injuries and everyone playing their absolute best would do more than back to back.

That's the frustrating factor....how good we really are to what we actually often see.

Still love them all. Especially big Max who has been a sublime captain and the sort of bloke that would rally any player.

8 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

On a more serious note...

This is spot on Dazzle and evidenced by higher scores kicked against us this year.

I'm not sure what happened down back but it just seemed like a busted h20 pipe at times.

Maybe Salem and Petty missing early games.

Lever in and out. Bowie not there. Rivers form dipped

But the difference bw this year and last years backline was night and day.

Then there's tge fwd line but I wouldn't know where to start.

Interesting if we win the last h and a game again we will finish 2nd.

This team at its height with no injuries and everyone playing their absolute best would do more than back to back.

That's the frustrating factor....how good we really are to what we actually often see.

Still love them all. Especially big Max who has been a sublime captain and the sort of bloke that would rally any player.

Yep.

Combination of key players like Lever, Petty, Salem and Rivers all banged up with injuries, and teams now able to piece through defensive system through doing their homework.

See below ( or above)

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by leave it to deever
File size

32 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere and I’ve missed it, but did we send Fritsch to the backline for the last 11 seconds? This photo on the siren suggests so and on the replay it looks like it just can’t quite make out if it’s him. Wonder if this was planned for a tight finish or decided on the spot.

Could have come back with numbers after the bounce.

The photo also suggests Lever's desire to be a pogo stick..

38 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Apologies if it’s been mentioned elsewhere and I’ve missed it, but did we send Fritsch to the backline for the last 11 seconds? This photo on the siren suggests so and on the replay it looks like it just can’t quite make out if it’s him. Wonder if this was planned for a tight finish or decided on the spot.

 

15 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Yep.

Combination of key players like Lever, Petty, Salem and Rivers all banged up with injuries, and teams now able to piece through defensive system through doing their homework.

I think the thing that has contributed to both of the above is the de-emphasis on forward pressure for much of the season. That has then allowed teams to kick through our Web, putting pressure on our banged up backline.

2 hours ago, 1964_2 said:

Good to hear.

Question is can we implement a bit of this kind of creativity and attacking style before it gets to desperation stakes? (losing with minutes to go) 

 

Its been said a few times by players that they watched the end of the Coll game multiple times to distill what they should do in a 2/3 minute have to win the game scenario.

We had 3 players in the middle of the ground to attack through the corridor rather than the boundary and thats why Lever was signalling to kick it there (which he did)

I recall Clarko practising that against us when the Hawks were 100 pts up. I thought he was just being mean but he was using the 'dead time' to practice two minute match simulations.

 

28 minutes ago, layzie said:

Could have come back with numbers after the bounce.

The photo also suggests Lever's desire to be a pogo stick..

That’s what I’m trying to work out, if he dropped back with numbers after the bounce he’s done it with lightning speed. From the TV replay it looks like he was already stationed inside our defensive 50 after the kick forward by the Carlton mid.

Was curious that’s all, wanted to know if anyone at the ground noticed it.

12 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Its been said a few times by players that they watched the end of the Coll game multiple times to distill what they should do in a 2/3 minute have to win the game scenario.

We had 3 players in the middle of the ground to attack through the corridor rather than the boundary and thats why Lever was signalling to kick it there (which he did)

I recall Clarko practising that against us when the Hawks were 100 pts up. I thought he was just being mean but he was using the 'dead time' to practice two minute match simulations.

 

I thought at the game that we played the last two minutes really well, and the kick inside to the corridor by Lever was super smart - great vison is what i thought live.

It was great vison, however I listened to Kozzie and Melk being interviewed in the way home and both said they had specifically trained for that scenario during the week after the last two minutes of the pies game.

Ad noted, Lever was waving at players to get in their, and when he collected the ball he barely looked in board, just kicked it on a weird angle accross his body.

I assume they set up that exact play ie multiple players into the corridor and then a lateral inboard kick. 

Great coaching, great work by the players to execute.

That said we got a pretty lucky bounce 

 

19 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Its been said a few times by players that they watched the end of the Coll game multiple times to distill what they should do in a 2/3 minute have to win the game scenario.

We had 3 players in the middle of the ground to attack through the corridor rather than the boundary and thats why Lever was signalling to kick it there (which he did)

I recall Clarko practising that against us when the Hawks were 100 pts up. I thought he was just being mean but he was using the 'dead time' to practice two minute match simulations.

 

I thought at the game that we played the last two minutes really well, and the kick inside to the corridor by Lever was super smart - great vison is what i thought live.

It was great vison, however I listened to Kozzie and Melk being interviewed in the way home and both said they had specifically trained for that scenario during the week after the last two minutes of the pies game.

Ad noted, Lever was waving at players to get in their, and when he collected the ball he barely looked in board, just kicked it on a weird angle accross his body.

I assume they set up that exact play ie multiple players into the corridor and then a lateral inboard kick. 

Great coaching, great work by the players to execute.

That said we got a pretty lucky bounce 

 

Great won by the boys. Was great to see them get reward for effort.

I did want to bring this up and I'm not sure if it has already 

This photo for me highlights my biggest concern coming in to the business end of the season. Viney should have hit up nibbler on the lead.

It's not just Viney, our mids inability to hit easy F50 targets reduces our ability to score and soak up opposition pressure.

That kick should have been made. The game should have been sealed then 

3 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Just watching the game again (the perks of self employment), and watching Melksham and Hunt’s games, it’s like we’ve been gifted two new gun players. 

Melksham's endeavour has gone up several notches this year.  Hunt's disposal is now B and can hold out Bowie whose is A but not as quick or tall.

44 minutes ago, rpfc said:

I think the thing that has contributed to both of the above is the de-emphasis on forward pressure for much of the season. That has then allowed teams to kick through our Web, putting pressure on our banged up backline.

Are there specific players negligent inches area. It's not Kozzie or Anb. Fritta does a fair ammountnof work.

Spargo hasn't playedcas well as last year.

Kicking to the same pocket has been very predictable and and when shooting from there has added to our consistent goal scoring inconsistency.

Aside from the state of both attack and defence and even though we were inaccurate last year it's still a part of our game that needs to be fixed.

 

Fritta has very much improved his set shots and become very reliable. Tmac has always been a sharp shooter bit has missed too many games. He's also tom Hawkins like in terms of a big body applying pressure.

After the prelim Max's goal kicking is woeful. Now Jackson is following his lead.

The 2 best mids in the game are below par in this part of the equation.

I'll finish on a positive for once....we are not relying on other teams losing to see if we will make the eight.🙃

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

And in our game earlier, when Cripps played on outside the boundary, past the guy on the mark and then came into play and the umpire called play on. Love the inconsistency.

Different interpreting depending on the star level maybe Mr Leg?  Bit like the appeal of the appeal 😄

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by Demon Dynasty

I just watched the first half.  We didnt do much wrong other than...

Key forwards not playing in front often enough, namely BB.  Jackson was better here when forward but both he and BB run under the ball far too often when they do play in front.

Fritta does some nice things.  Including good pressure inside 50.

Then often isn't quite aware or cognisant of the team things after he disposes (eg; shepards) and or staying down when he's coming from behind into a 1 v 1 marking contest for the potential spill.  Team stuff pls Fritta especially when you're higher up the ground.

The other issue which we keep harping on about.  Gettable set shots at goal.  Namely...

Maxy, LJ & Spargo.  Get two of those three we go into the half 20 points up and we have a decent margin without needing the 2 minute maniacal play at the bell ...plus the luck needed to pull off the miraculous win.

Watching Max kick from a very slight angle 35 out in the first quarter...

His run up is too slow.  Too much time to think it over.  As he runs in he slowly gathers a bit of momentum and starts to look like he might hit it sweet and he appears like he is almost running at the middle of the goals.

But thats where it ends.  The momentum seizes up a little on the last few steps.  Finally as he plants his left foot to kick off his right...the left foot goes on a 45 degree angle pointing to the left.  His body then rotates to follow that foot out to the left as he leans back to try for a little more power off that last step.   And guess where he puts the ball?  Yep...in the direction the left foot is facing... left (hook!).

Someone seriously needs to get hold of Maxy between now and finals and correct the whole method or at least ensure that the last step has him planting that left foot in line with the goals.... not like a duck's foot...out to the left.  And running with more momentum over the ball as he kicks through it...not easing/leaning back on the last few steps.  Easier said than done of course.

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by Demon Dynasty

We were very lucky to win.. Carlton applied more pressure and are a real chance against the Maggies next week. 

Carlton got little benefit from their height advantage at the back  In the final quarter on the wing they had 3 against BBrown but no one was hanging back to run and punch Lever-style.  Ditto, Melksham's mark in the last.  All three flew at the front. 

56 minutes ago, COVID Dan said:

Great won by the boys. Was great to see them get reward for effort.

I did want to bring this up and I'm not sure if it has already 

 

This photo for me highlights my biggest concern coming in to the business end of the season. Viney should have hit up nibbler on the lead.

It's not just Viney, our mids inability to hit easy F50 targets reduces our ability to score and soak up opposition pressure.

That kick should have been made. The game should have been sealed then 

I have a feeling over the last few weeks that Viney is trying to do a bit too much, slipping back into old habits.

This was an absolute howler and I also felt like he tried to take on Cripps a couple of times and the big body just swallowed him whole.

I think big mids will be what we see teams employ often as it negates the strength our guys have (strength in contest).

Geelong did it very will with Blicavs and we were much less dominant with Cripps around the ball 

 

 

17 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

We were very lucky to win.. Carlton applied more pressure and are a real chance against the Maggies next week. 

Carlton got little benefit from their height advantage at the back  In the final quarter on the wing they had 3 against BBrown but no one was hanging back to run and punch Lever-style.  Ditto, Melksham's mark in the last.  All three flew at the front. 

That’s because they expected a kick to the pocket or front of square by Gawn and positioned to go there. The Carlton defenders were all out of position as Gawn’s kick had more deep penetration  to the fat side of the goal square and had to scramble back to where Melksham and Langdon were.

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by John Crow Batty

5 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Recall the same situation was allowed (once that i saw) in the previous round.

Love your Avatar.

Reminds me of those footy cards we used to get in sunnycrust bread.

Maybe it is.

Or maybe I'm just too old.