On 09/09/2022 at 15:02, Deenooos_ said:

We are the epitome of "All duck, no dinner" (all talk no action)

Too much blabbing on about going back to back and learning from our losses, what a load of rubbish. We have given the whole comp a reason to [censored] on us for the way we've gone about things this year.

100% this.... too much running of mouths/arrogance this year and much of it from senior players including Max, Tracc & Lingers.

Just walk the walk pls fellas and let your footy / on ground efforts & results do the talking like it did in 2021.

As someone posted earlier we STILL haven't learned when it comes to dynasty & big club / culture.

And all this talk about being ruthless.  Yes we found that in 2021 but again, all talk this season with Goody refusing to pick pretty much anyone outside the usual 22 and refusing to change up a losing game style in the last 12 weeks that was clearly found out by the top 5 to 6 clubs. You can't be ruthless if you refuse to reward performance at Casey and ignore poor or sub-par performers (even those clearly out of form for weeks on end) at senior level!!

P.S. Max never got back to anywhere near his 2021 form after coming back from his injury this season and looked to be cooked in these last two matches.

Not helped by an insipid LJ either who sadly never looked like the LJ from 2021 bar a few patches in the odd game...then missing or flakey the rest of the time.  Goal kicking cameos missing from him this year also!  No good up forward, ordinary with taps and a 50/50 proposition at ground level with ball in hand.  How many times did he get the ball and then [censored] his pants handballing to some poor bugger under immediate pressure (and / or turned back into pressure only to be caught anyway) instead of taking the first (kick) option?  Along with BB dropping mark after mark.  Are either of them using grippo!??

I can only assume LJ is off as he never looked truly committed all season.  Weid was as good as LJ in his ruck cameos and at ground level in ruck contests.  Unfortunately that's where it ended for Weid ...but ...we re-signed him for another season....seriously!??  There's some really ordinary stuff happening on the field but also off it this season.

Going after Grundy is not the answer to our putrid forward woes either.  A.massive mistake looming that would haunt us for years if we go ahead.  The Pies wouldn't be looking to loose him unless they knew he was cooked (vs the old Grundy pre injury woes).  Wakey wakey MFC ... We will be the duck if we fall for that trick (again...Daws!!).

Speaking of mouthing off, who is that Johnny come lately numb nut on the big screen that keeps telling us we need to be louder.  GAGS pal!! .I've been yelling my guts out & giving my all for this club for 50 years.... 30 of which were before you ever stepped foot on the G in your woosy gater designer S.A. shoes!  Go take your fricken cheese board and shove it where the sun don't shine mate!

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by Demon Dynasty

  On 09/09/2022 at 13:27, mo64 said:

You complain about the umpires after every loss. How about analysing the performance of the players and coaches for a change? You might find the real reasons for our losses.

I complain after most wins too. The standard is horrendous and allows everything to be passed off as incompetence. 

  On 09/09/2022 at 15:06, 1964_2 said:

For mine, clearly the q4 fade outs are a fitness / desire issue. 

Maybe that is injury related or a number of other potential excuses (short pre-season etc).

The one thing that gets me more, is the mental fragility of suddenly stopping a winning formula when 15-20-25-30 points up in the first half. If this didn’t happen, we would have won at least half our losses this year.

How the same thing can happen, on repeat for a full season, with no signs of improvement is beyond me. 

When 20 points up, why not keep going, and get to 40 and kill the game?? 

Last year we were able to defend leads, put the clamps on. This year the system broke. The pressure wasn't there, particularly forward pressure. And its been like that all year. Even when winning our first 10 games we were never comfortable. Mental, physical, I don't why our defensive structures failed.

  On 09/09/2022 at 14:25, Dr. Gonzo said:

C'mon, selection wouldn't have changed the result. We were completely outplayed in the 2nd half, same as last week.

I agree. I would have liked to see some more youth earlier in the year but there isn't anyone on the list who wasn't playing tonight who would have changed the result.

I reckon we were still loading

  On 09/09/2022 at 14:59, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

The AFL pretty much buried us this year with the draw we were given.

What i don't understand is the simple draw to success those feral trucks down the highway have been given.

Gawn, Salo, BBB, Lever, Riv, Jacko, ANB, Harmesy, Spargs etc. i could go on after R10 never the same.

No Forward structure for weeks and we leave it till the last 5 mins to try something different.

No key marking fwd for Half a season, i have an idea though lets through Petty fwd in the last 5 minutes and see what he can do and what do you know he takes a contested mark and kicks a goal.

Well [censored] me drunk.

A complete and utter waste of a year, Selwyn if i were you mate i wouldn't be going fishing anytime soon.

Sadly it was more bad luck that an AFL conspiracy about our rough draw.

As a top six side last year, we played one team that finished 7-12 and another that finished 13-18. They just happened to be Fremantle and Collingwood, both who improved more than anyone else this year. Each of these games just happened to be played in the second half of the season too, making it a fixture from hell, given we basically played finalists in about 9 of our last 12 games. We were the hunted, everyone wanted to beat us and primed themselves for us, and we never had an easy game at all after round 10. The three teams that weren’t finalists that we played were Carlton (in the eight when we played them), Port (who had a top 8 worthy second half of season) and Crows in Adelaide (who were very competitive near the end). You can understand why we were so banged up and fatigued now - Goodwin should have been resting players and rotating good performers in from Casey. Casey has lost one game all season! This is where we failed.

On the other hand, Geelong played return games against WCE (7-12th) and North (13-18th). When the fixture came out, there was nothing to suggest return games against the Fremantle/Collingwood double would be a harder task than WCE/North. 

The other issue is our first 10 games were almost all played against average sides. We were lazy in most of them, allowed bad habits to slip in, relying on pure talent to play one or two good quarters to win most of them. Then when we got to 10-0, coming off a premiership, we knew we had secured a finals birth and most realised something would have to go majority wrong to miss top 4 from there (god forbid we almost did). Psychologically, this made the second half of the season against quality opposition difficult, knowing there wasn’t much to play for, to dedicate that extra 10% (which every other side was doing). We need to be smarter in 2023, looking at the season as a marathon and not a sprint, and properly utilising our list rather than being loyal to fatigued bagged up players, some out of form.

Game plan and regular inaccuracy also issues but I won’t turn this post into an essay on a Saturday morning.

I just can’t believe it took until the last 10 minutes of the season to put Petty forward. The lack of dare in the coaching group is abysmal.

 

Where are the FD/Goodwin Truthers? I mean that lovingly…

Coz I have nothing other than ‘yes he should keep his job sheesh’ after last night.’

Defend your people! Dispute my lying eyes! C’mon!

  On 09/09/2022 at 14:48, Dr. Gonzo said:

So it was the coaches spraying the ball everywhere but through the sticks in the 1st half was it? The coaches were the reason Kozzie dribbles the ball into the post? The coaches the reason we couldn't win a one on one contest in the 2nd half, were outnumbered at the drop of the ball and didn't pressure the ball carrier?

Give me a spell.

Haha you genuinely believe this don't you.. My god you're delusional. 

Not the fact that our game plan was completely flawed from the moment Freo Sydney and the likes exposed it mid year.

Goodwin and the coaching group showed a complete and utter lack of match day innovation when we were challenged throughout the year especially in the 2nd half.

They continued backing of the same method in our forward structure that was being pulled apart by teams because of how easily one dimensional it was. Bang it into the pocket and pray like hell our smalls lock it in, yet we were rated 17th for forward half pressure. So the smalls weren't even doing their job.

Coaching group completely butchering team selections this year. Not taking our opportunities to rest blokes against North and West Coast when there were early signs of fatigue. Exposed once again tonight for going in completely banged up and yet the coaching group had the absolute nerve to go in unchanged.

Complete stubbornness and arrogance to not only refuse to reward the blokes who showed consistent form at VFL level this year in the likes of JVR, Chandler, Laurie, Bedford, Dunstan but the continued backing of Sparrow, Spargo, ANB Rivers who have all been consistently poor especially 2nd half this year.

No willingness to try and bring in fresh face or personnel to give our playing group a different edge or new element come match day.

Maybe explain to me what was our plan B this year? 

Only time Goody and the coaching group decided to show a hint of plan B was 3 minutes to go last night and they decided to throw Petty forward because it only just hit them then that our season was a bees [censored] from being done.

Pur season capitulated on the back of poor coaching from our coaching staff.

So yes, give me an absolute spell if you think this is solely on the players.

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:07, rpfc said:

Where are the FD/Goodwin Truthers? I mean that lovingly…

Coz I have nothing other than ‘yes he should keep his job sheesh’ after last night.’

Defend your people! Dispute my lying eyes! C’mon!

Can you be a good coach AND have things to work on and address?

Well at least we were a chance in virtually all games this year - Unlike last year we kept getting run over in quarters and games.  The apprentice is not the master. Selwyn < Darren.

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by DeeMee

Found the problem to flicking the switch most were so confident we would do…. 

 

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:14, DeeMee said:

Well at least we were a chance in virtually all games this year. Unlike last year we kept getting run over.  The apprentice is not the master. Selwyn < Darren.

Lack of fitness a major issue, dysfunctional forward line with no serious attempt to fix it was the other.

Imo it’s been a season of missed opportunities. 

Having Tmac out for a majority of the season hurt us massively. 

I really hope the coaches concentrate on forward 50 connection and goal kicking this off-season as these were the 2 biggest issues which we couldn’t address. 

  On 09/09/2022 at 20:46, Demon Dynasty said:

100% this.... too much running of mouths/arrogance this year and much of it from senior players including Max, Tracc & Lingers.

You have to wonder whether they were merely the messengers, and it was Goody/some of the coaches who spent the year telling them that our method and game-plan was superior, and if we just got it all in order then we could beat any one - and that this fast down the corridor method of attack won't last and these clubs will yield to our method of strangulation. All of this just eventually leaked out via Langdon in the most naive way possible.

Obviously you can't blame anyone for thinking that way - That 'confidence and arrogance' is what makes a team succeed - but it also can be the blinders that shield you from the realisation that your method and game-plan has been superseded and needs major overhaul. Whether that's correct is anyones guess...

Because It could be that we were only temporarily beaten and the system needs a fully fit group, tweaking/positional changes and a slightly easier fixture. But only time well tell.

Go Dees in 2023!

lol what a ride. 

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by John Demonic

Totally embarrassing end of the season for the club - get straight settled on our home deck by a team we slaughtered during the season by over 100 points collectively. 

This is peak Melbourne. We finish second on the ladder then proceed to lose two home finals to interstate teams at the MCG - what better way to repay the loyal 66k faithful.

This is is a bitter pill to taste and it only makes being unable to witness in person last years finals series even more depressing. 

Thank god we banked the 2021 flag because I can’t help but think we’re destined to go backwards next year. 

 

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:14, Engorged Onion said:

Can you be a good coach AND have things to work on and address?

Oh absolutely, which is why I am wondering where all those that said ‘she’ll be right’ are to argue that point.

Or don’t, it doesn’t matter in the end.

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:20, rpfc said:

Oh absolutely, which is why I am wondering where all those that said ‘she’ll be right’ are to argue that point.

Or don’t, it doesn’t matter in the end.

🤷‍♀️

Those folk are probably not as invested about writing vitriol about players and coaches as some others are, nor the need to respond to try to convince those that ARE writing vitriol to think differently perhaps??

From my vantage point, the disappointment in this thread is understandable, the entitlement and subsequent repercussions required is absolutely astounding though.

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by Engorged Onion

  On 09/09/2022 at 14:35, 1964_2 said:

hi Jack V. hope you are resting well tonight. As one of many examples coming back to me.. really really hard to comprehend. 

He was responsible for their goal with 10 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter.  It gave them a ray of hope that if they came out all guns blazing in the 3rd and quickly goaled, which they did, they were back in it.  Without that goal we were 28 pts at the main break.  Within a few minutes of the 3rd starting we were just 8 pts up.  Without that on the siren goal they didn't have that little confidence boost.  It would have been more of the 'here we go again' feeling.

Why do I say Viney was responsible.  Max tapped the ball into the dirt for Viney to pick up or at worst kill it before the siren.  Viney stood a few meters off Zorko at the CB.  He hesitated when Max tapped the ball down.  Zorko ran onto the ball didn't break stride and there was their confidence boosting goal.  It made Zorko feel 10' tall.

Not the reason for the loss but a very significant moment to lose.  Last week coaches talked about winning the significant moments is so important in finals.  That was a very significant moment in the context of the game.

Viney had to kill that ball!

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by Lucifers Hero

Ignominious. 

  On 09/09/2022 at 20:52, Glorious Day said:

Sadly it was more bad luck that an AFL conspiracy about our rough draw.

As a top six side last year, we played one team that finished 7-12 and another that finished 13-18. They just happened to be Fremantle and Collingwood, both who improved more than anyone else this year. Each of these games just happened to be played in the second half of the season too, making it a fixture from hell, given we basically played finalists in about 9 of our last 12 games.

I won't blame a conspiracy, but you have to wonder why our middle fixture double up was Fremantle, a team clearly on the up alongside the Swans, that beat us in Cairns a few weeks earlier. And Collingwood who have the wood on us in general, although I'll attribute it to $$ - Still, I do hope the club actually asks to have a weighted fixture that gives us something nearing a 5th hardest draw and a little bit more foresight. Gold Coast and Hawthorn pls.

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by John Demonic

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:23, Engorged Onion said:

🤷‍♀️

Those folk are probably not as invested about writing vitriol about players and coaches as some others are, nor the need to respond to try to convince those that ARE writing vitriol to think differently perhaps??

From my vantage point, the disappointment in this thread is understandable, the entitlement and subsequent repercussions required is absolutely astounding though.

Entitlement? Some are frustrated at the ‘tutt-tutting’ and the (perhaps entitled) palmed heads they endured when the raised their concerns on here. 

And it’s only as astounding as the occasional victory laps from the palmed head crowd after the Brisbane wins, now after the Brisbane loss…

Two associated salient facts that beg for explanation - 

1. On a ladder of ‘second half only’ results from Round 11, we came 16th, above only North and West Coast. This is frankly staggering considering how obvious and contrary it is to fact 2.
2. Ladder of first halves for same Rounds, top 4. 
 
Which confirms the following. Firstly, many of the factors people are blaming for our season demise are simply not a problem in the first half of those games - skill, pressure, forward connection, etc. Secondly, something went drastically and horribly awry in our planning and processes for the second half of the season to be a bottom 3 performer in second halves of games. 
 

Anyone any theories? And I’d beware making statements about fact 1 that are contradicted by fact 2. 

  On 09/09/2022 at 21:33, rpfc said:

Entitlement? Some are frustrated at the ‘tutt-tutting’ and the (perhaps entitled) palmed heads they endured when the raised their concerns on here. 

And it’s only as astounding as the occasional victory laps from the palmed head crowd after the Brisbane wins, now after the Brisbane loss…

Ahhh, I get it (I think) - I think what you're misinterpreting is that those that believed things would resolve, did not have ANY concerns at all. What I am saying is that there are many entitled (ie: we SHOULD have won, ergo, x player is a spud, coach is stubborn) posts - and THAT entitlement/expectation coming off the back of last years Premiership SHOULD mean that we got to a prelim at a minimum... it's a failure to take into account a myriad of other factors.

Matter of fact, for those that raised concerns - there should be less vitriol!

ps...nothing in this below GIF - just riffing on your Pulp Fiction one. 👌

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by Engorged Onion

  On 09/09/2022 at 20:46, Demon Dynasty said:

100% this.... too much running of mouths/arrogance this year and much of it from senior players including Max, Tracc & Lingers.

Just walk the walk pls fellas and let your footy / on ground efforts & results do the talking like it did in 2021.

As someone posted earlier we STILL haven't learned when it comes to dynasty & big club / culture.

And all this talk about being ruthless.  Yes we found that in 2021 but again, all talk this season with Goody refusing to pick pretty much anyone outside the usual 22 and refusing to change up a losing game style in the last 12 weeks that was clearly found out by the top 5 to 6 clubs. You can't be ruthless if you refuse to reward performance at Casey and ignore poor or sub-par performers (even those clearly out of form for weeks on end) at senior level!!

P.S. Max never got back to anywhere near his 2021 form after coming back from his injury this season and looked to be cooked in these last two matches.

Not helped by an insipid LJ either who sadly never looked like the LJ from 2021 bar a few patches in the odd game...then missing or flakey the rest of the time.  Goal kicking cameos missing from him this year also!  No good up forward, ordinary with taps and a 50/50 proposition at ground level with ball in hand.  How many times did he get the ball and then [censored] his pants handballing to some poor bugger under immediate pressure (and / or turned back into pressure only to be caught anyway) instead of taking the first (kick) option?  Along with BB dropping mark after mark.  Are either of them using grippo!??

I can only assume LJ is off as he never looked truly committed all season.  Weid was as good as LJ in his ruck cameos and at ground level in ruck contests.  Unfortunately that's where it ended for Weid ...but ...we re-signed him for another season....seriously!??  There's some really ordinary stuff happening on the field but also off it this season.

Going after Grundy is not the answer to our putrid forward woes either.  A.massive mistake looming that would haunt us for years if we go ahead.  The Pies wouldn't be looking to loose him unless they knew he was cooked (vs the old Grundy pre injury woes).  Wakey wakey MFC ... We will be the duck if we fall for that trick (again...Daws!!).

Speaking of mouthing off, who is that Johnny come lately numb nut on the big screen that keeps telling us we need to be louder.  GAGS pal!! .I've been yelling my guts out & giving my all for this club for 50 years.... 30 of which were before you ever stepped foot on the G in your woosy gater designer S.A. shoes!  Go take your fricken cheese board and shove it where the sun don't shine mate!

Yeh I agree. I really hope the club is smart enough to ensure we recruit the players we need for the positions where we are lacking. I think JT is reliable and will get us what we need.

We have Turner to come in for May when he retires (I really hope May doesn't drop off a cliff next year at 31 and hope he play until 33, he's just too good). Anyway we will have JVR to come in as the pack crashing marking forward which we need so badly and TMAC has another 2-3 good years in him. I would just drop BBB next season, his knee is cooked and he won't be better than JVR or TMac next year. How good would a forward line be with those two contested marking forwards?

In terms of injuries; I'm convinced we had at least 8 players out there under a significant injury cloud: 

- Max (cooked syndesmosis ankle, and groin)

- Lever (multiple rolled ankles in the last 2-3 games)

- Petracca (fractured leg)

- BBB (cooked knee)

- Jackson (ligament sprain in knee needing surgery)

So when you look at it, we are completely banged up and it shows. Gawn's syndesmosis has a recovery time ranging from 2-6 months but is this recovery slowed when running around on it for months on end, probably. Many others including Pickett and Fritsch with knee issues too.

If we don't make at least a prelim/grand final next year we will be a complete laughing stock. I can't accept that we come out next year with everyone healed up and not cause the comp some serious problems. We will learn that our 2021 style won't win us another flag as we will have learned this year, so they will go to work in the off season to make us better. We are too good for that not to happen.

In the end the premiership hangover did hit us I think, and the pressure and expectation of it all was too much. It was embarrassing that we couldn't at least make a prelim but it is what it is. The better days are not over.

 

Edited September 9, 20222 yr by Deenooos_