My Observations from the 3rd tier.

Langdon runs and runs, but then seems so puffed that he stuffs up the next delivery.

Hunter, for a guy that's supposed to be an elite kick, seems to miss his targets way too often.

Again, whats with all the underground handballs, inevitably ended up as a turn over.

Good Stuff was JVR's attack on the ball, I was worried that he might go into his shell (But no)

Viney was awesome and should be getting much more love than he does on here (apart from his brain fade backward pass)

Just now, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Good turnout from our supporters tonight. I thought we outnumbered the emergency services people 70/30. 

A bit harsh Rab.  Half of them were ordered to Marvel to try and jump start the Blues

33 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

What I liked.

Dynamic first quarter. Upped the pressure and Hawks folded.

Petty looking like a CHF.

Tracc creative but brutal.

May unpassable. Only time Lewis won a one on one was a massive push in the back.

Backline worked well particularly in first half. Hibbo was particularly good against Breust.

Hunter looked much more physical this week.

McVee again.Such a smooth mover who does everything at speed.

Dislikes: Langdon is struggling. Maybe injured.

Kozzie, yet to really break a game open. He threatens.

ANB's fumbling.

Thought Kozzie Chandler and Langers were all disappointing.

2 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

A bit harsh Rab.  Half of them were ordered to Marvel to try and jump start the Blues

Hopefully they'll be pronounced dead at the scene. 

18 minutes ago, binman said:

And I just listened to the presser and goody was pretty clear he's staying there for the foreseeable future. 

But I just think as well as he has been performing forward we will need a third elite tall down back come finals against rhe best teams.

Petty was at his best and it was no coincidence that hawks played better with him off.

Maybe come finals time we have find an alternative but for now, it's great that Petty played as a power forward today.

When Petty lined upon front for his goal, Clarry called all the players downfield to get close, and when he kicked it they all mobbed him.

There was a real team celebration of Petty kicking that, and I wondered if it was a behind the scenes confidence thing (you've been doing everything right and even though you haven't hit the scoreboard we know you will soon).

After he kicked the goal he started clunking some good marks around the ground too.

40 minutes ago, praha said:

I think a lot of people are missing something about games like today. Watching it very close to ground level in AFL Members, the Hawks pressure and spread in the second half was intense. We still won by 10 goals. In literally any other decade, a 10+ goal win is a "belting". We belted Hawthorn today. They gave it their all. At their best, we are still a 10 goal better team. Which is as it should be between top 4 and bottom 4. No one team at their best is 100 points better than any other team at their best. It's an anomaly. If people think a 10 goal win is "uninspiring", then I'm scared for the league for when we are 100% switched on.

I have two key take aways from today and they're not even team based, they're player based:

1. Hibberd oozes professional and football smarts. He and May in the same backline is key to us winning a flag. Lever, Rivers, soon Salem, McVee, Bowey are all intercept and zone players. Hibberd and May are our 1-on-1 lockdown defenders. It's so good having Hibberd back and playing well. The definition of "experience down back".

2. Langdon is beyond simply being "down on form". I watched him closely today. He is unaccountable, points fingers a lot, avoids tackles.. teams are targeting his space and exploiting it. He is a liability against good teams. Going to be a very interesting month for him to see how he performs.

Good bit of perspective.  I think the yearning for the 100 point win is part and parcel of the whole mfsss.

Glad someone gave Pig his props. He's still clearly a very good player and doesn't seem to have lost any of his speed. As for Langers I don't know what's going on. 

2 hours ago, McQueen said:

An absolute amazing amount of seagulls tonight I was gobsmacked. 

They hit you in the mouth???

Did you bring them with you from Perth, Steve?

2 hours ago, Demonised said:

If you offered me a ten goal win before the game I would have taken it.

Of course, but the win was somewhat underwhelming and not exactly what I hoped for a team aiming for another premiership

If Hibberd keeps playing like this will be hard not to give him another contract. 

2 hours ago, binman said:

We need another tall. 

From comments by goody it sounds like BB is a ways of being in the right shape.

Probably explains why tmac was an emergency to cover JVR if needed. 

And I'm not convinced tmac is in optimal shape either.

I could imagine them bringing Smith in.

I've always thought playing forward is the best role to best take advantage of his strengths.

His athleticism, speed off the mark and leap means he is well placed to bring the ball to ground in marking contests and win ground balls.

And he has good hands and is a really good set shot, including from distance. 

Playing forward also mitigates his weaknesses, that conversely were exposed down back, in particular his sometimes questionable footy iq and shaky defensive skills.

But down forward he is a bit freer to just go for it and fly for everything.

Maybe they bring Smith in and give tmac and bb another few weeks, inclusive of the bye, to get cherry ripe for the back end of the season.

I’m also keen to see what Joel can bring, and yes, much more curious to see him around our goals than the opposition’s. 
 

I do have memories of Joel flying for everything and getting in the way more than “being the way” at times, but his hunger to prove himself must be stronger than ever these days. 

Viney is on track for his best B&F finish in a long time. Great to see

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Last week was not a soft kill. We got lucky to win. 

I found that so annoying..we weren’t lucky to win. We led for the entire match after the first few seconds and would have been unlucky to lose ..

2 hours ago, DemonOX said:

What happened to Petty???

Pretty sure someone stood on his foot. Hopefully not the Fritch injury …

1 hour ago, binman said:

And I just listened to the presser and goody was pretty clear he's staying there for the foreseeable future. 

But I just think as well as he has been performing forward we will need a third elite tall down back come finals against rhe best teams.

After the display from Petty tonight, i suspect that he will be the swingman

later in the year. Max and Grundy both going forward and kicking goals also causes trouble.

I would think tbat smith coming in as a forward would be worth a try.

I am concerned about Tmac and BBB

Is it just me or is the push in the back dead?

They only seem to pay it when a player is pushed on the run?

5 minutes ago, defuture15 said:

Is it just me or is the push in the back dead?

They only seem to pay it when a player is pushed on the run?

It's not just you. There's a push in the back epidemic. And it should be called out.

 

It's not strength in the contest.  It's cheating. 

Hands in the back rule should never have been rescinded.  It made it easier to adjudicate and disarmed players like that Collingwood  / Freo nuffie James Clement who built a career on cheating. 

Wouldn't mind seeing us put Rivers in the middle instead of Sparrow. He has elite disposal and can find plenty of it. 

I don't think Rivers is getting enough love for the outstanding season he is having.

Just now, Jerry Lundergard said:

I don't think Rivers is getting enough love for the outstanding season he is having.

He's an absolute Jet. Really hope he gets more midfield minutes. 

6 minutes ago, Jerry Lundergard said:

I don't think Rivers is getting enough love for the outstanding season he is having.

His desperation is fantastic

2 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I love a good Shiraz, but don't need one tonight. And I don't enjoy it for what it "does". I enjoy the taste, the experience and the conversation over a good wine. We won, only it was in a frustrating manner. 

That’s what it does.

These sorts of wins are what should set our H&A season up. 

If you’re expecting flawless football and 100-point wins you’re not thinking right. 

We are winning games by comfortable margins while actively experimenting - we are trying new things forward of the ball with personnel and structure and we are learning how to score from sources other than stoppage. 

Imagine what happens when we settle. 

Yes, we need to show that we can produce good football against Port (and Collingwood, and Brisbane, and Geelong), but to be banking wins whilst developing in front of our eyes is precisely what we should all be demanding from this part of our fixture. Not 100-point wins. 

Just started watching the replay.

Seriously how the hell do people who get paid to commentate on footy get away with doing do little research or have so little knowledge about teams.

About 9:20 left on the clock in the forst q the pressure gauge comes up showing us with a whopping 230. 

Dunstall says, paraphrasing, wow. Terrific for a club not known for the pressure this year. Seriously?

That was 5 mins after Lyon could answer what sort of set shot is Petty? Has he not watched him? Sheesh

Edited May 13, 20231 yr by binman

21 minutes ago, Jerry Lundergard said:

I don't think Rivers is getting enough love for the outstanding season he is having.

Been one of my favourites since he came to the club