Just now, Phil C said:

Cox and Maynard. Name two more unlikable [censored]?

Crisp maybe? That's only one.

24 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Geez Louise. Only we could have concocted a scenario where we nearly coughed up a game at the death that could’ve been won by 15 goals. 

In fact lots of teams have done exactly that against the Pies. The big difference is that they have run over to top of the others and we didn't let that happen

Just now, Stinger said:

100% agree. Daicos simply couldn’t go with him and kossie made it bloody tough for him. Watching him at the game is the only way you can appreciate his value. He’s an absolute workhorse and zero chance he gets dropped.

Has played something lime 60 of our last 62 odd games.

Any suggestion he is getting dropped anytime soon is completely laugable.

 

Just now, Phil C said:

Cox and Maynard. Name two more unlikable [censored]?

I don't mind Maynard. He's thuggish, sure, but probably a ripper off the field. Cox has tickets on himself when he shouldn't.

11 minutes ago, adonski said:

• Brayshaw's & ANBs first quarters would have had Goodwin searching for two sub vests, our field kicking woes continue
• McVee sees the game in slow mo
• Tomlinson fantastic game
• Admirable effort from Smith but really need Petty in
• Don't think we're able to play Pickett, ANB, Spargo, Chandler all in the same side, especially given none of them play midfield minutes - Oliver in for one last three
• Would like to clone Salem and put one in the midfield

You really have the sads for Nibbler today Ads. At the game I thought he was terrific. Covering lots of territory and really keeping pressure on their ball carriers not to mention that last goal!

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Back 6 were [censored] unreal!

Adam Tomlinson take a bloody bow. Ive questioned his work this year but even after last week I was satisfied with his performance. This week he went up a notch! Lucky he wasn't dropped as @DeeSpencer was adamant he would... 😎

This now has to be our settled back 6 for the rest of the year.

Salem, Hibberd, May, Rivers, McVee were amazing and Tomlinson played as well as he could.

Lever was incredibly ordinary and the Pies caught him in no man’s land and danced all around him pretty much every time they went forward quickly. Had he put an intercepting clinic like he did v Collingwood I’d play him in this role each week but Salem, Rivers and May had as many intercepts and McVee just the one less.

Hibberd played full back on Ash Johnson as the third tall.

We didn’t need a 4th tall and we certainly didn’t need Brayshaw’s turnover ability in the middle, though he did get his hands on some clearances. He could’ve done Lever’s role, Lever could’ve played Tomlinson’s role and assuming he was not terrible in the few big aerial contests Tomlinson had the game would’ve been the same.

We dragged an undermined Collingwood in to a dour defensive battle. 

If the aim is the lose in a prelim at best we’ll keep this set up.

Barring Tomlinson making big strides in his defensive reliability whilst somehow still lacing targets on his left, Lever improving his mobility to levels that allow him to chase smaller forwards and not look completely inept and Hibberd keeping the fountain of youth we’ll be too slow, too defensive and lack the kicking skills to bounce the ball out effectively.

If we want to go further we need a backline with more run, skill and speed for when we play the real Collingwood.

What a game. We played with dash and dare, but our defensive pressure over the whole ground was immense.

We seem to have fixed our forward entries, we just need to work on our finishing.

So pleased for Tommo and Salem and Gawn are really building.

Jeez, i would love to see McVee deliver into the forward line more often.

34 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Some chat in the media about Pies flu.....

Is that a thing do we think?? We were the better side but they did look a bit flat in the last.....

Yes they were clearly off their game from a running perspective. I don’t think it was that significant though as we really clamped them down given our defensive structure and forward half pressure.

Goodwin out-coached Mcrae today 

6 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Salem, Hibberd, May, Rivers, McVee were amazing and Tomlinson played as well as he could.

Lever was incredibly ordinary and the Pies caught him in no man’s land and danced all around him pretty much every time they went forward quickly. Had he put an intercepting clinic like he did v Collingwood I’d play him in this role each week but Salem, Rivers and May had as many intercepts and McVee just the one less.

Hibberd played full back on Ash Johnson as the third tall.

We didn’t need a 4th tall and we certainly didn’t need Brayshaw’s turnover ability in the middle, though he did get his hands on some clearances. He could’ve done Lever’s role, Lever could’ve played Tomlinson’s role and assuming he was not terrible in the few big aerial contests Tomlinson had the game would’ve been the same.

We dragged an undermined Collingwood in to a dour defensive battle. 

If the aim is the lose in a prelim at best we’ll keep this set up.

Barring Tomlinson making big strides in his defensive reliability whilst somehow still lacing targets on his left, Lever improving his mobility to levels that allow him to chase smaller forwards and not look completely inept and Hibberd keeping the fountain of youth we’ll be too slow, too defensive and lack the kicking skills to bounce the ball out effectively.

If we want to go further we need a backline with more run, skill and speed for when we play the real Collingwood.

Okay mate..

Let's keep things in perspective and don't get me wrong.  I'll take that win anytime, but they had key injuries (accepting we didn't have Oliver), but they had a few more and apparently the flu went through much of the team.

Once again our kicking, not only for goal, but to position, as well as constant fumbling, when in the clear, was woeful.  We need more forward connection with our mids and structure. 

I can only hope that we gain confidence out of this and reach the peak of form, come finals, but we are nowhere near it yet.  YET!!!

25 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Unbelievably gritty, hard and admirable win. We played our system and played it well. We were unbelievably patient and stubborn and that got us the game. 

But I will say something. 

We could be a dynastic team if we had a couple/few more elite ball users. Because my god do our best players butcher it consistently. 

And that's something I hope we address in the off season. 

Has been a real issue for us for as long as I can remember.

I'm trying to think when it wasn't.

Even one more truly elite kick would make a huge difference.

I reckon we only have four elite kicks - in order, hunter, bowey, salo and mcvee.

In that context, it's worth noting bowey's absence. Missed him today.

Edited June 12, 20231 yr by binman

10 minutes ago, binman said:

Viney was clear best on ground.

But how good was salo?

And Tomlinson was just fantastic.

Agree on all 3

Ironic thing in that Cox footage is seeing him get told to cool it by Brayden Maynard, who when it’s game on is one of the toughest buggers out there. There’s a time and a place. 

YOU BLOODY RIPSNORTA

59 minutes ago, praha said:

From AFL Members, lots of scattered pockets of empty seats. 83k seems spot on.

So why was it declared a total sell out? That would have put so many off trying for tickets.

54 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Great win , kick straight it’s a 5 goal win!

They jumped us with 3 and we dominated the rest of the game, other than last 3 mins where umps changed rules!

As mentioned by others Tomlinson very solid game, looked close to his early 2021 form, and backline looks better with him in it!

The umps changed the rules for The Filth in many last quarters so far this year...but the media are too scared to deal with this in their normally exaggerated criticisms.

I'm just glad we got the W after that effort. But please work on the conversion

Smith was much better than OK today. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with a few more games under his belt. 

48 minutes ago, P-man said:

The value of an in-form Salem can’t be overstated. He was excellent today. Brought the physicality and composure in key moments. Will be massive for us at the pointy end.

According to some Salem is a softy, i hope those doubters had a very hard look at his game today.

Put your hand up and say sorry to the great man.

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

Like Tomlinson down back - is very reliable and good for Levers game. 

I also like Tomo.  Real quality of character to keep fronting up and presenting himself to be selected when he's frequently finds himself on the frindge.  I wouldn't say he's nessacerilly reliable though.  Think he's very much a confidence type player and for a season and a half he's lacked that, but I think it's great now he's found his mojo again and agree that today he was very good.

2 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

According to some Salem is a softy, i hope those doubters had a very hard look at his game today.

Put your hand up and say sorry to the great man.

Salem a softy - yeah nah.

37 minutes ago, TopCorner said:

Tough cookie that Hunter

Reminiscent of David Neitz's hit on a Hawthorn player, circa 2004.

34 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

I reckon we should ask for a please explain from the AFL for Lever being paid a 50m against in the Anzac Eve game for carrying on behind the mark, and the Collingwood player at half time for Trac’s kick after the siren doing the exact same thing for no resultant 50. Really poor.

Also like a please explain in players leaving the ground for the blood rule. Cameron couldn't have gone slower if he tried, twice

12 minutes ago, binman said:

I reckon we only have four elite kicks - in order, hunter, bowey, salo and mcvee.

 

Salem is a borderline elite kick, good vision but limited penetration.

Bowey and McVee aren’t elite either but the hope is they keep growing.

The 30m up and under king Hunter sure isn’t.

Spargo is an elite kick for his role but he needs to get more than 3 of them.

Fritsch can be.

But it’s incredible how well we play given how limited the foot skills are particularly across the midfield.