Look, I know coming into this round we had won 5 on the trot, but we haven’t played anywhere near as convincingly as some would say. Let’s break down those 5 wins:

1. Saints @ Marvel

Saints lost 3 players in game and were always going to run out of legs. We even almost got overrun in that last qtr. Just a win in my book.

2. Lions @ MCG

Despite a blistering first qtr and an awesome last 7 minutes, the Lions looked the far better side and torched us with their ball movement. We were lucky to get the win in the end.

3. Adelaide @ MCG

Good first 3 qtrs against a decent side but we conceded 7 goals in a row in the last qtr and almost got overrun.

4. Richmond @ MCG

Our best win I think but Richmond (who’s firmly a bottom 8 side) got up by 20pts in the 3rd qtr and made our defence look really shaky with quick forward entries.

5. North @ BA

I know the second half was easy going but to let a team as bad as that to get up by 30pts is just worrying in itself. I get the whole not switched on thing, but we got jumped again last night.

I feel like if we’re a genuine shot at the flag this year we really need to see two really strong performances against the Hawks and Swans. 

In some ways, last night’s loss might be a blessing because there’s so much in our game that we still need to get right and hopefully it spurs on Goodwin to make those final tweaks to get us there.

Saints we got lucky just as Carlton did last night for different reasons, that’s footy!

Lions we had a few out.

Crows are a good side.

Tigers last shot at playing finals.

North, that game frustrated me no end.

Last night I didn’t watch. 
 

Still think we can win it, but need to click very shortly.

Only Carlton is playing great footy atm of all the contenders. Do you seriously think we don’t have their measure in a final?

8 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Look, I know coming into this round we had won 5 on the trot, but we haven’t played anywhere near as convincingly as some would say. Let’s break down those 5 wins:

1. Saints @ Marvel

Saints lost 3 players in game and were always going to run out of legs. We even almost got overrun in that last qtr. Just a win in my book.

2. Lions @ MCG

Despite a blistering first qtr and an awesome last 7 minutes, the Lions looked the far better side and torched us with their ball movement. We were lucky to get the win in the end.

3. Adelaide @ MCG

Good first 3 qtrs against a decent side but we conceded 7 goals in a row in the last qtr and almost got overrun.

4. Richmond @ MCG

Our best win I think but Richmond (who’s firmly a bottom 8 side) got up by 20pts in the 3rd qtr and made our defence look really shaky with quick forward entries.

5. North @ BA

I know the second half was easy going but to let a team as bad as that to get up by 30pts is just worrying in itself. I get the whole not switched on thing, but we got jumped again last night.

I feel like if we’re a genuine shot at the flag this year we really need to see two really strong performances against the Hawks and Swans. 

In some ways, last night’s loss might be a blessing because there’s so much in our game that we still need to get right and hopefully it spurs on Goodwin to make those final tweaks to get us there.

Funny, just posted the same thing in The Run Home thread!! Fully agree with your analysis.

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

Only Carlton is playing great footy atm of all the contenders. Do you seriously think we don’t have their measure in a final?

Ah, no! Cerra, Walsh and McKay to come in

Just now, bobby1554 said:

Ah, no! Cerra, Walsh and McKay to come in

That won’t necessarily improve them. 

1 minute ago, Roost it far said:

That won’t necessarily improve them. 

Well I’m pretty sure it would improve us, having 3 quality players like that coming in

1 minute ago, bobby1554 said:

Well I’m pretty sure it would improve us, having 3 quality players like that coming in

it’s a game built on confidence and effort for them atm. They’re playing better now without those players than they were with them. McKay throws them out. Walsh has been out more than in and Cerra is good but no star. I’ll take our midfield over there’s. Put Cerra and Walsh in last night I think it stays the same game.

5 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

Well I’m pretty sure it would improve us, having 3 quality players like that coming in

And so would an in form Oliver and Fritsch.

Edited August 13, 20231 yr by Bombay Airconditioning

3 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

And so would an in form Oliver and Fritsch.

....and don't forget Petty.

4 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

And so would an in form Oliver and Fritsch.

And so WILL an inform……..

2 minutes ago, monoccular said:

....and don't forget Petty.

Irrelevant, Petty won’t be back this year

7 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

And so would an in form Oliver and Fritsch.

Well Oliver played last night and had 27, so so hardly out of form. Fritsch relies on being the third tall, and having two other key forwards to take the top defenders. Do we have that?

And the panic has set in in with some.

Our form has been ok, putting those games up against this one if you only told me the opposition score I'd assumed we'd won.

We've just lost too many games like this against fellow top 8 teams. This one felt a lot like Port, annoying. 

 

I don't think so. September is almost upon us. we'll know soon enough whether our form is solid or just a mirage. Personally, I think we'll get to the big dance.

 

Annoying to lose, but curious to know if this thread is created if we’d won by 1 point. 

Edited August 13, 20231 yr by Dee Zephyr

I think we have been under-rated by almost everyone.  All the bluff and bluster about the ‘team of the week’ whilst we accrued wins.  We have not been at our best, except for th kings birthday game, and some early shoot outs.  

Our best team has not been available, and with BBB. TMAC Petty, Oliver Fritter and even Max out for periods during the year.  We have uncovered some great talent (JVR, McVee for example), and are still top 4.

Our game plan is ‘built for finals’ - very much like the game last night.  We lost ot by less than a kick, after giving up 3 goals at the start of the last and facing extreme pressure for much of the match.  We saw that we were able to absorb that pressure and defend well, except for those small patches.  We held the blues to 60 points, and in most cases that would get it done, except our forward 50 was a stinking pile of fecal matter.

Don’t give up on us yet.  We have to face two tricky games to finish - hawks are up and about to take scalps, and teh Swans may have a fair bit to play for.  We need to do better - sure - but I dont think we are over rated.

3 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Annoying to lose, but curious to know if this thread is created if we’d won by 1 point. 

Then it would be 'papering over the cracks'. 

11 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

Well Oliver played last night and had 27, so so hardly out of form. Fritsch relies on being the third tall, and having two other key forwards to take the top defenders. Do we have that?

Fritsch played on Darcy Moore on kings birthday 

3 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Annoying to lose, but curious to see if this thread is created if we’d won by 1 point. 

Probably not, but the thread is valid. Everything he said is spot on.

3 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Annoying to lose, but curious to know if this thread is created if we’d won by 1 point. 

If we had been awarded that goal and won I don’t feel that we were by far the better team just as I don’t feel Carlton were by far the better team by winning. They’re riding a wave at the moment and  I felt it was very even. If we meet them again I’d still be confident regardless of who they bring in ..

 

This thread…

Im holding my opinion until  the Hawks result. Another in form team that is high on confidence. 

Anything above a 5 goal win will reinforce form anything less I’ll defer another week. A loss, well, I don’t even want to consider atm. 

Edited August 13, 20231 yr by Gawndy the Great

16 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

Well Oliver played last night and had 27, so so hardly out of form. Fritsch relies on being the third tall, and having two other key forwards to take the top defenders. Do we have that?

As I’ve stated I didn’t watch the game, spoke to my mate (Pies supporter) who did, and he said he got plenty of it but understandably far from his best as would be expected from someone who just missed 10 weeks, did some good things but come finals will be back to his devastating best.