PREGAME: Rd 15 vs North Melbourne

[binman 42,986]

24 minutes ago, Marco said:

What would you like her to say ? “We fully back and support our coach and his staff” 

And I'd add, why should she say anything?

Presidents make statements when there is a crisis.

However much the handwringers and media flunkeys would like us to think, a stretch of poor form does not equate to a crisis.

I don't hear any noise about the cats wretched form.

I'd prefer the president not buy into the fugazi 

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

36 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Jon Ralph had a red hot crack at her last week on Foxtel's mid week tackle.

He said you never hear from her in the tough times.

Textbook fishing from Ralph, wants her and Pert to start jumping at shadows so they can really kick off the media frenzy. 

The board don’t report to Ralph, or Cornes, or Gerard - those guys just want drama to fill their radio slots and newspaper columns. 

No good outcome for the board to start making big calls “we fully support Goody and the boys” = we’re going to sack Goody, “we want the team to start playing better” = we’re going to sack Goody, “we have no comment to make” = we’re going to sack Goody”. Better to just stay quiet and let the footy department get on with it. 

[leave it to deever 17,511]

Hopefully Oliver and Viney can dig deep and play out of their collective skins for the remainder of the season and stop anymore Freo type beltings.

Alas I don't think we will make finals with Trac sidelined for the rest of the season. It's more a case of just playing to show some pride and dignity of the club and stop a premiership team from being humiliated. 

Milkshake may come back in four or so weeks an bolster our goal kicking power. Such a tragedy that he went out just before the finals last year. 

In actual fact, I think we have been quite lucky on the injury front of we suffer a few others it could be nasty.

Which brings me to the big issue. How did a team of 21 and one that probably should have won the flag last year ( pies were pretenders and our fwd line injuries were cruel as could be plus Gus being taken out) be reduced to where we are today?

Why to we not have any players to cover our injuries or to drop players in poor form?

It seems we just thought adding rejected players from other clubs would see us manage.

Does anyone have any real reasons as to why we don't have any depth anymore. Did we have a lot in 21 ?

I really would like to know what happened. Genuinely.

I mean it's not like a whole bunch of players from the 21 squad just got up and walked out. And the few who did leave or retire were not exactly superstars.

 

[Dee*ceiving 1,674]

13 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

If it was / is that dodgy he was probably a week to week proposition anyway.

Then you have to ask, why did we play him vs Brissy when all the signs and the timing said don't.  He even came off the track after the Cap run that week and looked very worried, chatting to trainers for at least 3 to 5 mins.

Give him that week off, get the opp, then another 4 to 6 to fully heal.  He's back for the Saints match (latest).

Instead we gave him the bye to get over the opp and straight back into it again for Anzac eve.  Has never looked fully right besides maybe one or two reasonable games since.

We've gambled on players form, fitness and positions all season. Sadly a lot of those gambles have failed. 

Begs the question have we been gambling more this season, possibly out of desperation? Or have we gambled similarly in the previous 2-3 seasons but had more of those gambles deliver a positive return?

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

8 minutes ago, Dee*ceiving said:

We've gambled on players form, fitness and positions all season. Sadly a lot of those gambles have failed. 

Begs the question have we been gambling more this season, possibly out of desperation? Or have we gambled similarly in the previous 2-3 seasons but had more of those gambles deliver a positive return?

I think its mostly the two fold effect of an under done Clarry plus the loss of Gus thats killed things in general Dee.

Then whatever happened to Vines post the Crows match is the icing on the cake.  He was flying in those first five rounds.

Lever against the Eagkes.

Bit by bit the train started coming off the rails.

And of course the nail in the coffin for 2024 was Tracc last week.

Edited June 17 by Demon Dynasty

[Kent 2,910]

16 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Hopefully Oliver and Viney can dig deep and play out of their collective skins for the remainder of the season and stop anymore Freo type beltings.

Alas I don't think we will make finals with Trac sidelined for the rest of the season. It's more a case of just playing to show some pride and dignity of the club and stop a premiership team from being humiliated. 

Milkshake may come back in four or so weeks an bolster our goal kicking power. Such a tragedy that he went out just before the finals last year. 

In actual fact, I think we have been quite lucky on the injury front of we suffer a few others it could be nasty.

Which brings me to the big issue. How did a team of 21 and one that probably should have won the flag last year ( pies were pretenders and our fwd line injuries were cruel as could be plus Gus being taken out) be reduced to where we are today?

Why to we not have any players to cover our injuries or to drop players in poor form?

It seems we just thought adding rejected players from other clubs would see us manage.

Does anyone have any real reasons as to why we don't have any depth anymore. Did we have a lot in 21 ?

I really would like to know what happened. Genuinely.

I mean it's not like a whole bunch of players from the 21 squad just got up and walked out. And the few who did leave or retire were not exactly superstars.

 

Ahhhh we traded them out

[jumbo returns 6,741]

4 hours ago, Billy said:

Agree, but at least Clarry is have a crack, do you honestly think Petty is?

Geez, Darren Bennett could kick a sherrin....

And Petty might be, but he's v low on confidence atm, as I imagine the entire team are

[D Rev 629]

9 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

I think its mostly the two fold effect of an under done Clarry plus the loss of Gus thats killed things in general Dee.

Then whatever happened to Vines post the Crows match is the icing on the cake.  He was flying in those first five rounds.

Lever against the Eagkes.

Bit by bit the train started coming off the rails.

And of course the nail in the coffin for 2024 was Tracc last week.

We've obviously changed the way we play to minimise injuries so as to avoid getting to the finals completely banged up (again).  Unfortunately:

* We don't have the skills to play a less contact-style game, which has hurt us

* We lost Gus and Clarrie in the pre season, which has hurt us

* We haven't been able to cover the loss of Lever through stubbornness (why is Petty still up forward?) and inability (Tommo / others can't do it)

We do have some good kids coming through, it feels like we aren't *that* far away from being a factor again.  There will be a bit of a clear out at the end of the season, hopefully it frees up some salary to bring in some talent to top up and let us make a charge again!

Very excited to see how we go at this, 2017-style, for the rest of the season - nothing to lose!

[Sydee 4,444]

23 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Hopefully Oliver and Viney can dig deep and play out of their collective skins for the remainder of the season and stop anymore Freo type beltings.

Alas I don't think we will make finals with Trac sidelined for the rest of the season. It's more a case of just playing to show some pride and dignity of the club and stop a premiership team from being humiliated. 

Milkshake may come back in four or so weeks an bolster our goal kicking power. Such a tragedy that he went out just before the finals last year. 

In actual fact, I think we have been quite lucky on the injury front of we suffer a few others it could be nasty.

Which brings me to the big issue. How did a team of 21 and one that probably should have won the flag last year ( pies were pretenders and our fwd line injuries were cruel as could be plus Gus being taken out) be reduced to where we are today?

Why to we not have any players to cover our injuries or to drop players in poor form?

It seems we just thought adding rejected players from other clubs would see us manage.

Does anyone have any real reasons as to why we don't have any depth anymore. Did we have a lot in 21 ?

I really would like to know what happened. Genuinely.

I mean it's not like a whole bunch of players from the 21 squad just got up and walked out. And the few who did leave or retire were not exactly superstars.

 

If you consider the players that started our comeback in the 21 GF quite a few are either no longer there (LJ , Harmes) injured (Petracca, Lever , Viney?) terribly out of form (Oliver), early retirement (Brayshaw) or simply a few years older and not at their peak

Its a significant shift and one that I think people overlook 

Take Brayshaw, Jackson, Petracca, Oliver and Lever out of the 2021 GF team and I’m 100% sure we don’t win 🏆 

[BScotti 178]

i just hope Goody does something different.  Definition of insanity....doing same thing wanting a different result.

Edited June 17 by BScotti

[SthSea22 618]

In - Fullerton, Tholstrup, McAdam, Woewodin

Out - Petracca, Howes, Laurie, Turner

B - Bowey, May, Rivers

HB - Salem, McDonald, McVee

C - Langdon, Oliver, Windsor

HF - Pickett, Petty, Fritsch

F - McAdam, van Rooyen, Tholstrup

RUCK - Gawn, Viney, Sparrow

INT - Fullerton, Woewodin, Neal-Bullen, Chandler

23rd - Billings

[beelzebub 23,377]

3 minutes ago, SthSea22 said:

In - Fullerton, Tholstrup, McAdam, Woewodin

Out - Petracca, Howes, Laurie, Turner

B - Bowey, May, Rivers

HB - Salem, McDonald, McVee

C - Langdon, Oliver, Windsor

HF - Pickett, Petty, Fritsch

F - McAdam, van Rooyen, Tholstrup

RUCK - Gawn, Viney, Sparrow

INT - Fullerton, Woewodin, Neal-Bullen, Chandler

23rd - Billings

That'd be interesting....   not knowing if thatd do some damage ...but certainly mix it up a bit. 

Im still very iffy about McAdam   but footy being footy he might have a blinder one day ( or not....  )

[Bystander 903]

On 11/06/2024 at 12:27, Scipio said:

I think this is the team I'd like to see:

FB: Tomlinson, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Langdon, Viney, Windsor

HF: Neal-Bullen, Fullarton/Jefferson, Tholstrup

FF: Pickett, Van Rooyen, Fritsch

FL: Gawn, Oliver, Sparrow

IC: Chandler, Moniz-Wakefield, Woewodin, Howes

SUB: Sestan

Midfield rotations to include Pickett, Salem, Rivers, McVee, ANB, maybe Tholstrup.

Pretty inexperienced but these are all guys I believe are important going forward, so they do need more exposure at the top level. Also could have missed some important players here. 

Overall not actually confident this team would beat North.

Jefferson in and at CHF. God help us.

Agree with Sestan. Im not a particular fan, but he has played better than many of the fringe over an extended period and deserves a shot.

[Lucifers Hero 39,819]

Lever should be back this week.

 

[Tarax Club 3,916]

The great thing about Aussie rules was the unpredictability of the Sherrin. Bounces could randomly go anywhere and decide the result of a whole season on the point of the Sherrin at the Grand Final. 

The playing field unlike other codes was not derived from the square but oval. Surface area was much larger and contained more bodies contesting for the ball. Harking back to many contestants competing over a pig’s bladder or a ‘ball’ of kangaroo hide.

Serendipity or just plain luck was a factor in deciding the victory. Fast forward to now with the AFL Big Media and $$$ in play, ‘the industry’ has removed most of the native charm. Leaving an often more predictable product for consumers.

Despite the post-King’s Bday emergence of doubters, doomsayers and deriders and the media pile-on. Personally the performance last round was utterly without luck. Plenty of ball going forward, matched the opposition for marks inside 50 late into the match. Plus 4 or 5 posters and being denied a goal by a dodgy technician assisted scoring interpretation. Was massively deflating. Yes the opposition was going up the other end. Either getting easy goals over the back of defenders or frequently kicking low% goals from the boundary line. Hawkeye would have had a field day.

Internally the feeling would be some steps back from ‘The Alice’ precipice have occurred. Add some judicious selection reinforcements, re-instil belief and kick in a modicum of luck. The form slide can be arrested after all this is a team game. Greater than the sum of its parts.

Edited June 17 by Tarax Club

[Kent 2,910]

5 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

The great thing about Aussie rules was the unpredictability of the Sherrin. Bounces could randomly go anywhere and decide the result of a whole season on the point of the Sherrin at the Grand Final. 

The playing field unlike other codes was not derived from the square but oval. Surface area was much larger and contained more bodies contesting for the ball. Harking back to many contestants competing over a pig’s bladder or a ‘ball’ of kangaroo hide.

Serendipity or just plain luck was a factor in deciding the victory. Fast forward to now with the AFL Big Media and $$$ in play, ‘the industry’ has removed most of the native charm. Leaving an often more predictable product for consumers.

Despite the post-King’s Bday emergence of doomsayers here and the media pile-on. Personally the performance last round was utterly without luck. Plenty of ball going forward, matched the opposition for marks inside 50 late into the match. Plus 4 or 5 posters and being denied a goal by dodgy technician assisted interpretation. Was massively deflating. Yes the opposition was going up the other end. Either getting easy goals over the back of defenders or frequently kicking low% goals from the boundary line. Hawkeye would have had a field day.

Internally the feeling would be some steps back from ‘The Alice’ precipice have occurred. Add some judicious selection reinforcements, re-instil belief and kick in a modicum of luck. The form slide can be arrested after all this is a team game. Greater than the sum of its parts.

Not Tarax, Koolaid instead

[beelzebub 23,377]

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Lever should be back this week.

 

A whisper, a horse... media ...club ? 

A timely addition if so.

[Tarax Club 3,916]

3 minutes ago, Kent said:

Not Tarax, Koolaid instead

Black Label Premium 

[Deemania since 56 6,640]

On 11/06/2024 at 14:39, JJR said:

Now with Trac out, give the Kolt a go, he has the X factor, let him run in the guts.

 Probably a very good decision to blood Kolt with a few consecutive games in exciting positions that appeal to his gamestyle and charisma onfield. He really does look like a 'go-er' keen for a run with other footballers who could augment his game and role diversity. Exciting young fella, so let's parachute him into the big time to exploit his adrenalin.

[Ouch! 2,263]

35 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

A whisper, a horse... media ...club ? 

A timely addition if so.

It was mentioned that Lever would have minor surgery and that they were targetting him being back for the first game after the bye. Haven't heard anything since, but it's also somewhat consistent with the injury reports. Guess the true test will be watching training and whether he's participating.

[Mel Bourne 4,515]

4 hours ago, Dee*ceiving said:

We've gambled on players form, fitness and positions all season. Sadly a lot of those gambles have failed. 

Begs the question have we been gambling more this season, possibly out of desperation? Or have we gambled similarly in the previous 2-3 seasons but had more of those gambles deliver a positive return?

 

3 hours ago, BScotti said:

i just hope Goody does something different.  Definition of insanity....doing same thing wanting a different result.

It’s also the mentality of a gambler. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,842]

4 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

Then whatever happened to Vines post the Crows match is the icing on the cake.  He was flying in those first five rounds.

He's been one of the mysteries of 2024.

After polling 25 odd brownlow votes from a superb 2023 season, and then starring in opening round, he's form has been nothing on last year. He's gone from 26 touches a game to 20, with an alarming amount of sub 20 possession games post Gather Round.

I keep reading he's got an injury issue, but is it possible he's just out of form?

Here's hoping he physically and mentally freshened up over the bye, and comes out firing with an inspirational 28 possession/1 goal game on Saturday night.

[DubDee 25,885]

4 hours ago, BScotti said:

i just hope Goody does something different.  Definition of insanity....doing same thing wanting a different result.

I reckon Goodwin has done a lot different this season, the problem is not much of it has worked

Players playing in different positions, change to game plan, playing kids, imports.  Not sure what is left to try or more so what we could actually deliver on

[leave it to deever 17,511]

4 hours ago, Sydee said:

If you consider the players that started our comeback in the 21 GF quite a few are either no longer there (LJ , Harmes) injured (Petracca, Lever , Viney?) terribly out of form (Oliver), early retirement (Brayshaw) or simply a few years older and not at their peak

Its a significant shift and one that I think people overlook 

Take Brayshaw, Jackson, Petracca, Oliver and Lever out of the 2021 GF team and I’m 100% sure we don’t win 🏆 

Thanks for the reply Sydee. Appreciate it 

I would argue that Luke Jackson wasn't really much of a loss. He probably is for his ruck craft but we kind of covered that with Grundy.

I  think it's fair to say Jackson wasn't really a good forward.

Gus I believe is a big loss. And Oliver while playing this year hasn't been his best for sure.

Trac is only recently out.

I don't mean to be argumentive but I don't feel we have found cause for the drop off. 

I think our forward line has deteriorated even more this year and our mids have been well below their best. 

And without Petty and Lever starring in our backline that too has been ordinary lately.

 

 

[Little Goffy 14,568]

So, area by area, our players currently (let's say roughly the last month at least) down on form.

Defence:

McVee, Howes, (Lever),

Midfield:

Viney, Oliver, Sparrow, Langdon, Windsor

Forward:

Fritsch, Petty, Chandler,

Pickett (his extra midfield time has traded one goal a game for one clearance a game)

Bench:

McAdam, Billings, Hunter, Brown.

 

Outright that's half of our best-22 spread evenly from our top 6 to our bottom 6.

Not drawing any conclusions. Just staring into the darkness of being a temporarily mid-table side.