On 21/07/2024 at 08:00, The Taciturn Demon said:

What was that?

The first time in the NT was bewildering. This time it was just pathetic. 

Sorry, but Petracca and Gawn can't fix that garbage. 

 

And we don’t have Gus anymore.

Time to blood some of the VFL players. We will not make the finals and if by miracle we do, we don't have what it takes at the moment. 

That was an obliteration in the coaches box and I can't get over the arrogance of the coaching staff to not play a ruckman. It couldn't have been much worse than it was today to play Fullarton and it would've allowed JVR to stay forward where he needs to be.

The genius question thread from the past week has just been answered emphatically.

Edited July 21, 2024Jul 21 by Heart Beats True

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:00, wizardinoz said:

And how did that work for us today, Simon?  Fullerton left out and we got destroyed in the ruck. Why draft the bloke if you aren’t going to play him? 

As if Fullarton would have made a 10 goal difference. Even Gawn wouldn’t have made that much of a difference and he’s the best ruckman this decade. 

Edited July 21, 2024Jul 21 by Jaded No More

Nothing short of insipid. Second to every ball, -32 in clearances, -36 in contested ball, -29 in uncontested.

We sucked.

So there were no surprises. Freo played exactly as we knew they'd play. 

We knew Brayshaw and Serong would get leather poisoning

But we tried to play our way?

Pressure marginally better than Alice but a shut show

Does anyone know how many goals they got over the back? It must’ve been a record.

I genuinely want to understand the reason why but assume no one will ask in the presser.

Having 0 clearances in a quarter is also surely a record.

Let down by 3 of our highest paid players first thing Clarrie (first half), Lever and Kossie need to do is put their hands up and admit their effort and accountability was nowhere near the required level today.

Freo were bigger stronger and faster than us, they have shown up our weaknesses twice in the last 6-8 weeks. We couldn’t get our hands on in the centre. They know how to play us.

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:01, Melb16 said:

Does anyone know how many goals they got over the back? It must’ve been a record.

I genuinely want to understand the reason why but assume no one will ask in the presser.

Having 0 clearances in a quarter is also surely a record.

We played a high press game and were let down several times with poor skill on basic disposals which with everyone moving forward killed us on the rebound 

 Lost clearances 47-15 

Hitouts 47-9 

Sparrow. Effort. Slow or weak. 💩💩Fritsch. Weak today. 💩💩
Lever. Embarrassing all day. 💩💩

Tackling.  All day.  Allowing Freo to get handballs away. 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

Gave up 13 goals from turnovers.  
Gave up 5 goals out the back and to the goalsquare. Goodwin !!!!💩💩

Rinse and repeat.  Its stoppage spread goal 💩💩💩💩

All day. Tackle. Tackle. Brace for contact. Handball away. Handball away. 💩💩can’t stop the run and spread. 

Outclassed is right. Freo played like a premiership contender and we're just a long way off. How on earth did we concede that many goals out the back? Madness.

We had 4 jobs to do today & failed 

1. Win

2. Get back in the 8

3. Knock essendon out of the 8

4. Get 2 games clear of Collingwood 

Was Lever Fremantle's biggest asset?

Was Fritsch told "always jog, never run?"

Was Pickett there as an official observer?

Is Sparrow the slowest midfielder in the AFL?

Does Goodwin actually think Petty is an adequate ruckman?

Is Oliver still worth his enormous contract?

And is anyone taking responsibility for the fact that the cupboard at Casey is bare?

We got belted, yeah, but I didn't think we were deplorable. Having no ruck killed us and our mids weren't able to win clearance to make up for it. From there our defenders were hammered and our forwards couldn't get near it. We had patches where we kicked some consecutive goals but never really threatened.

Probably lucky not to lose by more to be honest but I didn't think it was through lack of effort, we were just outplayed/outclassed. Freo are a decent side who seem to have put it together after a few years of threatening and are printed to make a run for the flag. Today just showed we are more of a 6-10th side at the moment rather than a top 4 team.

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:01, Jaded No More said:

As if Fullarton would have made a 10 goal difference. Even Gawn wouldn’t have made that much of a difference and he’s the best ruckman this decade. 

At least he may have offered us more than Petty in hitouts to advantage.  You have to at least try something and give the kid a go.

So much for the 'dynasty'.

Fancy wooing Grundy by claiming we see 4 flags ahead. Guzzled our own bathwater

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:01, Rab D Nesbitt said:

We pretty much knew that Jacko and Biff were going to dominate in the air but our lack of intensity and spread from the contest was really disappointing. Leb and Knuckle were good I thought. The commentary team were gushing about Freo for much of the game but when it really matters they are as flakey as any side. 

If Freo base their hope of finals success on the two games against us, they'll have a very harsh reality check in the finals.

Well, that was special. Goodwin certainly showed them what we made of.

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:05, wizardinoz said:

At least he may have offered us more than Petty in hitouts to advantage.  You have to at least try something and give the kid a go.

Petty has lost all the mongrel he showed when playing in the backline.

He is just not the same physical guy anymore, very meek and non competitive.

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:05, wizardinoz said:

At least he may have offered us more than Petty in hitouts to advantage.  You have to at least try something and give the kid a go.

From all reports he struggles to win a ruck contest at Casey. Not sure he would have won many against Darcy and Jackson. 

The best ruck combo in the game and the best midfield trio in the game in my view.

Against no recognised ruck, Viney trying his best, a fat unfit Oliver and River learning the mid trade without a mid engine. 

Surely nothing could go wrong. 

Yet we played a high defensive press and our forwards when we got the ball down there let them waltz it out on most occasions.

Completely outcoached, outplayed, outworked.

 Lucky the damage was not worse. 

The clearance count lost us the game, the score from turnover count made it a mauling. 

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:07, Jaded No More said:

From all reports he struggles to win a ruck contest at Casey. Not sure he would have won many against Darcy and Jackson. 

Then why take him over with the team to WA? We had nothing to lose by playing him.

Nice load of tripe served up yet again against a WA team.

Can't wait to drop Sparrow.

Gives so little every week.

Quite a few no shows from some senior players.

Finals look wobbly again.

Weak effort today.

 

  On 21/07/2024 at 08:13, wizardinoz said:

Then why take him over with the team to WA? We had nothing to lose by playing him.

Presumably if jvr or petty got injured pre game