20 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

That’s not how fitness works 🙄

When you play nearly 20 games, yes it is.

6 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

He (Fritsch) started on the bench tonight, surely that's a message. Someone mentioned he was close to getting dropped after the North game and seemed to put in for a couple of weeks but tonight was back to his worst in that regard. People overlook it when he bobs up and kicks 3 goals in 5 minutes but when you're not impacting the scoreboard enough it stands out like dogs balls.

Agreed.

But I don't think he's been the same player since getting injured late last year.

That said, he will still kick 40+ goals this year.

He's an A grader and our forwardline is a bit feast or famine.

18 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

It's hard to know.

I think our transition ball movement in the first half of the year was him, but it didn't exactly work either.

It'll be telling what changes we make this off season.

Next year will reveal even more layers if we make the wrong decisions regarding drafting, trading etc.

2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

The ANB one in the fourth wasn't as bad as it looked - I don't think he had anyone to kick to in front of him.

Also the really slow manning up where they ate a minute off the clock, marked at its peak by Fritsch guarding grass.

Correct. His only real option was the chip and chase kick - Billy Slater style. Which is not much of an option.

The Rivers one is one of my pet hates. Blokes calling for the footy while running themselves into trouble. Don't call for it - just keep running to space where you can receive a kick. 

Just now, Bowserpower said:

When you play nearly 20 games, yes it is.

It literally isn’t. The longer the season goes the more tired and sore you get. When you’re coming off a 0 base it gets harder. You don’t gain fitness during the season unless you do a mini pre season which involves not playing for a while (see Ben Brown in 2021, and McAdams this year). 
No player in the history of the AFL has had a limited pre season and then magically went on to get fitter by playing as an inside mid every week. 

When you have little or no pre season, your entire season is impacted. That’s fact. 

27 minutes ago, JTR said:

Here we go...  🙄

Can't let the ridiculous Petty pile on get off track now can we? 

Petty had a poor start I thought but worked himself into the game and did what we want from him. Laid a couple of jarring tackles, kicked a (couple?) of goals and made himself a target across half forward.

The last shot he had should have been a 50m penalty. As he's walking in to kick the umpire the umpire clearly says "Toby, Toby, back 2 metres" - I assume he is talking about Greene or Bedford because we had no Toby's playing tonight. How is that not a 50m penalty??? Compared to the one paid against Kozzie when we played the Bombers which was white hot this one was 25 seconds into a players set shot and he was encroaching on the protected area, hence the call to go "back 2 metres" - how is that not a 50m penalty?? Cost us a certain goal but you won't hear any of the sycophants talking about it, just like they won't mention May's push on the back or Greene's duck which both resulted in goals.

I'm also fed up with Viney and Oliver being manhandled at every bloody stoppage, there were at least 2 or 3 blatant holding frees tonight they didn't get. They tried to make sure the umpire saw it but the maggots just turn a blind eye. It is infuriating, happens every week.

20 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

It's hard to know.

I think our transition ball movement in the first half of the year was him, but it didn't exactly work either.

It'll be telling what changes we make this off season.

The eyes have been telling me that Mini's influence has been minuscule.

Two average teams battling it out in the end. First quarter, we bullied them into making mistakes and were good value for our lead. From the second quarter onwards, we were so inconsistent with our play - lots of silly turnovers (and a couple of shocking umpire decisions) let them back in to the game.
 

GWS are not a fatastic team, but they are quick and because they have had so many high draft pucks over the years, they have some very skilful players by foot.

We put the effort in, but we are way too agricultural in our disposal. Also, the same old problem with forward connection has still not been resolved and has to be addressed and  the current system changed as a matter of urgency.

Aside from all that, we lost ourselves the game this evening, it was there for the taking.. I actually thought Clarke wasn’t bad tonight, although the centre ckearance in the last was poor. 

4 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

A bit of fight would be nice, some hunger. It sometimes seems like our fans are too nice.

We needed to win tonight and this was for all the money.

What money?

2 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

When you play nearly 20 games, yes it is.

There was a time when I might have possibly agreed with this in terms of matches played building match fitness but nowadays getting the miles in the legs early counts. One you miss the boat on pre season it's almost impossible to get it back, especially for a midfielder.

52 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

Anyone else think Petty's last shot at goal was pathetic?

See ya.

Edited July 27, 20241 yr by binman
Never Argue With a Fool, Onlookers May Not Be Able To Tell the Difference

Reasons why we lost:
1. Switched off after quarter time thinking the game was wrapped up. Took us another 2Q to wrestle back some involvement
2. Outworked around the contest again. GWS dominated the stoppage >> post stoppage. Its a real concern now for Goody as this was a repeat of last week
3. Umpires did actually cost us 2-3 goals from dodgy frees or non-frees in our d50. 
4. Our ball movement is terrible. Made more terrible by lack of movement ahead of the ball. Again real concerning here - too many passengers.

Reasons for these reasons:

1. Players lack the hunger and drive -> has Goody really lost htem
2. On Field leadership is failing to inspire a kick into gear
3. Senior players are failing to impose themselves. 

Lots and lots to work on in the off season and some big list decisions. Its going to take a lot to rebound next year. Its not just getting a pre-season into Melksham, Oliver, Trac and Petty. Its what do we do with our bottom 6 - they are just simply not afl material. 

 

Billings 

Laurie

Woewodin

Bowey

 

the bottom 4 players on the ground. Not up to the standard at the moment. 

27 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Losing by 2 points to a contender is a fine example of what? Ffs what a joke some of our supporters are. 

Exactly and the effort was there tonight, the players turned up ready to play and didn't let up til the final siren sounded. Not sure what that poster is getting at, a crack at the coaching I assume.

6 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

It literally isn’t. The longer the season goes the more tired and sore you get. When you’re coming off a 0 base it gets harder. You don’t gain fitness during the season unless you do a mini pre season which involves not playing for a while (see Ben Brown in 2021, and McAdams this year). 
No player in the history of the AFL has had a limited pre season and then magically went on to get fitter by playing as an inside mid every week. 

When you have little or no pre season, your entire season is impacted. That’s fact. 

Well we'll agree to disagree. I feel you can't lose fitness by playing more games and would like to think it has helped him. Otherwise why play him?

GW$ Held their marks and spread way better than we did after Quarter time. 
We fumbled far more than they did 

I have no idea how umpires interpret decisions anymore….

3 minutes ago, binman said:

Listen buddy. Read the room and [censored] off

Yeesh, I'm sorry, no need to be like that though.

I rate Petty's set shooting highly and was just disappointed with that last effort. Thought his earlier one was beautiful

 

5 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Billings 

Laurie

Woewodin

Bowey

 

the bottom 4 players on the ground. Not up to the standard at the moment. 

Laurie? 19 touches, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 goal assist, 6 score involvements (equal most for us).

1 minute ago, Binmans PA said:

Laurie? 19 touches, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 goal assist, 6 score involvements (equal most for us).

Didn’t know how to setup defensively. Very noticeable in the last quarter. Standing around in no man’s land in crucial moments. Had opportunities to impact the contest and second guessed

17 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

When you play nearly 20 games, yes it is.

With a statement like that, you clearly don't.

8 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

I feel you can't lose fitness by playing more games and would like to think it has helped him.

You can feel and like to think all you want but sports science is just that, a science, and all of this is measurable. Maybe do some reading, plenty of documentation out there.

4 minutes ago, bing181 said:

With a statement like that, you clearly don't.

So you think playing the sport for 4 quarters week in week out does nothing for your match fitness? What total nonsense. Do people really have any idea what they're talking about when it comes to fitness and preparation or is it just another chance to give Clayton a pass? I thought he was very good for the most part to be honest.

Just now, bing181 said:

You can feel and like to think all you want but sports science is just that, a science, and all of this is measurable. Maybe do some reading, plenty of documentation out there.

Ok then, link us to the study that says closed training sessions and running is better for match fitness than actual game time.

Basically not enough four quarter performers , outplayed from quarter time till halfway in the last quarter. Some very slow thinkers in this side . Still could have pinched it late so we were close. Can someone explain why no free in the goal square after the GWS player had taken 3 steps and then dropped the ball when tackled. Blatant costly decision. A lot of contenders this year not a disaster to get so close to one of them. Next year for us. Oh and Kozzie should have been in the middle for the last clearance.

Edited July 27, 20241 yr by loges

Just now, Bowserpower said:

So you think playing the sport for 4 quarters week in week out does nothing for your match fitness?

Yes, playing week in week out directly affects your fitness. It goes backwards.

But heh, if you think for one minute that your argument has any validity, put up some documentation to support it.

Bizarre.

So saw some of goody presser. We lost the centre clearances 8-0 in the final quarter. Our midfields better than that. 

Goody has to go back into hospital but said he'll be fine