lmao, craig mcrae is having dinner at the table next to me

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

No, I’m not, and boy do I love the Pies!!!oneoneone1111

45 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Actually totally related in a fashion.

We had a lot of things go our way in 21, not tge least of all was we played an odd style that worked....but only then.

The same ppl haven't been able to truly create a game that works for us since. 23 was close but we were found wanting by teams that had a better game.

We are where we are . It's not an accident, we're here by design.

It's totally relatable imho

Anyone who thinks 21 was a fluke needs to book in for the 2025 village [censored] conference.

The best Ruck in the comp in his prime with Oliver, Tracca and Viney supported by Gus and Ed. Jackson was a great relief for Max.

That bang, bang ,bang sums our midfield up.

We made a 40 point comeback at kardinia park and then smashed the cats in a final in a complete demolition.

It was a year when Spargo, Nibbler and Kozzie sll kicked over Thirty goals with Bb and Tmac and Fritta firing as fwds for a change. We often kicked inxs of 100 points and Lever, Petty and May stopped almost everyone doing likewise against us.

In fact, I not so humbly add that you would be well and truly over qualified for said conference.

Tracca had a stellar year and it was no accident he won the Norm Smith.

We finished minor premiers and then demolished every team in every final.

All the dogs players and supporters could do was watch with their hands on hips as the ball went past them all.

It was an incredible team that actually went close to three flags in a row.

To belittle our 21 effort is not only completely simple, thems fighting words.

3 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

Not sure but I think the rain on the day round 1 gave us a slow, wet track and a chance for our slow footed, bull midfield to match GWS and go close to winning. Once we have faced young quick sides on fast decks the old firm have been exposed for lack of speed big time.

We also kicked a bunch of opportunistic goals from the goal square/goal line.

3 minutes ago, Rednblueriseing said:

With all the noise coming out the club its no surprise.... can someone stand up( Brad Green) at sort this sh$#t out. Even if it means pulling your mates in order!! For f#$k sake we can't be this unprofessional again.

Green looked like a unifier at surface level, mostly through standing up for the club and insisting we would hold our players, but the talk out of the club hasn't matched the on-field performances/effort which would suggest he hasn't been able to enact any change at all beyond stemming the bleeding for a while.

7 minutes ago, fr_ap said:

Yep

We had serious swagger and teams were often intimidated by our physicality.

We're now bruise free.

Not just the names above...but Lachie Hunter. Bad character - ordinary player. Who knows what impact he had on the group or some individuals.

Jayden Hunt was another good character. We shipped them all out.

Thanks Fr_ ap

Swagger was the word I was looking for.

Perfect.

19 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I suppose the GWS game was the outlier.

A wet game where both teams just pushed the ball forward.

I reckon we should play under sprinklers for home games so our lack of skills and turnovers don't impact so much.

I know It’s the news and he has to be positive but thinking we can win from here?

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/they-broke-our-spirit-gawn-speaks-on-sombre-scenes-in-demons-rooms-after-hellish-loss-20250329-p5lni6.html

6 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

I know It’s the news and he has to be positive but thinking we can win from here?

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/they-broke-our-spirit-gawn-speaks-on-sombre-scenes-in-demons-rooms-after-hellish-loss-20250329-p5lni6.html

Why is he talking about premiership windows and flags? Their sole focus should be winning next Friday, this is exactly what I was talking about earlier. Do the little things right and the big things will look after themselves, the club still has this culture problem where we think we have an entitlement to success instead of working hard for it.

They sound like [censored] when they trot out this stuff.

10 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

I know It’s the news and he has to be positive but thinking we can win from here?

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/they-broke-our-spirit-gawn-speaks-on-sombre-scenes-in-demons-rooms-after-hellish-loss-20250329-p5lni6.html

Anything’s possible. But you have to do something unthinkable to change my mind. Winning next week at the cattery for starters.

I've been thinking about this all evening and I'm just wondering how did the club get it so wrong on expectations this year? Goodwin talks about not having expectations but "Ambition" which sounds like a Ben Crowe thing, but as humans we always have an expectation of things. I've been hearing how it was a great pre-season (apart from a few injuries) because it was their first full off season reset since 2020/2021. Everyone at the club is connected, they had the two reviews, they reshaped the whole footy program at the club, they've tweaked the game plan, everyone is in love again etc etc.

It's like everyone at the club was drinking this kool-aid and then the season has started and we've just taken 3 punches to the face and slapped into reality.

How can a football department be so delusional with where they think the program and list is at? Goodwin said at his presser that this side has the potential to be an in-form exciting team challenging the very best.

Last week was a shock. Today was the "oh, we really are in a bit of trouble".

When is it going to click for them that we've [censored] something up here?

Edited March 29Mar 29 by At the break of Gawn

2 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Why is he talking about premiership windows and flags? Their sole focus should be winning next Friday, this is exactly what I was talking about earlier. Do the little things right and the big things will look after themselves, the club still has this culture problem where we think we have an entitlement to success instead of working hard for it.

They sound like [censored] when they trot out this stuff.

I called the culture problem before a ball had been kicked in 23. Got roundly smashed here by everyone.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by fr_ap

Pies stole a flag 23, so did dogs 16, so did cats in 09, hawks in 08 ,crows did twice 97 and 98, pies did 1990, who gives AF. A flag is a flag!. Except if your braindead. I can't stand glass lickers on DL disrespecting our premiership. It's always the same DHs.

3 hours ago, Heart Beats True said:

Watching Max’s postgame interview and he is a shell of the leader he once was. He looked dejected, made little eye contact and, to me, looked worried.

Mind you, doing an interview after you’ve been spanked for the second week in a row and openly admitting he’s out of form with a number of other teammates, wouldn’t be wonderful.

I don't blame him. He's just been thrown under the bus by the coach, and is facing his football mortality for the first time.

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Are you sure? 😊 absolutely

^^

Listened in to SEN a bit as I had to work and they made mention (on countless occasions) about our slow ball movement

So if we are trying to move the ball quickly, then whatever we are trying to do is obviously not working

And it's one thing to put the onus on the coach but what about the players? If they can't enact a simple instruction, then how is another voice going to make an ounce of difference?

3 games is a small sample size but did we not try and change our game plan last season and then abandon that new game plan and went back to the old game plan?

One could deduce that we have a player personnel issue with regards to a number of players not being able to adjust to change

I'm leaning more towards the view that @bing181 has towards this new game plan (player adaptability issue)

Rebuild time, senior players are cooked mentally and/or physically. Bottom end of the list has been stripped away while we tried to keep the top end intact. Hasn't worked.

Selwyn can go, whatever Burgess taught him he didn't get the good stuff and we’ve either started the year unfit or run out of gas every year since ‘21. I think part of the problem this year is slow movement to save the legs, but its failed and we’re cooked.

I’ve been a Goody defender but if it’s rehuild time then he probably goes too. Gonna be a long couple of years.

Edited March 29Mar 29 by Fromgotowoewodin
Missed a bit

5 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

Selwyn can go, whatever Burgess taught him he didn't get the good stuff and we’ve either started the year unfit or run out of gas every year since ‘21. I think part of the problem this year is slow movement to save the legs, but its failed and we’re cooked.

the biggest issue with the slow ball movement play is that it allows teams to set up defensively, and when we - inevitably - turn it over, they're able to hit us on the counter with speed and quick ball movement

the style of play we are trying to execute doesn't work with our current team make-up

i'm not sure if it's a fitness issue per se, but it's certainly a team make-up and game plan one

Edited March 29Mar 29 by whatwhat say what

6 hours ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Lindsay (a rare shining light) injured, and humiliated by a mid-tier team on our home deck in our ‘response’ game.

We’re an unskilled, uninspired rabble playing boring, lifeless footy.

Anyone have any positives to share ??

Please?🙏

Yep, it’s an away game next week at Geelong….I won’t be there.

Just now, whatwhat say what said:

the style of play we are trying to execute doesn't work with our current team make-up

100%. We don’t have the kicking skills to play that game.

It’s been really weird, it hasn't helped us control the tempo of games, it hasn't stopped the oppo scoring and it hasn't helped us find targets i50 - so wtf are we doing it for?

6 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

Rebuild time, senior players are cooked mentally and/or physically. Bottom end of the list has been stripped away while we tried to keep the top end intact. Hasn't worked.

Selwyn can go, whatever Burgess taught him he didn't get the good stuff and we’ve either started the year unfit or run out of gas every year since ‘21. I think part of the problem this year is slow movement to save the legs, but its failed and we’re cooked.

I’ve been a Goody defender but if it’s rehuild time then he probably goes too. Gonna be a long couple of years.

I know someone who works in Geelong's high performance team. He told me late last year that Burgo's methods have quickly become outdated over the last couple of years. I thought that was interesting because when Tmac got interviewed on SEN last year, be basically said that Selwyn hadn't really changed much.

38 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

It's like everyone at the club was drinking this kool-aid

“Oh yeaaahhh”

In my best Briana Cranston voice. Get on The Studio, gold

So who is responsible for basic skill errors like our inability to pass, handball, mark, tackle and kick for goal?

We are now terrible at all of the above.

We are an error riddled team, apparently devoid of any confidence in the game plan, if they even know what it is and each other.

There has to be something wrong somewhere.

10 minutes ago, Macca said:

Listened in to SEN a bit as I had to work and they made mention (on countless occasions) about our slow ball movement

So if we are trying to move the ball quickly, then whatever we are trying to do is obviously not working

And it's one thing to put the onus on the coach but what about the players? If they can't enact a simple instruction, then how is another voice going to make an ounce of difference?

3 games is a small sample size but did we not try and change our game plan last season and then abandon that new game plan and went back to the old game plan?

One could deduce that we have a player personnel issue with regards to a number of players not being able to adjust to change

I'm leaning more towards the view that @bing181 has towards this new game plan (player adaptability issue)

I am too but there's also no gameplan in the world that will work with the skill level shown today.

Something else is that confidence seems to be at rock bottom levels. Why are so many players suddenly not able to kick over a jam jar? Why are handballs often going to shoe laces? Why did at least three players today take control of the ball in their hands only for it to suddenly come out of them randomly like a ball possessed and fumble all over the place? I think there has to be at least some question marks over the coaching because we look inept in the mental side of things.

No-one looks good though.

6 minutes ago, layzie said:

I am too but there's also no gameplan in the world that will work with the skill level shown today.

Something else is that confidence seems to be at rock bottom levels. Why are so many players suddenly not able to kick over a jam jar? Why are handballs often going to shoe laces? Why did at least three players today take control of the ball in their hands only for it to suddenly come out of them randomly like a ball possessed and fumble all over the place? I think there has to be at least some question marks over the coaching because we look inept in the mental side of things.

No-one looks good though.

It seems like we've got a mountain of issues but another fully-fledged coach is probably only feasible from the 2025 off-season onwards

So we've got a season to get through

So the immediate replacement for Goodwin would probably be a caretaker coach

But it can't be all on the coach anyway. The players need to take responsibility for their own ineptness. Own it and as a collective, fight back

It's not like they are a bunch of rookies who don't know any better

With all the focus on the coach, it effectively let's the players off the hook

So what happens if we sack Goodwin and appoint a replacement coach and still cop thrashings? We'll be blaming the players then of course