Just by going off statistics and what we've seen so far, we're clearly the worst 4th qtr team which can often point to fitness. I wonder if the re-arrangement of our training sessions this year is contributing to this? Why are we one of the few teams the AFL that does this? I assume it got changed after the review as it was different to last year.

"The Dees have been deploying a different lead-in to games than many clubs, holding a main training session two days out from matches, then a captain's run the day before games. Across the competition most clubs hold their main training session, then have a day off, then their captain's run the day before matches."

Anyone have any insight as to why we've changed things around this year?

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by At the break of Gawn

6 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Just by going off statistics and what we've seen so far, we're clearly the worst 4th qtr team which can often point to fitness. I wonder if the re-arrangement of our training sessions this year is contributing to this? Why are we one of the few teams the AFL that does this? I assume it got changed after the review as it was different to last year.

"The Dees have been deploying a different lead-in to games than many clubs, holding a main training session two days out from matches, then a captain's run the day before games. Across the competition most clubs hold their main training session, then have a day off, then their captain's run the day before matches."

Anyone have any insight as to why we've changed things around this year?

Just one of the numerous things that needs looking at.

But when you play a game that allows 150 uncontested marks to the opposition that means our players are chasing tail all day. That is incredibly tiring

Geelong denied us the ball and we were forced to defend all night.

When we finally get the ball back we are knackered.

We don't play well against teams that move the ball around. And to me it seems we are very reluctant to switch - something we did a lot in pre season. Switching means a lot of running to space to allow the kicker an outlet. On the rare occasion we switch the play kinda stops because we don't run hard enough to provide an outlet

Our pressure rating has been terrible meaning we aren't forcing opp'n teams to make mistakes/turnovers.

When we do get a t/o we are not capitalising on it because we have such an outnumbered forward line.

Our coach refuses to change the setup despite the entire AFL industry calling him out. Maybe he's a genius and it will come good but I doubt it.

He stubbornly sticks with the way he wants us to play regardless of what the opp'n does.

A Geelong player even said that in an interview I heard. 'We knew if we controlled the ball an opening would come up because they don't pressure us' (I am paraphrasing but that was the essence of what he said

Interesting, for as long as we’ve had Goody the main sesh has always been 3 days before a game, not two.

The age article this refers too was implying that fitness is not the issue, more that the contest central game that both Melbourne and Carlton play is a slog that leaves you exhausted at the end of a game. In addition, it doesn't match with the fast, handball central game that is being played by other teams.

18 minutes ago, Flowergirl said:

The age article this refers too was implying that fitness is not the issue, more that the contest central game that both Melbourne and Carlton play is a slog that leaves you exhausted at the end of a game. In addition, it doesn't match with the fast, handball central game that is being played by other teams.

This was an AFL.com.au article, if I recall, our fitness also looked off last year.

19 minutes ago, Flowergirl said:

The age article this refers too was implying that fitness is not the issue, more that the contest central game that both Melbourne and Carlton play is a slog that leaves you exhausted at the end of a game. In addition, it doesn't match with the fast, handball central game that is being played by other teams.

I haven't read the article, but if that's an accurate summary they're wrong.

Fitness is def an issue for us - it's a major worry.

I wish the cause of our fade outs was because of our contest, pressure and how hard at it we have been.

We have been woeful in those aspects of the game (which by the by are acritical for all teams no matter what their method) in the last two matches and whilst out contest and pressure were good in round one the Giants ran over the top of us despite being just as hard at it.

And in case the article's author hasn't got the memo we ARE move away from the model that won and are trying to implement the fast, handball central game that is being played by other teams.

And yet to win a tackle count in a game this season.

Pup Brown 28 tackles in 3 games for Casey....

3 minutes ago, binman said:

I haven't read the article, but if that's an accurate summary they're wrong.

Fitness is def an issue for us - it's a major worry.

I wish the cause of our fade outs was because of our contest, pressure and how hard at it we have been.

We have been woeful in those aspects of the game (which by the by are acritical for all teams no matter what their method) in the last two matches and whilst out contest and pressure were good in round one the Giants ran over the top of us despite being just as hard at it.

And in case the article's author hasn't got the memo we ARE move away from the model that won and are trying to implement the fast, handball central game that is being played by other teams.

We keep saying we're moving to this fast transition football but then watch us time and again kick it long to a contest. We also ignored players in the corridor all night. I'm not convinced the players even know what it is they're supposed to be doing. We've got senior players clearly playing as individuals. If The Brand was serious about us improving he'd be driving the change, sorry but I see a petulant child more than I see an experienced leader of men. I'm shocked how bad we are this year. Bar Chandler there's not a player that has improved on their previous best, That's a terrible indictment. If it turns out we're also not fit enough then we are truly cooked. I still think it's the way we play that's killing us but maybe it's fitness as well.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Roost it far

2 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

We keep saying we're moving to this fast transition football but then watch us time and again kick it long to a contest. We also ignored players in the corridor all night. I'm not convinced the players even know what it is they're supposed to be doing. We've got senior players clearly playing as individuals. If The Brand was serious about us improving he'd be driving the change, sorry but I see a petulant child more than I see an experienced leader of men. I'm shocked how bad we are this year. Bar Chandler there's not a player that has improved on their previous best, That's a terrible indictment. If it turns out we're also not fit enough then we are truly cooked. I still think it's the way we play that's killing us but maybe it's fitness as well.

Q4s are either 'giving up' or 'running out legs'. Which do you prefer?

36 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Q4s are either 'giving up' or 'running out legs'. Which do you prefer?

We’re not giving up we just don’t play with any fluidity or flair, we’re grinding. Playing the way we are would wear even the fittest sides out, out least that’s my hope. For if we actually aren’t fit enough then seriously, wtf!!

3 hours ago, Roost it far said:

if we actually aren’t fit enough then seriously, wtf!!

Surely Goodwin needs to go back and change the training schedule based on these results though? Maybe it was player driven to change it this way, but it makes no sense to me that you'd do your main training session 2 days before a game. Absolute madness.

I can't believe in all the threads I have read in the first 4 rounds no one has called out Selwyn Griffiths for the way we have presented ourselves in 2025.

In each year our fitness levels have declined by 2 or 3 percent from 2021 and this is where we find ourselves.

Chasing tail, unable to close down and pressure in the right areas of the ground and playing an outdated brand of footy.

We look weak, slow and have lost our power.