1 hour ago, dees189227 said:

Our forward line us stagnant. They do not move or block for each other. We can see it, the media keep talking about it yet nothing changes.

It's not just the forward line. Even coming out of defense our mids/marking targets all just stand around instead of leading/making space. There was one instance last night where we had the ball across half back and then only person actually making a hard lead was Gawn. He was ignored of course.

Whatever we are doing to try to improve, it just isn’t working. The forward line, skills, stoppage work, intensity, defending transition - nothing has any consistency to it.

Goodwin might be able to turn the ship around, but we don’t have the luxury of time to find out. As every week goes by our players look increasingly dispirited, devoid of confidence and apparently unclear on what they are supposed to be doing. That’s not entirely on Goodwin but it doesn’t matter anymore. We are 6+ goals worse than two bottom 6 sides. Trotting out 20-23 of the same players who played last night, sticking to the same script, is going to lead to a 100-point loss to Fremantle.

We need change, and we need it faster than whatever the best case scenario with Goodwin is.

A special mention to our pathetic fitness - we’ve actually been within striking distance on the scoreboard in four of the five games so far, but each time have been embarrassingly wiped off the field in the fourth. Like the rest of our current football program, whatever we’re doing with our fitness program just isn’t working.

10 minutes ago, Hopeful Demon said:

AFL is an entertainment business. Supporters have every right to watch whatever happens in front of them.

It's not up to you to lecture people about the way in which they support.

Righto

12 hours ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Round 3, 2017 v Geelong:

"It was frustrating. Clearly you've got to kick goals to win games of footy and we didn't do that today,"

Round 5, 2018 v richmond 

"We didn't connect well forward of centre. It's been a little bit of a tale of some of our games this year where we've struggled to connect and have efficiency inside forward 50.”

Round 21, 2018 v Sydney

"We didn't connect well forward of centre. It's been a little bit of a tale of some of our games this year where we've struggled to connect and have efficiency inside forward 50.”

Round 6, 2019 v Richmond

"We had our opportunities through the middle of the ground, but we couldn't connect with our handball and our kicking,"

Round 15 and 16, 2020 against lowly Sydney and Freo were the same. Inefficiency cost us finals. 

Now 2022-25 the same old BS repeated! Even after a flag, this club finds new ways of disappointing fans. Goodwin has a pattern and a one off 2021 (which I am grateful for) does not mean he gets a pass. 

Inefficiency, moving the ball and goal kicking has been an issue ever since Goodwin took over. 2021 was a lot better, but is now an anomaly.

So, no, you are wrong. Fans/members have EVERY right to tee off at the basket case this club is becoming yet again. I only pay $750 for my membership, so can’t imagine those who pay the $1000+ yearly.

I constantly ask this question on how you sell hope to the fans and convince them to keep turning up in Season 2025 as there is a long way to go and no first round pick next year. People pay good money in a cost of living crisis and have competing priorities with work/family and other stuff.

No-one can provide a decent answer and without a CEO, permanent ppresident and long term coach currently, I don't think the club can either.

I find Gawn’s post-match comments about our players, including himself, dropping their heads truly fascinating.

Is he dropping the filter and saying what he thinks but shouldn’t be saying? Or is this a planned way to try to stick it to teammates who are struggling? Or is it just a sign that he’s tired and his leadership is waning?

2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I find Gawn’s post-match comments about our players, including himself, dropping their heads truly fascinating.

Is he dropping the filter and saying what he thinks but shouldn’t be saying? Or is this a planned way to try to stick it to teammates who are struggling? Or is it just a sign that he’s tired and his leadership is waning?

I think it’s the third reason. He is in his twilight years and I think he’d benefit from stepping away from the captaincy and enjoying the last year or two of his playing career. He looks and sounds buggered.

Their hearts just don’t look in it this year, non invested and very low intensity.

You can see when they lifted the tackling pressure and work rate in the 3rd quarter for 20 minutes we suddenly looked good.

They are not sustaining it though, and have been very ooor in all 5 last quarters.

Fitness or lack of buy in and care factor?

Maybe not fitness coz we were poor from the start.

A lack of connection or chemistry suggests not every one is on the same page.

Something is not right at the club and I think it’s the whole, petracca, Oliver , Kozzie wanting to leave thing from last year, hearts not in it.

Edited April 13Apr 13 by DeeZee

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Whatever we are doing to try to improve, it just isn’t working. The forward line, skills, stoppage work, intensity, defending transition - nothing has any consistency to it.

Goodwin might be able to turn the ship around, but we don’t have the luxury of time to find out. As every week goes by our players look increasingly dispirited, devoid of confidence and apparently unclear on what they are supposed to be doing. That’s not entirely on Goodwin but it doesn’t matter anymore. We are 6+ goals worse than two bottom 6 sides. Trotting out 20-23 of the same players who played last night, sticking to the same script, is going to lead to a 100-point loss to Fremantle.

We need change, and we need it faster than whatever the best case scenario with Goodwin is.

A special mention to our pathetic fitness - we’ve actually been within striking distance on the scoreboard in four of the five games so far, but each time have been embarrassingly wiped off the field in the fourth. Like the rest of our current football program, whatever we’re doing with our fitness program just isn’t working.

Serious question…

Why didn’t the club make a blueprint of Burgess’ program and just stick to that?

2 hours ago, layzie said:

I constantly ask this question on how you sell hope to the fans and convince them to keep turning up in Season 2025 as there is a long way to go and no first round pick next year. People pay good money in a cost of living crisis and have competing priorities with work/family and other stuff.

No-one can provide a decent answer and without a CEO, permanent ppresident and long term coach currently, I don't think the club can either.

So true, if the Club can’t be organised or bothered to get a CEO and president in place why should we commit hard earned dollars , especially to membership when as a spectator we can just choose to go to a few games and pay as we go.

1 hour ago, Heart Beats True said:

I think it’s the third reason. He is in his twilight years and I think he’d benefit from stepping away from the captaincy and enjoying the last year or two of his playing career. He looks and sounds buggered.

I think you are dead right.

He's had a fair burden on his shoulders these last few years dealing with all sorts of rumours and ridiculous behaviour from players. He's one man and he's given his all.

I don't know who the ideal candidate is but I think Max has done his share.

1 hour ago, Heart Beats True said:

I think it’s the third reason. He is in his twilight years and I think he’d benefit from stepping away from the captaincy and enjoying the last year or two of his playing career. He looks and sounds buggered.

Can’t help but think how these five games might have gone with Campbell taking the ruck burden and Max drifting forward and spare back. And I’m talking a much better role than with Grundy

18 hours ago, bing181 said:

A few good signs, probably all we can expect for the moment.

Decent performance across the ground, marred by a few costly errors (May and Gawn dropped marks), the younger players struggling a bit, Windsor hasn't been himself since returning, Langford can't handball to save himself, Lindsay getting too easily out-bodied, etc. etc. But tackles, clearances, contested possessions all trending in the right direction.

However: This was supposed to be the breakout year for JVR, unfortunately it's close to his worst. Add the injury to Jefferson, Johnson not there yet (if he'll ever be?), and Fullarton improving but ???, and we have a forward line that is a long way off kicking enough goals.

Are they trying to kill off JVR - the solitary tall forward and bring asked to play second ruck? He had huge talent and is being wasted without support.

I am very lucky to be on holidays in another country , haven’t seen a second of the game and also haven’t seen or heard any politician.

8 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Another cooked last qtr. I wonder how long they're going to persist with most idiotic training schedule of Main training, then Captain's run the next day and then game day without a break in between.

God only knows why they haven't reverted to how it used to be before this season.

6 hours ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Gawn has to take some responsibility for the hole and mess we are in. To essentially say (paraphrasing) that it is “fun and exciting to be out of form” after that Gold Coast smashing was both weird and cultish.

Goodwin’s robotic pressers are already as bad as it is, but then hearing the captain, one of the most colorful personalities in the game come out and continue to tow the company line by saying it is great to be out of form is just straight up garbage.

Add to that "they broke our spirit" line. I've never heard of any player, let alone Captain, say this in over 50 years.

I seriously think we may need to rethink the whole structure and hierarchy of the team as well as the FD.

NO player, especially a leader, should ever concede that sort of inner feeling regardless of how apt it might be to the individual concerned or the playing group.

58 minutes ago, layzie said:

I think you are dead right.

He's had a fair burden on his shoulders these last few years dealing with all sorts of rumours and ridiculous behaviour from players. He's one man and he's given his all.

I don't know who the ideal candidate is but I think Max has done his share.

Absolutely. He has championed the club all the way. Let him enjoy his last season or more free wheeling it.

Question is though, who is there that's capable and suited to taking the mantle at this point?

7 hours ago, Deeoldfart said:

‘A picture tells a thousand words’

Similar scenes in every club room, at every level and every age group around the country after a loss! So what!

7 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

I'll add my two bob's worth:

Windsor is NOT a defender and a potential great is being ruined. He is a winger! No, not a midfielder: a WINGER.

Petty as a defender makes too many mistakes and always has. If he makes a mistake as a key defender, it costs us a goal. If he does it as a forward, it loses a scoring opportunity, that's all. He should play FF and let JVR play where he should: as a mobile CHF (and not as a backup ruck).

If Max is going to rest for 10 minutes per quarter we MUST select a backup ruck.

Fritsch plays best close to goals.

Our recruiters have to find us some power big men in a hurry. When Max and May retire, our situation will be diabolical as things stand.

My hero Clarry, and others, have to run MUCH harder when the oppos have the ball. There is no excuse for this loose marking of players, allowing the opposition to chip the ball around until they chip it to an unguarded player in their forward 50.

Viney needs to be the one giving the handpass, not receiving it to deliver it into the forward line, since he ALWAYS kicks it to the opposition. So does Trac, who seems to blame others but should look at his own kicking skills.

Jones and Choco have to go and Chaplin should go back to being defence coach. And those who say Goody was responsible for Jones getting the coaching gig: I don't think so!!!!

There, all fixed😜

You have made so much sense and then messed it up with a little cr@pee

19 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

You have made so much sense and then messed it up with a little cr@pee

I'm glad you thought it was sense. Frankly, it all looks obvious to me.

I dont care that we dont have a first round pick. we got Linsday and I'm happy with that.

Don't listen to any scumbag Essendon fans.

If there is any way out of this hole it’s through a circuit breaker, either Goodwin needs to go now or he needs to start dropping senior players who aren’t giving there all, even if they are still best 22, nothing is going to change if the club accepts mediocrity. We have to many players coasting probably not helped by giving them long term contracts and a weak leader ship from the board down. Perhaps if players like Gawn or viney spent a week or 2 in the vfl they might find the hunger again

7 hours ago, DeeZee said:

Something is not right at the club and I think it’s the whole, petracca, Oliver , Kozzie wanting to leave thing from last year, hearts not in it.

Also loss of Gus (especially) and ANB. Add to that loss of Lever on-field.

6 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Why didn’t the club make a blueprint of Burgess’ program and just stick to that?

Given that Griffiths was hand-picked by Burgess as his successor and then had a year under his wing to learn the ropes, they did and they are.

(I know that's not the answer you were looking for.)

It's not fitness, not in a physiological sense anyway. Psychological having an impact on physical performance is something else. You're always less fit when you're losing and vice versa.

1 hour ago, Garbo said:

If there is any way out of this hole it’s through a circuit breaker

People have to stop believing in the tooth fairy. There is no circuit breaker, there is no knight in shining armour.

Going to be a rough ride, buckle up.

Go Dees.

13 hours ago, Adam The God said:

It's way too easy to manipulate mismatches with 1v1 footy. It's why it went out.

But clearly the next evolution of footy will be one that slows down the ball movement of the opposition.

Yep this high scoring [censored] is so boring to watch. I like the contested battle much more. I think it’ll revert back soon enough … just when we overhaul our list to suit the current style you’ll know it’ll be defunct.