11 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Not being ungrateful at all because all we want is a W but we still leak like a sieve.

With those numbers you shouldn't be conceding 97 points.

This is something I just don't get.

People want us to play aggressive transition footy with quick ball movement like the best teams currently do.

But the problem, and key weakness, of that game plan is it impossible not to risk giving up goals on the counter.

Can't have our cake and eat it too.

And besides, our bacline was missing two All Australian defenders, the twin pillars of of our backline.

It was a brilliant defensive effort today I thought, particularly in the last quarter when Freo were coming and mutiple defenders made potentially game saving spoils and tackles.

19 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Not being ungrateful at all because all we want is a W but we still leak like a sieve.

With those numbers you shouldn't be conceding 97 points.

We were without our 2 key defenders, and down a key tall in the second half and still won. I'll take the win thanks.

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by Flowergirl

Actually insane to me how some neutrals would discount Gawn as the GOAT ruckman due to his goalkicking. There are plenty of GOAT caliber athletes who have the equivalent deficiency and Djokovic is a prime example.

Even throughout his prime years as good as he is/was at hitting and winning low percentage points, his overhead shots and net game remains a glaring weakness compared to his fellow direct competitors in Nadal and Federer. The amount of errors he has produced on the overhead especially is still quite surprising.

Make no mistake, similarly, Gawn after this performance when the team needed it the most makes him greater than Dean Cox. 18 contested possessions and still gut running into positions to impact play with his marking ability is just insane.

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by VNightCityLegend

Today was the first day I tipped against Melbourne. Ever. And I'm no spring chicken. I've never been more glad to be wrong in my life.

Just now, VNightCityLegend said:

Actually insane to me how some neutrals would discount Gawn as the GOAT ruckman due to his goalkicking. There are plenty of GOAT caliber athletes who have the equivalent deficiency and Djokovic is a prime example.

Even throughout his prime years as good as he is at hitting and winning low percentage points, his overhead shots and net game remains a glaring weakness compared to his fellow direct competitors in Nadal and Federer. The amount of errors he has produced on the overhead especially is quite surprising.

Make no mistake, similarly, Gawn after this performance when the team needed it the most makes him greater than Dean Cox. 18 contested possessions and still guy running into positions to impact play is just insane.

No ruckman is smashing it atm

Just now, VNightCityLegend said:

Actually insane to me how some neutrals would discount Gawn as the GOAT ruckman due to his goalkicking. There are plenty of GOAT caliber athletes who have the equivalent deficiency and Djokovic is a prime example.

Who's Djokovic?

Didn't expect to see Oscar Mc Donald out there today. Good on him. Keeps persevering and keeping his AFL career alive.

Hated seeing that goal kicked against us, but still happy for Oscar at the same time.

Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for the banter and sledging between T Mac and him.

I know it was a different team today & we played differently, but I look at that today & I saw what nth did yesterday & I think how the hell did we get thrashed by them?

2 minutes ago, binman said:

This is something I just don't get.

People want us to play aggressive transition footy with quick ball movement like the best teams currently do.

But the problem, and key weakness, of that game plan is it impossible not to risk giving up goals on the counter.

Can't have our cake and eat it too.

And besides, our bacline was missing two All Australian defenders, the twin pillars of of our backline.

It was a brilliant defensive effort today I thought, particularly in the last quarter when Freo were coming and mutiple defenders made potentially game saving spoils and tackles.

Just the way the game is moving i guess, nothing wrong with having elite standards.

Max mentioned it after the game also.

Something I will get used to.

Happy that we won don't get me wrong @binman but want to see more evidence that we are back as a footy team.

Happy and somewhat relieved to get that win today. No way should we be a 1W and 5L side that's in the bottom 4.

What is Turners injury?

Just now, old dee said:

What is Turners injury?

Concussion

9 minutes ago, binman said:

This is something I just don't get.

People want us to play aggressive transition footy with quick ball movement like the best teams currently do.

But the problem, and key weakness, of that game plan is it impossible not to risk giving up goals on the counter.

Can't have our cake and eat it too.

And besides, our bacline was missing two All Australian defenders, the twin pillars of of our backline.

It was a brilliant defensive effort today I thought, particularly in the last quarter when Freo were coming and mutiple defenders made potentially game saving spoils and tackles.

And Disco Turner went down with concussion...

Just now, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Happy and somewhat relieved to get that win today. No way should we be a 1W and 5L side that's in the bottom 4.

All we want to see is effort from our players, development in our young players and improvements in our game style.

We got all three of them today.

I just hope it's not a one off just to keep the wolves at bay.

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

Just now, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

Happy that we won don't get me wrong @binman but want to see more evidence that we are back as a footy team.

Yeah me too.
But I'm happy with today.
And I was happy with what I saw against GWS despite the loss.
And I honestly think it's cause both games had plenty of youth on the ground.
Tired of watching the same blokes doin' the same sheet.

Goodwins gotta start bringin' em through.

11 minutes ago, binman said:

This is something I just don't get.

People want us to play aggressive transition footy with quick ball movement like the best teams currently do.

But the problem, and key weakness, of that game plan is it impossible not to risk giving up goals on the counter.

Can't have our cake and eat it too.

And besides, our bacline was missing two All Australian defenders, the twin pillars of of our backline.

It was a brilliant defensive effort today I thought, particularly in the last quarter when Freo were coming and mutiple defenders made potentially game saving spoils and tackles.

Agree. And especially so without May OR Lever, against a potent, dynamic forward who has very much had the best of us in the last few years. Don’t even talk about last year.

We take the W every day of the week.

1 minute ago, Fork 'em said:

Yeah me too.
But I'm happy with today.
And I was happy with what I saw against GWS despite the loss.
And I honestly think it's cause both games had plenty of youth on the ground.
Tired of watching the same blokes doin' the same sheet.

Goodwins gotta start bringin' em through.

I'm with ya 💯

Fullerton the boy can play a role and most importantly can ruck.

Played his role.

I don't understand the people who have misrepresented his presence as a chop out ruckman.

Needs game time in the 1st so perserve with him for the next month.

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

36 minutes ago, Tom Dyson said:

J Bowey - 3 votes

Bowey has actually been in top form ALL YEAR. And Chandler, too.

As soon as Langford got the ball I knew it was a certain goal and very close to curtains. The guy is a jet.

14 minutes ago, binman said:

This is something I just don't get.

People want us to play aggressive transition footy with quick ball movement like the best teams currently do.

But the problem, and key weakness, of that game plan is it impossible not to risk giving up goals on the counter.

Can't have our cake and eat it too.

And besides, our bacline was missing two All Australian defenders, the twin pillars of of our backline.

It was a brilliant defensive effort today I thought, particularly in the last quarter when Freo were coming and mutiple defenders made potentially game saving spoils and tackles.

For the quality of ball movement it was a decent trade off

12 minutes ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Actually insane to me how some neutrals would discount Gawn as the GOAT ruckman due to his goalkicking. There are plenty of GOAT caliber athletes who have the equivalent deficiency and Djokovic is a prime example.

Even throughout his prime years as good as he is/was at hitting and winning low percentage points, his overhead shots and net game remains a glaring weakness compared to his fellow direct competitors in Nadal and Federer. The amount of errors he has produced on the overhead especially is still quite surprising.

Make no mistake, similarly, Gawn after this performance when the team needed it the most makes him greater than Dean Cox. 18 contested possessions and still gut running into positions to impact play with his marking ability is just insane.

Max’s marking in the last quarter was epic.

Impressed with koltyn today. He used the ball well & led up for it.

Also lovedhis enthusiasm. When he was on the bench & we'd score a goal he'd pump the fist, he was clapping his teamates, getting into the freo players & having a ball

1 minute ago, Go Lordie said:

Bowey has actually been in top form ALL YEAR. And Chandler, too.

In the last quarter, the blood pressure dropped whenever the ball made it across to Bowey.

Not only the W, but we weren’t BORING to watch today. Dashing and daring.

Just now, Bang Bang Bang said:

As soon as Langford got the ball I knew it was a certain goal and very close to curtains. The guy is a jet.

I have been really concerned about his lack of pace, which remains an issue, but his last half and in particular last quarter was really, really good. His strength allowed him to stand up in the thick of things, and he was still able to run and kick in the last quarter which is rare for a 1st year player. Very impressed.

And he can kick - a skill we so desperately need.