Lil_red_fire_engine

May saved it. Trac won it. Oliver rose when it mattered in the last. Unusual to see us win when we don’t have control of playing our way. That was a true grinding win.

6. May 5. Petracca 4. Langdon 3. Salem 2. Lever 1. Oliver

We ground that quarter our but sometime to need to make it ugly. We have been killed at the clearance but outside of that the ball has just pinged 50 to 50. Time for Trac and co to start bursting from the stoppage and for players to show composure and take our chances. Come on Dees show us whether we are as fit as we think.

Jones had 5 turnovers from 10 disposals. He is done Wagner other than a couple of early fumbles has been solid. AVB hardly spotted. Our midfielders needs to start getting their hands on the ball or their player if second to it.

Jones has had a great career but he should never play for us again. He is a liability. The biggest worry is I was not surprised by the stupidity of his decision making and his inability to execute. Then Gawn hits it to the open side next clearance and Viney doesn’t defend the back of it. These are allegedly leaders of this club. The last 6 minutes ruined a strong half performance. Time for some players to get angry get back to getting first hands on it and dictating the play.

I am worried about their ruck duo taking on a returning Gawn on his own. I am also worried about their run from half back and whether we have in a week learnt how to defend the rebound. Out backline should stand up well as long as our quality mids play with intensity and spread (both ways). Feel this will be a game of who wins the clearances and takes their chances.

Atkins as a free agent is the type of move we should be making. Has shown he can play high quality football with 2016-2019 playing 20+ games a year at 20+ possessions average. He is in the right age bracket and fits our need to add outside speed and carry on a wing or flank. Won’t cost us the earth. We have plenty of well tried mature players on our list and delisting one who will not suddenly become best 22 for one that may is exactly what FA should be for.

Harmes at half back was never going to work as he does not read the play naturally , does not appear to position in a zone well and is a poor kick. As per his tagging days he needs to be led to the ball and can be focussed in that role and use his strength and burst to also get possessions. I would have made him a defensive half forward with a small % mid rotation. There is no room in our midfield strategy for a tagger on a consistent basis. For those quoting his midfield exploits of 2018/2019 do you want him in there you are not considering that Trac played basically no time in there. I know who I’d prefer. My immediate reaction was I did not like the changes made. I cant say I like them but I have softened a touch. Leaving Gawn with no Preuss or even TMac against the best ruck duo in the league and not introducing any more run and carry area still concerns. However I wonder how much Fritsch not being available shifted initial thinking. Looking at the team their forward line is taller than I anticipated so the Omac move makes sense. Brown as a lead up goal kicker make sense with Frittata out and probably stole the opportunity to play Preuss as second tall if considered. I do see both Hannan and AVB as fortunate and would have liked Baker on a wing and Bedford for more pressure. I too would have retained Lockhart for Butler. I also wonder how much thinking had gone into this game and likelihood to win vs the further 2 in 9 days we need to play. As usual if we win Goodwins changes wont be the reason called and we lose there will be a lot of told you so and he’ll be classed a failure. In my view it will still come down to defensive effort and execution. Lets see the post match tomorrow.

I dont think you can carry his and Melksham lack of defensive pressure against the best sides. One yes but not both.

I think he like the Wagners and Bedford were ones that weren’t originally brought into the hub so has only recently become available.

Picket had 21 pressure acts and should have kicked two. Hannan has had how many chances?

I have never thought he has had a clear run at it and truthfully give me Wagner over Harmes at half back.

Adjusting this based on todays scratch and an acceptance Melksham through all his flaws had enough score involvements and 1.3 could have daily been 4 straight In Gawn, Out TMac In Rivers Out Sparrow (Harmes takes Sparrows role) In Hunt Out Hannan In Baker Out AVB ( we need to promote speed and we if Baker is up to it now fit)

Tomlinson has had 3 goals in total kicked on him in 4 weeks playing back.

Whilst I would for longer term team balance and due to his lack of defence and discipline would omit Melksham It’s understandable why we dont. Even yesterday he kicked 1 goal 3 and had 6 score involvements. I dont expect him to be go anywhere whilst he is creating 5+ chances to score.

I have assumed Harmes will move into Sparrows rotation. We already lack pace we cant bring in Jetta against the Saints.

In Gawn: Out Tmac In Rivers Out Sparrow In: Bedford Out Hannan In Hunt Out Melksham

We traded for Kola for that need and drafted Nietzscke for it as well but have had no luck there. We brought in Langdon to solve it (success) and Tomlinson (not so much) and Bennell if he gets confidence in his body. Who are these players we have missed out on that would have changed our list in that time? Who would you play in the side or play elsewhere that is available to give us more run? Hunt, Baker, Bedford, Chandler and Rivers are really the only ones with toe that might fill the need maybe Bennell but he hasn’t shown it? Seems to be a lot of slinging with no real solutions being offered. Worth reading the 20 pages of selection changes for round 12 thread. Not many if any taking our 3-0 run and requesting changes to resolve our lack of run. Pretty easy to do post game though and drop it on the coach.

Not tagging Bont did not cost us the game. A lack of defensive run particularly out of D50 and missing 5-6 gettable chances did. I still would not tag him. He is a good player and played a good game but that wasn’t the difference and I dont think a full negating role in our midfield serves us well. Who would you have do it and whose midfield time are you taking away for it?

6. May 5. Tomlinson 4. Lever 3. Salem 2. Weid 1. Petracca

People thinking Goodwin’s coaching cost us really are clutching at straws or have agenda’s. That was a loss based on inadequate defensive run and not taking chances when they present. The same side did both well last week. We missed 4-6 high % goals and they made there’s. We played like an improving mid tier side who struggled with a higher level of pressure. We unsurprisingly were caught short for outside run which a lot of us had already said was a concern. Just need to reset and get the changes right next week otherwise outside run will catch us out once again. Lost in it all will be Steven May’s game which you will struggle to find a more complete defensive game by an individual.

As soon we we were put under any pressure all our mids go back to trying to win the same ball and leave them the outlets. They have just shown why we still need 2-3 good runners on the outside. Still had chances that quarter but Melksham, Fritsch and Sparrow unable to take them. Lets see if we drop our heads or have a crack still in the last.

1 Steven May. 2. When we do get it on the turn or a clear stoppage win we look likely to score. 3. Steven May

Tomlinson will get Bruce. Worth noting AFL article today mentions Tomlinson has only had 2 goals kicked on him in the 3 rounds since going back. “The Tomlinson move is paying dividends, and he’s conceded only 2 goals to a combination of Darcy Cameron, Brody Mihocek, Josh Walker, Cameron Zuurhar, Tom Lynch and Elliot Himmelberg.” Source article below https://www.afl.com.au/news/488070/brayshaw-s-back-angus-beefs-up-midfield-time-to-find-2018-form Lever to play third up to blunt the leaps of both Bruce and Naughton.

This is the 8 point game for the purist in me. No tags please just let Trac, Clarry, Bray, Viney, Sparrow go head to head with Bont, Dunkley, McRae, Libba, Smith. Put the close check on Daniel and May needs to work Naughton under the ball all day. As long as a forward or two step up and take their chances we should win this and really set ourselves for a run at it. If we lose I suspect it will show our deficiencies on the outside still and give us a chance to try and resolve any issues before a tighter run to secure a finals chance.