TeamPlayedFine39

We’ve played 4 top 8 sides. 2 of them beat us convincingly. We lost one by less than a goal. We convincingly beat the 4th.

Again, these posts would have a lot more credibility if they popped up during our six week winning streak. If you written this then, you could have said that ‘Despite the excellent form, is see a worrying trend....’ etc. That would have made this a lot more insightful and less like a bit of bandwagoning flaggelation. People make bold predictions after big wins and big losses, but ultimately lose sight of the big picture.

What do you rate our performance out of 10 to this point? Why? 7/10. We've won the games we should have won, but I don't think we've won enough of the 50/50s. The run of six wins was fantastic and showed a sustainable brand of high intensity football, but we are yet to execute that against the stronger teams. We're capable, but not there yet. Which player has impressed you the most? Jesse Hogan: He's finally using his mobility as a weapon and not trying to be a gorilla full forward. Looks like Tom Hawkins, plays like Nick Riewoldt Tom McDonald: He's been incredible since his return and looks a genuine threat every time the ball is kicked inside the 50. Our hopeless gameplan earlier in the season of 'bombing it in' at every chance, might have looked a little different with T-Mac down there. Oscar McDonald: Always been a fan and he's still a work in progress, but his confidence has grown this year and his reliability along with it. A lot of development to come and looks like a pillar for the next decade. Clayton Oliver: Always a huge challenge for a young player to back-up a break-out season. Clarry has done this and is rightfully getting the recognition he deserves. Gun. Which draftee has made the biggest impact? Fritsch: Still coming to terms with the level of intensity and consistency required at this level, but will be a good player for us. What has been our best win to date? Adelaide: Complete, four quarter domination. Which player(s) needs to improve in the second half of the year? Lewis, Vince: Lewis is looking slow and Vince nowadays seems to only be selected for his 'experience'. They need to hurt the opposition more with their possessions. I think Lewis has more to offer; I'm starting to doubt Bernie's place. Hannan: Had big expectations for him this year as I thought, with greater involvement, he'd develop into a real weapon for us. Frustratingly, he still drifts in and out of games. J.Smith: If we're to make the finals, the backline needs to gel quickly. There's a spot there for him if he's ready to seize it. What has been our most disappointing performance? Round 1. This game was the most win-able of our losses, but we let ourselves down with huge lapses in effort and concentration. Where do you see us finishing? Give a win/loss and finishing position 13 wins. 6-8th.

Um... what? Can you imagine for one second the criticisms O'Mac and Harmes would get if either of them was taken at pick one?? So yes, people are infinitely more forgiving of players who were not first round, let alone first picks.

There are 47 players on an AFL list, only 22 of those can play in the seniors any given week. I'm not one for shaming a player who is 'dropped' to the seconds to work on an element or elements of their game- that's what it's there for. Good coaches use the lower leagues for teaching and development, not as a punishment. I wish Watts well, he loved the club as much as we all do and fought to stay. I had hoped that the new environment would work out for him, but to this stage it hasn't. As posters have mentioned above, he's looked lost on the field in recent weeks and his heart doesn't seem to be in it anymore. For all of his shortcomings as a player, he did play to a much higher standard in his final couple of year for Melbourne and his current form doesn't detract from an excellent 2016 and half of '17. Unfortunately for him, he's got the skills, but not the personality for professional football and perhaps it's not as easy as 'flicking a switch' to play to the tempo, aggression and desperation of league footy. He didn't ask to be drafted pick one, didn't ask to debut Queens Birthday with the 'Welcome number one draft pick Jack Watts!!' blaring over the speakers, didn't ask to play on Glass, Rutten, Merrett and Scarlett in his first 10 games as an 18yo CHF and didn't ask to leave our club when we were at our absolute worst. He plays for Port Adelaide now anyway...

Terrible news. Was hoping to have him back in ASAP.

Thought his aggression and physicality was great. He was looking very promising last year before his injury and looked like he could be very handy down back going forward. If we were looking to add more height to the backline, I’d like to see Smith retained for a few more matches to see how he gels.

Ha! I had the same results when I did the Ladder Predictor this morning... then I looked at my tipping results to this stage of the year and realised that the chances of this being even close to accurate are 1000-1. There are way too many variables to go into a single round of football, let alone half a year. No team has makes the finals in June. Form, injuries and luck.

True, but I'm more concerned by our pace when we don't have the ball.

Yep - we're not at 'play the kids' just yet...

A few players are causing me concern at this stage. ANB and Harmes look a million dollars against the poorer teams but go completely to water when the pressure is turned up- both of them put in shockers against Hawthorn, Richmond and yesterday against Collingwood. Against weak opposition ANB seems to have time and space to make smart decisions; Harmes seems powerful and assured. When playing against the big bodies and intense pressure, they are fumbly and lost. Whilst Lewis is experienced and a good organiser, and played some of his best games for the club in the last few weeks, he once again yesterday highlighted the absurdity of being a small defender who cannot keep pace with any opposition small forwards. Can we really have him in our backline come finals, if he can't compete when the ball hits the ground? Vince. I'm just not seeing what he's giving us this year. He used to be a physical player with a booming kick that would break opposition zones and put teammates running into space. Yesterday he had just the seven kicks and one tackle. I'm not sure that it's an issue with form for Bernie anymore, he just can't seem to keep up with the contest nowadays. Love what Spargo has shown this year and I am convinced he will be a good player for us. But yesterday, he was brushed aside with impunity. He's come into the team, made a solid contribution and picked up invaluable experience, but he needs more bulk and strength if he's going to make a contribution against the better teams or in September. Send him to the VFL, play him on the ball and let him develop there for a few weeks. Seeing Collingwood's run yesterday, I'm not so convinced on the three-pronged tall forward line. We need pace and some run and carry and our two fastest players (Hunt and Frost) are both playing VFL. If Pedersen is to go out of the side, I would like to see him replaced with a small running player. Essentially, I don't think we should base our changes on trying to re-strock the team that thrashed Essendon, Carlton, StKilda, Gold Coast, Adelaide and the Bulldogs. We need to put together a team that can challenge and defeat Collingwood, Richmond or West Coast.

Very strange... Thanks- will edit.

Depends on how the loss is viewed by the coaches. Was it a break down in the systems or individual form... OUT: Pedersen, Spargo, Vince IN: Tyson, Hunt, Jeffy

Like this one..?

And Collingwood played very well.

Because we treat it as such. For the players and coaches today should not have been about the final round last year, should not have been about MND, or the 80K+ crowd, or moving to second on the ladder. It should have been a game prepared for and executed like any other. Dont get me wrong, blockbusters and fundraisers are great- but the big occasions make us approach games differently.

Lynch has played one good game this year. Hogan will be All Australian, despite a poor game today.

The good news is that a few posters we haven’t heard from in six weeks are back with us again!

We were well beaten today by a very good and well drilled team. Collingwood's gameplan held up to the pressure much better than ours and their skills, positioning and run will hold them well in September. Whilst it's great that so many of our young players are getting some 'big game' experience, it's a worry that some repeat offenders are wilting under the pressure. Too many not willing to do the hard running and simple, quick disposal. Is this the end of our season? No. There's a lot to learn after today's match and if the players and coaching staff can take that on board, we can improve on where we're currently at.

Collingwood's ball movement and positioning, combined with their pressure and willingness to harass and assist their teammates is undoing anything we try to throw back at them. The pies are good and we need to either match them in the effort department or cross our fingers and hope that their endeavor drops off. More of the same, and we're cooked. Our players haven't adjusted to the tempo of the match. Too many of them are playing as though there is an extra second or two you can hold the ball; you only get this time when playing against poorer teams. This is as close to finals tempo as we've had all year.

Collingwood have been very, very good. We're still in this and have settled, but need to get the game back on our terms. Son-of-Smith has been excellent.

They're quick and clean. We're not settled yet.

He and Fasolo seem to cut us up every time.