fr_ap

Don't get me wrong - yze has been good. It's just a funny game as a forward when you get a bit of luck and convert your opportunities. He could easily have 2.2 and it would have been a good but ho-hum half.

Cool the Jets on yze. Good converter but has taken two uncontested marks i50, received a downfield [censored] and a [censored] in a marking contest. Had one good assist where he read the ball well off the pack. Culley is a weird one. He's such a brute but often can try too much on his own - it's a weird comparison but in traffic he reminds me of Brodie Grundy....when he was with us he would smash through bodies and just always seemed to try too much....teammates couldn't read him and often ended up turning it over. A negative synergy player. Not saying Culley is that, but he needs to use his power to beat one man then dish to space

Interesting way to finish the year - bit to chew on. Thought May was abysmal despite what the stats sheet now says...for all the good he did, I counted probably 4 goals that were directly his fault. His judgement is shot, he seems to start games on another planet and I'm not sure his body is coping anymore. Sadly, the game has become too fast for him (& Lever) to play in front and read the cues. Especially when they have slow teammates upfield who can't go with ball carrying teams to apply pressure. There is a reason Turner looks like our best defender - he is mobile. Honestly, I am angry that we didn't try May as a forward this year. We play a bombing game style, he's hard to beat in the air and it could have extended his career. Thought Tom was also poor. He was poorly treated this year and I hope he goes again and gets to 250...but he probably shouldn't be getting games next year. For all the forward woes I actually have more worry about the backline because it is so immobile and has so much to do with how teams score in the modern game. Bowey had a great year but is not reliable in 1v1s. Howes shows glimpses of a player, but struggles to defend mobile forwards and gets beaten on the lead frequently. Adams isnt hugely mobile either and whilst I still think Petty is May's obvious heir, he's not too mobile either. Adding a mobile marking defender to partner Turner for the next decade should be a priority - as should finding a line breaking sharp kicking HBF. I'm ok for Salem to go on - but he too is quite immobile. AMW has promise. Will be a shame if that's the last we see of Judd...he's had a poorer year but has the tools to play the modern game. We are just beaten for run and speed in so many situations. Up the ground I'm pretty much done with Sparrow. He let us down in some big moments and was horrific last week in particular. He's not improving - I think he's hit his ceiling. Played a role in a great team but we need more from him now. Good clubman - keep for culture but he should be playing at Casey. Poor Bailey Laurie has so many more tricks to his game and has never had a proper look - for his own sake Laurie should be traded and I think he'll do ok elsewhere. Clarry was great, hope he stays. Trac I'm happy to cash in a little to keep the list ticking over. Rivers has to be a mid but needs to learn how to kick on his left. It's costly. Our slow-tall wing combo is interesting. Langford a total weapon...26 touches off the wing is bloody hard. He shows a lot of leadership too - gets on with things and shows composure when more senior players do not. Culley has something....has some rough points in his game (ball watches/flat footed) but could also be a very handy player with some more experience I think. Strong team first attitude. Sharp - just amazing he's played as many games as he has. Good in space but has no idea what to do in an AFL contest. Total liability when it's tough. JVR - not sure. There has been growth in his game but he needs a 1 wood....and it has to be marking or leading. He's just not dangerous enough. Thought Melk made some costly decisions when he could have released teammates. No concerns with Koz....type of player not to burn himself if he knows there's nothing to play for. Excited to see some change next year. See you then.

Sinnema looks clever! Likely type.

All very good points

Was very close to Goodwin.

Spot on. Sparrow would never have been subbed under Goodwin, so it's already changing.

Er....yes, I would. Leaders of every...single .. organisation of any size are required to tell half truths or outright lies every single day. Like it or not it is a significant part of leadership - you aren't afforded the luxury of being able to speak your mind and you do need to tow the company line. Honesty is for internal discussions and definitely not for the vultures of the AFL media landscape. Very very very naive to think otherwise. It's not the first time Ed has done this either - honesty is an admirable trait but not helpful in this situation. He's now projected a divide or disharmony inside the club to the world (whether true or not), including prospective new players and coaches and god knows who else. It's not helpful and not necessary.

Langdon's comments 100% confirm a new voice was needed. Way too comfortable and to draw or reveal a divide between players and Board isn't on from a senior player and tells me (as many suspected) the players have been running the place. Those saying "what do you expect him to say" - you expect him to say "we loved goody, but are excited for a change and the challenge that can bring". You don't expect him to say "you'd have to ask the Board". Very poor.

Whilst it feels a little shocking, I think this is a good thing. Rare that we go early ...we could have easily held on for another year and I firmly believe we would have been the same in 12 months. Langdon's interview today actually probably confirms we made the right decision...players have been comfortable for a long time. Overdue that things are shaken up. What does feel sad is this is officially the end of the era. May is just about done, Gawn still going but done soon, and I now expect one or both of Trac and Clarry to leave. It's the right decision. We were going to tread water for another 12-24 months.

Well put

Nail meet head

That would be a start, but won't address arguably the clubs biggest problem T.Lamb 3 votes

Good question. Maybe the legal eagles can weigh in here. If you put it together right now you might just get a groundswell of support

Let them have their win for the ages. Our last after the siren victory won a minor premiership and set us on a path to a flag.

I just want a coach that understands how to set and maintain a culture and high standards. You think Paul Roos was some tactical mastermind? That he somehow TACTICALLY gave Max the belief to become the best ruckman ever? The art of coaching is in walking the fine line between teaching, nurturing, ridiculing, inspiring. Line coaches and analysts should be on top of the other stuff. Simon may have some attributes -but it was Roos and his handpicked line coaches who turned our culture around. Recruited competitors, inspired Max, turned our VFL team into flag winning depth. Simon carried that legacy to a flag...the management thereafter have destroyed the culture Roos built. I called it the first pre season after - it's always noticeable if you know where to look. We're now in that position again where we need someone to come in and turn the culture around. Longmire could be it, but I'm not sure he is. Not sure we have anyone coming to save us this time around. Especially with Tassie around the corner.

Jeffos kicking was one of his best attributes earlier in his career. I think now he is getting up and back more and actually working defensively, he is cooked when he takes the shot. Fitness

For all those suggesting Jeffo needs to do this against better defenders.... yes that will come but worth noting he has spent big chunks of today on Zaine Cordy, who played AFL for a few teams for many years. He's certainly not some EFL level nobody. Jeffo has absolutely dominated - either deep forward or up the ground he looks a level above

Is the Rigoni getting the ball in Sandy's backline related to our Guy?

Good response from Kolt. Would have 7 or 8 touches, two big game changing tackles and a goal. Interesting though watching him at CBs - he clearly needs coaching about how to get on the move and when. Can ball watch a little. To be fair, I don't think he was ever a permanent midfielder as a junior. I think the club know he's coming from a way back and have taken a very long term punt on what he could be with proper coaching and fitness paired with his power, frame and character. Jeffo dropped a couple of uncontested ones (again!) but he is showing good defensive intent and covering the ground well. He and Kentfield look good together...honestly it's probably better than the AFL forward line. Hardie is a weapon

A lot here didn't pick it up but in a very rare interview years ago Judd made clear he'd go back to WA. Couldn't exactly blame him wanting to get out from under this FD.

I've said it for 4 years. Our FD sucks. I'm glad to see some are waking up to it. Only way it all changes at once is for Goodwin to roll. And it ain't happening with no CEO or President.

Perkins is a huge no. Total dud ...think all your reservations about Kolt, but after 80 games. Lord I am not sold on - has had plenty of opportunities and imo Jefferson shows more already. Ryan I would look at but for very cheap. We need to start to look beyond the cheap pickups. It's taken us nowhere....billings sharp schache....

He's not adjusting to the speed - and that's okay....but he shouldn't stay in the team. Needs time at Casey, he was coming from a long way back compared to fellow draftees of his year. What I don't understand is why he's never been given a role as a mid at Casey. It'll be hard... he'll be gassed....but with his size and power (those asking for a trait - it's this), he just needs to be a mid long term. They thought he had huge scope to improve - hard for anyone to improve as a half forward that might see the ball 10 times if you're lucky in the world's worst forward line. Last night they asked him to play the sparrow role....Tom was given a long time to figure that out. It's not exactly a starring role anyway...one of our predicaments is Sparrow now isn't capable of being even a B grade mid. I actually think Kolt has more attributes than Sparrow and is capable of better clearance work - but he's very raw. I haven't given up on him and can occasionally see what the recruiters saw. He'll need time, practise, fitness, and more importantly plenty of exposure to the ball. We made this mistake with Sparrow who was deprived midfield time in order to be a tackling half forward....sticking to Oliver, Viney, Petracca in the midfield. It's run its race. I want to see us start to blood our next midfield, including Kolt and Langford in there. Honestly our 'big 3' helped win a flag but have a lot to answer for. Brayshaw came close to winning a Brownlow and we couldn't even fit him in there.

A big part of this is the messaging and narrative from the president, Goodwin and the FD, and the leadership group. They show up against better opponents and start slow against poorer ones because as the club has been saying, they still think they're a top 6 team. They view teams like carlton as below them and don't take the challenge as seriously. But when we need to travel to Brisbane or face down Sydney? No worries. Demon time. This is all reinforced by picking the same premiership players despite prolonged form slumps, not holding them to high standards, not going after any senior talent to add to the team (because we don't need it, right?) and so on. Through the last couple of successful years we have allowed arrogance to fester - entrecote, Langdon/Mays comments on Collingwood - I don't usually buy into this stuff being important - but in hindsight I think there has been a clear trend of the club holding onto the past and being in denial of what is now staring us in the face with two consecutive bottom 4 finishes. The penny won't drop until Goodwin moves on, Gawn retires, or the old guard actually get dropped. It happened recently with Lever - it should have happened with Clarry, Trac, May, Salem, and others at various times. The FD no doubt justify that 50% May output is still better than Jed Adams...which couldn't miss the point more. Adams isn't paid to be May, and it's not his role. it is May's role, and he's not been performing in it. Sends the wrong message to both May and Adams. Rinse and repeat for the likes of Laurie in place of a Trac, Clarry or Viney. It's all broken and [censored] about - and it's a clear outcome of poor leadership and a bad FD.