At the break of Gawn

JVR is very lucky I reckon. He’s been pretty terrible the last few weeks. Brown over him would have been a good swap on form but I guess the coaches want more agility at ground.

I think this was highlighted on “on the couch”. Our wingers are basically part of the stoppage cluster which means once the opposition gets through our line there’s basically no one to hold them up between our defence.

Given that 4 out of the top 4 teams all have coaches who coach from the bench (including Goodwin) I think it’s a trend that’s staying.

Can’t argue with this

Interesting stat. Maybe this is why Goody remains relatively upbeat.

With all due respect, we’re getting about 5% of the media attention of Carlton.

Two questions: 1) Teams that like a forward handball game and who lower their eyes get through our defence way too easily. Can this be solved through more pressure through the middle of the ground? 2) Do you think Goodwin and the coaching staff have the ability to turn this around mid season? We’re in good health (as opposed to 2019) and have a very talented list which means this is largely a system thing. What changes do you think we need to make?

8pt gap now between Port and us. If Brisbane and Port solidify top 4, it isn’t going to be kind for anyone who has to play them at their home in a prelim.

I had to mute him on Twitter. He’s the most self involved person you’d ever meet.

Sourced from AFL.com, We only scored 2.5 (17) from defensive half scoring chains, despite being ranked No.1 in the comp (averaging 40). In other words, Freo went to work on a ball movement.

I listened to Binman talk about it every week last year saying we were primed for finals and then I watched us go out in straight sets.

It’s not just one issue. There are many. Stoppage game needs an overhaul. Defensive structure needs an overhaul (need 3 talls). We can’t carry Chandler, Pickett and Spargo in the one side. We’re not getting enough goals from our talls. JvR needs a spell IMO. There are too many “premiership heroes” who are running on reputation. AnB, Harmes, Spargo, Langdon. Everyone talks about pressure for spots and BB, Tmac’s name is mentioned but what about the pressure on those aforementioned. Bevo has his critics but what I love about him is that he’s not afraid to drop a player out of form and neither should Goody.

I’m a firm believer that it’s really the coaching team not the head coach that dictates success. Hardwick was seen my many as a horrible coach until Balme and Gale brought in an A+ assistant coach team. Goodwin was a struggling junior coach until we brought in a good team around him. I honestly doubt Fly would be the coach he is if Collingwood had not given him a swag of A grade assistant coaches.

I can’t believe I’ve seen a few mentions of “loading”. That was the biggest myth last year and it’s a “head-in-the-sand” mentality. We’re not going to win the flag this year and we’ll be lucky to win one final. It honestly amazes me how a premiership can carry a reputation for much longer than what a team deserves. We’re a middle of the road side this year but media experts just can’t seem to finally say it. On the flip side, Port are not a “team on the rise” as they made consecutive prelims in 20-21, and neither are the Dogs who made a GF in ‘21, they both just had a down year in ‘22.

Brayshaw shouldn’t be getting votes. Turns it over way too often and most of us who accurately rate his skills knew he was going to miss that.

Goodwin need to take a leaf out of his opposition coach’s book, admit to being stubborn and shake things up. Longmuir was accused of coaching fake footy and he took the advice on board and completely shifted his team’s ball movement. I don’t think it’s possible for Goodwin because I have never seen him make wholesale changes mid season. Didn’t happen in 2019, didn’t happen in 2022 and it ain’t happening in 2023.

Our clearance game is so rubbish. We need wholesale changes next week. JVR, Chandler; probably AnB all gotta go

AnB is so frustrating with ball in hand. He tackles and pressures and that’s it. We’re carrying Chandler and JVR as well

Could genuinely see us winning tomorrow but then losing next week. The heat on Carlton will be extreme.

I genuinely hope the Blues win. They’re going to win soon and I hope it’s not against us. I’d rather them win tonight and get their hopes up before we roll them.

No matter how you look at it, we need to get better at defending forward 50 stoppages for the opposition. Even if we got that to inside the top 10 of the comp it’d be a huge improvement. This seems like an easy fix for Yze and the defensive coaches.

Where this club has come back from is remarkable. It’s no wonder that during the post match grand final press conference that Goody mentioned he was in tears before the game even started as he reflected upon how far this club has come back from. The problem with success though, is once you taste it, you want more and more of it. As a supporter, I thought seeing us win the flag in 2021 would fill my cup for many years. However, the fact I wasn’t able to see it in person at the MCG has left a void, that I, and I imagine many others, also feel. Given the talent of this group, if another can’t be achieved, it will be a failure.

For a guy that’s probably still on the outer, that’s a massive story for Morris to break. Richmond would be furious with that leak. But good on Hardwick to know when the time is up. He‘s done what Clarko should have done in 2019.

For the last part of this segment, Montagna suggested that Melbourne should give the AFL a heads up on this treatment. We should absolutely be doing this because as soon as the umps start paying some free kicks on this, you’ll see opposition teams stop this in a heartbeat.

I think we’ll need even numbers at stoppage this week. I know Goody loves our turnover game, but Freo have a very good back 6 so I don’t think we’ll be as damaging. Freo are also the no.1 side in clearance differential the last few weeks. If we get smashed at clearances again it’ll cost us the game.