At the break of Gawn

If you took a look at Melbourne and the WBD a day after the 2021 grand final you would have definitely had the thought of multiple premierships for us and then wondered what scars the dogs will carry after such a heavy GF defeat. However, as we come to 4 seasons since that 2021 grand final, we've won zero finals since then and looking at another bottom 6 finish while the Dogs are bursting with young talent and looking to make a second consecutive finals series. I find it really hard to stomach that after that 2021 grand final they're probably going to win a final before us.

Swans have turned a bit of a corner lately. Port were absolutely primed for us. Hinkley basically said in his presser a day before the match that it was a game they must win in front of their fans. We looked like a team who's bye was coming one week too late.

I'm actually surprised how high he went in the draft. His kicking is really poor and we've seen time and time again how hard it is to turn a bad kick into a good kick.

I'm most concerned about Windsor and JvR. I think Salem actually had a good block of form but dropped away the last couple of weeks.

It's actually quite embarrassing considering our talent vs Their's. Apart from JHF, Rozee, Georgiades, Butters and Farrell, none of their other players would probably be in our best 22.

Funnily enough both us and the Hawks were on 7 wins after round 14 last year. Crazy to think that despite the horror shows against Freo, WCE and the Pies last year, we were still better than what we are this year comparing a W/L record.

Yeah just watched it too. They're 100% right. Some people will say stuff like, "Well Goodwin can't kick the ball for them" and that's true, but what Goodwin can do is ensure we have a different mix of players kicking the ball inside 50 and yet he picks the same 3 butchers.

I know we won't make a move this year, but I'm just sick and tired of watching us lose the same way again, and again, and again. I know we've made shifts in our game plan, but if Goodwin is going to persist with the same guys who just can't compete aerially ahead of the ball, or defenders who just want to sag off on their opponents then that's on him.

We're getting absolutely smashed in the turnover game at the minute. We can't defend it and we just can't score from it either.

Let's not waste these next 9 games with some fanciful illusion we'll sneak into the 8 or trying to chase wins that will amount to nothing. This is now the time to prepare us for 2026. Play Jefferson and JvR up front. Put Petty down back May + Melksham to Casey. Viney to a forward pocket. Use this as an opportunity. I know Goodwin is a self-described "winner", but it's now about the big picture. If he's still chasing wins this season instead of formulating a game plan that will challenge in 2026, then he can go.

Absolute disgrace that we've let a B grade forward kick 7 total

Just garbage

What's the point of playing Melksham? He's not part of our future.

That's interesting, he didn't look too bad with his tap work in the last qtr and I haven't seen any reports in the post match about him being injured.

Xerri getting 0 disposals in the last qtr while the game was on the line and only 3 for the second half is why the AA selectors can't choose him. He just doesn't have that match winning capability like Gawn does. Once the ball leaves clearance, he basically has zero influence around the ground.