Forest Demon

I really felt for Langdon yesterday. He gave it everything he had and you could see he was getting frustrated that nobody was going with him. And then 2 massive clangers at the end makes him a cheap target for the critics.

Something definitely needs to change. Build around Oliver and Petracca, but Viney and Brayshaw are up for debate imo. I think we need another centre square midfielder with a bit of breakaway speed, someone like Lachie Weller from GC (not saying he is up for grabs). And we need another winger. Someone who can rack up possessions and link up our attack, someone like Lachie Hunter from the dogs.

He has definitely proven to be limited in his final years, but he would have been more adaptable in his prime. He would of walked into the 22 of any of those sides. Most likely in the midfield rotation, but otherwise he could have played other roles if required.

Agree re conditions. Everything has to be just right for this team to consistently produce. Their skills go to pieces and the confidence to run disappears. We have too many players who are all or nothing. Our bottom 10 players will have 1 big game followed by 3 stinkers before being dropped. I know we are a long way off Richmond, but look what you get from their bottom 10, week in, week out. It lays the foundation for the others to work from.

The bolded part is absolute dribble

For the first time in a long time, I honestly don’t care. Not that it would have won us the game, but Lockhart instead of Smith (or more likely OMac) would have made a big difference. So whatever we post here, expect the opposite,

And if I hear anyone talk about how they didn’t handle the wind in that quarter, I’ll throw up. Sydney prepared for it perfectly. And we are left hearing excuses again.

Well, I like your optimism, that’s all I’ll say

Bartlett said we wouldn’t stand for it, but we’ve seen an even worse performance only 4 or 5 weeks later. That’s Goodwin done unless he can somehow make finals from here.

Honestly, what can you say. Looking forward to all the lessons learned after this one.

4:40pm on a Thursday! I just had to quickly block out the time in my work calendar so nobody sneaks a late afternoon meeting in. I just want 4 points, and given our percentage is already healthy, I wouldn't be against managing a few players through the game if we are in a comfortable position. Tough 9 days coming up.

Funny thing is, we have actually been pretty steady and predictable this year. Beating all the sides 11th-18th pretty comfortably, mixed bag with those 6th-10th, and then haven’t beaten any of the top sides.

Hibberds replacement by the looks of it.

I’ll be fascinated to see how we manage the conditions for these 2 games leading into the GWS game. It would be a huge win if we get out of this with 8 points, with some of our players getting a rest, whether that’s a game off or even just resting someone like Petracca down forward for large chunks.

Re Petracca, I'd be interested to know what the "significant deficiencies in his skillset" are?

Other than that, he goes alright though

Interesting test of my mentality towards Melbourne. Trust us to win the games we should win and Carlton is the best result. Don’t trust us and Collingwood is the best result. If I’m being honest, I’m a bit torn.

Lucky he wasn’t on the post game go pro duty

Prepare yourselves for the return of Nibbler. Out - VDB, Hannan In - ANB, Fritsch Id also look at replacing the likes of Jones, Pickett and OMac with Harmes or Bennell, Hunt and Smith. Edit: forgot Lockhart, also a chance to replace OMac if Swans are small.

Disagree on Tomlinson. He certainly didn’t set the game alight (don’t think he ever will), but he was an option and worked hard to shut down a lot of their ball movement. I sat at Metricon last week and watched the doggies go coast to coast with ease, and I’m sure that was the thinking behind getting Tomlinson back onto the wing. Agree on Rivers, can’t belive he was ever dropped tbh.

We won that game by turning around our huge deficiency against the dogs, which was our ability to block space and shut down their transition, so hats off to Goodwin for that. TBH, my favourite thing about that win was that we won it on structure around the ground, rather than just relying on the same old faces in the middle battering it forward 30 more times than the opposition.

The team selection copped a lot of stick, so just a quick revisit of the controversial selections: Wagner - thought he was decent tbh Brown - did well and was an improvement on his predecessor OMac - thought he was ordinary, but at least it moved Tomlinson up the ground who had a solid game

Yes, that was bad by Jones, but Goodwin should be giving our big gun centre square crew an earful. Besides Petracca’s 2 goals, we need a big lift from our 4 primary mids. Big positive is our ability to shut down their run, so that must continue.

Weird feeling supporting Geelong, but their pressure was next level in that second half. Dangerfield was huge.

Can only assume Tomlinson is moving back up to the wing with the OMac selection.