Forest Demon

Ouch. He's been ok this year, but certainly a level below his best. His role really interests me at the moment. In 2018 in the absence of Lever, he was constantly dropping back deep and taking lots of intercept marks. These days, it seems to be like he is playing more traditionally between the 50 meter arcs. As outlined in a few posts up, given our dysfunctional forward line, I would like to see him get forward a bit more.

Jobe Watson made a good point about using Gawn as more of an offensive weapon. Obviously being a marking target is one thing, but it was more about him rucking inside 50, as opposed to TMac, and using his ruck work to try and get on the scoreboard. As Jobe kept banging on about, Gawn rucking to Petracca and Kossie inside 50 could be a real weapon.

They have some serious young talent (again), complimented by some harder bodies, and then aided by a shipwreck of a season where they’ve been able to play at home in front of small crowds against teams who are being massively put out like the Perth teams.

Salem was one of our best against Carlton, and featured in the coach's votes from memory. Melksham is frustrating at the minute. End of the 1st quarter summed it up with an amazing lace out kick to Fritsch (who dropped a sitter), and then gives away a cheap 50m penalty and late goal.

He's been close to impacting games this year, but has been a little uncharacteristic missing simple marks and set shots, both of which are usually his strengths. Given it's only a small sample size, I'm not too concerned about him yet and reckon he will tear a game apart soon. In saying that, I agree he needs another big body up there so he is the 3rd option.

Lockhart had 2 mistakes, but he was one of our best against West Coast, and was clearly struggling after starting well and copping an early knock. I personally think he deserves a good crack at nailing that spot down.

I would love to hear Jackson clunked a couple of marks up forward.

The performance in isolation isn’t the end of the world. It’s the fact that it was another game we should have won on the balance of play, yet we again showed no consistent way to goal. Tbh, I’m not even fussed about this season, but we need to show improvement going forward before the end of the year, otherwise we should make a move imo.

My priority is a semi functional attack for 2021, so either, or both, of Weideman and Jackson in for me. VDB isn’t quite right, so only one of he and Bennell can play.

I agree that we make costly mistakes and cough up simple goals, BUT we go forward just about more than any other side, and there is absolutely no method to our attack, which is largely on Goodwin, especially due to the fact that it’s been the same story for the last 18 months.

Yet again, effort wasn’t in question for me. It comes down to system or lack thereof, particularly going forward.

Yet again, effort wasn’t in question for me. It comes down to system or lack thereof, particularly going forward.

Are you suggesting we had a first tall target? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Goodwin has to implement a way to goal sooner rather than later. We lose the same way every time, which is an indictment on the coach.

2 years ago was the time to get him

Not picking a guy who might only play 50% time on ground makes sense, but in that case, not sure why they took the risk in the first game back against Carlton. As everything this year, people are learning on the run. Maybe they thought having an impact player play 50% of the game was a good idea, but since changed their mind, or don't see that as a good idea against an experienced Geelong side.

I'm not a huge fan, but there's no doubt he's a better player than what he showed most of last year and in Round 1 this year (that was an all time shocker). If he can get back to his best, there's a spot on the list for him, but whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

I think we are doing a bit of a refresh this year in order to be primed for 2021 onwards. We have a good young core, but we will see the likes of Jones and Hibberd transitioned out of the team, in favour of getting games into some young guys like Rivers, Pickett and Jackson. Even getting some games into Bennell with an eye firmly on having him 100% ready to go next year. In saying that, we are desperate for either TMac to get back to his best, or Weideman to come on quickly, otherwise we might be in strife. I think mid table this year, pushing up into the 3-6 bracket 2021/22.

I wasn’t sure if Hunt had a role after being overlooked at half back, but he’s found a home up forward. He had an ok year last year, was good last week, and was involved in plenty of those goals today.

Great chance for those out of the 22 to put their hand up against decent opposition. Chances might be few and far between this year. Keen to hear how Lockhart gets on, as well as Weideman obviously. Marty Hore is another who has barely rated a mention this year, not sure if he is fit or not?

Analyse it all we want, but this year is different. It's not like we have a decent second tier to allow players to "earn a spot". Last weekend's scratch match was 14 a side! Weid can only do what he did in that game, but the FD will be going off training standards and gut feel as much as anything this year.

100% agree. He is underrated, but does also have another level to go as well, which would put him right up there with the top handful in the comp.

TMac’s fall from grace is killing us. He looked like an absolute lump out there again yesterday. I watched him try and change direction at one stage and they almost had to let him out the stadium to complete his turn.

This is going to be a weird season, at least these first few rounds anyway, so I’m just happy to bank a win tbh.

Lever wasn’t great today, but he showed signs pre isolation of getting back to his intercepting best. Today was only one game.