Forest Demon

It's a bummer, but his influence has waned. His first 3 weeks were very good, but his last couple not as much. Have a week off, freshen up, and come back fit and firing off a longer break.

I mist admit, I love watching it, just not when it's one of us, like when he swatted off nibbler last night. He is a ripping player.

Loser of Sunday's game will be under the pump big time.

In: anyone who can play outside, generate some run, and reliably execute under pressure. So...no change.

He is playing as a HFF, but does not have the composure and class to execute like we need someone to do in that role.

Anyone who thinks effort was the problem tonight is missing the point. The game plan, and make up of players on the list, and in the 22, is broken and unsustainable. Goodwin needs to re-evaluate the way we play, and come the end of the year, we desperately need to recruit some outside run and class, because our list is devoid of it.

This isn't the the first time I've said this, but our game plan, and the type of players we have set the team up with isnt working. We rarely have open options when we move the ball, as opposed to our opposition who seem to have a lottery of options. Our "outside" players, half forward flankers etc, are guys like Harmes and ANB. Decent back up mids, but we need players in those roles to have more class. Im not a huge Watts fan, but when we let him go, I said we better know what we are doing, as it leaves Salem as our only real top class reliable kick. We have loaded up on contested types, but it ain't working,

I miss Jack Viney ?

"Cries of "Dusty, Dusty" could be heard (although there's a chance it was "Gussy, Gussy" for Melbourne player Angus Brayshaw)" Top quality stuff right there.

We play extra numbers around the ball and try hard to press the ball inside 50, and keep it there, which leads to two things: 1. Our forward 50 is congested making it hard to get clear cut chances i.e. poor efficiency in our attacking 50 2. We are open and exposed when the opposition gets it out i.e. hard to stop teams scoring in our defensive 50 I've said it a few times, but this is my issue with the current game plan, and I'm not convinced it is sustainable.

I'm still convinced he will be good for us, because he has runs on the board. But he has been terrible so far. Fumbles, runs over the ball, kicking is dodgey and has been out muscled 1 on 1. I havent been an Oscar fan, but he looks far better so far this year.

Of course this is the issue. How to fix it is a different story, We get so many numbers to the ball and trying to lock it in. We work so hard for our goals, but we are so open when it comes the other way. This is my main issue with Goodwin's game plan. I'm still not convinced it is sustainable.

Max has most of the tools to be the best ruckman in the game, if he isn't already. However he seriously needs to work on his kicking. His long kicks are huge up and unders, and his set shots are sketchy at best.

Melksham finished last year well, looked set for a big year this year, but has been hovering between average and woeful so far.

Not a fan. I'll leave it at that.

Hawthorn were clean and direct in the wet. We kept trying to paddle it, flick it, dinky handball it, anything but take possession and do the hard work. Wet weather footy 101.

All of those mentioned are slightly before my time. Since I've followed we have some very good players like Neitz, Schwarz, Lyon, Stynes, but no real superstar midfielders. Woewodin won a Brownlow, and then you have very serviceable players like Cameron Bruce and James McDonald, but unless I'm forgetting someone off the top of my head, none are as good as Oliver imo. If Petracca continues to play more midfield minutes, he could go past them as well.

No wonder they had no money in the kitty to pay Lever when they are paying donkeys like Jenkins 800k.

This is 100% it, and just shows how most of the "experts" have no idea.

He's clearly forgotten him, which makes him even more incompetent really.

I'm a massive wrap for Salem, but I wouldn't describe his first 3 games as a "fine start to the season". Saturday's game should be his baseline.

Interestingly, Roos commented on what a hard worker Kent is, and it was good to see him getting reward for it.

I was thinking about this yesterday and I can't think of a better midfielder we've had in my time, which is mid 90s onwards. And that doesn't even factor in any improvement left in him.

I've only just managed to recollect myself after watching Daniher's handball in the goal square. That's a shocker for the ages.

I've got no idea about Balic. Where is he playing? Whose role in the senior side would it compare to?