SFebes

Stole that win from nowhere, what a finish! Gawn, Viney, Melksham outstanding as was Brayshaws tagging job on Lachie Neale to keep him to just 19 touches and getting 30 himself (very underrated tagging job). Petracca pivotal down forward but also went missing for large parts too. Thought he changed the game also late with his clearance work up the field. Playing a very dusty type of role for us. I like that we aren't replying on him and Oliver in the midfield. Credit to Goodwin there, we need to blood the young ones in the midfield. What I love though is the youngsters. The absolute composure and skills of our kids, Bowey (20), McVee (19) and Rivers (21)(wow). You can add Woewodin (20) to that list too who seems calm as. It's a great sign for our future. Van Rooyen (20) done a surprisingly capable job in the ruck while not impacting forward he certainly did well for whats not his usual role. The will to win was unbelievable to jag a win with 7mins to go and 24pts down could hopefully be the ignition that this team needs to fire up a run into finals. However..... we basically were completely outplayed and coughed up a 50pt turnaround which was disappointing. I think Goodwin is slow to react at times and stubbornly backs in the system but sometimes its going to be too late, food for thought. Taking nothing away from the Lions or Fagan, their supreme foot-skills and leading up at the kicker and creating space was the standard that we should be aiming for full-stop, their ball movement through our zone was brilliant. This is what many of us have been crying out for. It was interesting to watch that when the Lions had control of the game it looked like we went into our shells a bit and started going very wide and not presenting any leads, quite often players would be flat footed, we are much better when we are flighty on foot. Getting Fritsch and Oliver back will be very welcome as will a fit Petty. I thought Smith was also very composed in the end too and didn't bomb his kicks away, cool head, I'm not usually a fan. We definitely seemed more mobile without Grundy and what a game by our skipper Gawn, back where he loves it. Gawn - 29 disposals @ 72% DE, 39 hitouts, 5 marks, 1 captains goal, 7 tackles, 10 clearances, 6 score involvements! Hopefully this win ignites a good run at the right time and Goodwin learns a lot from the Lions ball movement and leads. Nice way to start a weekend.

Tonight is a big lesson on how to lower the eyes and hit up targets, Lions outstanding skills.

Goodwin rabbit in the headlights as usual.

At 29 years old and not a known forward or great overhead mark, I think the club have miscalculated this move. Sending him back to VFL for try to work on his "forward" craft is too little too late IMO.

Grundy omitted. Cant spin it any other way now boys.

Just because things worked OK in 2021, doesn't mean that they are guaranteed to work in 2023, for loads of reasons. Ohhh I mentioned loads.....

Call it what you like but Grundy has been dropped. You can't drop your captain. Unlike some, I think this whole Gawn/Grundy thing has been a failure tbh and I was quite sceptical from the get-go. I understand why they tried it to preserve Max but it hasn't worked properly for whatever reasons. You just need to think of it from an expected output/wages paid perspective. Both excellent ruckmen, both probably past their peak. Both were never a forward apart from the odd cameo from Max. I do hope they find a way to make it work but it takes away from our forwardline. Obviously an injury to either means we get a good ruckmen replacement in the team. What I don't understand is some of Goodwins selection decisions and we all know he does love to play favourites. Tomlinson, Petty, Harmes, Spargo.....dropping of JVR when he was averaging 1.4gls a game, bringing Ben Brown in in sloggy wet conditions when he isn't the most mobile, playing JVR without any help - now probably bringing him back after a poor game at Casey last week. I think dropping Grundy is the final straw they had to pull to try get our forwardline some structure, finals isnt far away and we need to be settled. The club needs to find a way quick smart and stick with it. We need to go find/buy a decent KPF this year.

GWS aren't that bad of a side, people need to give them a bit of credit. They have won 5 of their last 6 and the loss to Richmond was 4 points from memory. They not only beat us but they also beat Geelong at GMHBA also.

Caro was right then after all that

I see the team practiced shots around poles etc for an extra hour before training the other day....but what I'm wondering is if they practiced leading at the ball kicker and forward entries that will equate to those shots? All well and good to practice shots at goal but still doesn't fix the problem with connection and delivery.......

While I'm not as starry eyed as some supporters on JVR yet, you have to feel sorry for the kid. He's basically been taking the number 1 defender for weeks as a 19yo and I think Goodwin has let him down a bit by not playing Brown to take the key defender, which would free JVR up. We bring in Brown and drop JVR when it would have freed him up. I'd much rather JVR than Smith thats for sure. Another season with baffling team selections imo. Anyway....

The sad part about this is its nothing new, its been going on for years. It's a sad state of affairs and is so messy, it just looks like the plan is to get it in and create chaos. Dumb footy, you see more leads in bush footy.

What annoys me when we go forward is everyone just stands there like dummies and doesn't offer anything, its very frustrating to watch as you even see good leads in lower level footy. So many times on the weekend the footage showed players standing still. By the time the kicker bombs it long into 50 our forward line is flooded. This seems to have been going on years now which makes you wonder....

So the "expected score" was 77 from our 73 entries and you say it wasn't connection, forward issues, game plan, structure or set up? I think there are a couple of you who need to have a spell tbh.

You forgot about comparing to 2021 and flicking the switch as well....

Positives - Bowey, Brown. Real worry - Form Of Pickett, Langdon and Gawn. Wheres Brayshaw?

Gawn and Langdon missing

Already bombed it in 4 times and not looked for anyone. Poor from Grundy there

I really wish people would stop comparing 2023 back to 2021. For a lot of obvious reasons.

Happy to give Viney a rest if needed, we should have enough depth to cover. We don't want him or others busted up again like last year....

He also does a lot of last minute tackles and almost chases, I've been watching him closely of late. Perhaps he is injured? However he looks to have completely put away his strengths. Its a watch for me.....we shall see.

There's no way we got Grundy and pay him what we do to play one quarter every week. I like the outside of the box thinking though, but can't see it happening.

The problem is, both just aren't forwards. Bit hard to teach this late in their careers, you either have it or you don't.