Mel Bourne

Thanks for the podcast guys. As always, some much-needed cool and calculated observations. @binman it was interesting to hear your thoughts on young Koz. A lot of game-watchers (including Andy) have observed some very lacklustre moments; the half-hearted efforts, the suburban league-esque toe-pokes, the futile speccy-attempts and a general case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when a pack-sweeper is needed etc. I can accept to a degree that he is performing a designated task, and that fatigue is also a factor in some of these instances. What I’m having trouble accepting is that they’re a factor in all of these instances. With regard to the point you made about Montanya’s “point”, I do see many instances where he is placed inconveniently in regards to the fall of the ball, while simultaneously well away from any position that could be deemed as “protecting the corridor”. There does seem to be some leeway in his role to be “creative” when it’s needed. Is it his creativity that needs some scrutiny? This creativity-allowance is best on display when he flies for yet another unrealistic speccy (and I use the term “unrealistic” because so often they aren’t even close to being successful grabs). I’m having trouble believing that his coaching staff, in combination with his supposed-discipline, are behind these attempts. The downside of these flies (and we are consistently getting two per game) is not the slightly awkward moments they create, but that they effectively take him out of some crucial seconds of the game. The more galling instances of these also see him spoiling our taller forwards’ opportunities for a more realistic chance of a mark. In the scheme of things, maybe this is more of a “bugbear” than a genuine issue. But my god does it siht me. As for fatigue, well, his lacklustre moments have been present since round four. And while he does rack up the pressure-acts stats, it’s his efforts around the loose ball that I’ve observed with a degree of frustration (the goddamn toe-poke). I also am sceptical of the “pressure act” stat at times. They can sometimes flatter the player - case in point, James Harmes, who had the 2nd highest number of these against the Giants, but otherwise generally struggles to make our starting line-ups these days. Look, you’re a far more generous defender of the players than many here, and it’s ultimately the admirable path, but there was no concession in the slightest that Kozzy could improve in some areas. Is there even the slightest grumble in there? Are you suggesting there isn’t the tiniest fire that’s created all the smoke? Even if that fire is located somewhere near the coaching staff? Anyway, the kid has all my support. Just want to get the best out of him.

The award for young players is being signed to an AFL squad. But if you love it, that’s great. Personally have never understood the point of highlighting the achievements of a particular sub-set of players, except to pad-out Brownlow night. If anything, I’m far more interested in players who still impress deep into their career, but I still don’t see it as necessary to create an award for them.

I’d like to see the Rising Star award scrapped altogether. Why create such a trivial distraction amongst a group of players who are all just trying to find their feet? Sure, there are particularly high-achieving players amongst them, but if they’re genuinely special they’ll win a club B&F or Brownlow one day. Until then they’re just players in a squad like any other.

Yep, which is why I said “unless you watched the broadcast as well”.

One of those i50 tackles (2nd quarter, 5:44 on the clock) still allowed for Byrnes to give-off to Steele mid-tackle. who managed to clear the ball (albeit ineffectively) back out of the 50. Without wanting to get too pedantic, it’s interesting to see how that champion data definition doesn’t quite match up to the reality.

I’m not as confident as others may be that Fritsch potentially coming back for finals will be as much of a remedy as we hope. Foot injuries take a long time to settle and need a lot of management once the player returns. This, on top of Bailey being mercilessly struck down during a period where he was trying to regain some form, doesn’t bode well for me. Obviously would be elated to have my concerns dismissed, though.

Thanks for clarifying, and apologies for getting a bit tetchy there. You literally stated it was a question, so perhaps taking it as a comment was wrong of me (though the amount of support the question received in terms of 👍s seemed to bolster the idea that it was a dig at non-attendees). Thanks for your well-wishes. I haven’t been able to go to as many games as I usually attend this year (for associated reasons). I’m not allowed to yell too much when I’m watching the game with her, so it’s been good for my zen.

Would have loved to have been there, but I spent the night looking after my elderly mum after having a fall. I see this “point” being made often after games. It’s a thoughtless and entitled line of supposed-reasoning that needs to die in a ditch. Your criticisms aren’t more valid because you were fortunate enough to go to the game. Nor are you better-placed to assess the team’s performance, unless you watched the broadcast as well.

Saints have a two player bench. If we don’t win this game it is time for some serious discussions at the club.

Pickett continues to be useful as Anne Frank’s drum kit.

I’ve been lectured fairly solidly by some here for calling out Pickett’s performances these past couple of months. Obviously he’s got a whole half of football to make amends, but if this form continues tonight, those lecturers can stick their stat sheets where the sun don’t shine.

Why try when you’ve got four more years in the bag?

Oh but his stats! (it’s not just you)

I’d say his good moments have been negated by his bad ones, which equals “good” in it’s most generous definition.

His two kicks from a standing-start straight to Saints defenders were “great”?

Bowey’s disposals have been uncharacteristically rubbish thus far.

Welcome to the game Trac. Please, do stick around.

What in the actual f$&@ is with our ridiculous close-handballs under pressure? Worst offender is - as ever - Brodie Grundy. Puts zero thought into his give-offs.

Stupid over-hand-balling is really becoming this team’s trademark

Yes, that was frustrating as all hell. But you don’t blame an individual for “costing us the game” because that particular individual made an error in the dying minutes of the match. Games are won or lost over four quarters of football.

By “stuck”, I mean how many of those have been wrapping players up in tight contests resulting in a ball-up? Yes, those are certainly not without their importance, but those kinds of tackles are just the basic requirements of the game. I’m not overly moved by this statistic when compared to his others. His game yesterday was a slight improvement on his recent form, but 1.2 is nothing worth getting excited about from a key small forward, who we all got terribly excited about his signing for four more years. Look, I really want him to do well. Love the kid when he’s on. And they hype from the footy media has definitely been a hinderance when it comes to how we view him as a player. But you can’t deny that he is in a slump, and one many of us here have noticed. I still back him, but he needs to find something better than what he’s currently giving us. Maybe some of that will be solved by giving him space in our otherwise stupidly-congested forward 50.

I’m struggling to see how his occasional shirking of hard-ball-gets, poor positioning at contests and ridiculously-selfish leaps for glory translate as “doing his job”. I see it more as him doing the bare minimum. His tackle count is the most impressive stat out of all of those, and yes, it does indicate effort. But stats are deceiving. How many of those tackles have stuck? How many have resulted in a free kick? The problems do indeed lie elsewhere (and yesterday, practically everywhere) but his form is definitely one of the ingredients in the current soup of mediocrity we’ve been dishing up of late.

Sorry, are we supposed to be impressed by these stats? He may be holding his spot in this side, but compare him to the league and not his also-struggling team members, and you get a much more accurate depiction of where he’s at. No, he won’t get dropped. Simply not an option. But if you’re trying to make the case that we should be impressed with his recent form, you’ll understand if I politely tell you to make it somewhere else.

He broke new ground in the last quarter. Went for the fly before the camera had even caught up with him. It’s embarrassing to watch.

I’m not sure if I’d label it “class and poise” as much as I would “opportunistic”. The “opportunity” being that Trac and Lever decided - for god knows what reason - not to stand the mark and allow him to play on.