Red But Mostly Blue

Ok, it's day 2 post the loss and I have worked through the various stages of footy grief for the embarrassing display. Look, whether you paint it as a loss against a plucky Eagles outfit (they were impressive, and I expected them to be tricky), or a very disappointing performance by us (it was - and it highlighted continuing worrying trends - like our midfield collectively being in a funk, losing the i50 count - the inability to stick tackles), it's done now. We have bounced back before and I expect we will again. I am not sure we have properly addressed the midfield issue yet but I have to have faith that the FD is aware - and have a plan (please). Lever out is tough, but we can and should make amends against the Saints, then build towards some momentum against Freo and the Pies (we'll need to be pretty sharp by then). So here I am, disappointment aside, putting faith in the boys that they'll also want to restore their credentials and pride.

Oooof. We’re bigger than one player, even if it is someone as important as Lever. But it will be a tough month. Really puts into perspective how important it is to bank ‘easy’ wins.

haha yeah there certainly is that bingo card feeling to all of this, and I myself used one of them. But honestly, I don't know what else there is right now? We kind of are at a point where we make or break the season (another one for you lol), because this loss, and the way we played, aren't acceptable for a team who wants to be taken seriously . We can't win a final(s) with such inconsistent displays - not only because our worst is so bad and our best not often/sustained for long enough, but also because every team will always feel they have a chance. I grew up watching us get hammered by the titans of the eras (Hawks and Cats notably) and always going into games knowing it was a loss - because they had the record and aura of being untouchable - and against us and pretty much across the board they were. I don't recall ever feeling there was always a sniff against the Cats or Hawks. They got beaten, sure, but they had to be beaten - they didn't really beat themselves in the manner we seem to be so good at.

It's probably my MFCSS, and also PTSD from yesterday, but we should beat the Saints obviously, but they're struggling with many impatient members looking for improvement. Who better to play than... us! The team that plays others into form, takes opponents for granted and doesn't turn up at the first bounce. If I was Ross, I'd say hit us early, then hold with some really boring footy. I am having visions of someone like Membrey kicking 5 against us in a monumental, season-turning win...

Sorry, by door I meant door to Casey haha But on that, probably Petty (who at the very least should have been sent back when Lever went down). He offered nothing, and has offered nothing all year, save for a good game against the Cats. Now a striking anomaly. Don't know how we will get anything for him at year end. Maybe it's a plan he and the Crows concocted - to play so bad that his market value is next to nil at year end, and they grab him cheap. Probably Salo. I have loved him as a player over the years, but he is a shell of his former self. His foot skills have been bog ordinary, for someone who has been regarded as a precision guy. BBB, sadly. I say just wrap him in cotton wool and save him for a final, if we get there. Sparrow. I like him. And he occasionally shows glimpses. But just not often enough. Don't know why. But as I mentioned above, there aren't many to replace those guys.

It's one of those line-in-the-sand games. Teams are allowed to lose. It's normal. But we were bullied by a bottom 4 team - who will finish bottom 4. The midfield were owned by a 9-gamer. Behind closed doors, they should feel like the ego took a solid hit, because it did. We came off a 10-day break and had no excuses not to come out and torch them. SO What does the team stand for? Is it about respect? Because none was earnt yesterday. It eroded some of what we have done. Because our regular poor starts, and wasted chances show we haven't learned anything. Whatever we do this week has to be sustained from here on in. Not only because the last two losses (wasted against the Blues because we turned up in 4Q, and yesterday...) mean we are now behind the pack - so we have to win tough games, but also because the yoyo-ing through respect and waste/embarrassment is seriously tiresome. Of all the teams in the league, we always seem to play 'inspired' opposition, even if they're battling. And the honest reason is because they see us as beatable - with good reason. We start slow. Take teams for granted. Waste chances. Our best and worst is light years apart. We essentially have created this circumstance. The only way to end that is to stamp it out by 4 QUARTER FOOTY EVERY WEEK, and respect for our opposition. So, whatever we do against the Saints - will, and should be the year ahead, if we're serious about respect/another flag.

Can't bring myself to write the things I am feeling right now about guys who I know care about the Club - but for whatever reason - which still has not been addressed - just can't bring fire to the start of these games (not that the start cooked us - as we were owned all game) - or consistent energy and intensity week-to-week, especially after a 10-day break(!!!) - so I am just going to commend the following as the only ones who held their own: ANB - Tried all night Fritter - Kicked his goals Kozzie - Dangerous and lively Taj - Full game please * List over *

Yep - took me back to the prelim at the least - smashed everywhere - and certainly to the many years of their dominance. Yeah our midfield have been, aside from brief exceptions, beaten this year and looked sluggish. Can't make/stick tackles. I'd love to show some the door but the reality is we have very little by way of depth. It'll end up being that rotating door system where we send guys back to the 2s - they get replaced by guys who just aren't good enough/ready, they don't make the cut in the main team - and are sent back, then replaced by the incumbents who go on to do the same thing. We have done a lot of that the last 2 years, especially in our forward line. Not saying we shouldn't send some back, just don't know what we will get will be any better. Have not been impressed with the bits I have seen of the Casey guys - hence where they are on the ladder. Haha yeah, I am thankfully at home today - but holding a lot of video calls, and have already been reminded a few times... GGRRRRRrrrr

The day after losses like these are the worst. Think I had nightmares of Reid pushing over/fending off our lightweight, once vaunted midfield brigade, turning on the jets and scoring a ripper goal in front of our noses. There was also us getting outmarked everywhere, and just flopping about, unable to make or stick tackles. I honestly don't mind losing. Can't win 'em all. BUT only if we turn up, respecting our opponents, having a dip for 4 qtrs. None of that happened. We turned up expecting a win, and got OWNED by a bottom 4 team. A true nightmare.

So we'll be better placed to beat the Eagles in Rd 17?

I agree that is should be what is expected of us, BUT we should always counter it with respect for our opponents. The team expected a win just by turning up, and it showed. Hard to disagree with everything else!

Can someone please tell me if Goody’s presser is worth watching with some tangible ‘learnings’ (like what we’re going to do about our slow starts, taking teams for granted, where our midfield has gone in 2024 etc), or if it’s just going to bum me out even more than I am now.

A very big issue that has been largely overlooked.

Yeah nah. Missed the point. Said the team held the mentality vocalised by some on here. Supporters aren’t to blame, of course. But when we take our oppo for granted, this is what happens.

The upside is that, if we’re going to play like this, we definitely won’t make the top 4, and maybe not the finals at all, so there’s no real chance of a straight sets exit.

To all the posters saying a 6-7 goal win was guaranteed/a must - that mentality is exactly why we lost. Because it was shared by this team. We expected to walk up and win, but the Eagles, like every other team know that if you show up and work hard from the first bounce, you can beat us. Which they did, but in truth they humbled us, and we were also embarrassed by a first year player. Our midfield is non existent. Our backline was woeful. Cant blame Lever, as you cannot say we are nothing without one guy. Umpiring didn’t cost us. Outmarked and outworked everywhere. A disgrace. The team wants to talk about earning respect? None. Zero for tonight and last week we did nothing for a whole half+ So disappointed.

The eagles look more like winning a flag than we do right now.

Any chance we can make a bid for Reid? How embarrassing for us. Really.

Billings 😔

Could do with a few more, in a row, and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, not let this bottom 4 team keep their lead.

They have players free everywhere…

Our backline has been humbled big time tonight. Really really truly embarrassing.

Far out that’s annoying. Can we get Waterman?

That was pathetic. Hopefully we get a rocket and the boys come out remembering that we’re supposed to be a top 4 side. Not interested in the complaints about the umpiring. It’s not why we’re losing, not why we’re kicking everything straight to them. Not why a first year player is creaming us in the middle. Need to be better, a lot better, and beyond this, work out why we’re such a frustrating, inconsistent team with wildly significant differences between our best and worst. This is shizen

That goal was all McAdam, but wow great stuff by Brown