Red But Mostly Blue

lol this is the ‘real deal’ bombers 🤣

Love the positivity of this thread. Hard to see sometimes, and while there is a parallel to be drawn with the hawks, we would need to lift off NOW and maintain. And that includes correcting a lot of stuff that is a non-negotiable - like running games out, and being competitive in the last quarter. Kicking accurately. And it's hard to see those things just clicking out of nowhere. But, I am an optimist. You have to be following this club. Therapy is too expensive haha So, I agree. We are not dead. I believe we can still play finals, then it's anyone's game. But we can't afford many slips (like the Hawks, who were flying last year).

We were right in it on the weekend, and failed to turn up in Q4 (again). This narrative that the Hawks only needed to play 15 minutes is just pure baloney. We could have won that if we were a) fit enough and/or b) hungry enough. They certainly were. And it wasn't the umpires. They were terrible and cost us a few goals, but they didn't miss our shots for us, and I refer again to the comment above re the final quarter. The game was there to be won, and it was. By them. Anyway. This week, we need to focus on who we want to blood this year. I am getting tired of the revolving door selection committee. There are guys who underperform, sent back to the 2s to regain form, and are returned to the main team after one week (usually where they were OK, if that), then replace the other guy who was returned to the main team too early. And the cycle continues. JVR is the best recent proof. His confidence is SHOT. Give him 3-5 weeks in the 2s. 1 week won't cut it. I still think he is talented and believe his development was stunted by having to ruck because we have/had no second ruck! I get it, but send him down there with the message that we believe his an important future member of the team, but he needs to regain form, confidence and work on his skills. He is not alone. Jefferson and Kolt (the latter lots of promise) just need to find some consistent form and skills. Not just for one week. Many weeks. A body of work. That said, I don't think there should be too many changes to the team other than Viney and Petty back in. Maybe AJ (ruck support and mongrel - can't do much worse than 0.1). Out Kolt, Jeffo and JVR - for a continued stint in the 2s! No more revolving doors. Once Lever is back, and provided May is healthy, that is pretty much the best side we can field this year - STICK WITH IT FOR A WHILE. If things get real bad, then we start looking to play in some of the guys we need to see more of - Kentfield, Culley, Adams, and (*gulp*) Laurie (since we extended his contract), because right now, we are actually still in it to play finals. It's not over. But this one week in, one week out revolving door selection stuff is [censored] and will not help us. Reassess in 5-6 rounds. For now, we have the Lions. Anyone is beatable. Just need to play better.

Poor goalkicking. Wasted opportunities. Last quarter fade out (Copy and paste from any game, really) Umpiring was corrupt but it’s not why we lost. We were in it at 3Q but didn’t turn up. Again. Apparent we are not a real team and won’t beat any real teams this year. Blood the kids, get ready for 2026

What a disappointing end to the game. Level at 3Q, in it. 5* goals loss and out without a whimper. Lame. Can’t blame that on umpiring.

Between horrible corrupt umpiring, our poor goal kicking and last quarter fade out, very frustrating.

We are very annoying I hope our many, many misses don’t cost us. The hawks take their chances.

Gah. Imagine if we were 10.4 instead, would have been pretty much game over against these pretenders.

And shared by Clarry. Mutual sentiments haha

I agree. They play an appealing brand of footy, but they haven't really been tested by any quality sides this year, and have been beaten when the pressure has been applied. We just need to come out at 200 pressure and hold. They will fold, and we continue the streak. Can't stand the team or its supporters. Would love to beat them, but also because this will be a solid turning point win, 4-5 ahead and within sight of the 8 - with our tails up - essentially mirroring what they did last year. Just got to play with belief and keep the pressure up, and take chances.

I'll never forget that night at the G - and same, here one of the best wins I have ever seen.

And we’ve won a last quarter… just!! Gawn, HUGE!! 30 votes. Chandler continues his great form, and Turner looked solid. We take the W, and that’s great, but we’ll need a more consistent lift for the hawks next week!

Come on now, percentage. Let’s work hard for 8 more minutes then we can pack it in, sing the song and put the feet up!!!

Called it. I’m the Antony Green of Demonland tonight. We’re also gonna bust the q4 malarkey tonight, too. Gonna bring this home in a romp. (Like Albo)

Relax everyone, we’re gonna smoke these dorks in the second half. Albo 2025 election style. (Eagles = Dutton).

Happy with Turner back in. And Melk. I know these are also Damo's words on his stupid sliding doors garbage, but I think our forward setup is better, and more dynamic with him there. He's still finding his feet, and yeah maybe he could do with a few more minutes in the #2s, but he's such a good, creative, and defensive minded forward, that he'll click quickly. As for not having backup for Maxy, I can only imagine they listened to Demonlanders here who bemoaned Maxy having a rest last week. So now, NO REST FOR YOU, MAX! There you go, wish granted. Finally, Claz. Geez the comments towards him from some in recent months have been poor. He's one of the greatest to wear our colours and while there is always space to make an argument for team selection, and who should be in/out. Those who insist on kicking him to the curb, offloading him to another team like he's some sort of refuse... I hope this is a reminder that he is a human being. Again, one of our greatest to play the game. All the best to Claz, hope he's feeling better soon. Can't wait to see him out there again soon.

Tough But not nearly as tough as our boys, if they believe and give no quarter. We CAN do this. Those are not unwinnable games. Our best is great, just need to keep it up.

In Spanish and Italian, guerra means war, so there's that? Maybe this guy is going to bring the fight we need right now...

Honestly, I don’t actually mind resting Maxy. We will need to look after him this year, and sitting out half a qtr is fine if we’re up by 7 goals. But It seemed like everyone else went off with him!!! 🤣 I dunno. On one hand it was a wasted opportunity to build some % but on the other the boys came off a 5 day break (same as the tigers I know), so maybe they were just gassed. Fitness is a question mark I guess.

Also, Salo and Bowza were fantastic tonight

Not a great first half, in great part because we were getting very little from Trac, Clarry and Kozzie. No surprise that things turned with a big second half from each of them. Maxy was huge. Disappointing way to end the game, some useful % wasted. Anyway, happy for the win, we continue to build some momentum. Over to the west to make amends for a bad loss last year!!!

So frustrating.

This is a disappointing end to the game. We will desperately need % Please get a few back and end on a bang, not a slim margin win whimper.

And about 8%!!! (Provided we don’t continue this mini slumber - would love us to finish strong).

OOOOF UMP MILES OFF