Red But Mostly Blue

I always appreciate your positivity after games. While I didn’t love everything about today, the things were mostly those of somebody who has gotten used to following a great team for the last few years haha, like junk time goals and some sloppy skills here and there. There was a time we would have given almost anything for wins, and certainly the saints had a weird hoodoo over us (they weren’t alone, of course). But you’re right though the ladder tells the story. We’re in good position after a tough first half or so, with excellent % and can launch from here. The boys were happy and really supportive of one another which was something that struck me. Anyway, thanks for the positivity 😊

For those laying into McAdam, it’s a bit rough. 2nd game. It’ll take time to find his feet and rhythm at this level, in a new team. I thought he got into some good spots. He’ll be fine. Got to give these guys some time! Even if it was smart strategy to drop guys after 2 rounds, we don’t have the depth for that!

Anyway, my earlier reservations aside, I want to note that we came to win, and that is what we did. That’s important. My positives are that we looked happy out there, as if last week was an aberration. We had moments of brilliance and I hope the boys carry that forward as I still think our best can beat anyone. Go Dees ❤️💙

A win is great, and I don’t want to be that guy but we will need to be a lot better against the Dockers and the Pies. Good in patches, but sloppy in others. Having said that, Maxy, a million points for his performance. TMac and Tommo good, May good late. Good to see Roo get a few on the board. Kozzie was dangerous and very good in the middle. Bank the win, but gotta sharpen up from here.

Such a poor end to the game.

Don’t snooze, boys!! It’s not over!!!! You can put your feet up in 3 minutes.

Let’s not give them any more junk time goals. Percentage is important.

Love those goals ❤️

Much better. If we can keep that quality up throughout the game (not intensity as it’s not sustainable), we would be right every week. Here’s the test: Let’s bring this home. Percentage looks like it will be really important this year, so big wins when we can get them are crucial.

How good is Kozzie?! Also, it’s strange seeing those world-beating giants the Eagles 46-2 down right now…

I know he didn’t miss by much but spaz should be kicking those. Wasted that incredible work by bowza, and they got one back on rebound.

You can also file this under the road to top 4 thread. We are not a top 4 team Sloppy skills, can’t kick, we’re making the saints look good now haha Lame

Sloppy. I hope our 4.8 waste doesn’t haunt us. Momentum is a real thing. I would love for us to keep it.

Lucky for Ross we are atrocious in front of goals. Saints are terrible. hope we come out with our radar fixed and bury these clowns. Leaving the door open etc

I hope so! I'd be OK with this. I thought Billings has been alright (one of the only ones to lower the eyes and occasionally showed his class - but some very sloppy disposals at times, although not alone here and poor goalkicking), but maybe a stint in the 2s to find a little confidence and some form in front of goals wouldn't hurt.

Didn't see the Howes move happening, and thought Billings was 50/50 but figured he was safe as Hunter has not been setting the world on fire at Casey. Three omissions is a fair few, and definitely more than normal, as much as the loss to WCE was disappointing. Will be interesting to see how the changes play out. Bummed for Taj, he has been good.

So, I left this thread for a while to cook dinner, feed the kids, call my mum, then put the kids to bed. ... And I return to some malarkey about dropping Clarry, to replace him with...... LAURIE??? I was only gone a few hours! I get Clarry is not yet the superstar we have all been accustomed to. There are good reasons for that. He will regain his fitness and form over time. But to even suggest the completely, unequivocally unproven (and frankly, in my humble opinion, disappointing) Laurie over Clarry (who was good over the weekend - sure not THAT version of Clarry, but still good, especially in the second half), I guess as some sort of punishment for not being THAT version of Clarry is actually insane. Again, no offence to Laurie, but I would take Clarry with a broken leg, bung hand and with glandular fever over Laurie any day of any week. Laurie trains the house down. But he ain't Clarry. Maybe he'll convert the truckloads of potential he has. But that day has not arrived, and I ain't interested in dropping our boy to find out he's still choc-a-block full of potential. Fin.

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