Swooper1987

Goodwin confirmed on AFL 360 that he carried a back injury into the game, which was worsened early in the game when Cox jumped into him and the also rolled an ankle.  Goodwin confirmed he would've been subbed out but as he left the field Turner was concussed and Petty got hurt so Max got to complete his duties.  Gutsy effort by the legend.

15 minutes ago, Redleg said:

That is correct, but it is also allowing him to hit the ground first and become another mid, which he did brilliantly in the last GF.

He can do that, and does it well,  but I was more concerned with his inability to provide a contest in the ball ups and his lack of capacity to keep up with Cox around the ground.  An obviously injured Gawn provided a better contest than Jacko today.  He had plenty of mates, but it wasn't a great day for him.  Today we needed him to play like a big man and he didn't, other than a couple of times deep forward. 

Just now, Jaded No More said:

It is 100% his back. He was holding it constantly. Channel 7 commentary is trash. 

We don’t deserve him. He is a warrior and I’m fuming that Cox, genuinely one of the worst footballers going around, gets to look like some sort of hero today playing on nobody after injuring Gawn. I hope he drops those stupid sunglasses in the toilet! 
 

We are in genuine trouble if Gawn is going to be out for a while or down on form due to the injury. 
 

 

Agree entirely.  Jackson showed he isn't in the top 10 rucks in the league today.

Still confident we can make something of the season but we need to find a way to kick a score.  Jackson was hopeless in the ruck today and Cox taught him a lesson, but he did look promising forward.  He should've kicked two.  Maybe the answer is he spends more time forward.  Gawn deep encourages the long bomb and he's the best ruck in the league.  He should be on ball the vast majority of the game.  Connection will only happen when forwards lead up.  Our style at the moment is the long bomb to a forward line who consistently get outmarked.  That's what is hurting us the most.

Apparently was an ankle today according to channel 7.  Although I'm sure the knee in the back was more troubling mid way through the second.  Courageous effort to stay out there.

6 Oliver

5 Brayshaw

4. Viney

3. Jordon

2. Petty

1. Hibberd

Jackson was poor when matched up in the ruck and couldn't go with Cox at all.  He was ok forward and actually looked a bit dangerous there today.

Gawn, Turner, Petty all shot which gives an alibi.  Jackson shouldn't escape criticism for his poor effort when asked to step up.  Tracc really struggling.  Two weeks to get it right.

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

You'd think Ruscoe would be the Mihocek replacement if he doesn't come up.

JVR is a real forward.  He'll be a very good player because he competes hard in the air.  On another note, two of my boys from the Under 14 MPCA Provincial Premiership team in 14/15 are having great games.  Josh Smith and Roan Steele.  Nice to see.

I'm not sure where you'd find the stat, but from a visual perspective he seems to lose a lot more aerial contests than previously.  That's my main criticism.  I love what he brings when he's on, but as a big man he needs to be able to win or neutralize marking contests. Rarely is Gawn outmarked.  Asking him to play like the best ruckman of the generation is a huge stretch, I know and not a fair comparison, but bringing it to ground should be his aim.

Another interesting stat is that Gawn has now kicked as many goals for the season as he did up to the prelim final last year (11).  Which would likely mean more time forward and hence more time in ruck for Jackson. Maybe his "shock value" isn't such a shock anymore. 

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

easy enough to argue that in 2022 his impact has increased; his influence has decreased

he's still going to command a pretty penny when he signs a new contract

He will indeed, and he's a good player not playing at his best right now.  That could all turn tomorrow.  We need him to compete like a big man.

4 minutes ago, 1964_2 said:

This has been covered in depth. He was great pre getting covid, and has had a quiet few weeks since.

Interestingly enough, there was also calls on demonland around this time last year for him to be dropped after a quiet month or so. 

Not many 20 year old ruckman, that have got to this level at this same age. 
 

Thanks for the insight. So you agree his impact has lessened, so how did my original post not make sense?

54 minutes ago, 1964_2 said:

This comment doesn’t make sense.

”he was good last year”

considering he has been better this year than last year, that also means he has been good this year 

How so?  You are basing this off stats not impact.  His impact last year was substantially better than this year. 

You are as good as your last game in this caper.  Jackson has been poor for much of the season.  He was good last year, and played a great 15 minutes in last years GF.  I hope that's not the only thing he's remembered for.  I expect he'll come good soon.  We need him to stand up as a forward.

2 minutes ago, Sydee said:

I think everyone knows what it says about Sam - Goodwin said in his presser he has been told he needs to improve (my words significantly) on certain things - my guess is 

- not being easily pushed off the ball

- bringing the ball to ground and stopping his opponent marking

- compete with some aggression when not in possession 

- heaven forbid kick a few goals 

- run hard to create space and an option for players up the field 

there may be more I don’t know but whatever it is he’s not close to a recall based on what I’m hearing unless he starts playing with a bit more physicality 

This is all absolutely correct and just about applies in equal measure to Jackson.

20 of last years Grand Final 23 are playing.  Missing Rivers, TMac and May.  That's a very strong side.

1 minute ago, old dee said:

IMO it ain't the backline that is our problem it is the forwards.

Was referencing our backline minus May.  But agree, finding a tall forward who can mark and kick straight with a degree of regularity would be handy.

Not surprised Melksham dropped him if the news report is correct.

Hibberd will have to play this week.  He can play medium or tall and if Petty ends up getting injured during the game we'll need the extra tall.  Tomlinson is a must as well.  Probably looking at a back 7 of Hibberd, Lever, Petty, Tomlinson, Salem, Brayshaw, Bowey I reckon.  That's still 6 premiership players out of the 7.

17 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

 You’re right. I was disappointed in the loss and went too hard on him. I was bitterly disappointed in his two way running yesterday. I know he got votes in the Eagles and North game but I reckon he did a few things, particularly against North, that we’re very low percentage.

I just think his best is blindingly good, so I probably hold him to a standard that might be unachievable. 👍

I think you're right to expect more from him.  He got coaches votes against Richmond when nearly everyone else thought he was just average.  He is a wonderful player but he has been very up and down this season.  His defensive efforts (never a strength but much improved in the last two seasons) have largely disappeared.  His lack of impact in the past two games has contributed to our overall result.

21 minutes ago, Clayton spirit said:

Gawn/Jackson resting is good enough as the 2nd tall, if we can't get Tmac in. Don't think M.Brown is up to scratch, Weid/BB combo hasn't really worked either

For the first 6 or 7 games last year we did this and it worked well.  However we had Tom Mac playing like a big man, marking or bringing the ball to ground and the Jackson/Gawn combo changing forward.  Fritsch was the hybrid and then the smalls.  Who takes the McDonald role?  At this stage I don't think Brown can do what Tom was doing back then.  Having said that I reckon it's worth a go.  Pickett, Spargo, ANB and Harmes/Viney as the smalls.  Why not?

Sunday Footy Show gave him a perfect 10.

I'd look at this.  If Tom is out for a lengthy spell then we need another avenue to goal.  Petty is the man.

B: Lever, May, Hunt

HB: Brayshaw, Tomlinson, Salem

C: Langdon, Petracca, Jordon

HF: Neal-Bullen, Petty, Pickett

F: Fritsch, B.Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Harmes, Sparrow, Jackson

SUB: Rivers/Bedford

He's the best ruckman I've seen since Simon Madden.  His influence last night was extraordinary.  Longmire was in awe of him in his presser.  He can dominate a game like no other ruck.  I was listening to that dingbat King talking up Witts as AA ruck earlier in the day.  I reckon Max shut that nonsense down last night.  He's probably on a dozen Brownlow votes too. (3 against Port, Hawthorn and Sydney and probably 2 or 3 against GWS).

The sky isn't falling.  But we have proven to be over reliant on a few players - May missing, McDonald missing, Oliver missing for the first half, Petracca's numbers belie his complete lack of influence, Lever completely out of sorts.  Gawn plays one of the all time great games which makes the game closer than it should've been.  Lot's to work on but we are 10-2.  16 will get us top 4, 17 probably top 2.  We are still in a great position.