BW511

We have absolutely [censored] the bed here. We’ve got a lot of players scared of contact. If Oliver is in the gun, then Jack Viney must be right beside him. He’s been a liability

We are not getting Rachelle and picks our way, absolutely zero chance. I know Harry has plenty of excuses coming off a terrible injury, surgery and no preseason but it’s just a little bit of a reach

It is quite intriguing that skill has been our downfall for many, many years and yet we doubled down with a new gameplan which is outrageously reliant on skill.

Great deal for us, not sure Adelaide would feel the same.

Pretty interesting that Buckley has gone after our fitness, from a visual perspective. I think quite a few of our boys look a little heavy at the moment.

I thought so at the time too, I thought it was directed at the bench but wasn’t 100% sure

I’ve always believed we had a gameplan that was built around our core group (Oliver/Trac/Viney/Max/Lever and May). It was about maximising the ability of that group by not asking them to make decisions, not asking them to hit precise targets and not asking them to be quick and agile. We had big bulls and played accordingly. Now that the football world has moved on, we are suddenly asking those players to become something they haven’t been for 4-5 years and in some cases, their entire careers. They look devoid of confidence, they look confused and they definitely cannot consistently do what is being asked of them. This is a group that commands a huge chunk of our salary each year and they are currently being paid to be utterly lost.

The way JJ was used with us, it would be reasonable to think his career was hanging by a thread. I’d be concerned if he didn’t take the dollars.

My best guess is there is some sort of performance based pressure hanging over the coach/coaching group. They seem desperate for some kind of Hail Mary to stick (Petty & McAdam). Something more significant than an AFL season. Something is amiss amongst the whole group, I have no idea what but this seems like the end of the road for this group. Perhaps the ongoing investigation has unearthed a lot of skeletons?

Regardless of everything else, when he has a set shot he kicks the ball like he’s protecting his hamstrings

We have a lot of ‘confidence’ players who are absolutely devoid of confidence. It appears like there is something going on in the background or there is a huge disconnect between playing group/coaching. We have been getting dragged over the line by individual brilliance rather than teamwork since the GF win

Pretty sure in the interview with JT he said Luker was injured, 2 weeks out from memory?

In my eyes, he’s an upgrade on Turner, Tomlinson and Howes. Not quite KPD but capable enough and good at intercepting. Far more attacking with ball in hand too. We’d be mad not to have a look.

You’ve just described the MCC

Waterman in full flight is pretty good to watch - don’t ask how I know 😳 In no particular order; Errol Gulden for his smooth moving and deadly left foot Zac Butters for his kamikaze style and his relentless effort Jesse Hogan for his athletic ability and pack marking Josh Kelly same as Gulden Tom Green for being a beast Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera for aesthetics with ball in hand - as pure as it gets I generally don’t watch much footy other than Melbourne games each week but will have a quick look if any of those guys are playing

It’s troubling how easily teams can target our ‘strength’ and expose every other part of our game. We are not a team that brings contest 100% of the time. We bring it occasionally and only if we feel like it. West Coast are barely emerging, and they gave us a proper flogging. This wasn’t a game we looked like winning from the moment the ball was bounced

I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited by a moment in football as much as Reid fending off Trac and Clarry in one go. If anyone is tech savvy enough to make a gif, I’d appreciate it. Also, I might have jinxed us by saying that Hawthorn’s loss was embarrassing - didn’t realise we’d have the hold my beer moment hours later

18 is generous. What today’s game showed is that one player can change the fortunes of an entire club and North Melbourne made the stupidest decision you’ll ever see to win that last game of 2023. The way AFL is currently played, you need elite skills to move the ball quickly and/or legspeed - skimp on either and you’re making up the numbers. Our best players suit our defensive style very well but if that game doesn’t eventuate, it’s very ugly.

This is one of those games where Max cops real heat and everything capitulates around him

That’s an embarrassing loss

Fingers crossed that McAdam gets a good run at it. Would be handy to cement another marking option who brings some real pressure

Gee, we have become good at [censored] the bed in games with a big build up.

That pack mark he casually took at Half Back was the turning point, he didn’t even need to be there. Watching a big bloke with sticky hands is one of the truly beautiful things about football.

Caleb is playing well beyond his 18 years

I haven’t watched any Geelong games this year but Blicavs has been effective previously