Roost it far

On a positive there’s plenty of vision of players burning other players forward of the ball and opting to either kick long or chip sideways or backwards. This at least shows that players are often getting to these positions, albeit they are ignored. It’s part learning a new game, part trying not to turn it over. They need to be further encouraged to open their vision and to take the kick. This is what annoys me about soccer. Let’s do this at training at 3/4 pace and get it ingrained. Ok I’ll stop whinging about the soccer now!

It’s the end and beginning of era’s. If you look at our list objectively it’s stronger now than when we won our Flag. We’ve lost Hibberd, Brayshaw, Jackson, Harmes, ANB, Jordan and Brown and have added McVee, Langford, JVR, Windsor, Lindsay, Tholstrup and Turner. It’s about gameplan, coaching and finding synergy. Thats what we’re working towards. There’s going to be bumps in the road. I for one expect Goodwin to gone at season’s end. I’d love the best assistant in the land to come or in my dreams, Kent Kingsley. Tough, smart and protective.

We need mids and guys who can run and kick. Our key position stocks are fine as is bar a replacement for Gawn.

Is this a joke?

He’s a very good footballer who’s out of form, it happens. 4 years was reactionary from the club. He can play all those roles. I’d have him switch between tagger as his main role and forward pocket/sub/midfield the rest of the time.

The system shouldn’t rely on all players being elite kicks. We have to utilise our strength in contest and not be afraid to kick to a 50-50 ahead, keep some speed on the ball but be defensively ready to repel turnover

Langford, Lindsay, Windsor, McVee, Rivers, Pickett, JVR, Turner, Tholstrup and Petty is a very strong basis from which to grow a team. It’s really up to Petracca and Oliver whether they want to hang around and help out or chase glory elsewhere. If this year doesn’t improve, which I think it will, I’d take the picks and move them on.

I don’t think fitness is the problem. Injuries haven’t helped and nothing tires you out faster than getting smacked. It’s likely not helped by the fact we’re still not playing to our new game plan. There’s a little of the headless chook about us atm which is also draining.

Everyone getting sucked into the contest also shows a lack of confidence in your teammates and also shows players trying to lift the team. Unfortunately it’s not showing the smarts needed to turn our clearance numbers around.

We really miss Pickett, McVee and Windsor and we’ll miss Lindsay. Viney as a forward pocket I think is worth a shot. Langford, Petracca, Windsor, Lindsay, Pickett and Oliver could be our key mids. I’m not convinced by Rivers or Langdon in the middle and think McVee is just too valuable off half back. Do we send Rivers back even though his disposal can be ordinary he does have a beautiful penetrating long kick? We may well end up sending JVR to the ruck and AJ to the VFL. We need our leaders to stand up but outside of Gawn we have Petracca who I think burnt his leadership credentials, Viney, who is horribly out of form. Lever, who spends more and more time on the sidelines and then no one. This is a big issue for us because we need to sustain effort and enthusiasm whilst we transition and cop some losses. I reckon our leaders are the first to drop their heads. It’s time to drop the carrot and pick up the stick and whack these guys.

Has Sestan done anything to warrant selection? I think the rest select themselves if fit. I’d keep Henderson in as we desperately need small forwards

I doubt very much he will be sacked before seasons end. The club don’t need the drama. It won’t surprise if he decides he’s had enough at years end although we may get our best 23 on the park in a month and storm home.

I think the plan will come together I’m just not convinced it’ll do so in time to save Goodwin. I also think we’ve had too many injuries to start the year as well as we hoped. McVee and Windsor are critical to a new way as I think Lindsay was. May and Lever obviously critical. We need all those 5 on the park. I prefer Rivers off half back and doubt Salem has much use left in him beside a good quarter here and there.

We play football and our skills need improvement.

Goodwin says in his presser that our skills aren’t where they need to be and then has them playing soccer at training.

Maybe he didn’t realise how poor our skills are.

They can walk and chew gum. Practicing foot and hand skills can be part of recovery.

I fully understand the need to change plans. However I don’t understand how our contest game has collapsed. We’re getting smashed at clearance. On top of that during the first quarter on Saturday we had multiple forward entries that fell down because of poor skills. We’re currently over thinking everything, the players look clunky, apprehensive and confused. I’m going to give them another 6-8 weeks to show something. After that I’d like to see some results. It also really irks me that we’re playing soccer at training. There’s not a player on our list who couldn’t work on their skills. Also please stop playing Billing’s.

The new coach when The Brand asks are we playing soccer today?

Soccer??

Pain Plane?

Our list is easily a finals list.

I don’t think it’s going to happen soon either. Doesn’t change the fact we have talent and likely more at year’s end. It’s looking like we need a new coach but that’s not decided yet. He’s got 6-8 weeks to recover this. With the talent he has there’s no doubt he can recover but does he really want it? Like is there a burning desire? Currently I don’t see it.

We undoubtedly have the talent to be a finals team. These big names need to pull their collective fingers out and get busy.