Kick_It_To_Pickett

I spent time playing footy up on the Gold Coast, and it was always humid. The ball was always slippery and wet. A yellow football was always worse than a red. I am not sure why that is, but the yellow Sherrin was always harder to grip. I am not excusing our players, as some of the tackling was also deplorable, but so many guys had the fumbles, which were completely uncharacteristic.

Having watched last week's replay a few times, I reckon it was more to do with a failure to adapt to the conditions. The humidity seemed to be our undoing. We made so many basic skills errors, all over the ground, that seemed to be a result of a slippery footy. Petty dropped three basic chest marks, just as an example of that. Our mids double touched everything. I expect that we will be a lot cleaner this week and we will see a return to method that we had in the preseason. I am hopeful of that. If we can win the midfield battle, we will win the game. That final last year was turned when Buddy sucked the umpire in on two occasions. I really hope we have addressed that with the AFL and umpires. The bloke was completely outplayed by May, and resorted to his usual dirty tactics. If they fall for any of his rubbish this week, i'll be ropable.

Hibberd

Our finals last year attracted a very poor turnout. Also, our flag unveiling attracted less than 60k. I know there were reasons like COVID, it just feels very flat at our games.

That will be a disaster IMHO. Papley is a very smart footballer. He is strong, takes overhead marks and has serious pace. I think we need someone more experienced

McVee has been serviceable, but who plays on Papley?

If we can’t get at least 40k this Sunday, against a fellow top 4 aspirant, our club has a serious issue with attracting supporters. Why that is, I have no idea. We need to start showing up to games. It’s Sunday, it’s 3:20pm. The complaints last year were around night fixtures and train services etc. that doesn’t fly this weekend

I'd actually say minimum was 40k that night, but our crowds have been poor since 2022. It does not help that we play interstate sides at the G as the majority of home games, but it's true that we were outnumbered by Sydney supporters last year...that's an indictment

will be lucky to be 30k there and 20k will be Swans...our supporters don't show up anymore. Don't know what happened, you'd think the Premiership would have sparked a resurgence, but it feels like some have just become content. Not expecting a big crowd at all, happy to be proven wrong.

we went out and got Josh Schache....

We are paying Grundy 300k less than what Jackson would have cost us

Is this game being broadcast anywhere?

Had Goodwin done a press conference ?

What’s the story with May? Was he a genuine chance to play tonight ? Or was it all foxing? Was it a conservative approach? Or did he breakdown at training? He is very important, so I hope he comes back in next week. The midfield was woefully out of touch. We did not adjust to the humid conditions at all. The amount of fumbles and dropped marks was appalling. Gotta get some soldiers back soon. Too many gaps. Melksham can go as sub. Harmes on such thin ice. Viney needs to spend time on his disposal. Time to try a new forward mix. TMac looks cooked

After tonight, is that any great loss

One team trains in it all year mate

Some of this fumbling has to be down to the humidity. Every Melbourne player has fumbled. Some under no pressure. Petty early was horrendous

Honestly, this is fairly insipid. The game was over when Gawn went down, but some of the efforts tonight are so bad.

Lovely eye rake there from Hawkins. Amazing how often he is clumsy with his hands and elbows. Not a peep from the commentators

If it’s 31C, will there be extra breaks? What’s the AFL heat policy? I realise it’s a night game, but that’s a ridiculous temperature to be playing AFL football in

What is this about being in Port Adelaide..is this an attempt at sarcasm?

You must now have read my post correctly. The action, of spearing players is similar. He does it within the rules. his hit was late, but not high. it's almost a spinning move . anyway, it's done now. we have cut our losses and moved on.

The hit by the kid from the Crows, McAdam, is another test for the MRO. As bad as Kozzie’s. Player stayed down. Now ruled out with a head knock, I believe. Certainly went for the concussion test

first highlight in this package shows a very similar action. Defence team needs to argue it’s always been a part of his game and not outside the rules

Ok, 5000