Hi All,
It’s not helpful to panic or over-react to a loss, and you can’t win every week unfortunately. Having said this, it is important to learn from a day like yesterday.
I couldn’t be happier with this year, and the clear improvement choco, Yze, goody and the players have delivered. But, we do still appear to be slow to learn. I will summarise my thoughts below, and interested in any views, agree or otherwise. (Apologies for duplication, as I am sure you would have covered much of this)
James Harmes:
Is a tagger + nothing else. This is a player, that appears to get too happy with himself at times, and unfortunately is not smart enough to play a half-fwd flank, or wing. So if there is no tagging job for a game, then he should be playing VFL - especially as we have many similar players to him (but a bit smarter).
Viney:
let’s not panic here. If it takes Danger a month to get back to his best from a similar length injury, then we can give Jack 4 weeks before we start calling for his head.
Petracca/Oliver:
not at their best yesterday, but we can’t be a team that relies on them dominating to get a win.
May/Lever:
Thankyou to whoever’s decision it was to chase them - we are nothing without them.
Petty:
seamless replacement for Tomlinson. Reliable + compliments May/Lever.
Kozzy/Spargo/ANB:
kozzy needs a rest, a clear coaching error to not identify this. The three of them have been critical all year, but at least 1 of them does need to play a strong offensive game, to compliment the defensive pressure they bring most weeks. A good coaching move to identify that they were off yest, and try Hunt fwd. it nearly won us the game.
Gawn:
when not ruck, I think he provides most value a kick behind the play on wings/defence. When another key fwd (Brown/Weid) finally stands up, we will obviously have this luxury.
Brown/Weid:
it couldn’t have been more obvious last week against the Dons, that we needed another key target inside 50. Clearly they decided to take too much comfort from the win, rather than addressing weaknesses. I am concerned with Weid, and his ability to have a presence at AFL level. Please Ben Brown, step up and regain your status as one of the comp’s best full fwd’s.
Fritsch:
wish he wasn’t so selfish, but has a key role in the team + will benefit when Brown finally steps up.
TMac:
don’t change a thing. He is not our inside 50 target. He is our CHF that exploits his opponents lack of fitness by leading all the way up to half back flank. Will also benefit when key inside 50 target steps up.
Jackson:
give him the rising star, and sign him for 4 years. Will be a top 5 player in the competition in future years.
Salem:
half-back flank, and key cog in defence. Don’t mess with the things that are working.
Hibberd:
amazing that he is playing his best footy at this age. And let’s hope we have Maynard ready to play the same role next year.
Jordon/Sparrow:
Keep playing them (especially Jordon). They are the future + I am not sure potential replacements such as AVB + Melksham add more to the team.
Langdon/Brayshaw:
don’t change a thing. See above re don’t mess with things that are working.
Rivers/Hunt:
Riv a future star of the comp. Hunt - a great role player this year (although execution was off yest)
keep the faith demons supporters. It’s a tough time of the year. Goody - Learn from yesterday, tinker and address the deficiencies, smash Port, then the season is well and truly on track.
