Stiff Arm

Better option than the Hawks IMO

Nice response, AF The objective of the game is to kick a winning score. We can talk about our contest and defensive strengths ad nauseum, we know they are our strengths, but we struggle to have a functional forward line and decent delivery i50, and have for years. Locking it i50 isn't good enough. Let's talk more about how we are going to score goals, without using injuries as an excuse Fwiw, if you havent already, might like to read the Roar article which talks about our forward strategies on Thurs night. Their point about our first goal from the Brayshaw hit was spot on. No one was leading towards Gus, despite the leading forward being a weakness of Howe and Moore. Everyone was running back one on one. Trac was Maynard's opponent and was free and 40 out direct in front waving his arms. But Gus has been taught to kick long, just what Coll had hoped for. The better option was to flick a handball to Trac, given no one was leading forward into the open paddock

That article describes our predictable forward strategies to a T. A good read.

Fwiw, I was told after our '21 GF from someone experienced in AFL fitness circles that Goody and Burgo had some differences of opinion in terms of responsibilities, that is, keeping out of club politics. Goody was OK with him returning to SA. Just repeating what I was told. Might explain the recruitment of Griffiths at the end of 2020 as his understudy. I wouldn't discount McAdam based upon his relationship with Burgo

We had the low fruit of Curnow or McKay available for us to pick in their draft year when we were building a list, the perfect time to grab one for ripening in the fruit bowl But alas...

I would've thought our most important strength should be the ability to kick goals. Maybe my priorities are askew

Huh? You missed the point completely Mind out of the gutter, too

How would any of us know this to be true? The question is, have we gone hard enough for a big, young key forward? I can't see it The $600k we are paying Grundy, plus a bit more would've been tempting to any forward. We've had some 1st and 2nd round picks available Edit. Actually, both McKay and Curnow were available to us in their draft when we were rebuilding. We chose Weid

Whoever is the best kick available. Watson, McKircher, either. We need an elite kick who can make good decisions. Don't think we have anyone like this forward of centre

Was it concussion? Didnt seem to get hit in the head on the replay. I wondered if he was badly winded, heavy body contact. Not sure Edit. just saw Voss confirmed concussion

Good thanks. You?

Because Carlton's tall forwards are comparable to Collingwoods? McKay might still play

No third tall down back?

Definitely need that third tall down back. 100% no brainer. Regardless of McKay playing or not

And we lost ours last night

McKay concussion, Acres done a shoulder, Cripps with dodgey ribs that need a solid bump

#freebruz Maynard's the victim, didn't you know?!

Gee, never heard that line on Land before... On a par with 'if you don't like it, don't read it'

Sure, but how do we kick goals when we are defence focussed in our F50? The connection i50 has been an issue for years. But that goes two ways, it's hard to connect when there's no space, resting rucks, poor leading patterns and small guys flying for speckies instead of crumbing. Spargo is a very good kick i50, but he cannot get the ball often enough I know it's more nuanced than that, and I'm just a punter in the stand. But clearly our forward line is not working and has been our biggest issue for years

I disagree, but see your point. The credit for where we are is due to our defence and contest. Goody has talked about this as being our core many times We've probably not valued the forward line enough in the last 4-5 years to make the most of the defence and contest. We recruited BBB, a crippled lead up forward, then banged it in on his head, and Grundy, who isn't a forward. I fear JVR will not develop as he should due to the pressure to perform We don't have enough quality forward players, but more importantly, nor do we have strategies to kick enough goals. The former doesn't work without the latter, regardless of personnel Our forward line last night was as crowded and disorganised as the train I took home. Maybe PTV are our forward line strategy consultants 🤔

Like it or not, footy will become less and less of a contact sport due to concussion liabilities. Knee to head in marking contest will go at some point. Not if, but when It is possible to train out these habits. We've trained out the deliberate hip and shoulder, we've trained players to turn their bodies to avoid head-on contact. In 15 years time, what is acceptable now will look like a 1980's biffs, bumps and brawl VHS video I know plenty of parents who are nervous about their kids playing footy due to concussions. The AFL will change the game to respond accordingly

That's a strawman response, rjay At the end of the day it is Stafford and Goody who create our forward line and the strategies we employ to kick goals. We've had injuries, Petty has had many, but so have other teams. The Grundy experiment has been a terrible failure, neither he nor Max can play forward successfully We've experimented with our forward line for years, had huge i50 numbers, but haven’t consistently made the most of this in big games since 2021 Collingwood's forward line looked far more open and effective than ours. That's a strategy issue, that's the forward coach and senior coach

And the opposition know it. It's much easier to defend against this Crowd our forward line, no space to lead into, hold up the i50 kicker. Three of our guys will fly for the mark, incl Kossie, or it will be kicked to a 1 on 3 contest. Rinse and repeat Very predictable

Was it the drumstick or the maryland?

Can actually see Maynard's right shoulder begin to turn before he's reached the highest peak of his jump. Definitely knew if the smother didn’t work he was going to inflict some damage