Bring-Back-Powell

Just realised Jack Higgins, who's been their best forward this year, is due back from suspension this week. M Crouch will return after getting 38 touches in his come back VFL game. Membrey was rested last week and will come back in fresh for this one. If Butler gets up, St Kilda will be 100% at full strength which is bizarre given the amount of injuries going around in the league. Will be a tough one to win given we can't generate a score. In fact every week for the rest of the season is going to be a tough assignment given we can't generate a score.

So the North game was sort of the beginning of the end of sorts. I can recall it being a very unenjoyable win.

Chuck it the bin and revert to 2023 with a dash of composure. We won 7 of our last 8 home and away games, with the one loss decided by an inconclusive goal umpiring call against a prelim finalist. Dominated the inside 50's by +32 against the Pies in week 1 finals which is surely a win in 99/100 occurrences; Outscored Carlton by 8 scoring shots in the semi final which in anyone's language is a 3-5 goal win any day of the week. The game plan didn't provide for Max Gawn missing a critical shot from the point post. This year we are all over the shop. We're showing wild inconsistencies within games. We're losing stats we otherwise would usually win. We're letting opposition mids waltz out of the centre. And most recently we got outscored on turnovers by about 70-14 which we're told over and over again is a critical stat for success. On what basis does a good game plan allow for that kind of disgraceful discrepancy?

Any chance J Smith can be moved from the injury list? He's not injured, will most likely never play AFL again and it just makes out injury list look bigger than it is.

St Kilda do not have a single established player on their injury list, with B Crouch, Butler and Hunter Clark available this week. Going to be a tough assignment despite St Kilda being out of form.

Thoughts on McAdam's MFC's debut? Whilst it was rusty, I thought he put himself in offensively dangerous positions, created options and could've had 3 goals if his 40 metre kick made the distance and that dribble at goal in the fourth quarter bounced the right way. Kozzie definitely wanted to bring him into the game. Something to work on.

The last 2 games he's missed: 1) Gather round shocker v's Essendon 2) Lost to the Dogs in a shoot out at Marvel in late 2022. Not a good one to have out.

This was our worst performance since the Brisbane game in round 5, and we all said that game was the worst loss since the Port game in 2020. Very disappointing to have 2 uncompetitive performances in the space of 5 weeks. I hope it's not a trend.

Yeah that's the angriest (relatively speaking) I've seen Goodwin in a post game presser in years.

Feels like we’ve been asking the former to step up for the last 2 and a half seasons. Another of a long list of 12 possession little influence kind of games, last night.

Lever to miss the next 3 games with knee surgery according to Ch 7 news.

Fair point. Last year's game plan got us 8 more scoring shots against Carlton in a semi final which by any measure should be a 3-4 goal win when you outscore your oppo by that many. (we also outscored the premiers by 3 shots in week 1) The game plan did not factor in Max Gawn missing a goal from the point post or Fritta and Kozzie missing goals they usually get in their sleep deep into the last quarter. The game plan could only go so far if the players failed to compose themselves in key moments. Hopefully this year's game plan comes together soon, but it's clear the players are having a bit of trouble with it as highlighted by getting out marked by 51 and minus 21 in inside 50's, in addition to losing stats during the year that we usually excel in.

You're right they wouldn't have said you're only in for this week. But on what planet would BBB be playing next week against St Kilda with JVR due back and Goodwin's willingness in keeping Petty as a forward.

He was probably told that the only reason he was playing this week was in replacement of JVR and that he'll be back at Casey next weekend. Would be hard to stay motivated particularly for a 4 hour away trip. Agreed that he's completely run out of gas after a very promising Dogs and Port game, and simply not helping the team.

Should rename the thread "road to top 8". We are not playing anywhere near top 4 football as our consistency within games is nowhere near the standard of a top 4 side, since the "Business Trip". The Geelong game being the outlier where we brought fantastic pressure for most of the night, and made the most of our opportunities in a clutch last quarter. To make finals, and win ONE final, on the back of a terrible pre season, an impotent forward line, a dramatic downfall from our midfield and the loss of depth is our ceiling IMO.

At the end of the day Collingwood banked enough score earlier in the game to be in a position to win a close one. The complete opposite to us last week and for most of the season so far.

Reminds me of our final against the Pies. All the inside 50’s they were able to absorb against us in the last quarter, and again today.

Has been responsible for all four of their goals to qtr time. Might be handy if Adelaide put a bit of time into him.

Would love for the Crows to win today but can’t see it happening. Pies have got the game in order and the consolation would be that Carlton will slip to 9th or 10th.

edit - double post.

Statistically a bit better, but what about the job he’s been doing on the dangerous opposition? Held Walsh to 20 instead of 30-35. Did outstanding jobs on Clark from Freo and Whitfield from GWS. He’s been a significantly improved player from his MFC days, particularly from a consistency point of view.

Based on his form and the specialised role he’s playing, and the form of our midfield this year, Jordon would be a lock in our starting 22 and would be higher in the B&F than our other mids such as Sparrow, Clarry and possibly Viney. Plus, with the absence of Brayshaw, we’ve got some midfield vacancy IMO.

Sydney should be everyone’s second favourite side for the remainder of the H&A season. They’re on track to win 19-20 games and are clearly going to finish top. However second spot is up for grabs, so whenever they play another team vying for top 2 it would obviously be more beneficial for Sydney to win. And that started tonight with their win over Carlton who will be out of the 8 and at least 1 game and percentage behind us.

Yeah it would be tremendous….. Speaking of Jordon, has there been a player in recent years to leave the Dees and play about 300% better at his next club the following year? We ought to be all disappointed that Jordon isn’t with us anymore as he’d have a role on the oppo’s best mid. Disappointed for us, not for him,

I assume we either offered him unders in terms of length and/or money and/or GWS offered him overs in terms of length and/or money. In other words I have no idea other than I'd imagine we offered him a deal.