rpfc

I think the thing that has contributed to both of the above is the de-emphasis on forward pressure for much of the season. That has then allowed teams to kick through our Web, putting pressure on our banged up backline.

And for the spiders…

He came into play park where he marked it, meaning he played on outside the line. Umps got it right. Frustrating and not called sometimes but right.

You don’t seem to understand - the Carlton players on Hunt and May and another player were down the line (as instructed I am sure in that ‘save game scenario’) so that kind of opportunity in the corridor wouldn’t be there normally. Our ball movement is a real shame and Hunt is a breath of fresh air. I hope he can spark some overlap run and corridor switches but the FD is obviously concerned with how our defence holds up against turnover so we will play it safe predominately.

Agree to disagree. I am not going to in-depth analysis of that list as that is what unleashes unholy spirits. I just like Laverde and Redman in the backline with their midfield being as talented as StK’s. And I am of the opinion that unless you are Melbourne 2013 or NM currently; you are a good coach away (or a committed team) from 8th.

Real safe.

Dodoro has been there since Sheedy. It’s his list that has been built. It has massive holes, but they should be on the fringes of the 6 with that midfield and backline.

Or avoid.

We call it out to pressure the next person not to write something horrible. That awful person then doesn’t spread their disgusting words on and over time attitudes get better. Not calling it out just leaves the cesspool untended and it will get worse and worse.

Why is this a thread? Meet with the run home thread or kill it.

FFS. That is a coached action. It’s called ‘game win’ situations or ‘red time goal’ scenario. Lever knew what to do because they run through those scenarios and he doesn’t even need to look - he just knows there is an outnumber. Lever is smart but that was a coached action.

No, it was a function of good coaching from Goody during the week.

Lever meant it and if Trac doesn’t realise that’s where our outnumber is in a ‘win game’ scenario then we have a problem. He is the biggest ‘blazer’ in the team and if he isn’t careful - his career will turn the way of Dangerfield.

Maybe GWS win in Canberra, and maybe Coll lose to Carl… We’d be 4th…

Depends what you want; Sydney win today and they are likely 2nd as they play StK next week and will make up the percentage on us. That means we win against Brisbane and play in Sydney in a QF. We lose and we finish 5th or 6th. Collingwood win today and we will play them at the G most likely in a QF if they beat Carlton next week and we beat BL. Still lots of permutations but basically if we lose, we are out of the top 4 anyway so don’t worry too much about Coll or Sydney.

We were better at lowering our eyes but coming from a pretty low base. In terms of changes, maybe Harmes for Sparrow. I think they just run it back and hope for a tiny improvement going into the forward line that could snag us a home QF.

Can’t remember the last trade that didn’t work out very well for us… I trust, but I have notes.

I don’t dispute there are cracks. Certainly to what we were last year… I just think we are a battler, a battler in the top 4 with a team that struggles to execute in the final third of the ground. I don’t think it’s going to be fixed in 2 weeks, whether we finish 2nd or 6th (what a final round!). We are survived by Hunt and Melksham at either end. ! I am resetting expectations and hoping we can battle our way to a prelim where dreams are made and nightmares are forged…

Go to club website

Women kicked the first 5 goals!

I will defer to better judges when it comes to the efficacy and effectiveness of high performance ethos and methods. My interpretation of what Gawn, Burgan and others have said is a tad broader than what you are describing but really, the proof is not for me to post about, it is in the performances of those that have obviously struggled with injury this year. So if Lever, Petty, May, Salem, Rivers, Brown, and Hibberd are playing well for these last 5 weeks then great. I withdraw my comments and concerns about my perception of their management of non-impact injuries. I stand by my critique of how it was talked about however. Between Burgo, Gawn, pert and Roffey - we talk a lot of shirt that is just normal operations for a good footy club.

Well, silver lining to a loss tonight is that the Dogs will be freed from the desire to play finals…

The train-through-everything definitely was sold that way. Gawn never missed a session in 2021 according to him. It’s just the selling point of ‘resilience’ that has never sat entirely well with me. What Geelong have done with Dangerfield and Selwood seems (again seems) diametrically opposed to that. We don’t have those older players but we do have players with turgid injury histories. They’re just engaging in risk and that is fine; that’s football, I just graze against the sell. Prothletysing process is when you get bad decisions, embrace complexity and uniqueness and reject ubiquity! That’s my motto…

I bet you it’s the star wipes…

Yes, I think great tall forwards are a luxury in todays game. Although 6-6-6 is changing that to some degree; they are dependent roles. Dependent on quick ball movement, kicks to ever decreasing space, and dependent on having teammates worth playing on otherwise you be double teamed and rendered ineffectual. The hybrid model is an interesting name for it; it’s just one less tall replaced for a medium player who can hit up and hit people up while also not being a problem when we are defending the ground. Melksham is a limited player in his last season most likely but has made a difference because he knows where to be and is a smart operator when given a negating role. I think we have to freshen up that forward line a little next year and give it back a point of difference. It’s trying to be all things I feel - talls for slow play, a small distributor, a small speedy pressure player, a defensive run with midfield adjunct to help Petracca, etc. This is all eye of the beholder but I would de-emphasise talls for slow play, have Brown deeper, layer on help for Kozzie in the pressure department, and partner Fritsch with another lead up player to catch the eye of our mids. So this assumes we move it quickly and less to pockets and will put us more at risk of turnover and slingshot but we have a stable of Rolls Royce’s in the midfield - let’s see some revs. And I am assuming the bench is a flat 5 for the resting ruck to spend some time on the bench. So moving Melksham, ANB, and some of the resting rucks time to accomodate the above. I would put ANB on the wing.