rpfc

It can’t be. There are no excuses like in 2022 when we were protecting our mids and kicking to flanks and pockets. We may have learned bad habits that are hard to unlearn but to think that the coaches want to see inertia and stagnancy is just wrong.

The other downside to not having that big lump up there is that this is prime ‘development’ years for JVR and I fear he is learning all the wrong lessons. For example last year, even when he wasn’t the ‘out’ kick up the ground (when Gawn or Grundy was), he didn’t then move to exploit space that he could utilise in the F50, he just mirrored the actions of the lump that calls for it on his head to get territory (‘out’ kick). I hope Petty and JVR allow each other to have more freedom but it’s a combination of how we move the footy, our desired structures AND individual capability and talent that will get us a functioning forward line for Petty and, especially, JVR to adequately develop in. But it’s all hope. Need to see it.

It’s not irrelevant but sure whatever. We should get better as forwards return to the forward line and push out the runners that don’t know how to utilise space or have effective leading patterns. Cant tell if we have connection issues yet until Fritsch has some friends down there. Petty, McAdam, Pickett - get those four for a few months and we will see what our ball movement is like. JVR gets a pass as a young tall but I watched him closely at games last year and he didn’t impress me with his movement and craft.

Really glad to see us push him into the 22. We lucked out with McVee - not everyone progresses like that. So he needs time and what a backline to develop in?!

If he doesn’t play this week, he will be hard pressed to get a look in with Pickett and McAdam coming back in the next few weeks.

Hilarious

I am new born baby, never watch a football game before, and am unfamiliar about customs to do with this sport which I have followed since yesterday. So when are the… …teams announced?

It’s hard to argue with that. His only intention was the upper body and he jumped off the ground. These things happen quickly but they are an eternity to these guys. Simpkin was distressed with concussion symptoms immediately from the vision. What are we doing here? The week after a bloke is medically retired due to hits to the head. What is the game about?

As the original Freo Death Rider I can’t condone nor authorise this supposed sequel. Sorry.

It was a practice match, all you can take out is process (and not outcome); and we looked like we took time with the footy and preferred to enter the forward line to the advantage side of a specific player or contest. We have a big midfield and they should take their time - we should have more holding the footy decisions against us than we do - it’s our great strength and we should be pushing the limits of how long to hang on to it to make a good decision, and asking teams to bring us down. The best thing said on the day was when Goodwin talked to Fox before the game about ‘not worrying too heavily about what we are not, and embracing what we do well’ and that is music. We are never going to be a precision footy team, we are never going to avoid mistakes, but we are a team with a midfield of bulls and we should that should lean into that and make the most of it.

From the sounds of it - we are not rushing him back. We have had such an interrupted and maligned pre-season that I would prefer we build toward the season and not think that the season is won and lost in the first month. Losses are not the end of the story, but mishandled individual chapters will be.

We seem to have really pushed them tonight. Really pushed them

Obviously just here to confirm Oliver got through and was as good as he should be at this level. i do have one question… How does a team ‘push’ another team by being three goals ahead of them?! You were pushed past, you fell over, you were pulled apart, whatever. But you weren’t ‘pushed’… Yes I care about things that are irrelevant

‘But the horses will have better facilities!! Wah wah wah’

Mid-season Supplementary player period? Or whatever it is called?? We can’t be two players down

Such a sad moment for him and he has taken it so well. A champion of this club and I hope he sticks around the club, but more than that, I hope he is happy and healthy.

Same here.

Then they can get used to it if they are so good. What’s the point in having generational defenders if we are going to have a gameplan designed around protecting them? Run. Gun.

Thankyou Andy. ‘AI - scraping the internet to give you the biggest load of horse s___ since 2023.’

Good thing we haven’t finished in the top 4 since 2021…

Not how it works. If we don’t get the same or more out of our best - we are an also ran.

We went out is straight sets for the second year in a row and have had an interrupted preseason. I am sorry but we will be asking for a big season from our best players to maintain top 4 at the end of the H&A season.