rpfc

27 more Contested Possies, 27 more uncontested possies, won the clearances, and won the game. We only got 191 UPs - we slowed the game down so much that Geelong were hamstrung with 164 UPs on a decent track - really unheard of in recent times in AFL level, let alone at the Cattery. They average 217 a game and probably more than that down in Mordor. The reasons why we won that game is, firstly and most importantly; confidence and mindset. But the second thing was the game plan to not allow their backline and def side mids to come back into the corridor and exploit our backline with quick movement - you only need to look at this game and the holistic way we won to prove that Roos is a very good coach, has good people around him, and the future is very bright for all concerned down at AAMI Park. And one last thing - as a CHF - I know how important a good forward structure is to kicking enough goals to win and while Dawes is in a rough patch of marking form - he is a competitor and vital for us to bring the ball forward. He is also more important now that Garlett demands these contests for him to be effective. He had 8 touches and 2 marks but 6 score involvements, as many as the very effective Watts and Gawn.

Did we push them over? Probably not. But we kicked them in the nuts in front of people that like them - so that'll have to do...

How did he get there? It's your hypothetical - in what reality could we have picked him up in the RL? Certainly not this one.

If you haven't played a game in two years and are on the RL - you are in trouble. Re-Sign (or upgrade): Garland 26 (RFA), Gawn 23, Toumpas 21, Cross 32, Pedersen 28, Vandenberg ® 23, Riley 23, Re-Sign as Rookie: King ® 19, White ® 18 Trade: Howe 24, Delist: Jamar 31 (UFA), McKenzie 24, Hunt 19, Bail 26, Harmes ® 19, Fitzpatrick 23, This will leave 6 PL spots and 2 RL spots. Our picks would be ND5, ND15 (Howe), ND25, ND47, ND68, and N90 Would love to get some experienced talent through FA instead of using ND68 and ND90. You can try paying out Matt Jones and/or Terlich if you want to - or promising them a spot on the RL...

Give it up. It's not going to happen.

I heard that too and he actually said before he tried to explain it - "it's too difficult to explain in a short space of time" - before trying to explain it in 30 secs. I would guess that only diehard footy fans who can also stomach David King would give a flying - and that is a small segment of the population...

Personally, I would like to recruit very good players. Very good players are ok by me. I think if you asked Jones and Hogan and Tyson - they would also like us to recruit very good players.

Yes, it would. But if you are talking about the 'average percentage of the UP differential from each game' - you might lose a number of people...

I am doing UP differentials for each game because you can only beat who you are competing against and also the weather may make a difference if it is wet. There is little doubt we don't have enough mental fortitude to spread and be bold and get 'cheap footy' - both game differential and average UPs illustrate that.

The numbers are above - I have mentioned our lack of spread and run all year. With my latest post, I meant in the game against St Kilda. We had our most UPs for the year - 276. However, a great deal of it was sideways and quite a few superfluous handballs.

Round 11 St Kilda Clearances: 3 (-4.7) Inside 50s: -16 (-13.73) UPs: 92 (-9) CPs: 16 (-0.1) Margin: -2 (-24.7) Quarters Won: 1 (17) Aside from the Inside 50s and the Margin - it was a very good game... It has to be noted that 415 touches for 42 Inside 50s is around 1 Inside 50 for every 10 touches. The Saints play that ground (and our mistakes) really well and got 1 Inside 50 for every 5 touches. We spread well, but we were not daring and bold and we feel claustrophobic at Etihad. Removing Haw, Freo and Syd: Clearances: (-3.25) Inside 50s: (-9.8) UPs: (10.25) CPs: (4.38) Margin: (-7.6) Quarters Won: (16)

Gotta pay someone.

Can I just say to the parents worried about their kids following the Dees - it is the experience they have with you at the footy that determine their desire to keep watching the footy and going for the Dees. If they just see their Dad gnash teeth and get angry (and stay angry) that is what keeps them from wanting to go, or wanting to watch the Dees, not a two point loss 'Riewoldt's team'.

In and Out: Latter reaches of our 'midfield' group turnstile. Oh, and Dawes I guess.

Garland won't get much, neither will Grimes, Watts maybe a little more but Howe might get a first rounder from some idiot who wants to get 'people through the gates'... Frankly, I don't mind keeping all 4 of these players, my issue is replacing the 36th to 40th players on your list with players who are in your best 18. Trading Grimes for Pick 43 doesn't interest me. Getting Dangerfield in FA however...

And Hogan should have kicked 7 - he was unstoppable...

Again, so much inertia when the pressure is up, and it is the older players feeding that inertia too... We played well but the last was full of sideways kicking and lack of adventure. It is such a shame because a win is great, but this loss will take away from Jimmy Toumpas' excellent game on a very good player in Montagna. But 415 touches for 42 Inside 50s tells you everything...

Revisited - still BS. We were inert in a tight footy game, where our most adventurous players went into their shell in the last quarter. To say it is symbolic of our pathetic club is to give in to your own neurosis and allow the players off the hook for the sideways, non-adventurous play in the last. And of course, the inability to kill a contest on HB with 30 secs to go...

Do you read yourself? The options are either we win or the emoti-plosion in the OP is correct? Get some perspective. If the above really is true, then a win over St Kilda in mid-2015 isn't going to matter...

Yeah, ha ha ha... (cough)

...he says 5 mins to go in the second term...

Another disadvantage of being at the game is that some have no idea what they are looking at...

Different styles of play but Tyson is a much better footy player than Vanders - I think we get too caught up with what we have just seen. Tyson was excellent last year and is our second best mid when all lined up and in form.

If Tyson is still not 75% then ANB would get the nod from me but my thinking would be similar. Garland's actions were very impressive and I hope he is out for only a few weeks. His absence is somewhat mitigated by the presence of Fitzpatrick and does allow Grimes to fill Garland's shoes more easily. If Fitz can get rid of those brainfades and be less passive when the ball is around him - shepards, blocks, def/off movement, then he will be turning his athletic gifts and length into plusses that set him apart and will find him a career in this league. But he has to get it going in the next month - I think he is drinking at the last chance saloon and closing hours are upon him...

Gawn has played one game... Best of a bad lot really.