rpfc

I have been thinking about the management of our list lately and the laser focus of Viney, Roos, and Mahoney on tough ball winners and defensive stalwarts set us up well for the 2021 flag but the over commitment to that is what we are straining over now. We don’t seem capable of picking the right kid or pro with forward instincts or with requisite skills and decision making behind the ball (McVee was a rookie pick). Perhaps XL and Windsor belay the last point but our forward line really struggles beyond Pickett, Melksham, and Chandler for consistent and empathetic forward movement and nous.

I honestly don’t know, he has to perform against his salary so it makes it harder for us to move him, let alone get the majority of his salary of our books or even remotely get any pick of value. When I think currency with him it’s if he can repair his reputation enough so that we can shift 75% of his salary. Pretty sad place to be in.

Goodwin getting no favours from the group with days like today. Past the winning stoppages and contests - it’s the same old story. Goodwin has at least next year - I think it is very clear that we need to surround him with a new slate of voices and if there is no shift then that is that. Ultimately, the players coach has to get them to adapt, make better decisions, and commit to the way they want to move the ball. Otherwise…

Oh how I wish we were a plucky bunch of middling players that are still paid at least 92.5% of the cap… Honestly, it’s utterly ridiculous.

These are tough to do because we may need to move on salary ($$$) as opposed to list spots. Underperforming players on a bit with trade currency will be looked at.

I think he is worth that wage now. Imagine what his equivalent salary will be paid when he is in his prime. ‘Bloated top end’ to me says Star players that require being paid appropriately. Regardless of what the salary cap cheaters are gifting to their ‘underpaid’ stars down the highway…

Also, if we have around $4m+ of the cap in CO13, CP5, and KP36, then something might have to give to get Jackson (or anyone).

I would prefer to jettison JVR if it is necessary to part with someone to get Jackson. McVee and Rivers (in order) are much more important to us and far better players in their positions. Problem is Freo doesn’t need a lead up Tall Forward with Tracey and Amiss. I am not against JVR as a concept - I am just not sold on his instincts as a forward and his ability to utilise space with his leading patterns. He is still a project in my view. He is lucky that he is at the Dees with our plethora of NQR talls up forward.

I don’t want to make you feel bad. But it’s almost an either/or… A contract this long and expensive (now) or trade him to Freo for ND12, ND17, and ND20 this year or the next. So I am happy to be ‘crazy’ if you’re happy to ‘sane’ with your outcome.

… We are just not used to having star players are we?

I like how it’s not attached to a percentage of the cap!

Pickett for a decade is a no brainer because he can age gracefully into a fwd pocket if he speed goes or if he can’t maintain being a midfielder. Same with CP5, the ones that may end up biting us are one dimensional mids that may be literally surplus to the requirements of a modern midfield.

I have no time for another app, no time for your antics; Kozzie is about to sign! Why it’s Kozzie signing rumour maybe actually true day!

If Pickett is going to stay, someone on big coin may have to go…

That sounds a bit upside down…

Very proud moment for her and the community that this club represents. Whether some wanted to or not - the club spent a lot of capital forwarding the opportunities of women in our sport and I was proud then of the stories we were to enable and prouder still of the names Daisy and Erin and whoever is next…

Pick the best 22 but also gift games to KPFs that are the definition of struggle… It’s not as black and white as an ‘either or’ - but is not far from it.

We are not a good team. We are getting better with what we are working on but progress isn’t linear - that last qtr decision making from CP5 and CO13 is a step back. Can they make two steps forward later in the season in a close game? I hope so. Because we are applying consistent effort and are letting ourselves down with execution I am satisfied that we may not waste this season. But we need our senior players to age into graceful decision making golden years like Pendles and Sidebottom.

Unfortunately, I think we have plethora of NQR tall forwards atm.

So we ended up winning expected score. Now to litigate… 🤞

I dunno, I think we are a chance to pinch this on expected score… 🤞

Quite. The key to getting our front half defensive game going (the keeping territory part) is getting it in there without an immediate intercept. Having kicks that are to the benefit of your teammate - what a novel concept… I am still amazed at that CP5 stat… No wonder most think he and Clarrie can’t hit the side of a barn.

That Petracca stat is laughably pathetic. You want to know why Rds 1-5 happened - there’s your indication - he (and others) were dumping it in there, and we would have probably had players leading to spots that were rarely used due to the hangover of the territory game. Now we have a better sense for what we want to do and how we want to enter the 50.

Oh how dare he

I tell myself that he has excellent technique in going in with his shoulder and hips to pick the ball up but it is always a risk in our 360 degree game that a late hit in a marking contest from a boy out of his depth is what he cannot avoid. All we can do is hope for the best and if the worst comes - accept it with grace.