rpfc

If you don't like what you saw yesterday, what did you think of the last few years? God strike me, we are turning the screw to being relevant again and people want to blow up the place because Watts hugged a tackle and Dawes/Frawley kicked terribly. You go watch tomorrow's game but don't for a second think that we aren't better than we have been: Roos promised us some progress and a defined game plan by Rd 5 and I have seen it. If people want to keep their warm bitter blindness they can, and they can go watch someone else. Sick and tired of these jumping expectations of posters. Have a coherent, consistent opinion.

Well, I am going to stand up for AoB here: Watts has great skills, and I personally was disappointed with how he played. I just don't see a lot of skill in our midfield and I think there is an instruction that Watts should receive rather than get and that is fair enough. However, he needs to show more intensity around the footy. It is honestly 6 acts (or non-acts) that we are blowing up about. Roos should be able to talk him into better habits. You can play your role and still show some intensity around the footy when it is your turn to show some intensity. He gets around the ground, he just needs to get out of 3rd gear when around the footy.

Vince, Tyson, and Jones? Eye roll. They had a down day but please... Watts needs a rocket and a mission from Roos. Get him in the guts, get him in the rotation and get him to show some intensity around the contests. He looks stuffed in contests and it isn't just his alarming lack of physicality. This should be a test of Roos - get Watts' arse in 4th gear.

That 2nd term was Ablett conscience nonsense. The rest was good. Our brand of footy ain't pretty but effective. 28 I50s to 20 after half time. We are getting there. Too bad Tyson was down and McDonald out played. Could have won that.

The 'aim' is to win your next game. You have to win a few games to play finals from memory. That has been hard to do these last few years. Good teams worry about their next game, and here you are calling posters losers because you are getting 11 wins ahead of yourself.

What a terrible sentiment.

I think we lost both last week and made Carlton look terrible for 3 qtrs.

Perceived pressure is the killer. Get your opposition to dispose of the footy in a rushed and haphazard manner and you create turnovers. That comes from the entire team have a focus on tackling pressure (and not worrying too much about their own bloke) and not letting a team have an easy out. When the other team has a G Ablett that is hard to do... He gives those around him more time because a couple of our blokes will always be overly concerned with him and not the ball. Try and get the ball and tackle the bloke who gets there first would be my advice.

Didn't you wonder whether the players were 'scarred for life' and that Roos has his 'work cut out for him?' So we have gone from that to finals aspirants incredibly quickly... The players are working through their own confidence issues and they are progressing - other than losing, outsized expectations is the last thing they need. Worry about GC, then worry about the Swans, then the next game after that. Who knows maybe you were right about them being scarred for life...

This thread is just a vehicle for you to call posters losers... We should just worry about the next game. They are beginning to build the mentality that they can win any game they play in, I hope they keep their focus on that.

I guess we will find out throughout the year who is, and isn't, up to the standard. I don't know why we aggressively talk our players down though. They may not be world beaters but we can use some role players and maybe Neville is one...

Pick in the 50s. He is a success for a pick that late. And, what is wrong with the bloke getting a chance under the new coach?

Ok, had a quick look at the uncontested possession numbers for some individuals compared to the rest of the AFL. Last year we had 2 players in the top 100 average UP winners. Clisby averaged 13.9 a game in his short stint. Matt Jones ave 12.3. This year we have 8 players in the top 100 with 7 of these players averaging 14+ (!). This means that Matt Jones has gone up in his numbers and the AFL rankings AND slipped down to 5th at the MFC... N Jones has gone up about 100 places in the list to equal 15th - he is getting a lot more space and freedom. 12 UPs a game to 18. Hoo-effing-ray! I hope they stack up like this further into the season. For those interested, the 8 are (in order) Jones, Tyson, Frawley, Trengove, M Jones, Vince, Grimes, and Watts.

I am tracking some stats for the team against what we did last year and how we are going against our opponents. I might do an update next week or the week after. The signs are promising but we are still being beaten quite easily in most categories. Clearances are a worry but our mids are new, young, NQR, or 1 person so that will have to be something we get to see improvement in later.

Liking the look of those uncontested ball winners and the numbers... I will have to bump my uncontested possession thread if it keeps up.

I never tell people to stop discussing a topic. What is the point? This is an Internet forum - people can write what they like, if I pushed people to back up their arguments then that is what you are misinterpreting. I have made the point that 'moving on' is healthy but no skin off my nose if you want to Moloko.

There is nothing wrong with judging that trade. It may be a little premature, but discussing its merits doesn't stop just because it can't be reversed. Imagine if you didn't discuss things just because they happened in the past. What would happen to the History Channel?

I wonder if people have a different opinion of Frawley now. His value is going up. The thing about losing him is not just losing a very good player (that's bad remember - you always complain about that), you are also hamstrung in Free Agency once again. We won't want to go after players as it will dilute our probable Pick 3-5 compensation for Frawley. I hope we keep him and he will be well paid - we don't have much talent to pay, so the talent we do have is overpaid. Deal with it.

There is no fuss, that's why I like him. And a chance under Roos. Again, 'everyone has a clean slate, except for players I don't like/rate.'

I can see where everyone is coming from but I just don't see enough to justify the plaudits that he gets. He is a matchwinner, but doesn't do it often. Players that are asking to be paid what he is asking, do more than he does, more consistently. He really should not have been AA last year but that has been a bit of running parody of itself for a while now.

Would love to see Jetta make it... Hope he gets a chance soon.

And the latest 'no effort, doesn't care' whip applied to Frawley was shown up...

Nothing of any substance? It depends on how much people read into my 'word' - as an anonymous poster - that a relative of mine is the consultant to the Tasmanian Govt on, amongst other things, the relationship with the AFL and any push for an AFL team. People can, and will, judge my posts for themselves. I will try to get an update in the next few days for those concerned.

Cometti-ism - "Simpson with delusions of adequacy." Apologies if it has been posted.

Poor fella - maybe this explains a bit but even if it doesn't - I hope he uses this to come back stronger (and quicker)... Good luck to him.