GS_1905

Interesting stats on Clarry. I think his blunders though are what is really holding him back - they are pretty bad. The commentary on FOX summasied it perfectly when he kicked it out on the full in the 4th. He is lacking confidence. It makes sense, its what is the difference between his current and old form. Sure fitness plays a part, but its his confidence. Clarry, 4xAA, 2xAFLCA, 4xBnF, is lacking confidence. If he can get that back, then watch out. But its a big-if. I hope for his sake and ours that he does, but im not sure. I have noticed though his desperation and 1%ers are increasing in recent times. His trademark clearance game is ok, but its lack of polish that perhaps was always this average is becoming even more evident in the modern game. Players sit off him, our team doesn't kick to him either. That must be playing on his mind.

I just heard a few sound-bytes from the Korndog. The guy is a serious muppet of epic proportions. Now that wont surprise most. I wonder if there is anybody in the footy landscape including supporters actually like him or rate his opinion. I'm fascinated how he hasn't disappeared into oblivion.

For a 1 point defeat its funny how the voting is so heavily Collingwood skewed. I wonder what it would have looked like if MFC had won by 1 point. Pendles was not worthy of the 2 votes. You'd give Daicos the 5 either way i htink. He was BOG.

Im 100% in the keep Kozzy camp. This feels a little too long. A 5 year extension (on top of the 2) would have been more ideal. At the end of the day its probably what it will take to outdo anything that Freo may throw his way. What if all this noise was just to spook MFC and that GW was right from day 1.

Dogga aint coming IMV. But keeping Kozzy is a must. Largely agree with your sentiment. We need 2-3 Good ball users with speed or agility (preferably both). Readymades obviously. Bergman is crafty and quick - get him in. Can we dislodge anyone else on the fringes? GWS may have a firesale again as the those not getting regular game time maybe fed up. If they miss finals, their maybe less enthusiasm around the place. I think i read Calum Brown from GWS maybe of interest?

Firstly, we have won a close one against the Lions at the Gabba. This is the 2nd game this year we lost under a goal. My point was that in the moments that mattered throughout the game, we were unlucky. Sure, some of them were skill and execution but for mine the key moments: Fritta play on point in the fourth. Its not skill or execution. The opposing wing / HHF was in his blindspot. He kicks that goal 99/100. If you like call it stupidity - to me its just poor luck. Umpiring. This is not on the team. Daicos push in the back. Was soft AF. Melksham's sandwiched free at HF, McCreery, 40m no bounce dash. This is just bad luck. Kozzy's 50m penalty waa there, but the brain fade...9/10 he doesn't do that. There is the obvious misses by Petty (out-on-the-full and 1 pointer); Melksham's poster, whilst these are gettable, to me were balanced out by Kozzy's freak soccer goal and Frittas forward pocket snap. I may have missed a few other key moments, but that was the point i was trying to make is that on balance, it was a very tight game that in end was decided by fortune more than lack of skill or poor execution. Not saying we are not a poor execution team or not less skillful - on the contrary i believe it very much to be the case.

Spot on. We need a steady head running through the midfield. We have too many panic merchants atm who are either devoid of confidence and/or have poor disposal / game sense. Perhaps this is Lindsay / Langford in 3-4 years time. We need another playmaker off HB to help Bowey. One that has some agility and speed. It is not Windsor or Rivers. You could see Wanganeen - Milera in his first year had this ability about him. Karl Amon or Impey would have been a good acquisition many years ago. Miles Bergmann from Port is a good option and has to be a target at the end of this year. Agree re: JVR. The forward line is not his position. Im afraid Jeffo isnt the answer either no matter how much development time this kid gets, he lacks strength and aggression. He is in the mold of the King brothers but shorter. A Nate Caddy or Logan Morris is the type of player we need to play alongside Petty. Unfortunately i just dont see us cleaning shop at the end of the year. We will persist with the belief that we have the list and the players that we need to succeed. IMV we don't and we are probably 4-5 players short of having a real crack. The good news i suppose is that you can trade for these players as we did for '21 flag brining in Melksham, Hibberd, Langdon, Lever and May over 3-4 years.

I also read, that he was filthy with the umpires for calling him to play-on and/or 2 Pies players encroaching the mark.

I actually think you can build a forward line around Petty. Milkshake, Petty, Kozzy and Chin are having a pretty good run in the last 10 rounds. You cannot blame Petty for Howes 10 or so intercepts yesterday. The ball is continually kicked on his head, which any decent defender will make a meal of. The failure of our forward line is the 3rd tall. Namely JVR for yesterday's instance. It basically allowed Howes and Moore to match up on Melksham and Petty leaving Frampton unaccountable. JVR could not exploit that matchup. This is where AJ has been able to disrupt the defensive matchups as he can crash packs and bring the ball to ground. I'm convinced if he was playing yesterday, Howes would not have had the game he had. JVR maybe down on confidence and only 22, but he has very little forward craft, which is worrisome.

I have seen multiple players from multiple teams do this now. Even recalled Pendles in the last shirking going back with the flight. I think it was Kolt's uncontested mark directly in front 40 out in the 4th when the game was on the line. Everybody would have seen what happened to Trac and now think twice about it. Predictably, the press are all on how Collingwood won the moments that matter blah blah blah. for a 1 point game, there is nothing but luck that seperates both teams. You could argue that up to 1-2 goals as well but its not more evident than a 1 point game. Ill give credit to Collingwood, they looked far more composed and measured with the ball in the last 5 minutes. Perhaps because we failed to apply any sort of pressure on them. I wont argue the Umpire reason - we all know it had a significant impact on the game. For what we could control though, we missed some sitters (Melksham, Fritta, Petty come to mind). You just cannot give a team like Collingwood any sort leg-up. They are skillful and full of confidence. End of the day luck favored them, they were more accurate, had the roll of the green with the umps.

Yeah 2 snags for the young kid in a big game does take some mite. I wasnt convinced he had it to be successful in the AFL. Im not completely convinced but can see what he is capable of. You dont fluke performances like that. He can take confidence and build on that for sure.

Huh? I saw it totally different. They weren't poor by any standards but they are still nowhere near what they are capable of. Remember these guys were the best dual (trio if you count Viney). Right now, they are just middle of the road at best. I noticed how players don't kick it to Clarry anymore. On several occasions he was unmarked and overlooked. When he did get the ball, he was rushed even when there was nobody near him. It is becoming clearer that he is bereft of any confidence. It also reconciles with the notion that he 'wants a fresh start'. If he wants to leave this year, i think it will be the best for both camps. We just have to understand we probably don't get much change out of any deal right now.

I think it’s clear as day now that ever since Burgess left, we have lost that edge. Selwyn may still be ok. But he is not Burgess. Fitness also won’t just improve in season you have to build up fitness over many seasons or you risk an Essendon with soft tissue injuries left and right. Just look at Adelaide. It’s year 3 under Burgess and they are humming. With the new kids on the block, trac and Oliver nonsense, Windsor and Kolt short preseasons, Lever ankle and the new game plan, the collective fitness is just not good enough. I’d expect next year to be better but it wont be until ‘27 or ‘28 before we really know.

I don’t think so.

If it was Collingwood on the receiving end, trust me there’d be lots of noise.

Clarry and Trac have been stuck in 2nd gear all year. They had little to know influence today. Will they get it back? Who knows but it ain’t going to happen this year. Also need to find a role for Rivers, he is not a great ball user either. We can only hope that the younger players develop and that next year the team will have settled with this new plan. It was always going to be tough coming back from 0-5

Give Windsor a run in the 2s.

You just knew it. Daicos the muppet is the most protected wannabe in the AFL

Collingwood play the typical away team counter attack football. It’s not a dominating style game like ours but they are very good at it and make it count when they have their chance. Besides the umpiring the gaps in skill are laid bare. We just aren’t getting any freedom in transition. The Pies defend ball movement very well.

Just got no words anymore. It’s blatant. You know it, I know it everyone knows it.

Sick and tired of these umpires. Does my head in.

Jono Brown will be in the dog house with a bit of a Freudian slip when attempting to reference Centre-field in that last Carlton play but instead blurted out Centrefold (Lounge) before correcting himself with a bit of chuckle.

I think both are going to end up as solid footballers but not great ones. We need to lower expectations with these two a tad.

Massive hit from Stewart. Looked clean but I’d be interested in whether the head hitting the ground as a result is considered part of the bump. If so, he may be in some trouble. But who the hell knows what’s what these days with the MRO.

The Hawks game was interesting. Yes its a biased call and you'd think it'd be easier to handle the loss. To the contrary, it was more infuriating, because they call all the non-decisions or BS decisions out. The moment Kozzy was tripped and it wasnt called.... i have never lost my marbles as bad as i have then in any other moment. Lucky i was away from the public.