GS_1905

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.

I think they'll put McVee on Bobby and try to have Salo or Bowey take Elliot as he is not as agile. Similar to our inconsistency in effort and intensity from week-to-week. Another old bad habit that is starting to rear its ugly head again is being sucked into the contest and being numbered on the outside. Watch Collingwood at every contest, if there are two of them, 1 will stay on the outside and if the ball spills out, they are gone. Same for marking situations as well. We have over committed to the contest too many times this year where we havent been able to nullify it or win it. This often leaves ta simple exit for opposition. The good old 'red mist'

Umps trying for the Dorks

The intensity was off from the get go. The players were not on for the game and it showed. Everything suffered as a result. It is still the same old inconsistency problems that we have suffered for years. Our system was unable to cover for it either, which is understandable. It amazes me how some teams like Collingwood and to a lesser extent Geelong are able to show up just about every week. I dont think we have enough leaders / players demanding high standards gameday and that are willing to lead by example.

He is IMO the best of the bunch. I think the next best thing after us having him will be that we all - in a way- a get access to him through his executive role.

Arguably playing a game that they love. Not many jobs that can tick those boxes.

No wonder we were struggling to find a CEO. You can imagine a lot of the applicants were probably being sounded for the AFL executive role, which became two. Be interesting to see who the Lions and Swans recruit.

Hows about this for an idea. I know it wont work but end of the day its a way to create pressure without having crowds involved. Every player contributes a % of their match payment every week so that we end up with a pool of about $10K a week (from 40 odd players it works out to be $50 for low earners up to about 300-400 for the higher earner). Host a goal kicking competition for the entire squad down at Casey. Have fun with the format. But the important this is the squad (and staff)can do just about anything to put off the kicking player falling short of physical abuse. $5K goes to the end of year tally, $3K to the weekly winner, 1.5K to 2nd place and $500 for 3rd. It's about a $100K pool at end of year. Distribute earnings for top 5. Could even get a sponsor to cover (but obviously need to consider Salary cap).

I have some time off in July, so looking forward to getting down to Gosch's for a training report or two.