Redleg_Knowledge

One thing I'll add to this thread is the following: In the Freo game, two pieces of play made by Petracca are the gold standard for what we need when entering inside 50 under minimal pressure. He hit both Oliver and Billings with good kicks but even better decision making. The kicks end up being the easiest part of those passages. Now, if we want to see better looks at goal, a more functional forward line, better overall accuracy and far less wasted inside 50's, we need our mids and half forwards to be able to make these types of decision more often than they do.

I imagine Goody and co would have played exactly as they would have had it been the G. Regardless of size and wind. We would have wanted to train our game plan first and foremost, obviously. The problem with smaller grounds and blustery conditions is that it can further highlight/single out players who already possess average to poor kicking, handling and decision making. Which is what we saw with our side vs Freo. Again, trying to look at the glass half full with us. All teams have their vulnerabilities. We know ours and they were on show again against Freo. Regardless of the fact that it was a praccie game. We've seen that level of poor skill, ball handling and fumbling before in the season proper across years now so I don't think it's worth hiding behind, "it was only a practice game". Perhaps save for a few players who seemed extra rusty. Anyway, I think there were enough positives to suggest we'll be thereabouts this year with a clean bill of health.

It's totally fair from the media given our strengths in all other facets of the game. However, I've said in other threads, it's not entirely our forwards even though we have a vanilla forward-line compared to other top 6-8 sides. Imo. It's the lack of creativity, decision making and skill execution through our mid to half forward line that consistently let's us down. And obviously that contributes to a fairly dysfunctional forward line.

Don't have stats no, but to my eye, over the last few years, I think that bulk of our missed opportunities come from players either having blind shots/blazing at goal in open play or trying to hit the top of the square to a contest which ends up resulting in a behind due to a spoil/rushed. I'm not discounting those games we have where our inaccuracies come from missed set shots. But the bulk, over a long period of time would come from what I outlined above in my opinion and to my eye.

Disagree. Games where are our dead-eye [censored] are off don't come around often. But games where we blaze at goal under pressure to register a behind happens way too often. Our inaccuracy comes mostly from open play shots on goal or set-shots from difficult angles. Very rarely does it come from easy set-shots missed by our best kicks. We just remember those easily because they're such anomalies.

Second post here so go easy. For one, I think think that our small to medium forwards are vanilla at best and share a common weakness. Take Pickett and Fritsch out of the picture and we have the most vanilla forward line going around. Match that with a midfield who similarly share the same weak points, (kicking and decision making) and it is absolutely clear as day as to why our side is bombarded with criticism regarding entry, shots on goal and areas that we've kicked to. It's not one without the other. For instance, I'd bet my bottom dollar that our forwards would function a lot better if we had a more skilled midfield. Players with better execution and decision making. However, I also think that our forward line is not nearly as dynamic and dangerous as those sides in and around us. As I said, take Kosi and Fritsch out and there's not a huge amount to get excited about. The pressure placed on Van Rooyen is ridiculous given he is a workhorse type who crashes packs. The key for us is for our current mids and half forwards to try their darnedest to find consistency in their execution and skill level under pressure. If not, we will continue to have quarters like the second quarter against Freo which will just end the game. Obviously we had a terrible day in front of goal. Especially with easy shots from players who are generally very reliable. But we've also seen that before. The more worrying sign for me is the consistent wasting of disposal going inside 50, blazing away at goal and also constant mishandballs or kicks in our forward-line and half leading to direct turnovers that result in end to end goals for the opposition. They are the things I'd love to see changed. Our skills were terrible at the weekend and we simply have to be better and more consistently good across a game of we want to compete with the best. So all in all. It's both. Forwardline and Midfield continue to give us grief if skill level and decision making is down from repeat offenders. No matter how much good we do off the ball and at contest. Which is what makes it so hard to watch. Viney and Langdon were big culprits of this against Freo. Basic skills and decision making just so bad. They either hold a standard for the year and we remain competitive, or we continue to have quarters like we did against Freo that put the game out of reach for us.

First time post, long time reader and would like to add my two cents.. As others have already pointed out, some serious injuries to key players will obviously help us in this game. GWS are a far better skilled side overall which generally doesn't bode well for the dees, especially over the last few years given our sheer dominance at contest across the ground has dropped off. (Due to a number of reasons obviously). Whilst the practice game against Freo was exactly that, (a practice game) , it still highlighted the obvious weaknesses for us. Windy, hot and small suburban ground etc. Yet Freo were able to put together passages of play, execute and ultimately hit the scoreboard with far more ease than we were. A story as old as time with us. And these factors highlighted even more our lack of skill and decision making throughout the game.. What was exciting in my eyes was the return of form to Oliver, Petracca looking like there are no mental scars from that injury as well as our hunt and contest work in general. It was at a high level all game just about and I love seeing us play with that energy. A few promising signs for some of the new guys was also great to see. We are such a hard team to place in the pecking order this year. To me, whilst we've adapted our game-style, we'll still be heavily relying on bringing high pressure, energy and being brutal in the contest at every game. And this is due to the fact that we simply do not have the list to consistently execute and make the right decisions that lead to goal opportunities over the entirety of a game. The key word is consistently here. Of course when it all clicks, we look unstoppable. And that's been the case here and there over the years. Through patches of games, seasons and most memorably the '21 finals series. So Goody has a task on his hands this year. We have a few more players on the list with high footy IQ. Windsor, Kosi through the middle when he's back, McVee and to a lesser degree Lindsay and Langford. I remain more positive than negative, even though there were some worrying signs in the Freo game. However, with less negative media spotlight, a softish early draw, a fit and connected Clarry and Trac and a new wave of exciting youth, it feels like we could again get on a roll early in the season. And this is where I really think we could build and launch from. If we start well, I think we could really be thereabouts toward the end of the year given the snowball effect that could eventuate. Give us a clean run with injury too and we could find ourselves up to our eyeballs toward the end of the year. First stop is the G against a highly skilled but vulnerable Giants side. Get it done Dees.