Vipercrunch

Thoughts on how Windsor has been going off half back? I've been concerned for many weeks with how he has been going down back, and there were several moments today that has led me to conclue he doesn't have the temperment to handle the pressure back there. I think for his sake, and for the betterment of the team, he needs to return to the wing or half forward where he proved to be a real weapon for us in his first year.

The umpiring was appalling and I can't help but think it sapped some of the spirit we were showing, but in the end we failed horribly to capitlise when we controlled the game in Q2 and Q3. We should have been 5-6 goals up before the last quarter started and then (hopefully) been able to hold on from there. We really missed Petty as a forward and should have picked another tall defender to allow Turner to play forward aswell. We also missed Viney too, especailly down the stretch. I am usually one of the last here to give up on players, but I am at the point to call Jefferson a bust. Did not warrant a call up to the seniors and then did nothing today to even slightly hint he belonged there. Fritsch is also horribly out of form and/or confidence and needs to go back to Casey and really made to earn a recall this time. And this will likely be unpopular, but I don't think Windsor has the temperment to play on half back and needs to be played further up the ground, away from the pressure of the backline. Some positives, Langford is a joy to watch and is the most exciting young prospect we've had since Clarry, Trac and Brayshaw. Lindsay also seems to have an extremely bright future. Bowey has turned into a fantastic player after 2 quiet seasons. Easily our most consitent players this year and would have to be leading (or very close to it) our B&F.

I don’t remember being as angry watching the footy as I watched the quarter. So many wasted opportunities and then that missed call 🤬🤬🤬🤬. HOW THE HELL CAN ALL 4 UMPIRES MISS THAT TRIP!!! ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC.

The only thing I want to see this game is a massive reduction in the fumbling and horrible skills that have made watching our team so painful the last two weeks. Get between the ears fixed, get the confidence back, excecute our skills at an AFL level and lets see what we can actually do rather than another train wreck.

I'm on the Petty is a forward bandwagon with you and I'm staying there. He is the best contested mark out of all the players we've tried up forward in the past few seasons, and that makes him a big point of difference. TMac had a great season last year, and I think the backline of May, Lever and TMac should be continued this season. JVR, Petty and one of Jeffo or Turner, along with Fritsch (staying much closer to goal than he did yesterday) and the smalls rotating through is our best look I think.

Always disappointing to lose like that but I kind of felt it was a bit of a free kick of a game prior to the first bounce. They had the advantage of playing last week and are one of the most highly fancied teams while we were playing with 5 AFL debutants. As long as we weren’t smashed it seems an acceptable result. Slight worry for me was our scoring profile. Goals from centre clearance are wonderful to watch but they aren’t reliable. Need to keep working hard on scoring from turnovers and from the back half. Still much to like but we got so so close and gave up the lead in the last minute.

We’re trying to be too cute for these conditions. Most of our goals have come from loose ball deep in the forward 50 but instead of getting the ball in there, we’re trying to hit the perfect pass. Just get the ball in there, get it to ground and see what happens.

A bit rusty but not terrible. Take away their goal from Langdons 30m kick backwards that missed the target, we would be in front.

TURN THE SOUND DOWN MCG

I wonder if Jackson is on St Kildas radar. They seem desperate to land a big fish and from the dollars they have reportedly thrown around, we won't be abe to compete against them. You'd think any fair trade for Jackson back to Victoria definetaly opens up the door for us to get a good trade for Kozzy, however, will Freos trade targets need to change if they lose Jackson?

The round 4 game is on April 4th, which is almost 5 weeks after this Sunday's game. There will be virtually zero residual fitness benefit for playing Pickett on Sunday. All his match fitness and loads will have to be managed in training sessions in the couple of weeks prior to that game. Still very hard to stomach that he got suspended for that incident.... stupid AFL 🤬🤬🤬

Curious with what we do with Pickett. If this a full dress rehersal for Rd 1, do we leave him out? For me, it really depends on how big the benches are (ie how many players the coaches can give a run to see how they fit), but given Pickett has already played 2 preseason games, I actually think he will be left out (which will surprise some).

Given we are more than likely going to be adding Windsor, Salem and May to our backiline for the next praccy against Freo, a more relavant question is which other 2 backline players as well as the unlucky AMW will miss out.

I actually think the practice matches provide the build up and without them, crowd numbers and engagement would be lower in the first few rounds. For every one footy tragic who has eagerly been devouring training reports all off-season, there are 5 or 10 far less engaged supporters who need the mainstream reporting of the prctice games to create their expecations and get the anticipation up for Round 1. And like most, I agree that Round Zero is a train wreck that needs to be scrapped straight away.

I think history shows we perform better when outside expecations are low, so personally, I am rapt to be flying under the radar of the footy world.