layzie

I had to close the gate behind me last week, bit of a pain.

What has happened to our fitness levels? We've gone from being one of the fittest teams in the comp to looking terribly unfit struggle to cover the ground at Marvel. The defense is under pressure all the time and there doesn't seem to be enough chasing back by the midfield to help. As for now to the end of the season I'd like to see McVee, Laurie, Pickett, Woewodin and maybe Tholstrup getting serious midfield minutes. I'd like to see AMW and possibly Kynan Brown get more time down back.

Deathride sucks

We don't need a rebuild, we need a re-tool.

Can they win the flag now?

I just think it's great how so many people now bemoan the loss of Gus after this time last year his worth to the team was line-ball with so many here. The same thing happened when Melksham went from being in and out of the side to 'so crucial' for our forward line after the ACL. It's natural to look for scapegoats as the reason for our downfall and a lot of the injuries this year are valid reasons for it, but my god in 2023 we played without our then best ball winner for half a season, star ruckman out for a 5 week chunk, hardly ever a key forward, Petty in and out every two weeks then the lisfranc and finished top 4. The difference between last year and this was not night and day. This attitude that we just need to get players back and keep them healthy looks at just one facet of the issues we face.

Wow. Horrible game but brilliant last quarter. Was pulling hard for Carlton, needed that to stay top 3 in tipping, I am now bundled out to 4th and the non prize money position. Ouch, ouch, ouch.

Does Firefox have an app for mobile? If so is it good?

So from last quarter last week to this week we lost 18 centre clearances in a row. Ouch

Turn the straight sets seasons into GF losses and they're basically the same coach

We'd be stupid to change coaches right now

Seeing that Pre Game thread pop up straight after a disappointing loss just induces the vomit lately. No idea how people have anything to say on it right now but credit to them.

I don't think this post is far wide of the mark and some of the comments to it are a bit unfair. We did have a lot come together that year and we did need reinforcements in those areas to continue to challenge at the pointy end. Personally I think we learned about what a lot of other teams go through when they win a flag and thinking they have a list to compete for another. The reality is it's bloody hard to stay up there unless you're constantly improving the list. The last paragraph is very true and not condescending, we can get back with good list management.

I thought he was one of our best last night despite being exposed. Would have been down a lot more had it not been for his early efforts. You know what you get with T-Mac

You're true supporter SATY. The club is lucky to have you.

These are all valid points that should be questioned. I understand why our guys might be feeling the way they do but that doesn't mean that this way can take us forward. We need to be rising against the crud that comes our way. Last night was the perfect example of the mental game in full effect. One team in rip-roaring form and full of confidence moving the ball how they please. The other down on their luck, like the pathetic blackjack player at the table crying into his beer and wondering how to support their family.

A valid point. We haven't handled it well.

I am also getting tired of hearing this, especially after half the site were refusing to acknowledge his worth and were prepared to put him up for trade this time last year. But I think there is truth to this one. I'm really starting to think his value off the field was as big of a deal as his value on it. Going back to 22 when he signed his deal and we then went over to Perth and knocked Freo off, the team seemed to get a huge lift. You can't put this all down to that of course, but you also could. I think it ripped the heart out of a lot of our guys to see what happened to him against Collingwood. In some ways it might have changed them forever, do you walk as tall after seeing something like that happen to someone you respect so much? I don't know. We were never a one man team but it's big factor, just like Clary being underdone, just like Petty coming off the lisfranc, just like Trac, just like everything.

Being in a crabby mood my instant reaction right now is to tell everyone that they don't know what they're talking about but I think that you're absolutely spot on.

So what's the answer? Sack Goody and bring in who exactly? Simpson? Buckley? Graeme Yeats? Frankie Fredericks? I'll have salt on my peanuts if you're coming back from the gallery thanks.

The midfield cracks have been there for a while and anyone who thought we didn't have any issues in there this year is kidding themselves. No depth, no real rotations an underdone Clarry, an overdone Viney, no other real prospects, the writing has been on the wall. The AFL is a 'not for long' competition. If you're not careful other teams can zip past you in an instant. It's not a matter of setting our stud midfield in 2021 and telling ourselves that this unit will dominate for a decade. It needs invigoration. Rivers has been the big positive to come out of all this and with some smart drafting and trading we cam be back up there. PS: Freedom fighters and PC principals take note of the last line when we're doing well again and you want to pot everyone who had doubts and you feel needs to apologise.

6. Gawn 5. Langdon 4. T-Mac 3. Sparrow 2. Rivers 1. Bowey

To each their own. I think that people who thought we were actually in that game at half time could only have been going off the Dogs inaccuracy. We were getting smashed in every metric you give a damn about when it comes to a midfield battle. We also had no scope for improvement in the middle with Viney obviously carrying something, Oliver struggling and no real rotations. So I don't know where that confidence came from. One team really wanted it, the other looks about ready to hit the beach.

Forget about the umpires, we have bigger problems.

Yep, that would make up for about half the season.