layzie

Nothing is definite and a premiership window can be blown open or slammed shut at any time but we have next to no-one in the 23 y.o to 26 y.o category therefore the tradition window view for now rings true.

I think that's probably fair.

Maybe he actually likes us.

You may very well have unleashed the use of Soccer formations in our game @Binmans PA! I don't mind the concept at all. It's like a bulking of the midfield similar to Collingwood but with with some 'defensive midfielders' who would work back to cover the space and force the intercept advantage. I don't know how easy it would be to implement but it could definitely help us stretch the field.

And intelligence.

Yeah I admire the calculated risk, I'll also admire them if they get us out of this unscathed. You win some you lose some but you keep moving your chess pieces as needed.

I think it's worth asking the question and I hope you don't get panned too much for asking it. On my lunchtime walk just now I was literally thinking this. Making the top 4 is extremely difficult, I feel that now we are accustomed to these successful home and away seasons that we just assume we’ll automatically be back there again next year. The reality set in today that there is absolutely no guarantee of this. There are a heap of teams around us getting better, Carlton have put their name in lights, Bris and Collingwood won’t go away, Dogs and Freo could get it together and Sydney could be back with a bang. Then there’s the potential bolters, I have a real feeling that Adelaide are not only going play finals next year but make a serious play for the top 4. The reality is that teams are improving and a place in the 4 isn’t owned by us. On the other hand it is pretty amazing to me how our game style has managed to hold up in the past two seasons(Home and away). I wouldn’t have been surprised if we’d taken a step back after the flag but you have to say it’s impressive. Gut feel right now (and I preface this by saying right now it could change after trade and draft and when depression has subsided) is that 2 straight sets exits will weigh heavily. I’d say we play finals next year but miss top 4. I get ribbed a bit sometimes for using Soccer comparisons but in 2022 when Liverpool were competing for a domestic title and were in the European Champions League final, they ended up my Man City then dominated the first half of the Champions League Final only to not take their chances and lose to Real Madrid 1-0 who had one shot on target the whole game. This knocked the stuffing out of them and along with some other issues I think it contributed to their nose dive in the EPL last year. I don’t want to be negative but I can see a world where this happens to us, the honeymoon period of 2021 is well and truly over. Alternatively I can see us rebound stronger with a few new inclusions and tweaks to the already successful game plan. Will cross fingers every week for minimal injuries. I'm hopeful, but I will temper my expectations. At the start of 22 and 23 I expected to make a PF bare minimum and was convinced there was another flag in the list, I'm not so sure right now. Then again I also do better when my expectations are tempered, some people can shoot for the moon but it just raises the bar too high and increases the margin for disappointment. I love the game above all and will try to enjoy watching this great side play, anything else is a bonus.

Exactly. I was going to say how can we be bruise free when we were 1st in contested ball and 5th in tackles this year?

Me too, that Grand Final was bliss. Aker magic!

One thing that really peeves me off right now is a free kick deep in the forward line and then a 50 straight after to bring them right out of trouble. The whole thing happens too quickly for comprehension and it's always impossible to explain to someone who doesn't know much about the game.

I actually thought the way our guys reacted was perfect. Everyone kept their head in the game and on our system but our trusty enforcer was able to do a little flag flying. Some can do it while keeping their head in the game like Viney and some can't, no need to start a brawl for all.

All the best Luke with whatever the next chapter is in life. It's all ahead of you 🙂

I really couldn't give a rip right now. We lost the game, still dealing with that. Glad he didn't squeal but not in the mood to laud someone for helping the opposition bend the rules.

That's right. I've had several people complain to me about last Friday's game and then almost in the same breath mention the media lashings in a very defensive tone. What were we expecting? The season promised a lot and delivered little, one lot of straight sets exits is enough, 2 in a row was the doomsday scenario. The club knew it was coming.

Thanks Webber! Certainly beats the alternatives 🙂

Entitled to his opinion but still, shots fired. I don't recall anyone calling The Cats pathetic for the virus excuse, in fact they made that the narrative. The club does need to take stock though. Attitude can slip easily and while I doubt what Ralph reported was accurate it does make me wonder what was actually said.

Time to go and explore new opportunities, thanks for everything James. Glad Cal referred to him as a premiership player.

Bills, Cowboys, Eagles

The decision to recruit Grundy and the non-selection of hin these past few weeks are two different things. It bugs me how it appears he wasn't even considered for selection because his papers were stamped. If anything that was just another distraction for the team. Regardless of what was happening and where he is/isn't going, we had this guy healthy and at our disposal and did nothing.

Not sure how I feel about this. It's very intriguing to hear that he broke out of his usual demeanour but I'm wondering if this was the right approach. I usually associate sprays with lack of effort and for the most part at least I thought our players brought effort. I also think that Goody has to take some responsibility in this one, he's the one who sets the game style, he's the one who the buck stops with at selection, he's the one who decided not to use Schache. You can sink the boot in to the players as much as you want but when you have the ball in your forward line, have 3 stoppages in 30 seconds and see one of your best stoppage mid/forwards taking ruck duties in a game decided by 2 points then there will be question marks over coaching.

It seemed like a lot of work has gone into this over pre season and for those first 6 or 7 rounds was bearing fruit. I saw Max at training before the Anzac game really working on that ball drop and straight line run. I don't know whether it was because there isn't as much time to do this in training during the season but a lot of them seemed to revert to their old habits. That shank 30 out at the Punt Rd end was the old Max all over. I also think the psychological aspect was at play not only for the inaccuracy but for some of the decision making and execution with field kicking. For whatever reason we were not at our psychological peak in this game.

They should just give a goal as benefit of the doubt and change it if wrong. Will bug the hell out of us fans every time they go back to the middle after we've all celebrated but it least it will be right.

Thought the Rams played really well Gorg. Nacua was everywhere and making our suspect corners look just that, especially Charvarius Ward who gave up at least 3 of those big catches. Just goes to show that there are gem WRs deep in the draft. Going to be interesting seeing him and Kupp work together when he's back. The game came down to turnovers really, Niners 0 Rams 2, that was the difference. I was impressed with Purdy's ability to manage the game and make the short to medium throws when they needed to be made, it was a tidy game from him, didn't throw a TD but didn't give the ball away. In the long run though we need our QB able to throw a deep ball occasionally. Wins a win.

It's a slippery slope. The moment you start thinking about one thing that wasn't fair then it become 2 and 3, before you know it everyone is thinking the same way. This was a team that dealt with the blows so well this year. Max's MCL, the Oliver struggle, Petty and Melk's injuries. Yes the incident with Gus was very different and I do understand if it took the wind out of them but it's very sad if a golden opportunity was dropped on the floor because of it.

You're right, a lot of the time the game feels setup for us to win, in some cases like Friday it even feels like shooting fish in a barrel. It's not pleasant and we know how hard the boys have worked so it hurts to see them kicked but it was going to come.