buck_nekkid

Apart from ‘where are the free sandwiches’, what were the questions that drove Robby to put pen to paper?

Not entirely thrilled with the ins and outs, but if we can get our structures right and stop their clearances and fast run, we should win. I hope it gives us a good ‘preview’ of how to play the Pies, since they have reverted strongly to this way of playing (Fast). Jacko to have a good one (but not too good). Hoping for better setup around bounces etc.

Hey guys, A great Friday night for neutrals - a tough, finals style hitout in May. Port always smack Max around, so not unusual. They brought the pressure and a clear plan to beat us. We played one great quarter, one average and 2 poor quarters of football, and still only lost by 4 points. I dont want to beat up on the team. A bit worried that we dont do much planning or in game changes as we ‘trust the process’. Butters getting off the chain, targeting our marking, making Lever accountable, not changing up the midfield until half time. Etc What do you guys think of the ‘trust over change’ coaching model, and are we still on the path to going deep in the finals?

We seem to be susceptible to high levels of pressure. Each team that has beaten us on pressure - and in particular stops us taking marks, beating us in the groundball and contested ball - beats us. We keep backing our ‘system’ to win, but this relies on us keeping the ball under control and more in our forward half. We dont seem to have ‘gears’ to shift our style, or responses to the Port model. Why letting a midfielder keep racking them up against us, why not changing our midfield strategy or mix until after half time, why not changing the kick in or Exit strategy when all they are going to do is smash max, knock the ball 10 clear and have players in the zone to rapidly belt it back. 10-0 clearances in the last, about 10 minutes in their forward half in a row, zero effective exits. Reliance on the same old champs to rise and keep us in it. One quarter of football our way and we almost Pinched it. It was finals intensity, but we didn’t do enough. lots of lessons, mainly for Goody and the team. Gotta be better under the pump of a charging pressure team. Pies will be interesting, a different challenge entirely.

Pressure and clearance won the game/lost the game. We expected too much from too few, with only some superhuman efforts getting us a whisker in front. Pressure is the way to beat Narrm.

It is Clarry with his new haircut mixed with my little pony…

It will be a matter of ground ball for mine. If we can keep up pressure across the park and force them to contest their possies , we have the marking power to go above/around them. Need good taps to advantage in the centre, and post clearance pressure is key. They will have moments, but think if we turn up we will win by about 4 goals. We will know which Melb side shows up in the first 5 min (ref Bris and Ess disasters).

McDonald is an interesting in. Thought Rooey took his role. If he covers the ground up to the wings and protects JVR in packs then he will do his job. Maybe kick a couple as well. The fact he can also go back puts him ahead of bbb. Salem? Lets see how he goes…

There has been a lot of chat on Demonland about where we are at in the scheme of things based upon this game - and some trends. smashed in clearances and stats that seem to matter to us. forward line mix still up in the air backline seems to be struggling. What do you guys think of where we are at? What is out biggest area of concern from your perspectives?

Is the hawks game the ‘replacement’ game for members (ie, free ga entry?)

Training ground? What is this thing you speak of!

Are you certain he passed all protocols? Maybe he missed a couple of key milestones and needs another week?

I’d be keen to understand how hard he is on himself- he sets incredible Standards for the back 7 and marshals the defensive unit, how does he manage/evaluate his own performances and does he let stuff get to him? How does he manage this in game and out of games?

When are they heading up to QLD?

Put a second team in Geelong, I say…

Hope the selection sends a strong message re perform or stay at Casey, for TMac bb in particular. Force them to up their games. Dunstan unlucky to miss, but maybe there is more he needs to demonstrate to get a gig??? Or maybe he is a single role player that is not ‘open’ with Viney and Clarry ahead of him?

For what time period? Just this season?

Hardwick is a knorb. He really see the game like that? Riewoldt 3 votes. Tarantula 5? WTF???? Any real observer would scoff at those votes.

He did some good work getting balls to the ground earlier (no stats), and once they allowed him to lead instead of bombing it on his head he became far more dangerous.

I only wish him well. Did ok on a very big stage. Good luck to him.

Then why not pay it all the other times, including ruck contests?

Grundy is ok in the ruck and in front of the ball. His defensive skills are poor, dropping off the main too easily in the the back half - made Bombers rucks look like gods and did the same in D against tigers. He also doesn’t mark well enough. I wouldn’t be dropping him, but be getting him to work on the defensive side of his game.

That aged well. Pies lifted, Bombers crumbled.

Makes last week look not too bad…. Bombers have worked out the pies - pressure pressure pressure, no corridor opportunities. Have to be able to go HARD FOR 4 QTRS to beat either of these teams.

Thank you!