buck_nekkid

The biggest change needs to be in our approach. We changed our plan to beat the saints, and gave up our natural approach. We had no system to attack in the following two games. Need to select a more attacking team (starts with being able to hit a target and a willingness to take the game on), then get them to have a crack. Dour defense only strangled the Saints, but cost us against the Swans and the Dockers. Need players that will do this. I see us finishing 9th. So lets just have a crack with some we want to have a look at at this level. TMAC out to pasture and a long preseason to prep.

Goodwin got the team to go away from the core ‘brand’ and play ugly vs the saints. It worked and we won. I think the club have then rushed to the next two games without a fundamental reset - we played both the Swans and the Dockers with an ugly football style that works against run and gun teams (like Saints) but plays straight into the swans and the dockers. Not sure who we put this on - coach or players? Coach asked them at half time to stop being boring and at no time did they cut angles, move the game on with speed or act with any daring. All of the things that worked for us now worked against us. We were slow by hand and foot, we were rushed and turned it over. We avoided the contest in favour of protecting grass. We didnt trust our teammates and relied on individual efforts that were completely disconnected from everything else. We made 7 changes and bought in guys who had no exposure to high level footy in 8 months. Melk on Fyfe was a good move. Got Melk involved more, and limited Fyfe’s output. Tommo on Hogan worked well. So some good coaching planning. I think this one was lost above the shoulders by the group after the saints game. Going to need to do a hard reset before GWS or we will see the same dross again.

Demonland meltdown excuses and bs.

Disgusting. Honestly, they are an absolute rabble. Gotta cool off before I post any analysis, but we are absolute fools supporting this mob.

Our disposal is completely unacceptable. Looks like we try to go boundary throw in to boundary throw in. They move it freely, we are fumbly and second rate. Lucky to be so close. Second half is make or break, boys!

I am feeling like I have PTSD watching the MFC. I feeling like I am in some kind of avoidant emotional state but I can’t look away. out history suggests we will crash and burn at one of three remaining hurdles. We are too busy looking for ‘learnings’ and not getting it done. Prove me wrong, MFC. Be my therapy dog instead of Blimpy, the lactose intolerant cat.

Cats are tearing the bummers a new one. This could get ugly...

All this talk about culture, yet what the heck does anyone mean? Culture is simply the unwritten/unspoken rules that determine what is acceptable (think standards) and valued by the collective. The culture is created by the group, it cant be imported. Each team will have a different culture, because they comprise different individuals. Culture can have good and dark sides (win at all costs, for example). There are 7 artefacts of culture that you can actively pursue to change the group, and the culture has to be aligned to the idea of success (in the case of the footy team, the things that are valued have to match with what will drive the success of the gameplan). Essendons druggie culture, Richmond’s dirty culture, St Kilda’s old party culture are all examples we could cite of labelled cultures in the AFL, and what has come (good and bad) from these. Culture revolves around prominent individuals. Change these, and the whole culture can shift. I see the current scenario as: Goody has established a ‘we love each other’ mantra which created a good spirit. It need to evolve to a ‘we will do anything for each other’ on the field. The standards need to be more firmly enforced by the team. There must be absolute examples made of poor effort and performance (Melk?) and no passengers, as this send the wrong signal as to what is acceptable into the group. We need to define what we value, and really build this into all of the 7 artefacts. Not sure what this is for the Dees atm. Winning at all costs is not one of them.... The team is probably 1-2 years shy of the premiership window. Some focus on ‘learnings’ is still relevant. When this disappears from the language, the stories and the press conferences, we can start to build a sense of ‘we got this’, rather than the implied ‘we are learning from this ‘ mindset. Anyway, culture is not necessarily complex to change, it just has to be something that people are open to exploring and want to change. The current culture of making excuses and learnings means that the fragility and ‘occasional let down’ aka Swans game is tolerated. When it is not, we will be a completely different footy team.

Weid gets another go, he has done OK and unless you want to give Bradtke a run, I think he is our only option there at the moment. I thought Salem did OK, and gets to keep his spot (not great, but OK)

So some food for thought: Our midfield is over-rated. Why have we been smashed in contests and clearances with what could be the best midfield in the league? Look at how little movement our guys commit to. When Langdon ran a channel at a boundary throw in, it was a revelation! We are slow to move, provide no support for each other and seem to have no system. We stood around ‘blocking space’ but refused to tackle for most of the match. Witches hats. Our entry into 50 was simply deplorable. We had no idea. Against the saints, we required the individual brilliance of May and Petracca (and a bit Langdon) to get the team over the line. May had to cover the whole backline with the dreadful selections and no support, and Petracca had an off game. Can’t rely on one or two to win it for us, all of the passengers need to be censured. We gave up easy goals. I mean really easy goals. The defense was abysmal. How could we really bring in Smith and keep with OMAC with no tall opponents?? THeir first 3 goals were lollies. Our goal kicking is sub standard. Fritsch can mark, but if he cant kick, Gove someone else a go. Honestly! WHo else knew what we were in for 30 seconds after the first bounce? Goodwin says the second half was more the way we wanted it. No it wasn’t, it was still poor, with all of the same flaws mentioned above. We have systemic issues with attitude, work rate, skill and gameplan. This mob would be disgraceful in the finals. Need drastic changes, and no more excuses from goodwhine

Hold their spots: Rivers May XX salem Tomlinson Lever Langdon Clarry xx xx brown xx spargo xx xx Gawn, Trac (past glories), xx Fill in the blanks : Lockhart, Baker, VDB, Bennell, Weidemann, Pickett, Viney. Or, invite the local old folks home to run a team out. Couldn’t do worse than that crapola they dished up tonight

I know what you mean...the numbers are frightening. Very very troubling. So many players had mares.

Did you mean Swans?

Wow, that was so poor. Langdon best on for us. Pass marks for Brown, Tomlinson, Gawn, May, Spargo (just) Real issues with OMAC, Melksham, Fritsch, Jones (hos last game in the red and the blue??) The rest - meh. We are absolutely the softest bunch of {xxxxx} getting about. Watch Goody scratch his leg and serve up the bs for 5 minutes. Vomitous.

Wow. Putrid/. No skills, no effort, no tackles, no nuthin! If we dont change something at half time, this is looking like the Port game

Things to watch for: Are we running hard enough to defend and reset the zone behind the ball? This is a key indicator if we are on our game or not. Are we winning the contest / clearance? For a team that prides itself on this, we have sucked at this for many weeks now. Do we have reasonable disposal to advantage, or do we play hot potato? One works, the other makes me want to spew. Do we have enough presence forward of the ball to offer a suitable target (s)? Honestly, if we lose this one, we only have ourselves to blame. Think it will be 42 points Dees win.

Hilarious and painfully true. I think Broooce is struggling to commentate from home, and this is the only way he can make sure others take the baton or are kept involved. Notice its Doesn’t he, Hame? To redirect the traffic. He is a fail this year. Gets on the nerves at least 85% of the time (up from 70%last year)

Clarko: making Adelaide look like West Coast! Oh joy to watch those stuck up whankers at Glenferrie suck a big fat one.

3 votes Steele... ha!

He was last man on the goal line to mark. He took the ball and distributed it well through half back. He was in good position and his skills were good in general. He was often first man Jon defensive chains, and didn’t get caught or turn it over badly. Which second efforts concern you? I saw him zoning and positioning himself off the key backs. Anyway, each to their own. He may not have a matchup vs Sydney.

Rewatching the game: Hannan out. AVB and Jones on notice. Kozzie did better than i gave him credit for, although he had a real chance to do much better. Brown, Wagner (save his first pickup) were good inclusions. Tommo and Spargo both ok. OMac did well most of the night, just got caught out on that one lead. Max will only get better for the run we were very poor disposing of the ball and very lucky to win. Our defensive pressure dropped off in Q2, but came back, luckily. If that is one of the best midfields in the comp, I’m your mothers brother Robert. They were hopeless in the middle, thrashed around the ball. Only a few late moments to admire. Gotta sort this out.

Ron Barassi is a Demons legend. You want to select him next week? team first. If he is up to standard and deserves his spot, then select him. Gifting games busts culture as quickly as cutting people unnecessarily. It’s not what we do with Jones, it’s how we do it.

Scoreboard!

It was a goal. It went in the scorebook as a goal. Kane: “Scoreboard”! G.F.Y.

Ricoh said in his interview that players would be managed across this block of games. Sydney are not hopeless, just not quite good enough so we want to play a good team each week. We also should reward as many as we can who got the job done in the Alice. Could see these being dropped: Jones, Kozzie, AVB, Hannan. Managed: Hibbard (ankle) Matchup: OMac - may not have a tall to play on against the swans. Maybe a few rotated/rested in like for like swaps.