buck_nekkid

Spotlight on a Hibbard. unsighted until we were on top, then did a couple of link up moves from half back. Haven’t seen him called out, but I thought he was well down, and it was a bit of a downhill skiing performance. Spotlight on Viney i loved his bull tackle later in the game, but he doesn’t get it a lot or use it well from the middle. Hoping he is just warming up, but not at the top of his game. Spotlight on OMac. Enough already said. Spotlight on Hore played a great game, looked composed and prepared to back himself in tough spots. Liked his game Super shout outs to Max, Preuss (slowed later, but showed enough), Oliver from Q2. our game emerged half way through q2. Up until then, it was the last 3 weeks all over again. Hope we have turned the corner

Any chance Lockhart as a late inclusion?

*Bump*

More likely he played a full game on the weekend. The break was too short to take him.

Thanks Rusty, always appreciate your stats. I know it’s early, but a few surprises emerging. Clarry doing well. Viney, TMac Hibbard and Trac all trending the wrong way...

Tommy Mac...

How about back him?

So what I read into this is that the group have self identified that they have not performed in a way that can deliver the game-plan. Indeed, it sounds like they buy into the game-plan, but are owning the fact that what they have done is not good enough. Identifying this is a very important first step, and now the proof is in the pudding. Do we see acts that are 'up to standard', do we see consistency, or do we see 'cruising'? As the second youngest side in round 1, and with the leaders well down across the first 3 rounds, the team has not been led by example. Or not consistently enough. This is not a crisis moment, but hopefully a reset. Whatever 22 go on the park should do everything they can to meet the 'honest' expectation - What is required as a set of non-negotiables. I think the next step is 'no favourites' and drop those who don't live up to this, regardless of their stature of favoritism. If the club still believes in our game plan, and the players are 'bought in', then time to see if it works when delivered for the whole game. If not, then we have to ask some serious questions about the plan...

Just saw some photos on FB re training today. Anyone able to supply a report? Any special notice of players who may be IN for Thursday?

The guy has played essentially one quarter of football with us. Not sure what our expectations should be in this case. I think we reassess where he and KK are at after the bye. It is hard to 'go early' and criticise the trades, as we have no idea what value they will bring. On paper, they were excellent trades because (rightly or wrongly) the Dees saw that they had gaps to fill, and these guys were the most talented available for these spots. Lever and May should be a powerhouse backline for years to come. KK was steak knives. We were trading in for specific skills based on a belief that the list was ready to do big things. Unfortunately that has not been the case so far this year. But May is a big lad, and looked in very good shape when I saw him at the G on round 1. No defender would look good at Melbourne at the moment, with the system they are asked to play and the lack of accountability further up the ground. If we get that right, then OMac and Frost will look like heroes. Lever and May will be gods, and everyone will be happy.

In one contest on Friday night, the ball was on its way in to the forward line. Hibbo had 5 m gap (trailing) his opponent. As things we building and the ball was one kick away, Hibbo sagged off a further 5 m. Ball kicked to his man. He mad a last mad dash to close the gap and was easily outmarked. If he had have been body on body, the player would not have even been an option. This was just terrible craft. He may want to only jump for the intercept marks, but he has to be accountable to his man. Trailing and splitting off when Essendon were 1 kick away was inept.

Just a thought: what if the guys with potential for call up knew they limited game time. Others who thought they were close but in for the full game dropped their heads a bit? Potentially an us and them scenario. i would hope not, but could quite explain why so many were quiet, and others who had limited game time really stepped up. preuss obviously had a blinder in the showers!

Think that was also Goodies line in the presser, so probably came from the team meeting.

We need a full back. Can he pull on his old boots? Couldn’t be any worse than the giggle brothers we got back there now...

Biggest issue is we play Thursday. Keep an eye out and see if anyone is ‘time managed’ who is playing well at Casey. The short turnaround may impact selection.

Ok, that was shocking. The defenders failed to go man on man. They prefer to have 10 m or more of space from their direct opponents, and this really cost us. Tommy Mac was not even there. Nate Jones - first Quarter, then nouffin. Our gameplan is built on winning contest after contest - except we simply don’t. We have no legspeed. None. We are outrun all over the ground. We relied on individuals to do heroic efforts to make a difference. We took the game on, only when someone did something spectacular. Goody says ‘no exucses’. He owns this. Lets see what he does. Time for massive changes and a change in mindset. We are really back at the bad old days. I said some pretty bad things about the umpires during the game. I stand by every one of those. That was simply dreadful by the maggots.

Cats are prepared to work. Shows

Thanks guys. The old teamsheet bingo!

Kielty at CHB ? I thought they wanted him forward...

Then we can rely on the subconscious also recognising the physical action of ‘smashing through’ the negative comments and destroying them?

Contention: until the team can deliver ‘plan A’, There is no use even having a plan B. Evidence. Plan A has not been sighted. Plan B not sighted either. Whenplan A works, we don’t need plan B. When plan A doesn’t work, it’s because we are not delivering plan A. Simples. Plan B is a conspiracy theory.

Think Trac is a ‘cream’ player. When we are going, he will look great. When we are struggling, he’s not the one to dig us out of a hole. We got great meat and two veg men in the middle. When we get our mojo back, he will look the dogs bollocks. Up until then, he will frustrate the hell out of us all.

Hard to get excited with that dross. Watching us miss easy marks, get left flat footed, kick to opposition defenders time and again? Not score for a whole quarter? perhaps if they gave us even the remotest thing to cheer....

Ambitious goal for round 1, but ok, I’m on board with it...

Wow. Poor guy. I hope he has someone who is helping him with his anxiety. Making poor choices around alcohol may or may not be caused by the anxiety, or even correlated. I do not know if this is a club imposed ‘sanction’ for his alcohol abuse against club rules, self imposed or negotiated? No listed return date. Looks bad. I wish the young man every success in getting well.