Nasher

We had a couple of holding the balls against us that I was ready to hit the roof over, only for them not to be paid. Odd feeling - a bit like building up for a huge sneeze only for it to pass at the last second. I thought the umpiring throughout the game was generally horrible, but a non-factor in the result.

If you scale the "Disposals" and "Fantasy Points" statistics against the players' time on ground (which gives you a rate at which they are being accumulated compared to other players, rather than a total), Kennedy ranks 4th and 5th in the team respectively. I know that doesn't definitively say anything, but it does suggest Kennedy's very limited impact could be due to the fact that he spent a paltry 65% of the time on the field. He can only shoulder as much of the load as he is being asked to. I thought after the game that he should be the first dropped, but after looking at that, I'm not sure. If I felt I could sit through the horror of this match again I'd watch the replay and keep a closer eye on his touches, because I don't remember any particular soft efforts or terrible kicks or anything like that.

When have the MRP rubbed anyone out for that? The one Vince got away with earlier this year was worse. I reckon the MRP in the present incarnation are generally under-penalising, but that's just gut feel. Free kick as paid, that's it I reckon.

Yeah, probably

It's threads like this that make me consider if a mandatory cool-down period is required on the forum after losses, even if on a poster-by-poster basis.

As a rule, I think the onus is on the person making the assertion to back it up, not those refuting it. Anyway, I deleted my previous post because it came across more aggressive and standoffish than intended.

Exactly. And the team we beat there plays there about as often as we do.

The post (of yours) that initiated that discussion was deleted, and when I do that I delete every response as well. Nothing wrong particularly with your most recent post, but when you initiate a discussion by calling another poster names (even if you think it is a timid one), expect it and everything after it to be removed.

That moment when literally the only person that backs you in a thread is long-time troll, Bluey. I'm closing this - not because I'm against people posting stupid ideas, but because this thread so far shows no signs of holding any civilised discussion.

I'd settle for just winning at this stage.

I would like to see Harmes playing forward again, too. We can all see his is as hard as a cat's head, as they say, but he's too cruddy a user of the ball to be used as an attacking half back flanker. He did his best damage as a forward who tackled, marked and hit the scoreboard. Increase the responsibilities of the youngsters in the middle - Brayshaw, vandenBerg, bring Oliver back etc, recall Stretch, and use he and Vince as those midfielders receiving on half back. Push Harmes back to half forward and Kennedy to Casey.

I haven't given this much thought yet, but on first reading I think this sounds about right. All three changes improve our side. The outs were our three worst players. Spencer marks at VFL level it seems, I'm not adverse to trying him as a forward/second ruck at AFL level - I love Wattsy but we lose a ruckman *and* a crucial forward when he's in the middle. It might not work - so be it. In Oliver we add clearance strength and Stretch I thought was looking really promising as an outside ball user before being dropped. So many other possibilities though. Pretty long list of players who were terrible to choose from this week.

Gosh that was disappointing. I felt so confident that today was the day and the side only built that up in the first quarter. Just such a massive let down. Great to see Angus Brayshaw back. I'd started to forget. Had that one unfortunate moment just before 3/4 time, but other than that was excellent, hard, fast and clean all game. Shouldn't be left out from now forward.

He's still a failure because...?

I already posted this in the preview thread, but North losing to Port has kept us in touch with the 8, even if barely. A win also puts us a game clear of St Kilda, Collingwood and Richmond. This season isn't dead yet. Screw our record against the Saints and at Etihad, now is the time to show we're better than these pretenders and put them to the sword.

The stakes have been upped with Port rolling North today. You'd think Port and ourselves would be keeping a close eye on that 8th spot with North having fallen away so badly (how good has it been?). Need to win now to a) win one of our remaining "very winnable" games, b) stay in touch with Port and c) put one of the other teams in the same wins range as us a game behind. Simply must win this one.

Ah well, different strokes and all that. I love his stuff.

We of all supporters should understand that being a crud team doesn't mean playing poorly for every minute of the game. How often over the years have we played okay for most of the game but lost - sometimes badly - because of a terrible 10-15 minute lapse? They're on top again in the last quarter.

Puffed out this week, but just carp every other week?

I love Titus. I thought his style of one-liners would get tedious after a while, but after months, it just hasn't.

I know. So frustrating; the boundary umpire has ONE job to do. Get it right.

That angle I saw showed Dangerfield himself entirely outside the boundary, with the ball on the out-of-bounds side of his body. Unless I've misunderstood physics really badly, it could not possibly have been in.

He's awesome. That was totally out of bounds though.

Even if they got flogged - you could never be sure it was fatigue, given how Freo have gone in general this year.

Exactly! Just made a very similar comment in the match preview thread.