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It's very frustrating.

You underestimate him. In 2021 this team was so regimented and drilled. Discipline does that. Burgess was in their heads both at training and away from football. His game day input also significant. They're all over the place now. They try here and there but they're not the same team IMO. Our lack of professionalism is telling. I throw the coach in there as well, he leaves too much to chance, nort meticulous enough. Our problems go a lot deeper than losing Burgess though, no doubt.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. When Burgess walked out, it wasn't just our fitness but a whole lot of professionalism that left too. Goodwin is too close to this group. Too much warm fuzzy culture and complete neglect to the forward half. He has completely coached the attacking nouse, system and instinct out of this team with his stupid squeeze em up strategy. We squeeze ourselves up. We can't transition to save ourselves.

If this [censored] gets off, the AFL are essentially rendering players sitting ducks.

About a month ago when we lost (forget against who) Goodwin was questioned on our forward setup and transition and stated it was the least of his issues. The man is in complete denial about both our forward issues along with the 'efficiency' of his game plan. We will significantly regress over the next few years if this doesn't change.

At least 2 yrs of missing finals, maybe 3 before the club wakes up. By then it's rebuild time.

The Goodwin gameplan has rendered us a diabolical [censored] heap when transitioning and connecting with the forwards. His solution will be 'try harder'. Even when we win it is bloody arduous to watch. Thank [censored] I made it to Perth to see a winning GF because this era is over. Burgess, support coaches and the players themselves were the key drivers. Goodwin obviously played a role but he wasn't a catalyst.

All Carlton have to do is attack the footy and hold their marks and they win easily.

When Burgess walked out it wasnt just fitness but a whole lot of discipline and professionalism that went out the door too. Half the group are coasting atm. Goodwin's gameplan is hedged far too much to perfect structure and he's uninspiring as [censored]. Too slow. Too poor 1 on 1. Teamwork questionable. Easily outcoached. Play like gentlemen. Too much load on too few. Too predictable. Zero kicking game. Skills lacking. 7-4 flatters us. We will win a few more games here or there but 2023 is going to be a nothing year unless there is a fundamental shift in attitude, hunger and gamestyle. Unlikely at this stage because the culture is about being warm and fuzzy instead of calling 'a spade a spade'. Not wholesale changes but a mini clean out is required at end of year. The coach needs serious scrutiny as well. Fresh players, fresh ideas and fresh mindset required for 2024 otherwise the next 5 years will be dismal. The comp will leave us behind.

After we beat Richmond. Hardwick in his presser said he knew exactly how we would play and how to beat us. They executed their game style which was effective but they just had way too many good players out to get the job done. He was essentially saying he outcoached Goodwin. Whilst it has a sour grapes vibe, he was, essentially, right. Further, Goodwin's favourite saying is that we didn't get the game on our terms. Effectively he's saying we play in a comfort zone and if things aren't going the way we like it, we can't adapt in game.

Too slow and too predictable.

Moore rotates midfield does he? FMD Pies could handle losing a mid easily, they did quite well without Adams who you conveniently missed. It doesn't mean those players you listed arent good it means they have more good options for cover. That's the point.

I knew Dunstan was injured this week (wasnt sure how long though) but really, this week, week after it doesnt matter the point still stands. Re: Pies, if they copped injuries they have genuine options to swing quality players inside or out on gameday as well as week to week management. We arent in the same situation.

This. Gotta feel sorry for them because they play their hearts out every bloody week for this team whilst they slowly get grinded into the ground. The secondary issue is depth and it's going to catch up with us very soon. Now, Dunstan is a candidate for a call up next week but the bloke has hardly played a senior game in 2yrs. He'll get done by the pace of senior footy as well as a lack of real match practice of playing with Petracca, Viney & Gawn. He'll get hung out to dry and it's all due to those dopey bastards in the FD. Brayshaw (currently) is not mid standard, Sparrow tries but cant make an impact. Jordan needs work and isn't quite fit for purpose. I also wonder which youngsters we have in the wings who are genuine mid material. Last few drafts have been a bit underwhelming. Meanwhile Collingwood can rotate about 7 top mids. We're looking into the midfield abyss over the next few years.

Next month will be a shambles and a window into the next few years unless Goodwin wakes the [censored] up and recruits another top mid in trade period.

Petracca, Oliver, Viney... cliff. That's our midfield depth. Doesn't matter who we bring in for Oliver (if required), they will be substandard. A legacy of Goodwin riding the same players into the ground year after year and not developing our other mids. Dunstan can get the pill but not sure about ball use and speed - evidently, Goody recruited him to play for Casey anyway. Hope Clarry pulls up ok.

Rivers has had a very solid month. His attack at the contest and reading of the play has been impressive. Confident and has good vision. I'll allow the odd mistake here and there when he's having such a positive impact.

It's been the issue for the last 4 or 5 yrs. Our midfield depth is deplorable and it's a serious issue, not just this year but beyond. We leave Petracca out of the midfield for a while and we get towelled. Huge eye opener. 40 odd list spaces and only 3 decent mids who Goodwin will run into the ground like he did last year. Gun midfielders and a decent running half back are critical this coming off season, be it trade or draft. Pies midfield depth is ridiculously deep. Lions as well. [censored] Goodwin is dumb.

Obviously will need Casey time to develop and fill out a bit but there seems to he enough there to work with. Some similarities to Watts more so than Cook for mine. Build, goal kicking action, confident but laconic. Seemed slightly quicker than Watts though. I wont get too carried away with a highlights package but marking seems to be a strength. Good hands, timing is good, protects the space against similar types and can leap. How will it translate to AFL level? Watch this space.

We definitely didn't do enough experimentation and it's unforgivable. I think you're off on Brown however. He regressed this year but he was definitely better when TMac was playing. Not only was he likely getting 2nd tall defender but also less likely being double teamed. No TMac also took away one of his strengths which was leaping into packs from the side to take grabs. This year he was under them. Further, when he was struggling last year he built up his confidence and worth by coming down the ground and taking grabs and opening up the defense knowing we were anchored with TMac. Not only were there less opportunities to do that this year but on the odd occasion he did, he had his own entourage. Edit: one last thing. Brown was also completely buggered by year's end at shouldering the key tall load. Having to continually present to marking ontests and getting crunched for most if the year takes its toll. A fit T Mac would have taken a fair bit of that load and given Brown a breather.

A true supporter is honest with themself. A lot of our players busted their guts for 6 months to snare a top 2 spot only to fall short in a demoralising manner. The coach has a lot to answer for. Gameplan, player management and forward setup all hopelessly inadequate. By midyear we could see the team was starting to lose steam as players got more banged up and worked painfully hard to enforce a taxing and (at times) counter intuitive gameplan. We can't even say we blooded some promising up and comers to give them some momentum into the pre-season. It was an utterly wasted season in the end.

It does and the players have been feeling it more this year than last year IMO. As much as we won the first 9 games last year, we had Burgess and we didn't quite bed down the game plan until later in the year. This year we've been replicating that (as best possible) from round 1 and it shows. Mid year we were probably the most knackered team. Our pressure, tackling (both in number and effectiveness) and 1 on 1 standards have dropped all over the ground. Forward 50 is leading this but it affects our whole dynamic.

I know it is very early days but does anyone know how we're tracking atm with membership numbers?

All the best Nev and thanks for your first class service over the years.

Andrew "Coxy" Cox - Melbourne