Adam The God

I reckon we're a mess at both ends of the ground. In contested marking situations at either end of the ground, we still have yet to address the problem of all defenders or players up and no one down. It's the stuff that the great sides do and the best side in the comp right now are brilliant at it. The great Hawthorn side were too. The writing's on the wall this season. It's weird, because I said we'd still make finals after our loss to St Kilda, but after tonights game, we still haven't fixed the basics. I think this'll mean the St Kilda will cost us.

He always goes missing when the chips are down.

Uh oh. I agree with O. Jones is nearing the end. His disposal and decision making is too often not up to scratch. Can we please have another 3 or 4 Clarry's in our midfield though? What an absolute star. Salem and Gus were too good. Frost and Stretch were pleasingly good tonight. Jeffy just does enough, as does Charlie boy. Take them both into next week. ANB must be on very thin ice. I'm finding Nev is not as reliable as he was anymore. Still does a lot right, but I used to feel comfortable knowing he'd win every contest. Big problems remain: connection between midfield and forwards (the opposition was very weak), all up - no one down in pack situations (Bulldogs will murder us at this) and inefficiency once we go inside 50.

Tyson is the one I'd be trading. Can really only play on the inside. At least Gus can play in and out. Only problem is, Dom would have less currency.

If it meant giving up Gus, I'd go conservative and not try for Cerra.

They're very well drilled, but their game style is frustratingly simple. If you have enough players on your list who can replicate the speed they have, their style would be very easy to mirror IMO. Front and centres at every contest, speed on the ground, pressure the clearance etc. It's really pretty basic stuff.

Interesting, mate. Didn't realise Cerra was a Vic boy. I thought him Western Australian. But a former pick 5. How would we get him?

Sloane still lacks polish. Not an A grader for mine.

What is this?

I'd rather play me at full back. The bloke is so overrated. Big bloke but soft.

I think it's both. Game plan and personnel. There's no room for error in this game plan and even then, it relies on our midfield smashing the opposition every week. That's never going to happen every week. Meanwhile, the decision making of ANB, Harmes, Tyson, Jones and Joel Smith more often than not is highly questionable, particularly under pressure.

It's incredible we still haven't sorted this out yet. Our only change up in all that time has been to sit the press back slightly further. How was Joel Smith at one stage today? This wasn't even on the full team press and he pressed up to our half forward, didn't impact the contest at all, St Kilda got the crumb and his man joined in on the spread. Is Smith given licence to individually press up this high or is he breaking team rules? It's bizarre. Mind you, his same press lead to a Melbourne goal later on. So maybe it is by instruction. If so, I don't think he reads the game well enough to play it as a back man. It throws out our entire backline.

I was already worried about the Bulldogs game. Now I think they'll murder us. Can we get the game rescheduled to Etihad?

There was a play in the final quarter that completely summed up our defence under Goodwin. It was ridiculous. Our press was so high that our last defender, besides the anchor outside 50, was within 40 metres of our own goal. Sure enough, they chipped the ball and broke to 50 and took an uncontested mark. Our organisation defensively was simply not AFL level. Even leaving Savage (their best kick) by himself 45 metres out and a St Kilda player chipping to him from a set shot. This was basic stuff and it happened more than once. Hibberd was the offender on this occasion, but Jetta, Smith and Petty all positioned themselves poorly for most of the day. And to top it off, Oscar McDonald gets beaten for body strength one out by a St Kilda player doubling as a little person (Jack Steven). This is not entirely on Goodwin, but our game style puts undue pressure on our backs IMO, by pressing far too high. How have we not yet addressed the ridiculously high press on the MCG? Today it was as high as it's ever been.

The essence of this article needs to be reemphasised here and pinned somewhere on Goodwin's forehead. All we did was go long to the top of the square and usually to a 1 v 2 disadvantage, a pack or the disadvantage of our forward. I noticed more than a few times that if we got the ball at high half forward, no one broke into the larger space behind that forward. Some of that space was usually manned by an Armitage (who's slow) and could have been exploited. Instead, we went long nearly every time. Our inside 50 entries were appalling and show that even against the weak teams (like St Kilda) that our game style breaks down dramatically and has been defeated. We must continue to evolve our brand and if it's not 'on' situationally, I'd bin that play. It's almost certainly a confidence thing, but Hogan is not the contested beast he was as a junior and in his first year. He doesn't lead up at the ball like he did and we're unlikely to take too many contested marks with that play. The other glaring problem with this continued play is that we're not inundated with crumbers. The only way this play is sustainable is if you've got guys that swarm with pace at the foot of packs (see Richmond). This either draws free kicks for markers or creates crumbling goals. At worst, it means your forwards can lock the ball in and reset for the stoppage and continue the territory battle to build pressure on the defence. Jeff Garlett has to play next week and if we're going to persist with this style of play, we must target 2 or 3 quick small forwards. It's inexplicable that Hannan is the only deep small forward (Fritsch plays a bit like a third tall). We need Spargo back in too. FWIW, I'd tinker with our tall set up as well.

What an absolute disgrace. We've completely reverted to the bomb it long to the top of the square on the MCG. We don't switch enough and our forwards don't look like taking a contested mark. At three quarter time, it's game over against a team that's won 2.5 games for the year. Gawn and Viney have tried hard to lift the team, but not enough leadership once again. Has Brayshaw had an effective disposal since quarter time? I don't think so.

His name is Petty. Going to be a very good player. Oscar, Lever and Petty supported by Hibberd, Jetta and Hunt are plenty for a few years yet. In the meantime, we desperately need fleet of foot players who deliver the ball nicely inside 50. How anyone could be meh on Gaff, mate, just isn't watching the game closely enough. Exactly the player we want and need.

I agree if we drop any of the next 3, it'll make the run for finals difficult and nail-bating. But I reckon we won't be the only team in the top 12 sides to drop a game or two that we are expected to win.

This is my last response as I really have no desire to derail this thread any further and I want to do you the courtesy of responding, but... Tyson has absolutely nothing to do with whether we should get Gaff or not.

What are you talking about? If you weren't allowed an opinion you would have been banned long ago and many of your posts deleted. I reckon I've read the same post from you over and over again in the past 5+ pages. You don't rate Gaff. Great. If you're going to post again, contribute something new or what's the point? (that's rhetorical)

A bit of a non sequitur but we're no better or worse than Collingwood who currently sit second. If you look at who they've beaten (beside from a Melbourne team who didn't turn up), they've beaten Bulldogs, Freo, St Kilda, Gold Coast and Carlton (who they limped over the line against). These are all bottom 6-8 teams. Yet, the hype surrounding Collingwood is probably larger than the hype that surrounded us going into the QB game. I guess my point is that there are really only 2 stand out teams this year (Richmond and Sydney) and even these teams have dropped games they shouldn't have. Anyone is beatable and as you say, we should play finals from here.

Yeah, yeah, we got it. Stop banging on about it.

You certainly know how to unite everyone, Saty.

These are all redonkuously ridiculous but I have us beating the Eagles in Perth and winning 14 games, while I have it coming down to the last round where Collingwood will play Fremantle in Perth for a spot in the top 4. They lose and we win, snatching a spot in the top 4 on percentage. Now that would be sweet.

No. He'll be back soon.