Adam The God

Yep, he can find the ball if he's allowed to play loose, as they let him do in the first. As soon as they manned him up, he basically barely touched it. It's an interesting time in Harmes' development. They obviously think he might be a go at either end of the ground and want to build some flexibility into his game. At the moment it might be a bit early though, because he's a butcher.

Disposal and decision-making is beyond ordinary, IMO. It says a lot about the users in our defence that he was taking a lot of our kick ins. He makes some mind-bogglingly bad mistakes though. He's a downhill skier at the moment and needs to hit targets or he'll be out of the team.

I think the turning point in the match was that free kick Hogan gave away in the last. We were five points down and it was kicked to the top of our goal square and Hogan gave away a silly free kick. They didn't look back after that. If Hogan brings the ball to ground or stays in the contest without giving away a free kick, we manage to goal, hitting the front could well have been the psychological kick up the backside we needed to go on and win the game. I think we should agree to disagree on this one though, mate.

What was good about Harmes' game?

But if we had the run taken out of us by the Darwin drip, how did we lift again? Okay, so fatigue hit the Saints at a point, but aren't you saying we lost today because we were fatigued off the back of last week? It's a bit like having your cake and eating it too.

How do you explain our raging first quarter and our comeback at the end of the third? If legs were an issue, we wouldn't have been able to mount that third quarter come back. I just don't think it holds water, mate. Particularly, as Freo brought it against Geelong.

I actually think Grimes' inability to be able to tackle and his lack of leg speed meant that so often they were able to rebound quickly off half back. I didn't think Kennedy should have been playing either, but I'd probably prefer him to Newton. ANB is being groomed as a mid and not a half forward, so he wouldn't have played there.

I completely agree and yet here we are again. They've done that to us four or five times in a row now, where we've clearly been a better team, but despite this, they beat us by 5-7 goals. It keeps happening and I'd say it's that we don't like the pressure when it comes back our way and at the end of the day, their leaders stand up when it matters. Riewoldt has won it for them now in a couple of those contests too.

So selection cost us six goals? Come on, mate. Yes, we should have won this game, but they consistently beat us, because we lie down as soon as they bring a bit of pressure. I felt like our defenders instigated our mini fight back at the end of the third with a few bruising tackles and just generally an attitude of 'we're [censored] sick of this, let's do something about it'. The mids responded and we hit the scoreboard. But playing ANB, Michie and Newton would not have tipped the balance, so I'm not entirely sure what you're trying to argue here, unless you are arguing that those guys would have been the difference...?

It's just that Nash has to clean it up, so I understand his frustration.

* I'd argue Plan A has certainly worked on game day at least 7 times this year. And it's worked in patches in almost every game we've played. Our young list is incapable of playing it consistently for four quarters though. And our leaders often fail to reverse the deficit when the going gets tough. * We gave up this year's first rounder for Weeds. He's now had a year in our system like Hogan did. He'll be cherry ripe for next year, knowing the role he's supposed to play and the expectations the footy club has of him. The club knows it isn't job done. They're well aware of the deficiencies our list has. Pace and more A grade midfield talent and some experience in defence is required. Enter free agency.

I reckon he might just get better and better from here on out. As will his brother. I reckon they missed Frost today. His pace would have been handy. But I don't think you rate him either, do you, mate? Our defence is coming together. Our midfield's lack of two-way-running let us down today. Downhill skiing, big time.

Oh and it wasn't the defence's fault again. It was the lack of midfield pressure, as is always the case. As someone who still plays footy (?), you'd know this, Dazzle.

I didn't see it. But I think it's pretty tough to back this one up either way, unless we're both ready to download some footage, cut it up and upload some examples somewhere, and point out exactly what it is we see.

Rawlings clearly just implements/coaches the ideas. It's almost certainly Goodwin's plan. That said, I reckon it's time for a shake up back there. New blood, please.

Might be time to take a few steps back and think about some of this. If you haven't noticed our clear A plan this year, I can't help you. Our problem is we don't have a B plan or a way of stemming the tide if this go awry the other way.

Lol, this is a bit of a sad thread, but they're such an ordinary football club and losing them is pitiful. As Nash said, winning would do me fine at the moment. I'd rather win on Etihad, rather than the 'G.

Thought Matt Jones was okay today. Particularly when we were up and running.

Which is why J Viney should not be made captain yet...

Completely agree. He is one of our most consistently better players.

So it's on me to show evidence when I state an opinion, but it's not on those who disagree to show evidence to back up theirs? I go every week and just call it how I see it. This is an opinion formed by watching him play over numerous years. People can agree or disagree with it, but going back over the stats isn't going to help. He had a shocker today and still collected 22 touches. I'd say he'd usually get more when the chips are down, but there's a difference between racking them up and showing real leadership. Just because he may have collected multiple disposals, doesn't mean he imparted himself on the game in a meaningful way that shows leadership or really helps the team. As we've seen with our chronic overuse, disposals do not necessarily equate to good performances. Cotchin is similar. Jones kicks the goals he needs to though, that puts him marginally ahead. With this being said, what form of evidence shall I provide? I posted last week that he'd had an ordinary month of footy, where he had started to pick up cheap possessions and consistently put team mates under pressure with his disposal. People disagreed with me. That's fine, but that's what I saw. In the last month of footy, he registered 35, 33, 25, 32 possessions. During those games, I thought the old Jones crept back into his current day game. But looking at those disposals without watching that they put team mates under pressure, you'd say he was terrific. IMO, he wasn't. He is the leader of the club and I expect more from my leaders.

Good spot, LH. I missed this, but that's great to hear.

I'd argue he consistently goes missing in big games too. Usually against better opposition, but today was a big game in the context of our remaining season and he failed to deliver. I love his loyalty, he's tried his guts out for us with little help for years and I think at times (like Grimes) some supporters won't hear any negativity directed towards him.

Haha. Hi Dad. And agree about the increased expectation equalling disappointment when we don't deliver. Still convinced we'll win our 10 games for this season.

Whilst I agree that Harmes is a poor user of the ball, I reckon they'll keep playing him back there for the rest of the season. We need to know if he has multiple strings to his bow. If he develops them he has a chance of making best 22. If he becomes just a forward, he becomes one of many and nothing more than a fringer in the years to come. Kennedy should have been at Casey already. He's had a worryingly ordinary 2/3s of the season. First third he was terrific, but he's offered little for quite some time now. Agree with getting the young guys into the middle now. Stretch was very unlucky to be left out today. I've been really impressed with his development this season. His speed and ball user, as well as decent decision making has stood out. I don't rate VDB, so I'd be dropping him too, but there's not really anyone to replace him with. He gets a reprieve, but not Kennedy.