Dr. Gonzo

Even if he kicked it we would've won

If youre not happy after a win like that why would you even follow the game? Surely you got some enjoyment out of it.

It was pissing down rain for the last quarter and we stacked the backline and played the boundary for the whole quarter trying to defend our lead. So it wasn't as much a repeat of last week as an attempt to try and protect the lead. They probably went too conservative and made it too hard for us to score but we got the goal we needed right at the death.

Gutsy gutsy win so proud of this team tonight. Win next week and if things go our way we could be sitting in the top 4.

The presentation by channel 7 is a farce, I have no idea what they're going for. I used to junk they were trying to attract the neutral audience with their inanity now I have no idea. The presentation of the game is a definite issue, the whole thing is treated like a joke and feels like it's presented by a bunch of out of touch morons cracking dad jokes.

You can add to that stop scheduling [censored] teams in prime time slots in the hope they'll one day come good because they had a large supporter base 30 years ago.

Then coaches like Ross Lyon will go even more defensive to conserve players energy. They'll park the bus to use a soccer term and try and score on fast break. Rather win 6 goals to 5 than lose 17 goals to 12.

Aussie rules should be the easiest game in the world to umpire yet they've made the umpires so confused or direct them so much that no-one knows what the hell is going on from contest to contest. Half the time you see a contest and have no idea who the free kick is going to. Was that too high or did he take out his legs? Holding the ball or push in the back? Blocking in the ruck or jumping into the opponent? Footy is a game of "freedom" to an extent - players are free to go anywhere on the ground, players are free to attack the ball without interference and if they are interfered with they get a free kick. Interference means being shepherded more than 5m off the ball, being tackled above the shoulder or below the knee, being held without the ball and being pushed in the back. If they take possession, have prior opportunity and fail to get a clean possession away (a kick or handball not just the ball spilling out) they are penalised. Start paying these fundamental rules (particularly scragging of midfielders at contests and holding the ball when you have had prior opportunity and fail to kick or handball) and you will see the game open up. Blow the whistle as soon as a pack forms instead of waiting to see if it comes out in the scrum and ball it up and you'll see congestion ease.

The only thing that will make a difference while maintaining the fundamentals of the sport is reducing the number of players on the ground. For some reason they have a bee in their bonnet about this even though it wouldn't effect the actual gameplay at all. 18 per side has been the case since the game was played by absolute amateurs now we have world class athletes playing who can run all day yet the ovals remain the same size. 12 or 14 per side would probably do the trick. The other thing this would do is make zones obsolete as it is impossible to guard enough territory with that few players on the ground. It would force clubs to play a man on man style of football.

6/6/6 will do absolutely nothing to ease congestion around the ground. The AFL is run by absolute morons I swear.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/why-the-loss-to-geelong-should-inspire-the-demons-20180723-p4zt3v.html

So Oliver, Hogan, Lewis & Jones all get fines for tummy taps yet Hawkins gets off because why??? Absolutely [censored] joke this league is.

They asked last year as well and were told no. I can't see it happening unless there are 3 other Vic games and they are playing GWS/Freo/GC. But this is the AFL would be just like them to screw one of us smaller Vic teams.

To be honest I'm less concerned with the last minute and more annoyed at minutes 15-10 left in the last when they piled on 4 goals. I'd like to see that dissected instead as we had the chance to halt momentum several times.es yet failed until Petracca won a clearance - by that stage the margin was back to a kick.

OMac did something similar against Port and gave away a 50 which led to the sealer for Port.

I think our issue in this situation is that our leaders are older and past their prime while our young guys are capable but still immature/lack composure. I have great faith in the young group of guys though, Max is probably the oldest of that lot and he was off the ground for key chunks of time in the last quarter. TMac too but he was stuck down one end while the ball was pinging from the centre to the other end. Our mids are all still young, Viney would've been handy as he was against WCE last year.

Hogan also marked 10m out in the 3rd - if not a mark definite arm chop. Nup, play on. You don't like blaming them for losses but that's 3 games this year we could argue we've been robbed (Port, Saints, Cats)

Geelong 93?

I think he's finding it difficult with TMac back in the side as he now isn't the one focal point. His first 8 or so weeks this year were fantastic and he was being lauded as the future of KPF and a potential AA. He's still young, he's still coming off a horror year last year, he's still contributing. He will improve with age as he enters his peak in a couple of years.

He didn't lose the game. After his torp the ball went out of bounds and we had another scoring shot. There was still too much time to tray and maintain possession and even if he wanted to there didn't seem to be any options. Maybe you could argue if he doesn't kick that barrel Maxy never goes off with the blood rule and we win but now your starting into alternate reality theories.

Win both those games vs Cats and we're 3rd and their 13th. Such a fine line, 2 kicks in it.

There's a middle ground between expecting glory or defeat. You can support and see how things unfold instead.

Vanders cannot play this year he's been out for an eternity. Bugg is the obvious replacement hopefully he earns his recall this week.

I loved the way we played an attacking game, constantly looked to bring the ball through the middle corridor instead of long down the line around the boundary. Petracca, Spargo and Oliver were highlights for me. Absolutely shattered with losing in particular the way we lost but Geelong were playing for their season as much as us. We're nearly there just need a bit more composure and we'd be sitting comfortably in the top 4 if not top 2 - 2x games vs Cats, Port and Saints all games we should've won and outplayed our opponents in 3 of them. I understand the anger and frustration last night but big picture we are still on the right track. This is a very good young football side we've got hopefully they figure how to take the step to being great. As for those wanting Goodwin's head or blaming the loss on him I hope that was said in the heat of emotion after the loss. I have complete faith in the guy but he made an overhaul of his assistants.

The week before is Easter next year I think so could work