DeeSpencer

I just think Petty's lack of speed and for now strength will see him more as an up the ground defender. If your forward and midfield pressure is always great then you can get away with a guy like him deep but if we're playing a more open style I think a defender who can win a one on one in space with closing speed is vital. That can be May, and maybe it can be Hibberd and Jetta as well or another medium/small, but yesterday the ability to have Frost or May play the sweeping role and close down opponents was really valuable. I've actually been super impressed by Frost's skills this year in that his handballing seems vastly improved as does his kicking. Far more technically sound skills increases the chances of the ball getting where it needs to go. I know it's a low bar for a professional footballer but the heart in mouth of Frost was probably 50/50 decision making and execution. More often than not now if he picks out a simple kick he'll hit it. The decision making still needs to improve but I wonder how much that could improve by continuity with the same team mates. That said, I'm keen to see more of Petty. Right now I've got him as promising depth to cover Hore or Lever short term who could be more in the medium term. If he picks up the pace of the game quicker than I've thought and can start taking some of the strong intercept marks I've been at Casey at times then he'll go back up in my estimations.

Where what and when? First two years in the VFL as a forward showing rapid improvement. Then a season in 2016 typical of a young forward that was wildly inconsistent but still managed 30 goals! Maybe for a brief period in 2017 but since then he's been a super talented if somewhat unusual defender. http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Ratings/Player/117738/James-SICILY A far better Hawthorn comparison would be Kaiden Brand or even Tim O'Brien

Weid's played 2 VFL games this year v Footscray: 2.3, 7 marks (5 contested), 21 touches v Willy: 3.1, 6 marks (3 contested), 14 touches He had 25 goals in 10 games, being in the best 5 times last year in the VFL with a strong finish to the year. I wouldn't go as far as saying he's dominated but he's been very good at VFL level when he's sent back there and if his form drops off I'm happy for him to go back to the VFL again. But since he's came back in to the side he's had: Crows - very good game aside from missing the chance to win it Pies - decent game where he did some good things after Moore beat him early. 5 marks, kicked 2 goals. Solid And yesterday's game. It was a lot of running around for very little of the ball but sometimes that's the reality of a 2nd or 3rd key forward. He didn't get a chance to go in to the ruck which is often when he finds the ball - they used Tommy Mc in that role to get him in to the play (and out of the forward line where he stuffed up for 3/4's). The play often went through Tommy (28 disposals), Petracca (22 disposals) and Tim Smith who was running with Luke Ryan. Similarly Hunt and Hannan were often at full forward as we like mobility to get out the back in that role. The Weid was the odd man out in terms of getting the play but I can handle him in that role as long as it isn't every week. He took a couple of nice grabs, kicked a good goal, created another important one with 2 efforts and halved enough contests.

Petty and Lever are both interceptors, as is Hore. Plus they want to use May in a role that sees him get up the ground and in to play. If Petty takes a big step forward with a summer of fitness/strength and speed work that might work but I'd be surprised if that's the case so soon. If he holds his current form I think it will be Frost alongside May, allowing Lever and Hore the freedom to play on lesser forwards so they can attack the game. That said, Frosty's contract might be a difficult one. I want him signed up but for the right price/years.

Except for that fact Hogan is a hugely inefficient footballer who struggles at the MCG. Just as likely he would've dragged May to plenty of contests. Petty would've had a match up on Cox. And Freo would've had one less quick pressure player in the forward line. Those were the guys that hurt us all game. The vast majority of their goals came from our botched turnovers under pressure or creating free kicks with quick movement. We would've lost yesterday if Freo had their full complement of running players, so Hogan was a factor there, but there's plenty of evidence to doubt that he was going to have a big game taking marks or kicking goals on May. A typical Hogan game with a few nice marks up the ground but a lot of poor contests inside 50 and bad kicking was most likely. Weideman wasn't poor. He did his job. Created a goal going back with the flight. Kept away from McDonald and Smith. He has to get better but unless we land a big name key forward dropping him after a game like yesterday would be coaching stupidity. Shuffling him out for a player of similar talent on the basis of earning games would stunt his development. He more than earnt his game yesterday if you watched him play rather than the stat sheet.

One half of VFL this year. Maybe none last year? 2 in 2017 5 in 2016 Plenty in 2015 My point is, this is a guy who's had less than 10 games in the last 4 years at the level where he should be playing to improve. At AFL level: - Slow - tentative physically - doesn't seek out the ball - doesn't run with the ball to counter attack At VFL level he can do all of those things time and time again and get better at them. Then when he comes in to the AFL side he can do that and either improve or not. I think he's also been underdone this year and carrying an injury, so at full fitness he can do it all with confidence. I wouldn't completely write him off until he's had a chance to develop properly.

Both. The next 5 weeks is: Bris Carl Bulldogs Eagles St Kilda No reason not to be competitive and try to win as many of those games as possible. Win 5 straight or even 4 of 5 we'll be in finals contention, win 3 or less and our draft position probably won't have changed all that much. With our percentage we could win 3 of 5 and still be at best 13th. Then we have a couple of big home games against Richmond and Collingwood. Would be lovely to knock them off as they go in to September. We're unlikely to win those games unless our form is massively improved, so it's unlikely to be an issue. But beating teams in flag contention (yet to see where Richmond is by then) in front of big crowds would be really important for the players and club. The last two weeks against Sydney and North might be time to put the cue in the rack and focus on next year. I know our history with tanking but there's still a strong argument for having our cake and eating it too. Again, if we're drastically improved things will be looking good, if we're not it's the time of year to try a few things for next season as well as getting all the surgeries and niggles fixed. If North and Sydney are in similar spots on the ladder and we're looking at pick 5 or pick 8 then just for the last 2 weeks I'd be thinking the results aren't that important. Of course we'd have to give our all and if we win that's good too but there's a way for the players to give their all but the club to make some strategic decisions.

Hibberd might be our best and only choice to play on Cameron. He’ll have a field day. In for Wagner. Good luck pig. Wouldn’t rush Lever. Hannan’s done nothing since he came back and looks a fair way off it. Actually think we’re better off with Hunt in his role as a deep forward. Corey Wagner back at half forward? Or Dunkley? Stretch or JKH playing wing and use Baker/Fritsch forward more?

Yep Fyfe is the weak defensive link in Freo’s midfield but usually a tagger sits on him so it’s irrelevant. Agree about Harmes, thought he looked flat all game, maybe a virus?? Took until the last to make Fyfe chase him. Fyfe’s such a beast, but I think he’s close to 10th than 1st. He’s a freak in the air and at stoppages but otherwise like Oliver but without the younger legs and upside (hopefully). The backs seem reluctant to switch because they don’t trust the mids and half forwards to win the spread race outside. Better spread and they’ll be more encourage. May needs to pick up the tempo to then use the ball to his potential. He’s still dump kicking every now and then, which is understandable given he’s played in perennially crap teams. His ability to slide through traffic for a big man is wonderful and was on display in the last term especially.

6 - Lockhart 5 - Frost 4 - Gawn 3 - Viney 2- Petracca 1 - Tommy Mc

The BAO would've had the old timer thrown off the David Neitz terrace if it was at the Marvel

I reckon Freo are a top 4 spreading midfield, if not higher than that. Mundy, Conca, Walters and fit young mids inside, then Hill and Langdon outside, plus hard running forward flakers. They are built to chop up teams and nearly did - might have without injuries. Fyfe's a lazy spreading player but they have 1, we have 4! Harmes looked off for most of the game. Viney was on. Clarry and Gus just meh. And then really babies on the wing in Fritsch and Baker. Plus playing Wagner (and Hore and Petty) as back flankers at times who really aren't suited to small quick opponents. Given all of that I think we did very well to run with them. A couple of preseasons for Baker and Fritsch or relegation to the 2nd and 3rd fittest wingmen and all of a sudden our outside mids have so much more run. Then clearly a big summer and big fitness focus for our inside bulls. Plus another quick flanker rather than Wagner. I really think the transition defending is the easiest thing for us to fix. We're already about 10 goals better than we were in the first 3 weeks. Same goes for switching. Baker and Fritsch were options. In another summer they'll demand the ball. And again, upgrade Wagner/Petty with Lever and another proper flanker, some more match fitness in to May and it starts coming out the other side rather than in to traffic. And it's not even switching that we need. The set up kick that looks like a switch then creates the open corridor kick and off we go. Just setting up and making the opponents cover the switch creates what we need.

There's a phenomenon where improper English spreads through the community and is then repeated, especially when you've been at the footy all day and aren't really focusing on writing correctly. Well done on being the grammar nazi on a footy forum though. In the meantime I'll be consulting with Merrian-Webster and hanging out with my old mate F. Scott. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/misuse-of-literally

Spoke to MCC/MFC members before the game. I didn't take notes so I'm completely paraphrasing here. Robbo: 'Hasn't Goody being listening to you. Jennings: He's been listening. R: Freo? J: A good side with a lot of solid role players a handful of excellent players. Fyfe, Walters, Hill and a guy who doesn't get talked about but was in the paper today - Luke Ryan. They are excellent players. (Note: Harmes to Fyfe, Viney to Walters, Rotating wings on Hill and Smith to Ryan - they took them seriously) R: What's been going wrong J: We had sessions with 12 fit players over summer R: Coaching changes? J: Goody doesn't want to wait for changes at the end of the year, made them now. R: Forward line? J: Most of the other things have been looking good but the forward line has struggled, we'll look at more changes. Suggests we'd have won more games with better accuracy. Briefly mentioned a goal kicking coach R: Finally, What do you expect/want to see out there today? J: I want to see some Freo bodies hit the deck Old man heckling: How about some goals.

He was worst on ground playing quite possibly the worst game I've ever seen for 3/4's of the game against inexperienced defenders (Ryan was on Smith and Hamling on Hannan). Did Rawlings only start coaching at 3/4 time?

1 year deal with a club option would make more sense than a 2 year deal. Who are we negotiating with? He runs damn hard which opens space for others but skill wise he isn't at the level and he doesn't have the athleticism of game sense to really create space. When Lockhart gets the ball at half forward something happens - good or bad, when ANB gets the ball it's often a fumble, smothered handball, or looped nothing disposal. You're relying on the bounce of a ball or a fumble going the right way to get the results with ANB. Literally you roll a dice when he gets near the ball and hope it pans out. He might improve and we need the runners but I just don't see why we'd commit 2 years. If Spargo, Hunt, Hannan, Lockhart even Chandler yet alone recruits or picks all go passed him next year we'd be stuck with him for 2021.

Against 21 other players it's a couple of men clashing shoulders, standing their grounds. Despicable from Walters. Start a melee, head but someone, dive. Awful sequence of events. Jones should be smarter but it wasn't as bad as it looked.

The one who's spent a whole team of time injured and might not have the soft tissues to play a lot of footy on the wing or even half back might not suit us all that well! I'd only want Stephen if he's a cheap free agent and only after getting one of Brad Hill or Langdon. Brad Hill is the better over all player but even with Langdon's sloppy skills I'd be very keen on him. Stronger at the contest than Hill. Either way, let's get a fair dinkum wingman so we can use Fritsch, Baker, Hunt and maybe KK through the flanks and build a running game.

23 goals in not much more than half a season as a ruck/forward covering Gawn in 2017 as well. It was over 2 seasons that he was looking like an excellent forward. I'm still comfortable with the decision to put the eggs in the McDonald and Weideman basket. It's logical to expect both to improve next year. If we had kept Hogan with our current forward line struggles I'd imagine he'd be worth nothing more than a mid first round pick as an out of contract player. We also wouldn't have got Steven May, who despite his struggles looks like a very good player. And even if we paid too much for May we wouldn't get nearly the same return as May and a decent pick that became Sparrow for Hogan.

There was talk that our previous club doctors quit because Misson outranked them on player management. Injury prevention would be the first priority, but a fitness guru also has to make a call about the right fitness program and when a player is right to play. A doctor or physio would manage the initial stages of injury but I'm 99% sure it then it comes down to the guru to work out the right amount of training. Some of these guys are physiotherapists as well as exercise physiologists. And certainly it's a matter of team work between the doctor, physio and fitness guy to create the best plan.

FB: Hore May Hibberd HB: Jones Frost Salem C: Stretch Oliver Fritsch HF: Petracca T Mc Hunt FF: Smith Weid Lockhart Foll: Gawn Viney Harmes Int: Wagner, Brayshaw, Baker, Hannan Out: Lever, Spargo, Garlett In: Smith, Lockhart, Stretch That's what I'd do. Freo spread like crazy. Getting as many runners through the midfield and wings will be vital to stop their run. So even though he's a limited player Stretch comes back in to run with Langdon or Hill. Time to give Jones a good run at half back to see if he can reinvent himself. Time to give Smith a fair go at it as the 3rd tall forward to see if that frees up Tom and Sam as it did for parts of the game against the Crows in Darwin. Petracca should get some midfield time as well.

Yes fair, but of all the player problems he's a clear number 1 (with Melksham number 2). He led the forward line like an All Aus level CHF last year and is now lucky to be getting a game. I'd much rather have Tom right than have the Hogan trade back. Quite frankly I'd be shocked if many on here disagree with that.

Why are you assuming Hogan wasn't replaced? Hogan was replaced by Weideman for this year, just as he was after injuries last year. The forward line failures are far more to do with McDonald's form, Melksham's injury and the fitness/skill of the mids kicking it inside 50.

Panacea doesn't simply mean solution, it means universal cure, magic bullet etc. The players are going to have to do the work to solve the problems, Rawlings can only guide them. That's being realistic and sharing responsibility rather than having an ego. A higher conversation rate will result in more wins if the rest of the side can continue to do what they've been doing or improve. Coming out and promising wins is foolish. Bill Belichick might be the best sports coach on the planet and his motto is 'Do your job'. All our coaches need to do is spell out what they want from the players and hold them to that. An assistant coach hyping the fans? Come on.

We consistently struggled to score against good sides last year with Hogan. v Richmond v Hawthorn v Collingwood v Sydney despite stacks of inside 50's. The forward lines best games against good sides were v WCE, GWS and the first 2 finals with the Weid. We didn't bend over backwards to retain Hogan. He was contracted for this year, we could've held him to that. We recognised the opportunity to improve the backline and that the forward line functioned without him. I absolutely stand by that decision as the right one.