bing181

Couldn't play much worse. Interesting that with Hibberd out, back line is all over the place. Could have been the same with him out there of course. Really miss an in-form Jetta or small defender. Not sure that the players who have been brought in are adding much: Harmes, ANB, Smith. Our list is just not as good as many are making out, after the first dozen or so quality really drops away. Time for a real clean-out?

O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day. Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say. Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

I posted something similar last week, and it's still true after a win - not getting enough out of the smaller forwards. Spargo, Hannan, VDB and Pickett, not a goal between them and only 1 goal assist. Not many possessions either.

Hard to argue with the outs. Lockhart perhaps, but he's been OK, nothing more. Could be more to it, who knows, no-one here does in any case. Perhaps the FD feel that Rivers brings more. Fritsch will be missed.

Disposals: Spargo 4, Pickett 6, Hannan 6. And 1 goal (Spargo) between them. At least Pickett laid 5 tackles, but therein lies the tale. The Dogs were constantly able to launch attacks off half-back based on our inability to get our hands on the ball up forward or lock it in. Not sure what the solution is, but the cupboard is really bare. We haven't had a really damaging crumbing forward since Jeff Garlett was at his peak.

Not a lot of connection between the players - in marked contrast to our opposition. Dogs looking very good, and all over the ground.

No real surprises in the selections. Only surprise for me re Hannan's omission is that he was included last week in the first place. Goes missing too often.

It's not something you can turn on or off, it's the way our brain has programmed itself to work. Can lead to poor decisions, but overall, minimises risk.

Starting to find the right combination on-field. Liked Rivers, Spargo was good/useful.

Bring back O'Mac. He's a role-player, and the defensive structure seems to work that much better, which is where their goals are coming from (breakdowns in the backline).

I don't usually go "off" players, but Harmes is really testing that. The opposite of a smart footballer, whatever that is.

Laughable.

Tomlinson is not a KPD. Bring back O'Mac.

Frees: 3 for, 10 against. Just sloppy and undisciplined on our part. And costly.

Perhaps. None of us know what specific roles are assigned to the key backs, but there's an argument that Lever was the one to pick up Georgiades when he led, as O'Mac was moving to pick up Westerhoff who was running back to the goal square. It reads as if O'Mac is supposed to stay back in the last line of defence, while Lever runs/roams further up the ground - but in this case, there was that moment too long's hesitation in the handover. Not saying O'Mac wasn't at fault, but it looks more like a system breakdown to me.

Or not.

If you think that this is the first time this has happened I've got a bridge to sell you. Hardly used, great price. You know nothing of Goodwin, nor of what really goes on within the club and behind closed doors. Or of any AFL club for that matter.

"If you can't execute basic fundamentals, you can't expect to be a team that's on top of the ladder." Steven May. At least someone gets it.

Woah. You didn't watch the game?

You can actually. As everyone keeps saying, Jackson went where he did in the draft because of his speed and ground ball play. The tallest mid in the comp, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's not as if we had 3 battleships up there.

Worth repeating. So many turnovers, so many chains of possession that broke down. The once or twice we were able to string together a few possessions, we looked like a side. At least. DE of 66% (against their 78%) is always going to land you in a heap of trouble. Whatever else is happening, and you end up playing chase/catch-up footy.

Woah. 3 big forwards, and none of them have taken a mark I50.

Great to know. And seeing you spend your time in team meetings and in one-on-ones with Goody, you can let us know this week's team selection. Thanks in advance. Mate.

FWIW:

Unsubstantiated speculation from someone who has has zero actual experience of Goodwin's coaching.