P-man

I have to admit I chuckle when it’s even a debate as to who is the best ruckman in the league. Yeah nah, Goldstein is totally in the discussion... Please. There is one top dog and thy name is Max [censored] Gawn.

I was going to ask if that was a euphemism but I’d rather not know.

He’s been excellent. Those who are out of this side will find it tough to come back in. Gelling nicely.

Gus deserved to be dropped after last week. Surely Jones comes in. But let’s not dwell on that. How’s the pressure been today? Out bloody standing that’s what.

Looks like games in the NT remain a possibility. Hopefully they can fly one of the Adelaide teams over. It just won’t feel like a Darwin home game without everyone cheering for the opposition.

Fair to say Saints fans would not be enjoying seeing Trac tearing it up.

I think some people see the silly 50s he gives away, or the times he gets caught in two minds, and reach for the eject button. But you’re right. His influence at the moment is still in the positive. In our top 5 players yesterday for tackles, clearances, and 11 of his 14 possessions were contested. Also in the top 5. He’s not at his best but he stays in for mine.

I’d be looking at Brayshaw before Melksham. He’s slow. He’s extremely fumbly. He’s just not playing good footy and the credits in the bank are starting to run dry. There’s no way Jones wouldn’t offer more than Gus is right now.

Welcome back Weid. Promising signs. Viney was immense. Players got the memo about slowing the game down when they needed to and it paid dividends. GC are no mugs. That was an honest, hard fought win. Now to build on it.

Honestly, it’s a decent looking team. On paper. i suppose that’s the key difference between today and the dark days, I look at that team and wonder why we aren’t playing better. As opposed to looking at the team and knowing exactly why we aren’t playing better.

He’s fallen off a cliff performance wise. There was a stage where he looked like he could be the next big thing (no pun) but that seems like a long time ago. Injuries haven’t helped his development.

No matter what happens, this is thread of the year.

Hope Lions thump these pretenders. They almost lost to us ffs.

They obviously have a lot of faith in Vanders. Has done zero to warrant keeping his spot. Needs to reward the faith. Decent changes but I would’ve liked to see Jones and Brown as well. Brown has smarts forward of centre and Jones can kick - two things we badly lack. Thank god they are finally playing Weid. He’s far from the saviour but we need to see if he’s up to it or not. He’s had long enough in the system. Time to find out for better or worse. If it’s worse we accept it’s another MFC draft blunder and move on. His inclusion also provides a bit more flexibility to play T Mac further up the ground which, if they insist on playing him, is where he should be utilised.

Very bad.

Skills and decision making. Lumping the two together. Certainly the decision making is abhorrent.

I think it was Gawn who once said something along the lines of if the supporters are hurting, the players are hurting ten times more. There are times I really struggle to believe that.

Yeah fair call. When I think “playing for the jumper” I largely think effort but there are other aspects. We don’t get full visibility on what they do off the field so there’s a bit of guesswork involved.

Riewoldt said that “not playing for the jumper” is too simplistic and I agree. Effort is not the issue (with maybe a couple of exceptions). Skill is far and away the main issue.

Found myself nodding along with Watson which made me feel a bit dirty afterwards. I think they’ve summed up the issue which every supporter knows: skill execution. The solution that can be implemented straight away is slow. The game. Down. Weigh up options. If you STILL can’t execute then you probably shouldn’t be playing AFL. The Couch also had an interesting discussion about this with Garry teeing off again. Was some damning footage of T Mac’s first aerial contest where he didn’t even COMPETE and watched the ball sail over his head. Please Goodwin. For God’s sake get Weid and/or Brown in the side this week or I’m gonna throw something at something..

It’s unsettling to actually envisage the club going under. If these performances drag out for the rest of the year, to say it wouldn’t be good is a gross understatement. To think that Roos and PJ got the club on track in a matter of three years, handed over a list primed for success, and a Prelim embarrassment was as good as it got. I’m still [censored] off about the weekend and where the club is at. We should be so much better than this crap. I’m irrationally angry at Goodwin himself. Like others, I think I need a break from this abusive relationship.

God so true. Every time. Doesn’t matter how much time and space. Harmes, Oliver, Brayshaw. All of them do it. To basically the same spot. In all the years watching Sam Mitchell, I could count on one hand the number of times I saw him blindly hack it forward out of the middle. He would settle and weigh up his options. Every time.

As much as I’d like to drop Oliver, we can’t afford to lose his ability in the contest. Brayshaw however would not be missed one iota.

“Was 2018 the outlier?“ Right now that looks like a resounding, emphatic, unequivocal, yes.

Once again we are kicking to a forward line of small and medium forwards and surprise surprise we are getting routinely beaten in the air. This is fundamental stuff. We are doing ourselves a disservice at selection and during the game. How many times was Gawn thrown forward? Especially with Nankervis off the damn ground. Maddening. Even with the personnel we have, we can’t seem to find space in F50 like other sides. Our forwards don’t work for each other to provide space to lead into. The talent is lacking but the understanding also seems to be lacking. Unable or unwilling to find the release kick or handball. Hand balling in circles and turning it over. Truly atrocious skills all day. Feel sorry for Smith but if he is ever seen in defence again I’m going to throw up. Oliver should hang his head after that. That kick at the end sums up his [censored] attitude. Someone, anyone, needs to pull him aside and give him a few home truths. He is a lazy footballer whose damage factor right now is zero. Gus. I just don’t know any more Viney will always be a B grader. He’s reached his ceiling and that’s what he is. May was decent. He and Trac can hold their heads up. Hannan did his job. Overall, a really disheartening performance. Will be interesting to see what Goodwin says about it. Actually, no it won’t.