John Crow Batty

We were 9-0 and they were 1-8 and we were playing for our 17th consecutive win. Though North were a terrible side they physically monstered us and we got injuries. We looked very tired and flat despite the win. Not an auspicious debut for the Narrm moniker. A slow steady decline since then.

Unfortunately a second rate Clarry is still better than anyone at Casey. If Brayshaw was still around there would be a window open to put pressure on him or even drop him but now he has to keep playing unless new behaviour issues or injuries crop up. At nowhere near his best he is still good.

Time to play a dedicated 2nd ruck to chip out for Max. Allows VDR and Petty to play forward without interruptions and hopefully aid their development. None of these two are Luke Jackson types who is Amore capable on ball player.

Yeah, the self satisfaction and self congratulating was evident after the Gather Round and Geelong win.

Our season has been solid so far except two games where we have been inexplicably uncompetitive against current bottom 8 sides. To me we are fog bound by too much hubris after some great wins in Adelaide and against the cats. And yesterday it was clear we were mentally unprepared for a switched on and hungry WC. We are being overtaken by hungrier sides that are not necessarily better. Top four is achievable but lack of hunger and killer instinct will likely be our nemeses again.

Watching the game live was disturbing. They played like energiser bunnies or us like the Coyote trying to chase the road runner. They spread and ran everywhere taking uncontested and marks with ease with not a demon within cooee. We were slow playing the pass and turnover game in contrast. Again our midfield was pathetic. The defence was uncharacteristically disorganised. The forward line consequently was neutered. This game was worse live than watching on TV could ever be. This season so far we have played our worst 2 games for the past for 3-4 seasons.

Low energy and premiership window rattling.

And they kick the clutch goals also. Rarely do they miss a go ahead shot at goal at the end of games.

Cheer squads were very fit also. It was hard work waving those massive floggers.

Satisfying seeing the cats play somewhere completely out of their comfort zone in the heat and humidity and reduced to steamed dim sims.

Collingwood tactic.

We beat St Kilda, West Coast and North in rounds 8,9 and 10 in 2022 and then fell in a hole we haven’t yet quite fully extracted ourselves. Let’s hope same happens to them. .

I have been worrying about what seems lack of resilience to complete a season out at our best or even manage short breaks between games. Two lame straight sets finals exits and generally underwhelming performances after short breaks book ending excellent and consistent performances the rest of the time kind of shows a pattern we are limited for maintaining high standards. As for last night and against Brisbane it was clearly not fitness or tiredness. Somehow the players equilibrium seems off with abnormal routines for big games.

How the hell did we allow them to score 5 goals from centre clearances. Midfield needs a kick up [censored] the big time.

After our straight sets failure in finals in the past two seasons, and regular poor efforts after short breaks I question our resilience to mount a fair dinkum finals campaign.

Great to see Tmac in vintage form evocative from his early days as a defender days. Many forget he was a top line key defender during our dark days before switching to play forward.

I remember Disco’s first game against Collingwood on QB two years ago. They came out hard against us and Disco looked solid under great pressure until he got concussed and had to be subbed out in the second quarter.

Good to see Kozzie get into the action more often and pick up an equal career high 20 touches which is almost double his average as well as a couple of neat goals.

Both my grandfathers fought in WWI. One was highly decorated, badly wounded and later married my grandmother whose first husband was killed in the war. The other was a colourful character whose exploits during the war are best not mentioned. An uncle fought in Stalingrad who managed to get out alive. Another uncle was killed in WWII

Arguably his weakest 4 quarter effort for the club in memory. Then again it’s hard to tackle with one hand but he rarely got into contests. Should have been rested.

Wayne Gordon coming from Collingwood played in 1980 and 81 for us. Tragically he got cancer, had to retire and passed away in 1983 aged 29.

David Rodan, Tomas Bugg, Joel MacDonald and Alistair Clarkson. Now better known for post playing activities. Shaun Smith. Mark of the century but in hindsight a bad taste in mouth for other reasons. Jordan Lewis. Helped us get out of the doldrums.

I like to track JVR’s progress with Tom Hawkins. TH debuted a year younger but their stat comparison for their first two seasons are quite interesting. Both similar specimens at comparable age and development. Games, TH-19, JVR-26. Disposals-TH-196, JVR-227. Goals, TH-25, JVR-36. Contested marks, TH-23, JVR-22. Tackles, TH-24, JVR-57. There is a significant divergence in contested marks and tackles but these numbers reflects more how the game was played then and now. I can understand why the club has given JVR a long contract extension. His upside is huge.

Omitting context is an effective tactic to shape the narrative and result they want.

Many players who are not established stars sign extensions when running hot then their form drops. JVR not so hot at the moment. Hoping he goes against the grain and fires up big time.