John Crow Batty

I take some heart in Josh Treacy coming of age at Freo and hope for JVR. Virtually a carbon copy for JVR in the way he plays. It took him until his 4th season to become a regular player. The difference is Freo had the luxury of playing him in the WAFL during his first three seasons when his form was inconsistent. JVR is getting regular games without performing because we have no other option.

I always believed it was a big mistake hiring Jones as midfield coach. If he has any coaching ability he should have learned his coaching chops elsewhere.

Oliver back in jogging mode.

Looked nice a nice young supremely talented kid when he first started. Now swaggers around like a gangsta rapper. Looking for a Hogan like redemption is a big gamble. We need some stability to balance out the unwise heads still at the club.

Our defence used to pride itself in keeping opposition scores under 60 points. Now we can’t even score near that low number.

Not sure but dark mode might be better for battery life.

Danger is that it might turn out a like for like.

A couple of decades ago the Italian football team were bagged for playing the ultra defensive physically aggressive “Catenaccio” game. It was not pretty fast flowing football the critics told us. It was boring and a blight on the game. That said it brought Italy two World Cup victories and they were one of the most dominant world teams for decades. Then they changed their game to be more attacking and attractive in the modern style and duly became just another average team which can’t even make the World Cup competition any more.

Jones was a one trick pony as a midfielder. See ball, grab ball, barge out of congestion or go to ground for a stoppage. He was no elite quick minded distributer with peripheral skills. I fail to see what he can offer new to revitalise the midfield. Then again as I have said before he has to deal with four huge entrenched ego’s in the midfield more or less shaped into a similar style of play may not want to listen to a newbie coach what ever his methods might be.

The cats just love playing weak dispirited and fractured sides down there. They will be merciless. 186 is in play.

This season reminds me of 2007 when we went into the doldrums for over a decade. I now dread our encounter against WC on May 3rd. Glad I pre booked two overseas trips over the course of the season. I won’t be buying into the WatchAFL app when away.

I don’t blame the defence so much as the midfield and the leadership. I don’t believe Nathan Jones is up to the job. But then again having to coach 4 Prima Donna’s as a rookie coach is a tough gig.

Round 1 2018 Vs Geelong at MCG. I was there.

Another disturbing situation is that aside from our premiership players no recruit since 2021 has had a real break out season. McVee has been solid and Windsor looks like he will but other than that all our new players are rather vanilla. And there are no heirs apparent to our aging big name players.

Don’t worry, we will get back a first rounder or two when one or more of Pickett, Oliver and Petracca leave.

Made a career of hatching the ball and now midfield coach.

At this stage most supporters expect us to be in the mix for finals contention. At this stage we look like an early write off.

Still early, nothing I have see so far this season suggests will be finals contenders this season.

As I said before, Harley Reid does too many undisciplined things. Gives away dumb frees and now a 50 metre penalty and Brisbane goals.

Trial by media convicts(Picket) and acquits(Maynard, Cripps, Dangerfield).

[censored] forward line still here.

Many clubs have been decimated with pre season injuries. WTF is going on with the system?

This is the flattest start of a season for me that I can remember. Too much [censored] and brutality in the world. Footy seems so unimportant and not even much of a positive distraction anymore given all the pathetic dramas from the end of last season. Still I will be watching and hoping for a win. More hope than confidence.