Pates

If we were marking him on a A+ to F system I’d give him maybe a generous B+, he had good periods to the game where he was timing his runs well to give him the best opportunity to mark it or at the very least bring it to ground. Ironically his best passage of play involved him not even marking the ball, he had three opponents going up for the same ball as him and he crashed the pack (taking out another suns player) and it resulted in a goal for us. It was Neitz/Ox like. 2 goals and 2 contested marks is a decent first up effort, I’d hope this is a starting point. Need a bit more follow up work as well which was a highlight of his at the end of 2018.

I feel like some of the changes could be dependent on whether the AFL does announce a lightning period of games being in short succession. If that does happen I could picture a couple potentially being rotated. Its really interesting reading how many D-Landers see things differently, perhaps it’s the classic playing favourites, maybe it’s just seeing things a little different. One thing that is interesting is that Melksham, AvB, Hannan, Pickett, and Fitta all had low possession games but all impacted at different times. Personally I felt that of that group AvB was the least effective but I also acknowledge he had some telling moments. I had Melksham and AvB as the two on notice leading into this game, did either do enough to keep their spot? Who would we bring in for them? Jones, ANB, Brown, Bedford, LJ? As for Tommy has there been any work in his eye? If he got a proper rack of the eye (totally accidental) it could’ve done some serious damage and could take a bit to heal. If he’s ok then I think he goes again but if not then I feel Brown comes in for us to continue with the two tall forwards approach. I think to have both Weid and LJ could be problematic with two younger players as our targets.

It’s really good to see some of the real fans of other AFL clubs saying things like “his goal is the moment of the year”. I think most people appreciate his talent and the difficulties he’s face (both self inflicted and bad luck). Another great step in the right direction, if he stays out on the park this year he will have a BOG game where he tears a team apart. Personally I hope it’s against either Freo (definitely some salt there!) or the Pies.

Twitter/instagram etc have created a popular platform whereby someone can abuse another human in a way that would be considered completely unacceptable in normal society, logic would surely dictate that they should be looking at options whereby people/sporting organisations can place restrictions on who can comment if they are unwilling to give away personal detail. I bet you if that tool had to provide their mobile number, or work details they wouldn’t have been so keen to say what they said. He/she is a coward.

Harley did that as well, he hand balled to a player and immediately made the block in the player that was pursuing him. Too often the hand balls our players make appear to be more about passing responsibility rather than the team “thing” to do. If I had to guess (without being an expert) I feel like the 1-2 overlap is being more coached rather than the handball > shepherd. Just on Kozzie, how good was it to see a Melbourne player have the intelligence to tap forward to Fritta rather than take possession? Definitely something we need to employing more of.

He was impactful but you’ve left off that by foot I think he was tracking at about 35-40%. He definitely had a good game and could well end up in the Brownlow votes (watch them give the 3 to Rankine), but he butchered some golden chances and I’m sure he would acknowledge that. Ultimately he kicked the clutch goal when it counted and is definitely the player you want around the ball when the game’s in the balance.

Just heard Huddo’s smart [censored] comment of “jeez you’d think they’ve won the flag with that reaction”. What a [censored] he is, instead of that comment why wouldn’t he say something like, “look at them get around him for his first goal in 3 years”. I know this is pretty much the way it is but some commentators literally need a change of pants if one of their favourites does something they like, but something actually heartwarming and uplifting in these difficult times gets met with that. What a [censored].

So right now we have the highest score for the round, I feel like 80 could become the new 100 with the old rule of first to 100 usually wins. Good to see that we’ve (at least for this round) gone back to being one of the highest scoring teams. We still need to make the most of inside 50s, we had about 9 before the suns got one in the second quarter and they really should’ve got a goal out of it. One step forward this week, Hawthorn next week is a big one. Win that and I think we could really gain some confidence.

Rankine is exciting, can’t deny that. Jetta and co were worried around him and made mistakes. He’s a talent that actually almost won the game for them. But he was given an armchair ride in his debut, as stated he dropped the ball for his first, should’ve been pinged HTB but got a high tackle he ducked into, and that inexplicable free against Oliver that the club should follow up.

AvB probably one I’d be looking at, possibly Jones or ANB comes in. If TMac doesn’t get up I’d bring in Brown, two tall forwards.

He must be close to being dropped, poor this week and having a poor year, can’t keep gifting him games.

Ah this is that winning feeling, I’ve forgetting how it feels. Things to like about tonight, but plenty still needing to be addressed. I’ll do the classic “good, bad, ugly” with a tweak at the end. The Good More kicks inside 50 with purpose, execution still needs work but A LOT better. Weiderman didn’t have a huge game but in the face of becoming our main tall he did some good things. Hopefully it gives him confidence. Fritta used more HFF than deep forward, it’s his natural position. He could’ve had a really good night with better kicking. Viney and Gawn having big influences at big times. Oliver kicking more and better, though still some shockers in there. Petracca having a poor night by foot but not letting it get him down. Kicked truly when he needed to. (Except for one obvious incident) Oscar playing mostly ok and Lever also looking better. Lever taking marks is a massive difference. Salem continuing to show his class, I’d love him to be averaging 20+ posies because he mostly doesn’t waste it. The Bad Brayshaw being quiet again, he just doesn’t seem to have much urgency about him. Looks flat footed. Dip in form from Pig, he’s been good the last couple of weeks but today wasn’t so good. Mostly poor day from AvB, first choice to get dropped. Possibly for ANB? EDIT or Jones Kicking is still awful at times and our players continue to handball to players flat footed putting them under pressure. It’s not keeping the ball moving it’s passing on responsibility. The Ugly May’s disposals and decision making, he looked way out of it all day. Amazingly clunked some goods marks but the kicking and handballs were awful. TMac’s eye, really hope he’s ok. I want us to continue using the 2 tall forwards structure so bring in Brown if Tom needs time to heel. Looked nasty. Petracca’s fresh-air, when there’s a kid up the other end kicking them from opportunistic chances out of nothing seeing Trac botch that gimmie seemed to deflate the team a bit. Rankin looks incredible but the ugly here are two ridiculous free kicks he got, one for taking on Langdon and clearly ducked his head and the other is the baffling one against Oliver. The Just Plain Awesome Bennell kicking the goal after the siren and seeing the players get around him. It meant a lot to him and here’s to many more!

Smith - Yes Lever - Right now, about the same OMac - Well Oscar played well in his one and only game, let's see how he goes this weekend Frost himself, not devastated he left. I had my heart in my mouth every time he got the ball, and defensively he gets caught out quite a bit. What exactly has he done at the Hawks so far to warrant your praise?

You aren't alone, the way the game is played is incredibly scrappy and low skilled, lots of stoppages and the free kicks at times just seem to be random. I don't know what happened to the footy that was played only a couple of years ago, maybe we can put a little bit down to COVID making things a little weird but it just seems like such a mess right now.

I think the're might be a little sharing of the load on dropping on Tomlinson. Hannan, Fritta, and Melksham may be asked to play a little further up the ground, which I don't mind as all of them (at least in previous seasons) have had pretty decent disposal. Melksham getting more involved in our entries for me is key as he put so many balls into great positions in 2018. It appears he's been playing a little deeper lately. For Bennell I would think they are wanting a bit of creativity inside and on the edge of 50, a bit of spark and hopefully a cool head. I'm just looking forward to seeing him and Kozzie play together.

Yeah how is that even possible? Clearly they have been playing better than us. Baffling.

Not having a go but is that sarcastic? I saw Chip twice butcher a 15m kick, and Frost has done his usual dash out of defence to nowhere and hand the ball over.

Sad for him if that's the case, hopefully it's not as serious as they initially think.

Mason Cox, who's been playing the game for only a handful of years, is a better kick of the footy than most of our side....

Jeez that would be gutting if he ended up stranded on 299.

It should be in one of the other AFL heartlands, either Perth or Adelaide. Concerns Perth could be too hot at that time of year but other than that I don't see a reason why not, Adelaide would be my pick as I think the Adelaide Oval is one of the best stadiums I've seen plus it has the advantage of being more central to everyone. The AFL will choose Sydney though because their eyes will light up with dollar signs and see an opportunity to promote the game in the northern states. Perth and Adelaide will quite rightfully feel screwed over.

I admire your positivity but I feel like it's almost a script we are following; good in patches, really good in patches, absolutely deplorable quarter to the point where it kicks us out of the game. I do wonder how much different the commentary would've been had Tomlinson's kick against Geelong floated through, but the simple fact is that it didn't and we are 1-3 and pretty much with our season on the line this week. Something that is really concerning to me, but I'm hoping will have been addressed this week with selection, is our goalless quarters. WC - first quarter, had 4 shots on goal, at least one should have sailed through Carlton - goalless 2nd HALF, Fritta should've nailed the one at the end Geelong - first quarter, scored a point Richmond - 2nd quarter, kicked us out of the game Even Adelaide, who have been deplorable this year, have only had two goalless quarters. They are becoming a regular part to our game and we will not win anything until this stops.

I honestly feel like we are the confidence building team. Teams comes up against us, the players in the middle give them enough of a tough run to make them compete hard but our skills and decision making is so bad that the other team ends up getting the win. They go on with confidence and play better, while we continue our trajectory of going nowhere. You watch Richmond will hit some form now.

Ah I see! With you now, yeah I wasn't jumping for joy with us getting Tomlinson. I thought he was a step up to improve our depth but I also didn't necessarily see him as a walk but best 22 player. I think he's an ok get, but not much more than that.

What exactly is your point? We got him based on a need for a winger with a tank, but he should be expected to perform to a higher standard and has been pretty damn average so far.