Pates

I kind of got the impression the WC players weren't all that concerned when either one of them got the ball. I think Langdon will be good, his outside run looks like it could be quite valuable. Hibberd on the other hand could be in trouble, his kicking was an absolute liability. Got plenty of it, a few years ago if you said he got 20+ possies you would've said he'd be in Brownlow votes, but yesterday he might as well have been wearing a blue and yellow top it was that damaging to us.

Wow, I think my brain just vomited a bit at that thought. Imagine all clubs being owned by international entities like Fenway Sports Group, or ownership under City Football Group who are 86% owned by Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The more I think about this current climate the more I could picture a new league forming, one based on private ownership in a similar style to how premier league clubs are. I fear for the survival of us, the Saints, North, WB, and Brisbane, also both expansion clubs (who were already a money pit). Should things get particularly dire it will be interesting to see where the AFL's loyalty lies, with expansion clubs who have been around for 5min or foundation clubs that have existed for a century.

To be fair is that also due to an increase in testing? (Not a Donald apologist whatsoever) I think the bigger statistic is always going to be the exponential increase in people dying, that's maybe where the idiots at Bondi might actually start taking notice. EDIT I live in the UK and Boris Johnson's plan has been to say to people the moment you notice any symptoms that are consistent with the virus you self isolate rather than get tested. This means getting a gauge on how many cases the UK actually has is a difficult thing to gather.

Positives (here I go!): Viney was BOG for us easily, in everything all day, he did have a few turn overs but he worked hard to retrieve it after any mistakes made. He has responded well to going VC. Bedford and Pickett, both were in the right spots, tackling and working hard. Pickett in particular shamed his senior teammates in two way running and working to make an option. Maybe that last goal was a glimpse of the future. We got enough of the ball, and clearly plenty of opportunities to get looks on goal. There’s something to work with. Negatives (where to begin) Poor kicking on goal, how many times in the last 12 months have we kicked ourselves out of the contest? It’s frustrating and demoralising. Poor disposals in general, I’m not sure if there was a jumper clash at times but there were points we seemed gladly hand the ball over. The few times we started trying to hit up passes in the forward line a lot of them were simply not good enough. There were some serial offenders that made we want to toss my phone at the TV. Effort was not there for certain players. Maybe it’s the effect the @Skuit believes in with no crowd, but to me it’s pure laziness. Oliver was a serial offender in this regard, he genuinely looked like he was jogging on the spot. There was no effort to double back an lead to create space. Given our pre-season doco was all about fitness I hope Burgess is furious. Game plan, Goodwin was all pumped about winning on all levels and how the will recognise the style. At the moment all I see is chaos and poor execution of skills, if our plan is to kick deep than have our forwards stay deep, if we’re hitting up leads then lower the effing eyes. Around the ground I could see a semblance of what I think they want, but all falls apart with certain offenders get on the end of it. Disappointing but not all that surprising start to the year. GWS look good, 0-2 here we come (eventually).

Give it to Spargo, isn’t going to make him any worse! ?

27 points, can already see Goodwin’s presser. “Had some great opportunities early to put scoreboard pressure on, they capitalised on a 5 minute lapse at the end of the first quarter, we weren’t efficient with out ball use. At the end of the day that last patch in the first quarter was the difference.” He won’t be asking for accountability, he won’t be honest that there are players that are just not doing enough. FWIW Viney, Bedford, and Kozzie made that sh—show worth watching.

Bedford and Pickett, great stuff.

Spargo is a ?

Goodwin should be telling the players this is your last hit out for ten weeks, how do you want do go into this period?

Langdon has actually been decent, his basic accumulation disposals (short kicks, handballs) have mostly been good but it’s the penetrating danger kicks that have let him (and us down). Petracca has flashed in and out, similar to previous seasons. I think he needs to be pushing forward more though. Gawn’s been well beaten by NikNat. Brayshaw extremely disappointing. Needed to nail at least one of his kicks on goal.

Viney only player showing something solid today, Kozzie has given some fun and hope.

F— off Spargo.

HIBBERD!!!! Stop kicking in hope!!!

I’ve been a fan of Hibberd for a long time but what is his kicking efficiency today? Awful, and poor decisions as well. He’s not alone though, I’d like one of the tasks (call it homework) of the players to be to do some simple maths. Like, “what are the odds of player A winning the contest against 2/3 opponents?” Frittas going to have to get a lot better delivery if he’s going to take out Maxy’s Coleman prediction.

Better but still wasteful.

Oliver that was a disgusting effort. I hope Goodwin drags him to the side for that. Again we dominate territory for no reward.

I’m glad Jack kicking that goal because he didn’t turn inboard at all with players available to him. Is that a directive to the players?

Training drill for the eagles.

I remembered watching the Adelaide game and thinking what have they changed in terms of forward set up and tactics, the answer watching that quarter is absolutely nothing. Still long bombing it to outnumbered contests instead of lowering the eyes. Are the forwards leading to space, demanding the ball? (Question not criticism) Seriously we are playing against one of the best defences, don’t drop it on their heads!!!

Jesus we were actually in the contest and probably playing the better. But no reward for effort. Now we are completely f—ed.

Kicking ourselves out of this.

Poor kicking hurting us right now.

Hope it gives us wings on Sunday! ?

Hearing that the pies won’t be singing the song is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. By all means don’t lock arms (even though you’ve been doing it all night anyway with tackling) but for crying out loud every stand around and sing the bloody song. If the Dees win on Sunday and don’t sing the song I’ll be filthy. EDIT they sung it after all ?‍♂️