Pates

Not time to panic, but time to be ruthless about what’s working and what isn’t. If that means Viney needs a game in the magoos to gain some form and confidence then so be it. If we have to drop a developing kid to fit Brown into the forward line to restructure things then do it. We have time to work out what our finals mix will be but we can’t sit back and expect things to fix themselves.

Well this was a **** weekend.

I only caught the second half but wasn’t impressed by much. We have relied on our defence to win us games by the opposition giving us easy exits out and steamrolling it forward on the slingshot. Opponents have worked this out and are now either lowering their eyes or at least putting it to dangerous spots that make it hard for Lever and May to mark it. On the flip side we had SOOOOOOO many good opportunities to pinch this game but absolutely disgusting and inexcusable misses cost us. I liked Hunts run and endeavour but he needed to learn from his previous mistakes and pull the trigger at the right moment. So many balls into targets that we either outsized or outmatched in numbers. We had good forward connection early in the year, that has seemed to completely fail us now. TMac played a very good game as a CHF/FF but if he’s playing as high up the ground as he was today then we need a proper tall forward for him to hit up. Was this the first game we lost at selection? If BBB plays a solid game this weekend then get him in the team. We don’t have to finish top of the pops, but we have to get top 4 to really give ourselves a shot at the premiership.

Always the way that teams who have been up the top become sooks when things don’t go their way. Umpires never lose teams games, they may be contributing factors but the players and coaches are the ones in charge of the result. Much like us with Adelaide, we got dudded with the non decision at the end but we have 17 point lead with 5min to go. We lost that game not the umpires robbing us. Riewoldt should have a good hard look at himself and cop a hefty fine along the way.

He was gifted a few after earning the spot in the team, the selectors gave him the chance to build form and he failed to take the opportunity given to him. I’m sure Ben will be given the same chance when he gets in the side.

I think BBB has been left out to give him a body of games in the 2’s rather than bring him straight in after one good game. There could also be KPI’s that we aren’t aware of that the selectors want him to hit. Shame about Jonesy, I really hope it’s not serious. I want him to make one final push for selection towards the finals, make it really hard for them not to pick him. On the GWS side I’m surprised the De Boar has be dropped for this one given he had placed a blanket over Oliver before getting injured in the first meeting this year. Green is a big in for them, talk about match winners he almost did it himself against us last time out. For sentimentality I would’ve liked to see Hogan come in as well as I reckon the Dees faithful would’ve given him a cheer, at the same time though we know how dangerous he can be so would’ve been less cheerful if he kicked a bag on us!

Would be very interesting to know what vaccines they received. FWIW I’ve had my second AZ jab, zero side affects the second time for me. I think the media in the way they have reported things (lack of context to compared to other vaccines) has heavily influenced the government’s decision to make AZ for 60+ only.

I think there’s a bit of that in the way they speak about us, particularly channel seven. BT always sounds like the local drunk that keeps wanting to move the goalposts when they say “until you beat xxxx” or “you have to beat a team by xxxx points” or “you have to get player xxxx back to form before you’re really a threat”. I genuinely can’t stand both Hamish and BT with their calling of our games.

I’d agree with that, would be interesting to see if he accepted it. I could picture another club coming in with a 3 year deal on similar/slightly more coin. A bit of certainty would be very attractive to a young man. Stats wise it seems like he was much more involved which is good. I would personally get Ben Brown in but it could well be the club will want a body of two good games from him before earning a recall.

So still haven’t seen the replay but when I do it’ll be very interesting to watch after seeing the match rundown from the fox footy website. Seriously so ridiculously biased towards Essendon, and the commentary again reeks of bias against us. I really hate being one of those fans that “oh everyone is against us” but really the commentary from Seven always sounds depressed when we get on top but excited when we’re losing or the other team is coming back.

I’ve thought this for a while and thrown it up a couple of times. It’s a tricky call because in his last year on his contract it’s basically sending a message that he’s failing as a forward and he’s a magnet that gets thrown around now. But I do think playing him as a defender would teach him a lot, I wish they’d tried it earlier to be honest.

The discussion on Kozzie is a tricky one because there’s no doubt his last 5-6 matches have been largely ineffective but his presence creates danger than I’m not sure we have from anyone else. One option is we bring in Vanders for him, he’s high impact and has a presence as well but doesn’t have the same creative flair as Kozzie. For me he stays but gets told to simplify things, up his tackle/pressure count and team oriented acts. Brown has to come in if match fit. We can’t be experimenting leading into the finals so now is the time.

BB MUST earn his spot next week. If he puts in a solid performance for Casey (2-3 goals, multiple marks, team acts etc) then he comes in. But no one should come in without earning it.

I wouldn’t be worried about Jack not quite having his timing on. When he counts he’s one that usually stands up. I’d say I’ve watched a collective total of 10min of the match so it’ll be interesting to see the replay. The good news is that we’re getting wins while not playing at our best, this shows the system above everything else is working (mostly). But we’d want to start hitting some good form heading towards our run home, it can all fall away pretty quickly if we don’t get a number of wins against fellow contenders. This is more of a comment about our year rather than the match but we still seem to lack that clinical killer instinct that premiers always have. Yet again we were 20 points up with about 10min left in the third and fourth quarters but failed to land a killer blow.

Flicked onto the game just then, is it just me or the commentators genuinely seem disappointed every time we do something good or get a free kick? Luke Darcy in particular.

Richmond’s best is still premiership contention, but their worst this year is very average.

Because Viney has runs on the board of when picked he hits the ground running. Look at the St Kilda game, he kicked to opening goal in 20sec of game time and had a cracker of a first quarter. BB when he’s played has looked slow and lumbering, with Jack you know what you’ll get. A beast! I’m also pleased we’re going down the smaller forward line path, I can picture Harmes and Viney rotating through midfield and half forward.

You mean our s*** percentage of 132??? I totally agree we need to bury some teams (would love nothing more than to start this week) but we hardly have a bad percentage. We’re in a BIT of a precarious position when it comes to top 4 positions, losing to the pies brought us back to the pack a little. We need to consolidate our position this week.

If you could name for GF only multiple subs I’d definitely have him as one but the medical subs can be activated in the final 5min of the last quarter or 20sec into the match. He has to earn the right to be in the position with his form. He has been thereabouts all year being named as sub a couple of times and being in the emergencies a number of times so IF we get into that position he would be a big chance.

Even if we decide not to bring Brown in I think it sets a bad standard for selection picking Sam. I get he’s going through a rough trot with his confidence but how does it permeate through the entire list if they see players get gifted games on the back of absolutely useless performances. He’s had a month to get his mojo, if he isn’t able to get it by now then he should sent to the magoos to find it. Mitch was next in line so if we want to maintain the structure then bring him in. Otherwise I think it’s a chance to have another go at the smaller forward line.

What’s he been playing mainly at VFL? Ruck/forward? Surely we’re covered in that department. If the game is going to be wet, Melksham for Weid could well come into play. He hasn’t done much in the games he’s played but at least he doesn’t waste it when he gets the ball in hand.

Watching from afar the thing I find bizarre is that they have reduced capacity but then jam people into smaller areas. Surely if reduced capacity is to avoid a spreading event the smarter way to go would be to spread fans and have them in separated areas to promote social distancing.

Every Victorian team should be made to do the trip over a period of 3-4 years. It’s a disgrace that the “big teams” have escaped it for decades. Next up to go down the highway: Pies and Hawks.

That’s not nice to hear, I hope the young bloke is ok. A therapist/sports psychologist would definitely be something I hope he’s having provided to him (or he’s seeking out), most of us if we have a bad day at the office nobody but a few people will give a crap. AFL players have a bad day and they’ve got thousands of people calling for them to be dropped or worse, while they have media analysts inspecting every part of their game in open forums. Easy enough to say but he should be staying away from social media.

The more I think about this game the more I think it needs to be a “statement”. I feel like every contender apart from us have shown the competition what happens when it ALL clicks and how devastating they can be. That’s not to say we haven’t had great wins but I’m talking beating a team into submission and after losing to the pies the players should be seething (and I’d be worries if they weren’t). Looking forward to seeing Jack back in the team, he adds an aggression and hunger that few can match.