Maldonboy38

So glad the cricket is on, although most of India's bowling after the 1st session yesterday was as poor as the Swans v Saints kicking tonight. Struggling to focus or care about the footy tonight; it seems a skill-less match with a soul-less feel to the crowd. Even the commentators seems bored. At least it means our game v Blues last week is not the worst game of the year.

Seeing the Bummers win, and hearing THAT song, a very disappointing end to a great game of footy. I might have to watch the goals and highlights of the Dees v Blues game to cleanse myself.

North don't remember how to win, but boy, their young talent is impressive. Could be anything in 3 years. They have about 8 young blokes with less than 20 games who look like long term AFL players. And if they can get Thomas, LDU and Aaron Hall on the park together with this young group, things might be better a whole lot sooner than many thought. And just because it means so much to me - I loathe Essendon. Seeing them lose to North would be so satisfying.

Any game where Gary Rohan Plays well, you know the opposition have not defended well.

Interesting goal feast at Marvel stadium. Apart from Tom Stewart down one end and Liam Jones the other, no-one on the ground seems to know how to defend. Hawkins elbows English in the chin, and gets a weak free kick for being held. So sick of that carp. English is now a very good ruckman, playing a great game. Bontempelli is in a league of his own. His ability to kick under pressure is insane.

Casey all over the Sharks. Gotta love Mitch White - so sure & steady. I know BBB has the huge set shot run up but boy we could use his goal kicking accuracy.

Woewodin looking good but the commentator will not shut up about him. Turner looks a cut above; once he is AFL size he is our next tall defender. From previous games, I like young Jefferson but it will be tough for him to show his wares with so many other Dees listed players in the Casey forward line. One to watch. We are getting soundly beaten at stoppage and ground ball.

Tomlinson stays in - our backline structure looks so much more strong and stable with three taller players. May & Lever having such great games v Blues has a lot to do with Tomlinson taking McKay. I want BBB in, but I liked the athletic option of J Smith. He has never had a good run due to injury and would like to see what he can do. I would also have him running with Moore to make him accountable. Smith's speed and athleticism could really trouble Moore, who hates being made accountable. OUT: Bowie, Harmes IN: Hibberd, Oliver. Collingwood are in rare form, being quick AND skilful. But they are not strong one-on-one. Their inside midfielders take a lot of hits so Sidebottom (injured now) 2 x Daicos, McCreary etc.. can play wide and unaccountable. And our half forwards have to play quick and brutal to stop their half back running.

The more I reflect on the game this morning, some more minor victories emerge. Our effective tackling was back (there were still some horrible missed tackles but we were much better), our full ground defence was strong, our 2 way running was evident, and our stupid handballing was limited. Hopefully these things are in place for KB. But even if we get our F50 entries and basic forward play in better shape, the kicking by Brayshaw, Rivers, Langdon, Salem, Viney etc.. is a real concern. Unpressured turnovers equals opposition shots on goal in today's footy and we gave the Blues far too many freebies.

Horrible to watch, and nowhere near top 4 standard but we won. Second half we began to play our game for the first time in weeks, but our backmen need an award and a pay rise. They were brilliant tonight. Tomlinson had some struggles, but wasn't as bad as many seem to think. Some great signs from our young guns - JVR and McVee. Our midfield can't kick. Even Salem's boot was off tonight. Turnover merchants. I wanted to punch something. The total pelican Roaming Brian would be a great option. Spargo, Kozzie and Chandler - a meek game from all three. And what has happened to Fritsch's kicking? Gawn & JVR in the last quarter - wonderful. I would persist with Joel Smith. Didn't do much but worked hard and was much more mobile than BBB or TMac.

6. Petracca 5. May 4. Lever 3. JVR 2. McVee 1. Gawn. Brayshaw, Hunter, Rivers, Salem, Spargo, Chandler, Viney & Langdon - they all got their share of the ball, but their kicking was so poor I refuse to give them votes. Kicking practice urgently required by the lot of them. Langdon in the last quarter was very good , and Bowey was in epic form before the head knock. Apologies to Sparrow, couldn't quite fit him in .

We cannot kick. It is that simple. Atrocious. So b****y frustrating to watch. I have to remind myself that we are winning.

We have had so many unpressured kicks inside F50 which were horrible. And Brayshaw's was the wort. Fritsch & Kozzie look lame. Spargo is getting it and then... stupidity.

My 3 point half time PowerPoint slide headings: 1. Carlton are rubbish 2. Dees lack class & polish 3. Rubbish game of footy with almost no highlights. I am so very bored watching this.

I really like what I have seen in Verrall. A lot of young ruckman look awkward and uncoordinated, he seems to run and move naturally. He also has a genuine hard go at it. It could take 2 years, but worth the wait I reckon.

6. Brayshaw 5. Sparrow 4. Petracca 3. Grundy 2. Salem 1. Bowey ... and I don't know if people can score negative votes but ANB, Spargo, Chandler, Lever and Rivers were putrid.

Our backs and mids played mostly OK. Our intensity, run and attack on the ball or player looked mostly OK. But our in-close handballing, fumbling, and bog ordinary kicking to inside F50 makes us look like a team placed about 8th, which is where we are heading. I cannot believe how bad our kicking into F50 is, probably best summed up by Trac's out on the full in the 1st quarter. Even our great kicks like Salem, Bowey and Picket looked terrible today. Make no mistake, Freo were not good enough to win that game, but we were error-riddled enough to lose it.

2 half backlines dominating, both teams struggling to find much cohesion between wing and half forward. Not a pretty game to watch. I don't understand the modern interpretation of a push in the back. In 2/3 of contested marking, someone is shoving the person in front forward and it is not paid. Gawn does it a lot, and cops it a lot. Early today in this thread I mentioned handballing, tackling, and F50 efficiency. Tackling = tick. The other 2 are the mess they have been all year.

Love how we are playing, but oh so wasteful.

Our handballing, tackling and F50 crumbing has to be sharper today. These three things have hurt us for most of this season and it would be great to see some improvement for a Saturday arvo game. Freo are very good at ground level so we can't let them mop up easily at our half forward, and surge forward. Our mids have been kicking goals, but our forwards have been in a slump. I reckon Fritsch & Kozzie are due a big one. Dees by 15

A lot of football for no effect. Half back lines are dominating the game. The stats show Carlton kicking at 75% efficiency. Absolute rubbish. Their field kicking is a mess, and the Swans not much better.

So many people question Voss's coaching, but the game plan looks quite good. It is the blues players! They are doing well in the air, at stoppages, around the ground etc... they just can't kick. Their kicking inside forward 50 is so bog ordinary, and the targets they miss when unpressured must totally burn the coaches. If Rowbottam, Warner and others would take first option instead of trying to break every tackle or run through 3 players, the Swans would have a lot more F50 entries. Must be annoying for their forwards. And both Swans & Blues are not good tacklers. So many get broken. Could be a great game, and it is not too bad, but unpressured skill level is ruining it.

This might be a big sweeping statement (considering the available comparisons) but this thread might be the craziest, loosest, wildest, most hyperbolic load of psycho babble I have witnessed on Demonland. Is Clarry irreplaceable? Of course, he is an absolute gun. But that doesn't mean we shoot the players, hang the coaches, burn our scarves and merch, and start watching the NRL instead!! It means change. I would love to see Trac playing 80% forward time while his ankle heals. Run Rivers, Brayshaw, Sparrow and Kozzie through the middle at a higher rate. For those begging for 42-possession Dunstan to get a run - no, no, no, no, no!! His handball turnovers, lack of pace and often average decision making make him a momentum killer at AFL level. If we need to bring in an extra midfielder, Harmes, Jordon, Laurie or Woewodin.

There were some glaring issues from the Port game, but we lost by 4 points. No way will there be huge changes. Hunter suspended, Bowey & Oliver possibly injured, forward line still not fully functional, midfield lacking intensity & polish. OUT: Hunter, Bowey, IN: Sparrow, BBB If Oliver can't play, Rivers into the midfield, Jordon to HB (or Woewodin from Casey game).

Turner is ripe, but not big enough for the role he will fill at AFL level. Imagine him being caught out with Fyfe next week, or Curnow or Mackay the following week. One of BBB or J Smith would be good to see. Not Schache - VFL standard is his standard.