Demon Dynasty

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I like the ins.

Ringing back aome quality experience which we desperately need.

Baffled that Sharp gets another go.

I only saw the 2nd half of Casey. Mentha looked pretty tasty in patches. Hopefully he can build the tank / form and pressure for that spot over the next month or so?

16 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

I have always loved watching the young brigade the atmosphere having the Demon Army revving up the players and the skittish crowd, we have a boisterous group around us who get right into it particularly when we scent a win.😁

Which bay is that lot in DZ? Do they have their own merch? I reckon there might be a few extras this week.

P.S. Apologies for the neon green so early in the morning. I'm blaming Andy & his new fandangled update (which, mind you, is pretty bloody spiffy eh).

On 23/03/2025 at 20:52, picket fence said:

Straaap urself in, history beckons!

Gold Mr Fence... pure gold

Your new nic... GoldFencer?

13 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Give me this kind of footy analysis everyday of the week.

 

Fabulous thanks Daz.  Great to hear / see some of the fundamentals and tactics with that sort of behind the play vision from Fox.

The Hawks look to be very well drilled here and everything clicking into place.

They'll be a hard team to counter this season.

Great to hear Simpson's insights of the modern game given he has only just departed.

1 hour ago, DeeZee said:

The fact the we can’t lower our eyes and hit a target inside 50 and continually bomb it in as if we have Tony Lockett and Wayne Carey down there is totally on the coach.

Why is there never any movement in our forward line or players leading at the ball?

Its been happening for far too long, and we have wasted the opportunity whilst in the premiership window with once in a lifetime players such as Gawn, Trac, Clarry , May etc..

The fact that we have not had a great ex forward as a forward line coach probably hasn't helped DZ.

I'm still astonished that Simon left this stone unturned from 2022 onwards and did not look for that sort of replacement for Stafford, even after he moved on.

24 minutes ago, Go Ds said:

Umm, doesn't every team/coach have to engage somewhat with the media? Every coach has to do their press conferences, at least after games. Regardless of how reluctant he is each coach has to front up to them. No one wants the equivalent of Chemical Ali as coach feeding the press BS about success while week after week they're playing like Melbourne just did. But I do like to hear what our coach thought of our games, especially when we lose and especially to see if there are hints that things will get better (and i suspect many other fans like this too).

Also every team needs publicity. There can be too much but if there's more engagement with the fans themn probably there's more ticket sales, club memberships and new fans. Anyway are we really 'talking more than other teams? Or is it just that Melbourne supporters mainly focus on ..... Melbourne? There needs to be a balance and while that  slip-up by Goody was silly I'm really not sure a little publicity per week vs hundreds of hours put in weekly by the whole club suggests they have the wrong focus (or they are any worse than other clubs with this.)

The coach no doubt has commitments but they certainly aren't giving away anything substantial or eye opening other than a bit of an injury update at the weekly and post match pressors GD

It's the same old boring stuff which I'm fine with.  But why give the reporters any unnecessary ammo to go on with?

Whether its the Coach or the players.  And we've had player issues before such as May & Lingers where things were said that should not have come out outside the four walls.

In house is a different matter.

I'm not saying we should go into a media lock down.  Just keep a super tight ship and don't give up much inside info / intel at all! 

Even if it's a love fest inside the four walls.  The deep personal stuff should (in the main) remain in house imho.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Literally..

1 minute ago, Heart Beats True said:

Exactly. We just have a great knack of opening ourselves up to criticism more than any other club in the AFL, as demonstrated again by the coach on the weekend. We are our own worst enemy.  

100%...

I've been saying this since 2021.

Stop with the talk.

Just walk the walk and let the footy do the talking.

But it seems almost every other week we are blurting out something that makes us a target and/or telling everyone we are gonna do this or we're working on that.

Shoosh up and just get on with it FCS.

11 hours ago, rpfc said:

This is just pathetic.

We have been an irrelevance if anything most of my 40 years on this planet and you people are here thinking these journos just ‘have it in’ for us.

We are going to get it when we lose against a team no won has lost to since Trumps first administration, we are going to get it when our coach alludes to the things that can’t be alluded to in our society of stiff upper lips, and we are going to headlong back into indifference unless we can halt the slide next week.

Some of may be new here, or too young, or too stupid - there are worse things than being negatively talked about in the media…

3 hours ago, Redleg said:

Congratulations to our footy media, who think a Coach standing up for a player and suggesting all players have background stories or issues in their lives, is a bigger story than players involved in sexual assault, drug use, drugged /drunk unconscious emergency visits by ambulance to hospital, drunk driving, relationship cheating, organised theft on a large scale, salary cap rorting, inconsistent MRO findings, etc, etc, etc.

We all know several of the stories going round the traps, but the footy media spends unbelievable time on a pretty minor story.

OF COURSE most of the more serious stories that are ignored by the Footy media, generally involve the bigger and heavily protected AFL clubs.

It reminds me of the old saying, “ don’t bite the hand that feeds you “.

That last line applies to almost everyone in the AFL system Mr Leg.

Why you rarely hear of any club officials, coaches, players or basically anyone....ever making a stand, protesting, striking or speaking their mind.

All on the gravy train and will pretty much just go along with whatever's dished up.

It's just one big self-run franchised circus that answers to no one with some involved being easier / softer targets than others.

The AFL no doubt have their favoured clubs, presidents and players and no one dare touches them, nor sticks their head up to do so, for fear of having it chopped off.

30 minutes ago, old dee said:

 excellent summery of our forward woes DD.

If the club can solve it in my lifetime i'd be happy as Larry OD

27 minutes ago, Young Angus said:

Still have to adapt to the game as it evolves...are we doing that?

I agree but i don't see this as 100% on Simon.

It is on the club, Simon and the FD as a whole though.  And the players to try and execute of course.

If we still think Simon's the answer then we surely have to look at all options to improve / assist.  And whether he's willing to change things up and adapt and take on board / implement / address areas of concern from an experienced assistant or strategist.

That assistant is presently Richo.

Is there a significant analyst / strategist looking at the oppo and having a say also?

I'd consider the option of replacing Richo with a great ex footballer and thinker of the game at this point to add a new perspective and keep us on the cusp.

And with a view as a potential successor to Simon.

Luke Hodge would be someone i'd consider but i'm sure there's other options out there as well.  And no i'm not saying he is 'the one' or that he's even ready or willing.  Probably not.

The boys may need a fresh voice though.  Someone new who they will respect and take note of.

Hodge would be a great addition. 

Or someone of similar calibre / pedigree anyway.

Either way, I think it's time to break up the two amigos and bring in at least one fresh face / voice and viewpoint.

And if it's a new assistant, that can probably happen in-season.

Just now, Kent said:

I thought that was what we are doing

You should know better than to give the oppo that sorta heads up Kent!

Jury's out on whether Turner will make it as a forward or defender.

Some will say jury is out alltogether but i still think he's a better prospect of making it as either as the guy has a decent leap and vice like hands when he's on.  He can also kick quite accurately.  He does go missing quite a bit but young fellas do that and he is not supposed to be our No.1 forward.

JVR should be up there somewhat and taking the heat off Turner but in his first two games has not fired a shot,  which makes life hard for everyone else.

Fritta has also gone AWOL for quite sometime now which creates another hole for Goody to fill.  Hopefully AJ and / or Melk will come in and perform here to make up for the loss of Fritta.

I'd persist with Turner up forward (for now but a block of games proposition!) and if he doesn't come on well then there's always the other end he could attempt again.

I prefer him to Howes down back IF our forward line wasn't so shizen.

JVR will need to have a break out year during the remainder of this season.

As we sit here now though, he's just too immobile and very poor once the ball hits the deck to be a damaging KF.  2025 is his make or break season imho.  Having said that you have to forgive JVR a tad for the amazing delivery he is on the end of much of the time.  Nice work boys 😆

55 minutes ago, 48 Year Now said:

Kossie is a liability due to his temperament. 
Petracca will never be the same due to mental damage from the disgusting injury he suffered. I don’t blame him. 
Oliver, wont stay if those two go and we are in rebuild. 
 

Maybe all three go at seasons end.
 

 

I would not be surprised if Claz returns to somewhere near his best this season.   That's not to say he won't have a few ups and downs early.

No g'tees but Sunday's output was a great sign that he may be back to somewhere near his best anyway.

Kozzy will be back week after next vs Puddy Cats.  Whether he stays or not we just want to see him hit full throttle and not take his foot off in any match / quarter he plays for rest of the season without further indiscretions.

If he leaves at year's end, and i suspect that's already in train and many of the boys know / suspect it as being so, so be it.

Reckon you might be underestimating Tracc's competitive spirit and professionalism.  Is he under done after not training fully (contact wise) with the main group for most of the pre-season and may not hit his straps in most quarters / matches as a result?  Early days but he was off his 2024 levels by about 27% last week and about 52% on Sunday which does not augur well.

Can he turn that around?  If im Simon looking at those numbers and his two results so far, i'd be pulling him aside and having a chat over a coffee and asking him realistically where he feels he's at.  Can he get back as he stands now or do we cut him a bit of slack for a few weeks, get a mini pre-season into him on the track over the next 4 weeks or so with a view to bringing him back once his KPI's, GPS numbers and track form / fitness warrant?

Of course if he's playing you could and probably should assume the FD are fully across this side and he's right to go.  I'm probably way off the mark there.  No harm in pontificating though.

We also have another problem and have since last season's drama and that's who are our designated extractors?

Our one wood prior to last season was extraction / clearance which was, in the main, left to Viney, Claz and Maxy in that order.

Viney to me looks to be a tad burnt out after last season where he pretty much carried the entire extraction load himself.

Is Clarry back and supporting him again here or just mostly skirting on the outside for the give and go?

For us to get back to our best footy (old Goodwin version crash / bash / chaos style) or even get things going under any new style that Simon & the boys are trying to implement, we're going to have to correct this at some stage.  Maybe it's a Langford but that feels a mile away in terms of seriously competitive / effective.

Who else could we bring in to CBs / stoppages as an extractor right now?  Is there anyone else?  Is Chin and option?  Too small and his pressure needed inside 50 and forward half yes?

For as long as that situation is not resolved and / or Viney / Clazz combined are no longer cutting it up here, we are pretty much gonna get pummelled by oppo that is better at extracting and first use as we witnessed on Sunday.

A younger Viney would and probably did take this on to great effect in the past.  In short bursts now...sure he is probably still 'ok' without being at the peak of his powers a few years back.  But can't expect this from him for as long as we once may have.  He needs back up and that used to be Claz, Maxy  pre 2024.  And in 2021 it was also LJ a little.

At this point, we don't have the speed by foot or experience from some of our rookies to sit on the outside and close down our opponents when they're winning more extractions and first use at CB and around ground stoppages.

1 minute ago, Billy said:

With a new coach comes a new game, something we are in desperate need of

Not worth it if the coach can't motivate and inspire and have the ability change things up a little in game though.

Would need to be someone who brings the game style plus that for mine.

There isn't an abundance of that just waiting in the wings but I'd be seriously considering horse as that option.

11 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Just a curiosity..

How long before the AFL media jackals set their sights on dear Simon ? 

Possibly Essendon and Carlton are providing a screen ... 

We are already in their sights BZ.

Your second line is spot on as to why the heat is low....for now.  In addition we are slowly but surely becoming the irrelevant club that we were prior to 2021.  That will play out in memberships, the fixture days and timelslots, lack of prime time matches etc if we continue on this route for much longer.

Losing eventually results in a loss of previous gains etc.

As they say in the classics, winners are grinners

On 23/03/2025 at 19:45, WheeloRatings said:

Melbourne v North Melbourne (Round 2, 2025)

https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_match_stats.html?ID=20250207

Key Team Stats

Stats highlighted purple were won by Melbourne.

Stat	For	Against	Diff
Disposal Efficiency
Disposal Efficiency	72.6	79.2	-6.5
Kicking Efficiency	67.4	74.6	-7.2
Territory/Attack
Inside 50s	56	53	+3
Shots At Goal	26	29	-3
Shots Per Inside 50	46.4	54.7	-8.3
Marks Inside 50	11	12	-1
Contest
Contested Possessions	120	139	-19
Ground Ball Gets	83	89	-6
Post Clearance Contested Possessions	79	85	-6
Post Clearance Ground Ball Gets	57	57	+0
Centre Clearances	13	15	-2
Stoppage Clearances	17	27	-10
Contested Marks	7	15	-8
Defense
Intercepts	70	65	+5
Intercept Marks	15	17	-2
Tackles	47	49	-2
Tackles Inside 50	11	7	+4
Def One On One Loss %	40.0	16.7	+23.3
Ruck
Hitouts	30	32	-2
Hitouts To Advantage	9	12	-3

Player Ratings

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Match
Clayton Oliver	9.8	3.4	5.4	1.2	19.9
Kade Chandler	4.3	8.4	1.3	5.4	19.5
Christian Salem	5.5	1.8	3.3	4.6	15.3
Jake Bowey	3.9	3.5	2.2	3.0	12.5
Tom Sparrow	1.9	6.0	1.5	2.4	11.7
Tom McDonald	2.3	1.4	6.0	1.7	11.4
Max Gawn	1.4	3.6	5.2	1.0	11.2
Jack Viney	4.5	−0.1	4.7	1.2	10.3
Harrison Petty	2.9	−0.8	7.3	−0.6	8.8
Xavier Lindsay	3.0	1.5	0.8	2.5	7.8
Taj Woewodin	0.0	1.4	3.2	2.8	7.4
Ed Langdon	2.5	2.7	2.0	−0.6	6.6
Jake Lever	0.6	2.1	2.1	0.2	5.1
Blake Howes	0.4	2.5	2.2	0.0	5.0
Jacob van Rooyen	3.6	0.5	1.4	−1.2	4.3
Trent Rivers	0.0	0.4	0.6	3.0	4.0
Daniel Turner	0.0	0.3	3.1	0.6	4.0
Harry Sharp	2.1	−0.8	2.0	0.1	3.4
Jack Henderson	3.3	0.3	−0.2	0.0	3.4
Charlie Spargo	1.7	−0.5	−1.3	2.9	2.8
Christian Petracca	−1.0	1.5	2.4	−0.6	2.3
Bayley Fritsch	1.2	−0.4	1.0	0.3	2.1
Matthew Jefferson	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1

Contested Possessions

	For	Against	Diff
Melbourne's Defensive 50
Hard Ball Get	3	8	-5
Loose Ball Get	11	10	+1
Contested Mark	1	5	-4
Ruck Hard Ball Get	0	1	-1
Gather From Hitout	0	1	-1
Contested Knock On	2	0	+2
Free For	3	4	-1
Total	20	29	-9
Melbourne's Forward 50
Hard Ball Get	5	1	+4
Loose Ball Get	9	15	-6
Contested Mark	2	2	0
Ruck Hard Ball Get	1	1	0
Gather From Hitout	2	1	+1
Contested Knock On	0	1	-1
Free For	6	3	+3
Total	25	24	+1
Post clearance
Hard Ball Get	9	14	-5
Loose Ball Get	48	43	+5
Contested Mark	7	15	-8
Contested Knock On	2	3	-1
Free For	13	10	+3
Total	79	85	-6
Pre clearance
Hard Ball Get	7	7	0
Loose Ball Get	19	25	-6
Ruck Hard Ball Get	3	5	-2
Gather From Hitout	7	12	-5
Contested Knock On	1	1	0
Free For	4	4	0
Total	41	54	-13

• Official data on pre- and post-clearance contested possessions are not available. These have been estimated by Wheelo Ratings and should be indicative.
• Ground ball gets are inclusive of hard ball gets and loose ball gets.
• 'Free For' does not include free kicks to advantage or free kicks while in possession of the ball as these are not counted as contested possessions.

Expected scores

	xScore	Score	xWin %	xMargin	Margin	Swing
Melbourne	82.7	66	6%
North Melbourne	111.1	125	94%	+28.4	+59	+30.6

	Shots	Score	Accuracy	xScore	+/-	xSc. / Shot	Shot Rating
Overall
Melbourne	26	9.12 66	34.6%	82.7	−16.7	3.18	−0.64
North Melbourne	29	19.8 122	65.5%	109.1	+12.9	3.76	+0.45
General Play
Melbourne	10	1.4 10	10.0%	25.0	−15.0	2.50	−1.50
North Melbourne	12	7.4 46	58.3%	38.9	+7.1	3.24	+0.60
Set Position
Melbourne	16	8.8 56	50.0%	57.7	−1.7	3.61	−0.11
North Melbourne	17	12.4 76	70.6%	70.2	+5.8	4.13	+0.34

• xWin %: win probability based on expected scores.
• Swing: difference between expected margin and actual margin.
• xScore: total expected score from all shots taken.
• +/-: total score above or below expected score.
• xSc. / Shot: average expected score per shot. This represents the average shot difficulty.
• Shot Rating: average score above or below expected score per shot at goal.

Notes: Expected scores are calculated by Wheelo Ratings. Each shot at goal is assigned an expected score based on the distance from goal, shot angle, and type of shot (e.g. set shot, general play following contested possession, general play following uncontested possession, ground kick, etc) as a proxy for pressure. The model does not take into account factors like the player, whether the ball was kicked with their preferred or non-preferred foot, and pressure on the player when taking the shot. Rushed behinds are excluded from actual and expected scores.

 

 

Territory (time in zones)

Region	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Match	Season
Half
Forward	58%	51%	67%	41%	54%	53%
Defensive	42%	49%	33%	59%	46%	47%
Region
Forward 50	29%	25%	33%	20%	27%	25%
Attacking Midfield	30%	26%	34%	21%	28%	28%
Defensive Midfield	19%	25%	16%	26%	21%	23%
Defensive 50	23%	25%	17%	33%	25%	25%

Source: Calculated by Wheelo Ratings.

Score Sources

Summary

Score Source	Score	Against	Diff
Kick-in	1.0 6	1.0 6	+0
Centre Bounce	2.2 14	7.1 43	-29
Stoppage (Other)	0.3 3	2.4 16	-13
Turnover	6.7 43	9.6 60	-17

Score Source	For		Against
	Match	Season	Match	Season *
Kick-in	6	3.0	6	6.0
Centre Bounce	14	20.0	43	25.0
Stoppage (Other)	3	11.0	16	18.0
Turnover	43	36.0	60	52.0

* Against season average represents average points conceded by Melbourne across the season, not average points scored by North Melbourne.

Chain start region

Note: region is from the scoring team's perspective.

Score Source	Region	For		Against
		Match	Season	Match	Season *
Centre Bounce	Centre	14	20.0	43	25.0
Kick-in	D50	6	3.0	6	6.0
Stoppage (Other)	D50	0	0.0	6	3.0
Stoppage (Other)	Centre	0	0.0	1	0.5
Stoppage (Other)	Wing	2	10.0	6	9.5
Stoppage (Other)	F50	1	1.0	3	5.0
Turnover	D50	6	3.5	18	12.5
Turnover	Centre	9	4.5	13	10.0
Turnover	Wing	20	20.5	21	21.5
Turnover	F50	8	7.5	8	8.0

Region	For		Against
	Match	Season	Match	Season *
D50	12	6.5	30	21.5
Centre	23	24.5	57	35.5
Wing	22	30.5	27	31.0
F50	9	8.5	11	13.0

Region	For		Against
	Match	Season	Match	Season *
Defensive 50	12	6.5	30	21.5
Defensive midfield	10	8.0	8	10.5
Centre bounce	14	20.0	43	25.0
Attacking midfield	21	27.0	33	31.0
Forward 50	9	8.5	11	13.0

* Against season average represents average points conceded by Melbourne across the season, not average points scored by North Melbourne.

Points from defensive half

For		Against
Match	Season	Match	Season *
22	14.5	38	32.0

* Against season average represents average points conceded by Melbourne across the season, not average points scored by North Melbourne.

Centre Bounce Attendances

	CBAs	CBA %	2025 %	2024 %
Max Gawn	27	87%	89.5%	85.0%
Clayton Oliver	22	71%	71.9%	70.7%
Jack Viney	20	65%	66.7%	69.1%
Christian Petracca	15	48%	63.2%	55.8%
Tom Sparrow	15	48%	42.1%	37.7%
Ed Langdon	14	45%	26.3%	0.7%
Kade Chandler	7	23%	12.3%	0.0%
Jacob van Rooyen	4	13%	7.0%	17.8%
Trent Rivers	0	0%	14.0%	29.9%
Charlie Spargo	0	0%	0.0%	4.2%
Christian Salem	0	0%	0.0%	12.3%
Daniel Turner	0	0%	0.0%	0.3%
Harrison Petty	0	0%	0.0%	7.5%
Aidan Johnson			7.7%
Harvey Langford			7.7%

Ruck Contests and Hitouts

Ruck Contests

	Ruck Contests	RC %	2025 %	2024 %
Max Gawn	68	87%	80.6%	81.1%
Jacob van Rooyen	10	13%	5.6%	17.6%
Daniel Turner	0	0%	0.0%	3.1%
Harrison Petty	0	0%	0.0%	7.9%
Aidan Johnson			24.5%

Hitouts

	Ruck Contests	Hitouts	To Adv.	To Adv. % (2025)	To Adv. % (2024)
Max Gawn	68	27	9	32.9%	27.9%
Jacob van Rooyen	10	3	0	0.0%	24.7%
Daniel Turner	0	0	0		50.4%
Harrison Petty	0	0	0		24.4%
Aidan Johnson				20.0%

Opposition hitouts

	Ruck Contests	Hitouts	To Adv.
Tristan Xerri	68	29	12
Jack Darling	10	3	0

The score source tells the tale.

We did not win on any count from turnovers or territory.

Whatever Simon is attempting it got smashed outta the park against a good (but not great) up-and-coming team yesterday.

The MFC's FD is on fire.

Maybe not burning down yet but it's seriously ablaze and i hope Simon called the fire brigade to attend at today's review to start the long arduous task of putting it out.

Round 2, 2025 Marvel - Kangaroos vs Demons

Haven't seen a team score (against us) at that level ever i think.  So either we were terrible or they were (are?) presently playing like this season's premiers!?  Maybe both!

Even in 2021 we did not crack a Team Score as high as North in this match.  Closest we got was round 20 vs the Suns with a 71.78

Our Team Score 13% off our 2024 average.  And nearly 16% off our team's average in 2021 (67.23)

Clarry back to his previous best statistically!  Only one match however so will have to wait and see if that's sustainable.  Bested everyone on the day!!

Chandler had a day out.  Is that also sustainable or something similar?  One can only hope.  Sparrow off to a flyer but his disposals are pretty hard to watch at times.  Same can be said of so many here as well eg., Viney, Tracc, Rivers, Bowey etc.

Tracc in free fall.

Fritta barely registering a shot.  Simon should seriously consider making some statements here if one or both of AJ and Melk are available.  If both available then should we consider omitting Jeffo & Fritta for AJ & Melk?  Jeffo might be out inj anyway of course.

Demons

< Subbed out TOG %

> Subbed in TOG %

Kangaroos

Combined

Stats courtesy of footwire.com & wheeloratings.com

33 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

This is for him to fix by benching and/or not selecting players.  We may lose a match or two but this is happening right now.  

Spot on.  A full pre-season plus 3 to  6 matches to implement.

Same goes for other aspects of any significant game plan change ups.

Those who can't execute don't get the call up and can play at Casey till whenever.

Simon needs to walk the walk of ruthlessness as he said he would bring to the club at the end of 2020.

Too much talk since 2021 from both players and coach.

39 minutes ago, Flowergirl said:

No-one is saying everything is hunky dory. But people need to take a step back and remember that the players are human, and everyone has off days, off seasons etc. 

Of course they are.  I was  responding to someone who said just that FG

That's also a no win response on your part.  If i named you'd say shame on you for naming said player.  What hard evidence do you have!?? Etc etc.

Sorry but you can't have your cake etc.

23 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Except he DIDN’T lose the players last year. Nor has he lost them now. He likely won’t lose them anytime soon.

This isn’t directed just at you but for anyone calling for Goody to be sacked… if he is sacked, it WON’T be because of how the players feel about him and that’s a fact.

Also, call for his head all you like but be careful what you wish for. If Goody is sacked we may need to prepare for the absence of Clarrie and Kozzie coz make no mistake: he is like a father to them both. For those who will predictably say that’s not what coaching’s all about… you may be right. But what I’m telling you is right or wrong it will happen. 

While i respect that you are somewhat closer to some of the players and their mums (families) than many here GW, along with your view that all's well in the last few seasons, that is not entirely correct.

I know of one premiership player (who shall remain nameless) that decided to move on after not seeing eye to eye with Simon (either in part or mostly as a result of)

Sure, no doubt that happens at clubland from time to time and player / coach part ways.

It also doesn't mean he's lost all of them either.

However, your assumption that 'all's well inside the fall walls' and everyone's 100% on the Simon train may or may not be accurate as we sit here today.

It certainly didn't appear that way yesterday from alot of them.  Many looked like they didn't even want to be out there.

And it's only a gut feel but Kozzy is most likely already going at year's end regardless.  Whether that has anything to do with his relationship with Simon or not, who knows.

18 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Kinda of like not doing anything to fix a dodgy forward line for three years. Yep the cubs shown some significant signs of craziness.

Or the delivery into it.  Hasn't changed one iota and, bar a few kicks from Spargo, was on show again for all to see yesterday against 'ok' opposition.

Probably the biggest fail (forward line up / method of it and method coming into it) in our game style that Simon has not been able to fix across three seasons now and counting.

Most professional coaches in other sports would not survive dishing that up for one season, let alone three plus!

2 hours ago, biggestred said:

we are 2 wins from our last 11 games. if you go back to when we beat geelong and then got pumped by freo its 5 wins from 17 games... thats bottom 4 territory and we very clearly should be better than that. 

however

coaches dont make players miss targets from 20m, or throw an arm out instead of actually tackling. 

Yes but they can drill them and motivate them to never dish up the drosh we saw yesterday.

The way we play, is to a large part on the players but it's also on the coach and FD.

PATHETIC WAP AMATEUR PERFORMANCE from almost everyone concerned yesterday and completely unacceptable from a so called professional club at this level.

That includes 'effort' and 'team work' which, aside from a few individuals, was disgusting and embarrassing to watch.

How many tackles at the 15 minute mark of the third quarter?  2 .... [censored] two!

Sorry but that performance is beyond a joke.  Who played for the jumper?  Not enough!

We have some serious players 'hopefully / supposedly' due back in the next few weeks.

I'd be giving Simon & this list till Rnd 8 - 10 to turn this around in a significant way before putting every option up for discussion, including where the entire list and coaching crew are at and how we can improve in all facets.

No one is sacred in this business and you're only as good as your recent record.  Which is fast becoming abysmal.

10 minutes ago, Macca said:

Well, I beg to differ, more so on how the players went about it

Heads were bowed in the 2nd half and we haven't seen that for an age

Half-hearted chasing along with an abundance of missed tackles.  The players let themselves down today

And yes, if the message isn't getting through then that's a huge issue but today's loss is not all on Goodwin

A new coach would need the rest of the season and the off-season to swing things around anyway.  There'd be no instant results ... footy has changed and to learn a whole new game plan takes time (as we're finding out)

What game plan are they learning though Macca?

We have gone nowhere and not improved for 3 years now.

Instead we are heading south and just got our [censored] handed to us by a bottom four club from the previous season. 

Norf are on the improve no doubt but that was as bad a performance we've seen since 2019 out there today.

And in all that i could not decipher any semblance of us trying to implement something different and special that will see us turn things around and potentially play finals in 2025.

Just more of the same garbage we've seen since about Rnd 11, 2022.

27 minutes ago, bing181 said:

North aren't going to be bottom 4 for long. They're chock full of high draft picks and eventually the cream will rise.

Yes but they still struggle to match / win against reasonable to quality oppo.  We showed that we're a long way from even reasonable today.

We might improve somewhat with the return of some key outs but we aren't gonna trouble many, if any, of the top liners and we certainly ain't finals bound.

Likely we'll be bottom five again or worse.