Macca

Good post, fr_ap and well explained The way I see it is the strategy either needs some tweaking or we need to get back to the overall plan being adhered to, properly i.e. players not just taking the fail-safe option of bombing it to the FP plus the biggie, forward line defensive pressure (at high octane levels) So we either get back to doing things as we once did with the existing crew up forward, change the make up of the crew or tweak the strategy. Or do whatever it takes to maximise our forward 50 entries

I never came back at him harshly, there was no point He meant well

Back then dl was convinced that the Northern Stand 'people' were the sole reason as to why we never won games ... it was all their fault And the hub of course ... if we, as a group, had a place to visit after the games to have a coffee, we'd have also won more games None of it ever made any sense However, he is missed as he was part of what we are - a motley crew

Deeluded's rants about the Northern Stand & the would-be hub in Elwood were priceless Every day for close on 10 years. Multiple posts per day as well on both non-talking points. Stickability skills to the fore And how about Rhino & Bub? ... the use of the like-type function only for those 2 now

In my post I made mention that we have any number of players who can use the ball like Spargo. So more so a Spargo-like kick into the 50 from the other 10 or so midfield-types rather than recruiting more Spargo types Although, you've always got to be needing to get better so recruiting better users of the ball is always on the agenda But a strike rate of 1 in 2 (the forward marking the pass) also means that 1 in 2 either miss the target, the target misses the mark or is spoiled or Spargo has kicked to a pack (or the forward picket) ... Or the kick is intercepted But a shot at goal from a marked pass every 2nd time from all our forward forays is a terrific strike rate if it happened all the time ... it also must be remembered that we are still a chance to score even if the mark doesn't eventuate. We might gain a free kick or crumb the spoil ... or if a stoppage eventuates, we can win the stoppage I can understand the forward pocket thinking but it's not working well in a general sense

Yep it's safety first a lot of the times, mo So deep to the pockets also worked last year and for a fair bit of this year Not so much in the last 10 weeks as the other teams are counter-acting Even against North we wasted a number of inside 50 entries. 74 inside 50's for 30 scoring shots and 14 goals (against a team who are below average defensive-wise) We should have cut them to ribbons that day but didn't In a lot of ways we are a systems based team but we need to tweak the system

Interesting how Spargo is the outlier here Incapable of bombing it long to the left forward pocket? Yep! Tick! We need more Spargo types (little fellas that can't kick over a jam tin!) I'm not being entirely serious but Spargo should be stationed 65m - 75m out from goal (in the corridor) used as a link up player to the forwards (when the ball is in general play) Play to your strengths A strike rate of nearly 1 in 2 means we get a shot at goal every 2nd time Spargo kicks the ball into the forward 50. That's handy 2 or 3 more Spargo types* and we're cookin' with gas *We have any number of players who can use the ball like Spargo with regards to forward forays but they are obviously coached to kick long to the forward pocket ... so it's more of a coaching issue

Kookaburras just way too strong for India at 3/4 time ... leading 6-0 with Anderson & Ephraums both scoring a brace Our full pace passing and hard running game has been fantastic to watch

@MadAsHell The Kookaburras vs India Gold medal match is on at 9.30pm I believe Should be a cracker of a match ... old rivals and real traditional hockey teams Australia picked up the Silver at the Tokyo Olympic games whilst India picked up the Bronze ... so it's a World class match-up

Yep, that would work nicely, mauriesy Assuming the suspension stands we just got a great break going our way Cripps not playing is a huge out for them and one less top player that we have to worry about. He has match winning qualities and is arguably their best player

It has to be remembered that in 5 of the 6 losses we have played some very good football within those games ... and led those 5 matches in the 25 point margin area Even against Geelong we were within striking distance 10-15 minutes into the last quarter So it's not like we've been swamped early and are then trying to play catch-up And we've won 14 games We're are still in the race but as previously mentioned, we almost certainly need to win all our remaining games to win it all But our inside 50 forays need to be of a higher quality ... we need another tall marking option 3 talls works better than 2 and it keeps the opposition honest. Bombing it to the forward pocket might have been an ok strategy when it was working but now we are just telegraphing our intentions and the other teams have figured out how to defend that strategy

Well the strategy has been 1 KPF (Brown), 1 Resting Ruck (Gawn), 2 x Mediums (Fritsch & Melksham) and 3 rotating smalls (ANB, Spargo & Kossie) ... and then we often bomb it long into the Forward Pocket (often from the corridor) Add a KPF (Van Rooyan) and take out one of the smalls (or Melksham) and we'd see a better balance From the corridor the midfielder can pick out 1 of the 3 tall targets (who should all be making position - not in the same area of the forward line) And then hit the targets with the smalls ready to pounce on the crumbs It's not rocket science Mono. Just a basic forward line strategy

We wouldn't be getting him for his tackling skills but lets not forget that he looked good in the midfield under Roos (at times) As for the rest of it, fair enough. We can agree to disagree Right now, I don't believe that the club would be looking at him strongly (might be 2 vs 5 with regards to the people that would make the decision) ... but that can change if one of the 5 others is swayed across But that's just a guess, none of us know any of opinions of the MC. Not sure we'd rule a line through Jesse because the cost could easily be salary only ($400k per annum for 2 years) as he is a free agent and GWS would have to match it. So no draft picks given up to secure the player And GWS need to dump salary by the looks of it. He'll end up somewhere and he may well be re-contracted at GWS

Not a KPF? Seriously, AF? He's a big boy, he gets to the right spots, puts his body on the line, can take a good grab and has a real presence up forward. And kicks goals from the hot spot (and his kicking for goal has improved) On top of that he doesn't take the soft easy option of leading to the boundary line (key forwards who do that are avoiding contact) That's your very definition of a KPF

Yes, but the football gods can punish like no other. Especially at Collingwood with their close on 30 GF losses Their supporters are continually thrown huge doses of hope only for it to end in tears McRae has done very well so far but if he doesn't win big, they'll go at him. Even this year Have you ever met a reasonably minded Pie supporter, layz?

McRae coaches to his players strengths and it's quality over quantity. And he is a good communicator by the looks of it By contrast we are heavily into quantity. A lot of contested possessions, lots of handballing, lots of forward 50 entries etc etc ... and that served us well last year because we won the flag But we were extremely efficient in the PF & GF so there's that. We also scored 10 goals in the first half on Friday night so we're getting a lot right as well But it's the fade-outs and the giving up of leads that are the concern

I reckon the most logical answer is that 2nd tier players are called 2nd tier players for a reason Some can play a role quite well, others have one standout game in 4 or 5 with the rest of the games being a mixed bag and some only have 1 or 2 decent year's in them and that's it So a good club churns the 2nd tier players over or has an eye to keep bringing in good players either established elsewhere or through the draft (to replace the 2nd tier players) And the best time to revitalise the list is when a team is in the premiership window ... certain 2nd tier players might be traded elsewhere in order to ultimately improve the list If you sit still, you're going backwards. The complication is that a premiership brings togetherness and a bond between and within the players and the supporters So it's a tricky exercise moving players on

That's the key, Clint Most of the 2nd tier players are down on their best. In all cases, their best isn't great so to drop from reasonably good to average, fair or below par is definitely an issue Especially when we count up all the 2nd tier players. An easier way to analyse is to list all our best players ... that adds up to 12-14 players. Probably 15 if we count T-Mac It could be that a lot of our 2nd tier players all had one of their best seasons all in the same year (last year) That can happen As for our best players, we had about 9 of them last year that were in All- Australian contention but this year that number might be 3 - 5 (Oliver, Gawn, Petracca and maybe Brayshaw & Viney) May, Lever, Langdon & Salem are not in contention like they were last year. Injuries are a factor with a few of our best players too

I reckon we are good enough to have forward entries like the Pies have Our midfielders need to practice more of those 15m - 35m passes (lowering the eyes as an add-on) along with having a couple of better players in our forward line (players who can create separation and present) I'd be using Petracca forward and I'd bring in Van Rooyen. Out go ANB & Spargo whilst Brown, Fritsch, Kossie & Gawn remain. Bowey can be the spare small forward ... his skills can be used anywhere We've got too many small forwards who don't do enough and our midfielders need to be coached up to kick the ball into the forward line with greater purpose and efficiency We can always learn from a loss and the Pies have shown us how to work the ball into the forward line to great effect Nothing they did was a fluke. You make your own luck

Erik ten Hag is having a torrid intro as the new manager of Man Utd Down 2 nil at home to Brighton! (half time)

One of the best kicks in the team struggles to get a regular game - Melksham. Weideman is another who kicks the ball well but again, can't get the ball enough We've got a number of players who's kicking to position could be described as adequate only. Ok and alright(ish), but not dynamic At their best, Salem, May & Brown can be very good. Pickett & Fritsch can be good also If we improved our general field kicking then a flow-on effect could be that we'd better in front of goal. Also, we'd be less inclined to turn the ball over once we enter the forward 50 It's been an issue for a long time now. And yet we have days when our kicking for goal is excellent As has been mentioned, the Pies showed us up in terms of how their shots for goal were often from the hot spot area (up to 35 metres out without much of an angle ... or straight in front) If we persist with the left forward pocket as the avenue of attack, it stands to reason that we can end up in difficult positions to score from. Other times, our midfielders get pushed wide with their forward 50 entries Using the corridor more requires precision kicking to position and of late, we've been shying way from using the corridor as frequently. Having great vision can often go hand in hand with regards to hitting targets along with good kicking techniques So it's a confidence issue as well

@MadAsHell I reckon we've got those Englanders covered! They did get within 3 golds a couple of days ago but we've kicked clear again Currently 60-51 but we've got a number of gold medal chances tonight & tomorrow Hockey x 2, Cricket t20 Women's, Netball, Beach Volleyball and maybe 1 or 2 more in the teams And then the individual gold medals up for grabs .. Track & Field, Boxing, Cycling etc

I agree, layz Lose any or both of the last 2 H & A games and we'd almost certainly need to win 4 finals from the Elimination final onwards (that's a big ask) Lose any final and we're out immediately or, if in the case of losing a QF, we'd then need to win 3 finals after that loss (again, a big ask) We need to start winning and keep winning with no slip-ups In an ideal world, we win our last 2 H & A games, win the QF (against whoever), have a fortnight off and then win the PF And then win the GF As you said, we need to win out

Just noticed that, DZ. I'd already formed a view that he might be on the radar for a few clubs. Not a big money contract as that ship has sailed Playing as a KPF is not for everyone. And they aren't in abundance ... Hogan as a no.2 key forward, yes (for a number of teams who have a scarcity of key forwards) He had a great game ... that'll see fit for a new contract (somewhere) And he is out of contract. A restricted free agent I believe. He's free to a new home if teams want to bypass a trade If he'd lost his way, we wouldn't be seeing these types of performances ... 17 disposals, 4 goals 2 behinds, a dozen marks and he led the AF points (whatever that is) Probably the difference between the 2 sides ... GWS won by 27 points

I normally won't single out an individual player like that but the comparison is very real We have a number of players who are barely hanging on as non-negotiable starters ANB, Spargo, Melksham, Hunt, Sparrow, Hibberd & Rivers are all in the same boat. All playing below their best. On top of that players such as Bowey & Harmes can't get a game after previously being starters Brown's knee is a concern and even Petty looked a bit wobbly on Friday night. And a lot of our best players can play better The good news is that we've seen their best but we need to see that best, pronto It's my belief that we have to win our next 5 encounters and if we do that, the flag is ours. Right now, that's a decent ask. Some would say a big ask, Boots