Macca

Gawn up forward isn't working. He should have a real presence but doesn't. Doesn't get to enough contests and isn't playing in front. It looks like he is cruising On another note twice last night Brayshaw kicked the ball to a player calling for it (just making position is calling for it) and both times the players calling for it gave up on the play The first time Rivers should have shielded the ball from the Cats player coming in from the side but didn't. A soft effort and he didn't want contact The 2nd time the ball was directed at Petty late in the game and Petty did not even make a contest. Completely gave up on the play. Super-soft effort Yet people here want to blame Brayshaw? Astonishing lack of knowledge

Players learn how to play in front and kick straight at junior level. As well as putting their bodies on the line Our forwards are soft and prefer it bruise free ... you left out Fritsch, Gawn & ANB so leaving 3 forwards out of the duscussion is disingenuous

JVR needs another year or 2 but the jury is out on how good he might be. Brown & T-Mac are on their last legs so we need at least 1 more top-line key forward. Maybe 2 if we want to be spoilt for choice (that's better than the opposite outcome) It's not really working for Max up forward either ... not enough marks or goals As for the small forwards, Kozzie is stagnating and Spargo is going backwards. Chandler looks classy at times but doesn't get it enough ANB is ANB in that he is what he is. Can cash in at times. Fritsch is our best forward but needs it dry So not a lot of substance but as a collective, our forward line performs better when it's dry and when our backline & midfield is on top Stand alone? We have a few shortfalls and that includes the forward line coaching

I'm not going to let the players off the hook by simply pointing at the coaches Most of our forwards have enough experience to know what to do without needing to be told how to play their position By the same token, we need so much improvement in the basics of forward line play that Stafford's directives are almost certainly an issue as well I make these comments with a view of September in mind. We're going to be playing finals but how well prepared are we going to be (up forward) when September arrives? I'd be bringing Brown in but if JVR remains as well, one of the 2 will have to play away from deep forward you'd imagine

Very good points ... and we've been handball-happy in the wet too often. You'd reckon we would have learnt by now that territory gained in the wet is ultra-important Dumb football all round and from memory, I reckon we over-did the handballing at catpark last year as well (along with other wet weather games) So our forward line can look good at times (and perform quite well) but I reckon that's on the back of our backline & midfield performing in a stellar fashion Ultimately it's about winning the premiership so can our forward line help deliver another flag?

I agree ... for a bloke who has crazy-good elusive skills, he can't create separation as the ball comes into the forward line He's good enough to lead up and take easy marks but doesn't. Front & centre? I rarely see it. But we've often got 4 of those types and none of them take up the front & square position anywhere near enough times And considering the delivery into our forward line is often directed at packs, front & centre is the place to be. But we are not there. Must be frustrating for the coach As for Smith, Fritsch, JVR & Gawn, none of the 4 fight for the front position anywhere near enough. Basic stuff but we can't execute As a result, the oppisition backmen often take easy marks or spoil the ball towards the boundary line Kicking for goal is problematical as well. Backline terrific, midfield very good (although delivery to the forward line is questionable) but with a dodgy forward line Our mids delivery into the forward line would improve if we had a stack more movement in our forward line Assuming we play finals and if we are to contend, we will need to sort out our forward line structures quick-smart

Not one of our forwards beat their opponent or had any real impact on the game They played from behind all night (that doesn't get tolerated at suburban level) Refused to put their bodies on the line and none of them like body contact We're ok in dry weather but as soon as it gets wet and slippery we hang out the back looking for the cheapie

Our forward line had issues all night culminating in the Cats breaking away in the last quarter Forwards played from behind, our crumbing was non-existent and we kicked poorly at goal And you're saying it worked for 3/4s? No it didn't work otherwise we would have kicked a winning score I don't know what you're are watching but your comments are bizarre and clearly wrong

Ball kicked to Petty and he can't be bothered even competing Soft if you need it lace-out

van Rooyen plays from behind again ... ball rebounds goal to the Cats Haven't adhered to the fundamentals all night

We've got 9 full days off How much rest do the players need? A month?

You don't do the fundamentals, you don't win

Fritsch plays from behind ... gives away a free and a scoring opportunity Does it too often

Pre-match Goodwin talked of a short break!??? They've had 10 days off for crying out loud I don't want to hear that from a coach. It's soft

More contact would have seen a neutral outcome. Rivers [censored] himself

Hibberd's man takes an easy, unopposed mark in the hot spot. Lucky he didn't goal Story of our night

Rivers was soft in the marking contest and the player calling for the ball has an obligation to win the footy Rivers should have used his body to shield the ball You're the same bloke who argued against forwards playing in front?

What about Rivers p/weak effort after calling for the ball?

BS Rivers called for it and then made a weak attempt at marking

Aussies win after seemingly down and out! So many moments that were major factors too (one being the Stokes declaration) The match had many similarities to Edgbaston in 2005 as well. We got one back! Pat Cummins had some sort of match and in the end he won the match for us!

Yeah my rule of thumb is that in order to gain an advantage the team batting second needs a lead of 80 runs to be in front in the match But it's not a hard and fast rule as there are obviously all sorts of variables at play But right now, it's advantage England in my view. If they make 320+, they'll be favoured to win That said, we'll probably need Smith or Marnus to make a big hundred regardless Lyon holds the key ... if he can run through them, we're a chance

As it turned out Khawaja played exceptionally well with help from the late middle-order Match is now evenly poised but we need lots more runs to gain an advantage

We have to cash in on this wicket. But patience is needed as they've picked 3 quicks who can bowl tight. And Moeen & Root won't give much away either We're still chasing close on 400 but may need 500+ to gain an advantage (batting 4th and all that) Edit: now 3-67 with England well on top

Correct and Bairstow chimed in with a decent score as well. The free scoring kept on all day and may well continue tonight All our batsmen will be eyeing off a big score on this track ... I was a little surprised at Stokes' declaration but time will tell

England looked like they were going to rack up a big score in quick time but now they're in trouble ... just goes to show how 1 wicket changes things (specifically the wicket that fell right on lunchtime) Lyon & Hazlewood both bowling very well