Macca

The season isn't over yet

Fingers crossed we get either Brown or T-Mac back but both players need to prove their fitness and then they might be rusty Petty forward with Tomlinson to go back. I like Smith's eagerness and he competes ok. Not sure he is a forward though (that can be a go-to player on September JVR is still just a raw talent who needs more time. That time could come quick though. At the moment he gets caught playing from behind too much and I reckon that's due to his inexperience. The rest of our forwards should know better I don't understand why they don't make multiple leads. Has to be related to how they are coached (but not coaching alone)

Also believe that if we are going to highlight player errors, we here have an obligation to talk about the good play from those said players (ANB, Brayshaw, T-Mac are 3 players where often only their errors are talked about) Errors are related to risks. No risk, no reward. Pies & Port take chances constantly ... sitting 1 & 2 on the ladder But our forwards are not adhering to the fundamentals. Not being visible is a huge issue for midfielders ... if they look up and can't see a Demon jumper leading towards them, what are they supposed to do?

If you are referring to the kicks to Petty & Rivers, both recipients were at fault Besides which, all the players turned the ball over last night so why single out one player? How about we lay the blame everywhere? (Taking into account that it [censored] down all evening and there are going to be turnovers) And I like players taking chances and taking on the corridor If you don't like that go back and watch our boring boundary hugging football in 2012/2013 You don't win not taking risks

In 2021 our forwards were on the move especially during the finals. Therefore the ball was kicked to those forwards Result - Premiership Now our forwards are like statues Back in 2021 Brown led up and nearly always played in front. T-Mac the same and he constantly created separation What have we got now? If you can't see the difference I can't help you

Gawn needs to create seperation and lead up to the ball carrier If he does that the midfielders will kick it to him. Forward line play 101

It's not 2 spearing passes to the opposition every week. Didn't happen last night at all, for instance The Rivers one was Rivers' fault as was the Petty one (Petty's fault) ... as for Smith, how does a player miss from 10 metres out directly in front? That was pathetic and is a far bigger issue Like T-Mac when he played back, those disposals ending up with the opposition instances are exaggerated. Then group-think takes over and before you know it, players are labelled as turnover machines And no, I'm not a Brayshaw super-fan. Just a fair-minded individual So go and watch the game again and point out the 2 x 40 metre spearing passes to the opposition.

I don't like to see the shoosh anytime. Just don't do it should be the instruction Getting your mind on your role should be the message. Over-celebrating makes me cringe Must be a millennium thing

The midfielders delivery is dependant on forwards creating separation and leading up to the ball carrier We don't do that so the midfielders (under pressure) often has no other choice but to kick long to deep forward We need 2 key forwards who can lead the way (JVR needs time and he is not guaranteed to be a success)

I don't like the shoosh. Arrogant and entitled. Needs to go. Now And Brayshaw takes chances which is required. Go down the line Neeld-style and the Cats will simply punch it out of bounds and we lose possession As previously stated, you call for the ball, you get it. Rivers & Petty both gave up when the ball was kicked their way from Brayshaw. And they both called for the ball (by default by simply making position) But it's our forward line that continually lets us down. They don't step up when it gets hard Midfielders delivery can be better but we don't offer multiple leads up forward. We are lazy and need it gilt-edged Our best forward in terms of leading patterns and making position is a midget (Spargo) ... but that doesn't work because he is too small

You're looking in the wrong area when our real issues are up forward and have been for an age Our forwards like it on their own terms and haven't been able to step up when our midfield and/or our defence is not at their best Every loss we have sees the same glaring issue - forward line How can you not see that? Are you watching the game properly?

Ha ha! No just someone who obviously sees the whole game better than you do Try watching without anyone in the gun one time. You might then see what our overall issues are Your Brayshaw bashing is churlish & childish

We are too reliant on our backline & midfield. Forward line collectively is hit and miss

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