poita

Imagine thinking that forward line could kick a decent score. This club is utterly clueless.

I think we should be aiming to do significantly better than what either Sharp or Spargo can provide, and Culley has no exposed form in that role. Tholstrup is another who doesn't do enough. Tackles and pressure acts are important to a point, but they also indicate players who are not winning the ball and who are second to the contest. We have far too many forwards who don't kick goals and don't win enough contests. It means that opponents can focus their attention on the few who can hurt them (Pickett, Petty & Fritsch), and know that they don't need to worry about Spargo standing by himself on the outer HFF. Chandler has generally had a very good year in his new role, but needs to maintain his form across a full season.

No backup ruckman, no midfield replacement for Oliver, yet another forward who doesn't kick goals and we're still carrying injured or unfit players. Goodwin never fails to disappoint with his bone headed selections.

I'd much rather go back to an alignment with Sandringham if St Kilda are pulling out. I don't really care what jumpers they wear, or what the team is called. Clearly the Casey alliance is doing nothing for us in terms of developing players. Who are the players who have spent significant time developing at Casey in the past five years who have come back better for the experience? Maybe McVee.

Tom has been clearly our best performed defender this year, and arguably was last year as well. It is an indictment on our selectors that he wasn't named in our round 1 side. With May fading badly in the past 12 months and Lever just a shadow of his 2021 self, there is every chance Tom will still be in our best 22 at the end of 2026.

We are currently playing a forward group where 3-4 of these almost never kick goals (Spargo, Tholstrup, Fullarton, Sparrow. Add Melksham, Henderson & Johnson from earlier in the year). All the pressure acts and tackles in the world are meaningless if our forwards don't do what they are paid for and kick goals, as scoring more than the opposition is the whole point of the sport last time I checked. No doubt Fritsch has been well off his best form this year, but he is the one player in the team who can be relied upon to kick goals on a reasonably regular basis. Even more so when we generate the fast ball movement and open forward line that plays to his strengths. The 16th highest scoring side in the competition can ill afford not to play proven goalkickers.

For a guy who has been in the AFL system for six years and who has spent 18 months waiting for an opportunity at Melbourne, Fullarton shows an incredible lack of desire and competitiveness. I thought Tom was beaten in the ruck by OMac against Fremantle, which is bad enough, but to get beaten by the much smaller McIntosh against Richmond is damning. Combine that with his lack of presence and contribution in the forward line, and clearly he is not the answer. He certainly can't be an option when we play against sides with two genuine ruckmen and I can't see him being on the list next year.

60K would be a decent crowd this week, 70K absolute max - why would there not be a truckload of GA seating available?

As bad as side as I can remember us selecting under Goodwin. Almost every player is either underdone, lacking form and confidence or completely out of their depth. Combine that with a coach who has completely lost the plot, and what could possibly go wrong? The worst thing that could happen today is another uninspiring 5-6 goal loss with brief glimpses of basic competency that will allow the club to keep on pretending that all is well, so nothing will change.

Truly moronic changes from a desperate and clueless coach. Let's drop our only reliable goalkicker but keep Spargo who couldn't hit the scoreboard if his life depended on it. Again we pick a bloke with no match fitness in Tholstrup, who isn't that good to start with. I assume we'll let May hobble around all afternoon as well. And what's with picking Turner only in even rounds?

Pressure acts should be a non-negotiable for all players, but particularly for small forwards. You don't get extra credit for doing the bare essentials of your job, when you contribute nothing else (goals, assists, tackles, etc). It isn't just Spargo, but he is a forward who hasn't kicked a goal since July 2023 - that's a long time ago.

For those who remember the Late Show in the early 90s, Goodwin's press conference yesterday reminded me of this excellent segment.

I really don't see the point of playing May when he is carrying injuries. He becomes his nervy, fumbly worst self when he has no confidence in his body (see round 3 v GC as example 1), and it affects everyone around him. Get him 100% right, and get games into Adams or Turner if needed. Hopefully Pickett is okay, because he is completely irreplaceable from our current list.

Clearly some people are going to be critical of anything that Brad says in this situation, some will appreciate that he has spoken and some will prefer that nothing is said. As such, he can't win, whatever he does. Without outlining exactly why we are in this position and what we intend to do differently to fix the situation, I find the letter entirely pointless. As such, I think I'd prefer he said nothing and avoid giving the media anything to tear apart. I would like to think that he has been far less "vanilla" behind closed doors.

I'm not sure what his point of difference is that will allow him to be a quality AFL player. He hasn't kicked or assisted on a goal in the past three weeks, so is basically a passenger at this point. He isn't quick, he is shorter than ideal, doesn't apply great tackle pressure, doesn't kick goals, doesn't win his own football. Basically another Spargo, and we already have one more of those than is required.

The biggest problem with Goodwin has always been that he thinks he is the smartest guy in the room. And he has surrounded himself with yes men who have failed to call him out on his more ridiculous decisions around tactics, selections and game plans. The playing group have finally gotten sick of listening to his verbal diarrhoea and are making this clear with their half hearted, bone headed performances. Well done to all involved in getting the club to this dire position just three years after winning a premiership.

Failing to remove Goodwin before Anzac Eve will cost the club hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost match day takings, so why wait? It's basically a mercy killing at this point.

The majority of the players looked at least remotely interested for at least some of the game, so that is clear progress from the past fortnight. However our disposal, decision making, game plan and fitness remain the stuff of nightmares. Other than money I'm not sure why any player or coach would want to stick around here long term. Maybe we just blow everything up and start completely fresh.

Salem, Viney, Spargo, Turner, Melksham, Sharp - what's the point?

Windsor not fit. Langford a beauty. Gawn receiving a bath. Don't touch Cameron or Dangerfield.

Everything about him has been useless for three years. Teams are happy for him to have the ball because they know he won't hurt them.

Has Viney disposed of the ball cleanly once this season? Van Rooyen needs to stop worrying about his opponent and attack the football.

And inside the 50. The end is incredibly nigh for him.

The start to the second quarter has been horrific. Can't make a tackle, can't hit a target, can't defend. We're in big trouble.

What is the point of Sharp and Turner? Both are great at disappearing when the ball is in their area. Oliver's mind is willing, but his body is cactus. He is an absolute liability at centre bounces.