rjay

Ok, just watched the game. After taking account all the expert commentary from this site last night and today it was rather illuminating. Melksham was ok, will stay. Brayshaw didn't get a lot of it but again did his job, what I like about him is when in the centre bounces he knows how to spread and create space. He's knows how to get a clean clearance from the middle. I was looking for all that dejected, head down stuff that I read and saw none of it. He can do more but sometimes when Trac, Oliver and Viney are getting a lot of it there's not as much to go around. Kozzie, well worth his spot in the team. directly responsible for at least 3 goals...will hit the scoreboard himself soon. a bit unlucky at times but gives us something we don't have. Clever player and good ball user. AVB was pretty average but redeemed himself with some good tackles, he's going to have to do a lot more than that going forward. Needs to hit targets more...and whilst he is a strong tackle, is too easy to run around. Nev & Lockhart struggled but I'm not sure what the options are, Hunt, Rivers, Jordon...I would be grooming Sparrow for the deep role myself as I think his attributes of strength, leg speed and ability in the air would be assets, I don't think he is a natural ball winner so not going to make it as a mid. If Tmac doesn't come up then it's Jackson or Brown. They could even try Brown back and move May forward... Could even bring Thommo in as a back or forward, I would prefer back. I liked that Goody switched things around a bit during the game. Trac had an off day by foot, he's usually a lot better than that. Ollie, some good, some not good...Jack the same. Langdon a bit stiff to get a couple kicked on him, one from a very soft decision but I can see why we got him...the boy knows how to get the ball and is just starting to settle. Seemed to be some lessons learned. So I would think not much change to the team, maybe one defensive change and Tommy out if he doesn't come up.

I actually think this is an over generalisation. There are many who see their actions as not racist who don't actually understand the hurt they cause. Whether that's racist or just plain insensitive it really needs to stop. There are trolls like this one with Bennell who are low life fools... As you can see on here it's pretty unanimous that we don't condone that behaviour. ...and then of course there are the out and out racists that exist in this country. Only a fool would think we don't have these people in our society and that racism doesn't exist.

As for play to play commentary. It was a pity the day Dennis retired, he really did add colour to the game.

I think Viney upsets the mix in the middle. He hits the ball up hard but often competes with his own player. If he learned to hit the ball and give it off rather than trying to do too much, then he would be more value. Oliver as the extractor with Brayshaw or Trac and Harmes works for me. Viney to pinch hit and play mostly forward.

One big issue I have with commentary is that they continually state the obvious, they tell us what we can already see. With the ground size there is so much going on that we don't see and it would be nice if special commentary experts actually told us a bit more...if they did their job. They could even do a little bit of analysis if that's not too hard to ask for. Currently I'm not sure how many recently ex coaches we have doing special comments but I would suggest there are none. A player only has limited expertise and they are often being chosen on their name as a player & personality status rather than their ability to see the game. Saint Nick, Del, Jono, Matty, Duck, Lingy, are all terrible...and Jobe is just shocking. The other night is a prime example...why did Geelong get back in the game. Danger, Gazza, Sel...all good reasons but it must go deeper. What were Brisbane doing wrong, what changed to momentum...if wasn't just the stars digging in. In the 3rd Q the big 'O' did all the ruckwork, where was Stef Martin? I think he was on the bench for the whole Q, I saw him there at one stage but he could have been forward. Did this have any effect on the game Jobe? I don't know. How much game time did he play? who knows. Did they take in an unfit player? The standard of ball to ball commentary is appalling, but let me say the standard of experts commentary is worse because we have no experts in the commentary box....

I reckon NSW is about 2 weeks away from a breakout. Things are just getting a bit shaky up there now. The other states might be lucky but wouldn't want to ease off too early.

Couldn't agree more 'Skuit'... ...and I think he's done his chances at another AFL gig a lot of harm. His judgement seems a bit out.

He hasn't come on as much as we would like but he still had 26 touches, 16 of them contested last week. I know it's only numbers but he's an important cog around the ball. He needs smarter players feeding off him, it's why I prefer Brayshaw and Trac around him rather than Viney who is more likely trying to go for the same contest. Bennell will feed off him if he gets up the ground a bit. Maybe it's also time to swing Salem up the ground a bit.

All good 'Pennant', I would rather see 2 of Clarrie, Brayshaw and Trac with Harmes as tagger where needed and Viney 5th option. I think Viney clogs up the middle with poor decisions. Tries to take too much on but hasn't got the skills, size or decision making to do it. Clarrie, Brayshaw and Trac are more likely to give us the breakaway we need.

...because it takes away our biggest strength.

To my mind this is a dumb move... We tried it a few times last year, probably Jennings idea. It didn't work... Clarrie is not a forward, he's a pure mid. Viney should be the pressure forward if anyone, he doesn't offer enough around the ball. Clarrie out of the midfield gives the oppo one less thing to worry about. I don't mind Harmes in as a tagger but only when there is a suitable job. Clarrie played one on one with Cripps and did him over in the first game, they had to move him forward to get some value. ...by the way, how is Cripps, Danger, Neale, Martin etc. etc. defensive game. Clarrie just needs more time midfield and learn to hurt the oppo more with his possessions, then it won't matter as they will always be watching him. There lies the problem at the moment.

He was having a dig at Richo... Not sure I would place much on this. Jennings has a bit of an axe to grind. I did find parts of the discussion interesting but also take into context the above.

Personally can't stand Cooney but he has played with Brown. Was about to post... Does anyone think Mitch Brown could be an option in defence?

Yep, no point wasting him in the scratch matches and couldn't do any less than Tommy. Let's see what Weid can do with a consistent rum at it...

Looks about right to me 'Pennant' but this would have to be Tommy's final chance. If we get more of the same then he can stay on the beach at Manly and let Jackson and Brown take over in the pecking order. Weid also needs a good run at it to settle, if he had 18 months like Tom he could be a reasonable player now. Pickett is the only one providing real forward pressure so of course has to stay. I would like to see him settle and take his shots better.

Sydney traffic, think Melbourne but worse. Google puts it as a 50 min trip...

At least there was some leadership on the plane...

Should have been a 50 metre penalty for a start after Lynch stopped the ball being relayed back. I think Max was laughing at the umpires explanation, or lack of one. Very poor decision.

Whilst on that, why wasn't it a 50 metre penalty when Lynch obstructed the ball going back to Max? ...and the ump even said it was ok. Maybe Clarko needs to talk about umpires following the rule book this week.

Whilst he is our best player at the moment, he is dropping marks he should take and still adjusting to the Captaincy...trying to do too much.

Pickett - Settle around goals He's raw but gives us a bit, just rushes his shots.

I haven't watched the game yet but will flick through later tonight. Made the decision not to watch them live anymore so I don't have to waste my time...I can fast forward through adds and breaks and get it over with. Also know the result so don't need to waste any nervous energy. I just don't have it in me to watch live any longer. In some ways life would be easier if the club just disappeared all together. Currently it's a slow lingering death with the occasional flicker of hope.

I posted something on this last year...it was frustrating looking at our forward set up. We had a great ruck, midfield combination but set up as though we would lose every contest. The only time we took the game on was the last centre bounce against GC when we had to score to win. Suddenly the forwards spread & gave themselves some space. The ball came quickly from the middle, the defence couldn't set up properly, we scored and won. ...lesson learned? no, we went back to the same old boring set up for the rest of the season and have started this one the same way.

If allowed they use it better into the forward half than us but as Daisy (the only special comments person that makes special comments and doesn't state the obvious) noted early EFC were determined not to give them an easy path out of the back half. Like us they don't have an effective forward line...their back half has been weakened with the loss of Howe and no Sidebottom means more pressure to Pendles. All that adds up to poor ball use going forward. Plus a couple of short steps tonight that Bucks wouldn't have missed.

Couple of interesting things. Stephenson is a bit of a seagull...picks up the scraps real quick if you give him some space but pretty poor in tight. Crisp must have been out on the turps with Sidebottom...must have had the DT's tonight, fumbled everything that came at him.