rjay

Enjoy!

I haven't seen anyone talk of impenetrable game plans & I don't know who "you lot" are but apart from that thanks for taking the time to express your thoughts. I think that's correct & probably the right way to go about it. He needs to maximise what he has. I wouldn't sell the farm either... I think when we had Petty forward we did adjust the way we played & started hitting up leads...we were prepared to give up a few goals the other way. Adding some class forward of centre has got to be a priority & looks like it is with the McAdam move coming early in the trade cycle. Scott Lucas believes better forwards create better disposal from further up the ground. They read the play better & connect better. I think he is right & if we fix this we go a long way to improving a lot of our game. It doesn't mean I don't think we could do with better ball users up the ground & even use our current players in more damaging areas like you suggest with Salem. Not so sure on this point...I think this is probably more true of last season. if we look at the 2 finals, Brayshaw doesn't get taken out early in the first I reckon we win and are in a GF this weekend...but unfortunately we will never know. ...both these players might be gone by our picks but I guess we wait & see if we can trade up. Not sure how we can get both though. Sanders might be available & on highlights looks a good decision maker & ball user. I agree with most of this...but I think you've also answered some of why Goody hasn't released the shackles. He's trying to maximise what he has & for a lot of the season didn't have a fit Fritsch, Tommy & BBB were shot, the Grundy experiment had failed and the only KPF we had was a kid (in JVR's own words, he's not a lead up forward). I think we will kick more to advantage when we have the right players to take advantage... So, we're in a good & unique position to go to trade & draft. We should address some of the issues and see a bit more freedom going forward. Don't think for a minute that I'm not disappointed with where we finished. My rationalisation is just different. I think luck played a big part in the end. Even that Carlton touched goal...a wrong decision which would have seen us finish in 2nd place. Injuries to Petty & Melk, Brayshaw getting taken out, Fritsch not at 100%, Maxie and his big toe etc. Also don't think I can't see the holes in the list (I'm sure Goody & the FD can see them) but when you're in the top part of the table it can be hard to address them unless you find a gun player ready to move like Geelong have with Danger & Cameron. This trade/draft period is going to be fascinating for us but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy our AFLW team.

It's pretty simple 'Jimmy' even for you. 2 posters have different views. What point are you trying to make. You have just given 2 diametrically opposed views in this post alone. You alone not 2 different posters. What is it...do we need more talent as you've been banging on about or as you've stated here should the talent we have be able to use the ball better. I would think it is a mix of a few things...one with better forward talent our connection will improve and two, it's always good to have more talented players with good kicking and decision making skills, particularly if they can get the ball to use them. A good penetrating kick on the wing would never go astray as long as they cover the ground forward and back as is our game style mens and women's...

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It's exactly what I'm alluding to '58'... When we had a bit more class up forward our plan changed. Injury/availability played a big part in what we could and couldn't do.

They did when we had that configuration... We rarely had it unfortunately.

I'm not sold on Howes yet.. ..but I am on Salem, he's a terrific player. Just needs to get fit and healthy.

Patchwork is correct. If you set the ball up in better positions you also set the ball up for the opposition to rebound and score against you if it doesn't come off. I think we were playing to the personnel available.

Salem's form was another concern late in the season. He has a health issue that's obviously difficult to get on top of. If he can get back to form next season it will be a big help as he is one of our better ball users.

Do you really believe they are the worst 3 kicks in the game? Forget the stats, stats have certain inputs but they never tell the full story.

Stats can often make you look like a fool 'Jimmy'... Just out of interest, how many games have you coached?

Yep, but sometimes it's just not that easy when the ball is allowed to be played in such a small space. I thought the umpiring was really poor.

The interesting thing with Black & White is the flair has gone from their game. The risk takers are now ultra defensive and scared to take on the corridor. 8.10 & 9.6 in their last 2 games...and very lucky to get a result in both. GWS were ripped off by the umpiring on Friday night, it was sad to watch as the free flowing C/wood forced pile on after pile on aided by umpires afraid to make a decision.

Ah young 'Jimmy', your profiling is way off the mark. I believe the problem is a little more nuanced than what you say. The finishing, kicking on goal...yes, we miss some easy shots & our focus is drawn to this because of the scoreboard. Our opponents also miss easy shots, look at Elliot for instance in the game against C/wood. Our lopsided scoreboard is a function of the game plan which in turn means where we are taking shots from (poor positions) & the congestion in our forward half (taking unrealistic shots & shots under pressure). Injury has been a big factor in how we've had to play, adjustment has been made through the season and as soon as we think we have found an answer. particularly forward then injury thwarts it. I think our biggest issue is a lack of quality forwards, it's why we play the way we play. To think that Clarry, Trac & Gus only know how to bomb the ball forward is just dumb thinking, it's done under instruction. You can argue that the instruction is wrong but I would put to you when we had a fit target (Petty) in the forward half we didn't bomb the ball nearly as much. We opened our game out a bit more because we could score but it also cost us going the other way. When we didn't have this option we couldn't afford to open the game up as we would have been scored against more heavily but without the ability to hit the scoreboard ourselves. Could we do with quality decision makers, yes every club can do with that but I think it's quality forwards that we lack and the flow on from that is how we play the game. I've thought all season we didn't have the list to win it, our pop gun attack just didn't stack up but for all that we should have finished top 2 bar the Carlton cheating & AFL incompetence. Then we were so close in both finals. A fit Petty and maybe we could have stolen it this year. Fix the forward half, adjust the game plan revitalise the list this draft/trade period and we're off and running again. So no, I've never believed the hype of this list being great. We're a good team, with some great players. Not a great team...

What a croc of s...

Funny thing was, the last 5 - 10 minutes of the game was stacks on the mill, 1 ball up after another. The lack of free kicks allowed Collingwood to block up the game and made it impossible to score. What fast flowing game was Kane watching.

I never vote...I'm a bad vote giver. Even when I was coaching I could never give votes. Sorry! ...but all the above were worth votes. Keep up the good work.

I don't even think it was the work experience kids. It must have been the work experience kids little brothers and sisters playing with the gear.

Harf made the comment about Campbell...she's already a player but with a few seasons under her belt will be a beauty. edit: Bodey was quiet tonight...Goldy or a mix? the camera work was so bad it was hard to work out.

Yep, was impressive. The Mackins are going to be a great double act. Hanks now being recognised as one of the guns in the comp...the media have finally caught on.

...and she's been great this season so far.

If we had a static list I would agree with him. There is only one or two years left in this list, we may even have passed that threshold now. That's why this draft/trade period is crucial to us and has the capacity to keep us up for longer. Luckily we have a good hand this year. Over to list management, and hope they get it right.

Let's hope Adams becomes next years McVee...

I love Dazzles passion and insight, don't always agree but that's life.

Thanks 'joeboy' for another great season.... The first & sometimes only post I go to after every game.