The heart beats true

Oh I was talking about JK at The Eagles, but everything I said applies to JK at the Swannies. I think he was hoping to go on somewhere else next year, but this new injury might be the end of him sadly.

Gees Josh Kennedy has been a fantastic player. He just seems like a quality guy. Doesn’t think he’s saving the world, just wants to play footy. He should be so proud of his career.

Did you all know Lincoln McCarthy couldn’t get on the park at Geelong, but virtually hasn’t missed a game with Brisbane? I know. I’ve never heard that EVERY [censored] WEEK ON CHANNEL 7.

Ok, I’m not losing my mind then.

I don’t understand how the bump works. Cripps chose to bump someone in the air, knocks him out, and everyone says it’s not an issue? If you chose to bump aren’t you responsible for what happens?

If Ed had picked his words better it would have been a free kick. It’s a source of entertainment. I could have told you that was going to happen. Keep our mouth shut, don’t be the story, do your job. It’s boring, but it’s what makes it easier for the umpires to do their job. They literally changed the rules because people hate Ginnivan. Don’t be hateable.

I feel like Brisbane are the anti-Demons. They feel like they could explode, go bang and kick 25 goals, but they also feel like they don’t have any team defensive structure.

I try and be very glass half full about our supporters. I love the people who turn up to games. They’ve seen a lot of pain so they deserve to see a good side. I’m a touch heartbroken for us that we didn’t get to see any of last year live. Where my frustration lies is squarely aimed at people with Reserved Seats. That area of the members was quite empty on Friday night. I think a lot of people got them with GF guarantees and just thought they’d stroll in come September.

Let’s be honest, go watch a game of footy at your local park. They are elite kicks. Our issue is often our set shot accuracy is poor because of the position we kick from. Collingwood had far too much ball straight and deep - so a lot of kickable shots.

I assumed you spent 24 hours in the lock up, and just got your phone back.

Really this was just my way of checking in on you to make sure you’re ok after Friday night 👍

Regardless of whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the next 6 weeks one thing is irrefutable… It all rests on the cheer squad getting off their [censored] and making an effort. Such a disappointment. Booooooooooo!

You’re right about last year. I forgot that weird debacle in the west. 👍 I also think how I feel is based on what you saw too. There does appear to be a disconnect between the plan and the fitness to execute it. I feel like we possibly thought we were more advanced than we are. Regardless, stop with these rational posts. I’m still in the anger phase. It’s going to be at least Tuesday until I can cope with logic and reason.

It’s a tough one because we can only evaluate the program based on what we’ve seen on the park - and if that’s the case we haven’t got it right. We had nothing left to give last night. Half way through the last our only option was centre clearances to score. We couldn’t get it done with run and overlap. We didn’t have the legs. That tells me we haven’t got it right. We aren’t building confidence the way we are playing after half time. We would never feel like we’ve done enough work. That’s the fault of the fitness department.

I’d say this is a go for next weekend. We have to try something. Melksham isn’t dynamic enough to play the role in the air. He gave it his all Jake, but it’s a big ask expecting him to play on tall defenders with the way we deliver the ball in.

I don’t get people writing this off as ‘they kicked straight and we didn’t, won’t happen again’. Cast your mind back 2 weeks ago against the Dogs. It was a carbon copy game. We get out to a 4 goal lead, they dominate us after half time and kick straight. It did happen again, 2 weeks later. I see 2 clear issues. Fitness, which I’ve spoken about a bit, it’s not working and we got it wrong. We aren’t at the level required to execute consistently. The other issue is on turnover teams are getting the ball deep and straight against us. Those are much easier goals to kick - hence the accuracy of our opponents. That’s a big structural issue.

So does this mean that per supporter we are good at converting them to members? Where did you find this out? I’m just interested in learning more 👍

The reserved seat area was very empty compared to the rest of the ground. I think a lot of wealthy Melbourne people brought them for the finals. The club gets the money, but the team gets nothing. I’m also very tempted to tell the club that we got them to over 60,000 members - so can they do the right thing by us and not sell home games to NT, and put their foot down about playing in Geelong. Start acting like the big boys.

That was a rubbish loss. I’m a long way from convinced about us now, and I was such a believer going in. I don’t mind being beaten, it’s being beaten the same way that kills me. Last half fade outs when the game should be wrapped up. Our fitness department haven’t got it right at all this year. We have nothing to give late in games. Not once have we risen to a challenge in the second half of a game.

Nailed it. Not enough long term emphasis on building a forward line, coupled with a system that values consistency over dynamic variability. JJ will ALWAYS go long down the line. It’s too predictable, and now it’s too easy to coach against.

I’ve been saying the same thing about Collingwood all year, but after the first 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter, where we did all the attacking and couldn’t score, they completely out played us. Last night reminded me of 2017-18. We had so many games in that era where we won every stat except the score line. We simply have to turn Jackson’s trade into a ready made contested marking forward. We aren’t getting any return for effort forward of the ball and it’s demoralising and exhausting for the players.

One of the things that frustrates me is our list management hasn’t favoured forwards. We’ve spent big coin on a backline, spent 10 years developing a midfield, but our forward line has always felt like an afterthought. We’ve been lucky Fritsch came on, because without him we don’t have a competitive forward line. I’m so confused about Ben Brown. He’s playing a game style that has never been his strength. We move the ball into our forward line in order to have the best field position to defend. That’s a good strategy if we can keep opposition to a low score. 2 of the last 3 games we’ve got into shoot outs. That tells me our game style is being exposed, and we are being out coached. Our games are the opposite of last year now. After half time we get figured out, teams adjust and take us on through the middle with pace.

You started a thread 33 minutes ago called ‘Demons won't win the flag in 2022.’

The problem I have with that loss was it was 3.4 to 7.4 after half time. That’s eerily similar to the games we lost during our supposed ‘peak’ loading. The last quarter we never really looked to have the legs when the ball was in play. Our 2 goals came from centre clearances. It’s not going to plan. That much is now clear.

The commentary at the ground was pretty ordinary too. Holding the ball is the most misunderstood rule in any sport.