Lucifers Hero

Had our coaching panel not experimented with a short forward line we probably would have beaten Geelong (lost by 3 pts) and a lot closer to Richmond so have a better overall %. In both games our DE i50 was 32.6%. tbh I was surprised we experimented in a key part of the ground (fwd) and yet to get wins in the bank. Those experiments may cost us finals.

Ironic that Hardwick is blaming the swans for their own low score and 'farcical footy'. Claims Swans had a spare in defence all game and they couldn't score. Well their scores this side of the covid break have been: 36, 39, 67, 79, 34. Not exactly flash. Maybe the problem is closer to home. He had the option to man up the spare defender but chose not to. Coaching?? I think Hardwick's lack of coaching prowess is returning and they miss Rutton and Caracella who were the cornerstones of changing their 2016 fiasco to their 2017 flag. It is no coincidence that they are both at Essendon who seem to be on a roll. They are an aging team without the talent coming through. Methinks we may have seen the end of the Richmond Era. Quite happy if that comes to pass.

Yes, he had a very interrupted preseason with soft tissue problems which have continued into the season despite the long covid break. In total its been nearly a year to get his body right for AFL level football. Just can't see his body holding up for another year. I really hope he gets to play his last (farewell?) games in the seniors. Hopefully, he knows when it is time to hang up the boots and makes the call himself rather than the club having to make the call.

He needs 13 games. 12 Games left. Unless we make finals and he plays every game then he can't get there. He has missed 2 of the 6 games/scratch matches. Played 1 senior game so far. Little continuity or match fitness. Doubt there is a regular role now that Hannan and Avb are back, Bennell is in and Rivers and Lockhart seem to be the preferred small backmen. I just hope he doesn't see out the season running around a paddock in mock teams playing scratch matches. That would be tragic. If/when we get to the stage where we can't play finals he should be played to give him the dignity and respect he deserves to see out his career in the seniors.

Thanks. I couldn't find a kicking efficiency stat. Yes, he probably would acknowledge that he butchered some chances. But no-one has a perfect game. What I liked was he didn't beat himself up over mistakes and just kept going, contest after contest. He was one of our best which a lot of posters last night failed to acknowledge. Like you I wouldn't be surprised if he gets votes from coaches and or umpires.

Still a spine-tingle, emotional moment. Happy tears. As much as I hate Geelong their supporters (well those in the Southern Stand that night) were pretty decent, congratulatory and wanted us to destroy the Hawks the following week. We duly obliged. Oh to experience winning finals again!

Just going on the DL comments that he isn't at the hub.

If so, why would Bartlett do his own thing, as his comment suggests?

Well done Bartlett to get on the front foot so quickly to support Harley. He also said: “I am already in discussions and intend to follow up key Federal and Victorian Government Ministers to explore what can be done to strengthen laws to make people accountable and stamp out this abhorrent behaviour". Shocked that the AFL hasn't already done this on behalf of all clubs and really all sports.

Lots of comradeship shown last night and little of the selfish play that had crept into our game this year. Players also seemed free to play their natural game. How much was coaching related or player motivated (maybe they had enough of the media blowtorch) is hard to know but it was really good to see them rally around each other. They played for each other and played 'team-first' footy, reminiscent of 2018. Much better balance of play-on and control.

Two of which may not be on the list next year (Jones candidate to retire and Sparrow candidate for delisting if lists shortened)

WOW! 3 anti-Brayshaw posts in the last few hours, just in this thread. Clearly he is your whipping boy. Let up a little will you.

Can't believe the amount of criticisms of Petracca's game. Sure he had an 'airey' in the goal square but for the rest of the game: 25 Disposals - Best Demon 14 Handballs - Best Demon 6 Clearances - 2nd Best Demon (Oliver 8 ) 5 Unontested Marks - Equal Best Demon with Lever 15 Contested Possessions - Best Demon 11 Uncontested Possesions - 2nd Best Demon (Langdon 15) 3 Marks i50 - Best Demon 5 Score Involvements - Equal 2nd Best Demon with Oliver (Bennell and Gawn 6) 2 goals (Equal Best with Weideman and Fritsch). There is no count of how often he broke a tackle but it was a lot. Rarely gets caught HTB; the ops just can't pin him down. Stats aren't the only thing. His was a high impact performance. The best midfielder for mine. And, he showed great leadership to wind down the clock before his last goal. Settled the team. I know people have their favourites and I also love Oliver and Viney but some folks are wearing blinkers if they can't see how good Petracca's game was.

Loved the way the team got around Kozzie in the first quarter when i50 could have had a shot for goal. Instead a pass to (I think) Hannan??? who kicked it. Did the same at the end with his pass to Harley. Really good team first play. If that was an area for him to work on he is a fast learner. The team getting around him would have been really confidence building.

Pertracca showed really good game sense and leadership at the end. Checked for time left to play. Put the ball on the ground to wind down the clock. Smart lad. Nailed it but even if he didn't he protected our lead. Am beginning to think he has more footy IQ than anyone else in the team.

This week the fixture for the next block of games is released and it is expected games will be on 4/5 day breaks. So there may be quite a bit of player management and it could start next week. For mine, no changes.

This week the fan and media storm is akin to that we rightly got after the shellacking by Hawthorn in early 2018. Jackson got on the front foot and said (among other things) 'the players trashed our brand'. He understood that it is important to control the narrative. Everyone knew a lot of it was coaching decisions/lack thereof (played no wingmen, players played out of position, let Shiels run amok, a bewildered coaches box) but Jackson's talk put everyone on notice to lift. We did. We went on to play in the Prelim. And it quietened the media somewhat. Sometimes a carefully worded public 'put-down' or wise words can go a long way to placating fans and settling the media a bit. Silence can also give a message, often the wrong message such as the performance status quo is acceptable, that mfc bashing is ok, that Oliver bashing is ok, lights on but no-one home etc At the moment we are fair game in the media because no one stands up to them.

We can't keep the ball inside 50: lack of fwd pressure, out marked, out positioned, out coached. For the millionth time: a fwd coach would help.

In this article Goodwin is quoted as saying noise-is-noise-demons-stare-down-heavy-criticism "...Nathan Jones needed another week of training before being in the frame for selection." so won't be called up tomorrow even tho listed an emergency. This means he cannot get to 300 games this season unless we make finals. He is on 287 so needs 13 games. There are 12 left (incl the Ess game) after this week. So we must win tomorrow to give Jonesy a fighting chance to get to the 300 games as it is hard to see him continuing into next year.

Anywhere, except Kardinia Park! Couldn't bear it if those smug cretins got the GF. Just watch Scott lie low and then up the ante if it looks like they will make the GF. They will say no fans allowed anyway (in Vic) so why not at their Home Ground. Shame SA have slammed the door shut as Adelaide Oval would be a nice spectacle.

Are you @samcantstandya's alter ego ??

Did someone say Goodwin isn't passionate? Btw which game was that?

He has taken a lot of public heat this week so I hope he plays a blinder on Saturday. Its like the media is blaming him for all our midfield woes. Totally unfair. That aside, I feel the club has let him down. Other than a few words from Goodwin post game (great fella, very valuable player) no-one has come out and stood up for him after the media bashing started. Its been a busy week so I can forgive the club a little. But he is only 22, still relatively 'junior' in football and worldly experience and shouldn't have to wear the media bashing. At 22 that stuff could really do someone's head in. In his B&F speech last year he thanked Macca for (among other things) "always having my back". Thought it was odd that he felt he needed to say it and wondered if it related to internal stuff. I hope someone at the club has taken on Macca's 'protector' role not only for Oliver but for others who valued that about Macca.. Would really like to see someone come out and stand up for him.

Maybe so but I have yet to see/hear of a positive Richo influence. Will be delighted if he turns out to be a good acquisition for us.

That was my point, most of the time we kick-in to Max. And it makes May (and others) predictable and therefore easy to counter by competing with Max or pressure on subsequent ball carriers.