Lucifers Hero

Crows in Doubt Pike says Lynch and others may be in doubt. Could be just 'mind games'. I reckon we can win this. Tex might be like angry ant after last weeks embarrassing shirking of a contest but he isn't going to turn on a blinder; hasn't done so in years. Harmes to Sloane. Hore or Hibberd to Eddie. Frost 'sacrifices' his game to run everywhere with Lynch, wear him like a glove to shut down his linking game. They don't have a De Boer to shut down Oliver Our midfield to finally hit its straps. Go Dees!

Interviews with SA radio from club website below. Apologies for only posting the article link...don't have the expertise to post just the video link. Mahoney pre game Interview Chaplin pre game Interview Re Lewis, Mahoney says he needs to go back and play well at Casey and be ready to play later in the year. Not sure if that was a turn of phrase or he meant Lewis won't be in the seniors for a while. Re Goodwin's dizzy spell last week. They both said he had been working hard at his fitness training that morning and hadn't eaten and was fine in the afternoon. They said he is a very hard worker and Mahoney implied he may be working too hard. Mahoney said he Macca and others were helping Goodwin and he has some excellent mentors outside the club he turns to for advice. It occurred to me that Mahoney and Chaplin taking these interviews was a way of lessening the load for Goodwin. If so, a good move. Lessens the load and frees him to prepare for and focus on the game. On Brad Green, Mahoney said the club was getting around Brad in many ways. Also mentioned his mates had done so, some coming over from Perth, some taking days off work. Not surprising as Brad is such a good bloke but still heartening to hear. When asked about 'playing the kids' (Robbo had suggested it on AFL360) when we can't make finals, Mahoney said 'we can't get any younger can we'! He said we had played 35 different players. Great answer as Robbo had prefaced his suggestion with 'I won't use the word tanking'. It annoyed me as no-one in the media in recent years has use that word for other teams playing their kids. But its Melbourne, right? Well Mahoney has the perfect answer. We have to play them! Obvious for all to see. Chaplin surprised me when he said he had viewed vision of a Crows game the night before and would view another one today for ideas. Wouldn't that happen early in the week to incorporate ideas into training?

This was written on fox website for this week's preview: The midfield mix changed all day against GWS last week. Angus Brayshaw spent full quarters in the forward line, then the midfield, then defence. James Harmes had a quarter in all three areas too. Nathan Jones returned to the midfield having been a wingman or defender for almost the entire season; Jack Viney remains in the midfield even though he’s having his worst season (per the AFL Player Ratings) since his debut. Did anyone notice the musical chairs for Brayshaw and Harmes last week? Its damn difficult to get 'connection' with forwards if the midfield is being moved around every 30 minutes especially when we are playing new faces each week due to injuries. It looks like Goodwin has reverted to the hybrid mid/fwd roles of early last year when players were often played out of position. iirc the hybrid was abandoned after the mauling by the Hawks. I would prefer players be mainly in their natural positions to develop cohesion and be predictable to each other. Surely, the much sort 'midfield connection with forwards' would improve.

Not saying he doesn't deserve to reach 300. Not saying he shouldn't get another contract. Just saying it shouldn't come with a guarantee of at least 14 games. We haven't won a premiership in 55 years. imv the club owes supporters who have loyally stuck fat for many decades, to do everything in its power to get the next one. I would expect the club to put its and supporter interests ahead of any individual. Lets hope we do both: Jones to 300 and a tilt at the premiership in 2020!!

Happy for Jones to get another year but not with a guarantee of at least 14 games for the 300. I recall Geelong's 'retirement' of their champions a bit differently. The list was getting 'old' so they retired players including Chapman and Stevie J who went to other clubs for several more years - similar to Clarkson with Mitchell, Lewis and Hodge. They kept Bartel on a 1+1 year contract 2016/2017. During 2016 he reached 300 games. They left him in limbo at the end of 2016 for the + 1 year and as I recall it all got a bit ugly. Jimmy retired at the end of 2016. tbh I don't see much sentiment in Geelong's handling of its champs or Bartel. They did what was best for the club.

If they do he will earn more per game played than Tom Mc ?

Thanks for the update jane02. So sad for Brad and his boys. So glad your surgery went well. All the best.

As always, respect for your views. My assessment of where it has been countered is based on 2018, not just the injury riddled 2019 - I could have offered more 2018 examples. For mine our 'brand' is not sustainable for 4 quarters, week in and week out. To back up that view - in nearly every game for the last 18 months we had goalless quarters and or 5-8 unanswered goals scored against us. I suggest this is because our guys need a breather so our momentum slows or stops. Maybe we can play chaos/ballistic for a few weeks eg 4 games of late 2018 but then we are cooked ie the prelim. So my view is chaos/play on has a role as a 'shock and awe' attack tactic but not as a sustainable basis for a 22-25 week season.

Our 'brand' of 'chaos' football is not working because clubs have learnt to counter it: Neutralise Max by: 1). double tag him eg WCE in prelim, 2). rough him up eg Port in round one or 3). opp mids rove his taps eg Hawks in last year's massacre. Win the contest at stoppages then get the ball outside. Hardwick said exactly this pre game when asked how to beat Melb. Deny us the ball around the ground using the kick-mark, kick-mark control game. If the ball doesn't come to ground our 'contested ball' game is rendered useless. Many teams have used this technique. Pressure the mids disposal to stop the i50 entries. Our i50 numbers this year are way down. Again many teams have woken up to this. Clever exit play from our fwd 50 to stop us keeping the ball in, again not allowing our contested ball game. In a nutshell our game plan is predictable, it has been found out and we don't have an alternative or a counter strategy. For mine 'chaos', 'ballistic' football has a role but is fatiguing and not sustainable for 4 quarters each and every week even with a fully fit team. It needs to be a tactic, used in a 'shock and awe' attack style not the basis of our game plan. My concern is that the focus on injuries as reasons for our losses and appalling %age has papered over the cracks in our game plan as outlined above. If so, no matter how many players we get back, if we don't change our game plan we won't get back to winning.

Jack Riewoldt did well for many years as the lone tall. Lynch is doing fine as the lone tall even tho he has been there only 5 minutes and does not yet know their system or gained synergy with the other forwards. Their job is if they can't mark then provide a contest and get the ball to ground for the small forwards. Didn't say Tom isn't trying. My point was that Tom is doing neither. That he is a lone forward is no excuse for not providing a contest. That is the minimum any player in form or not should do.

I don't begrudge him another year if his selection is based on form but no guarantee of games. If he earns selection for 14 games (at least) to get him to 300 great, if not so be it. His 2020 selection should not put at risk a top 4 finish and a chance at the premiership or someone like Brayshaw played out of position or someone like Baker or Lockhart denied games. To me he retires this year or gives up the co-captaincy, gets one more year and if his form warrants he is selected. If not he plays in the VFL as Clarkson did with Roughy also a much loved champion, ex captain and loyal servant of his club. It may sound ruthless but it is what professional clubs do.

The age is at the end of respective player's contract.

I would expect we will free up 7-10 primary list spots. In part to keep the list refreshed but also because the game rules have changed. To refresh the list: we have not drafted a top 25, 18 year old for at least 3 years. We will probably have 2 top 25 picks this year, more if we trade out a very good player or trade up later picks. Time to bring in some talented youth. Regarding rule changes. List management decisions are a function of the game plan. We have recruited for a competitive, see ball, get ball, get rid of ball as fast as possible game plan. So we have many similar style players: mid sized, ball getters. This year the new rules have shown that game plan is not sustainable; it needs to change and we need to inject some skill and mobility. So hopefully, in the second half of this year our game plan is redefined. I would not be surprised to see some of the 2020 OOC players traded out to accommodate a more flexible game plan and young talent.

Yes, it is always sad to lose players but as you say that is the reality of AFL life. We have a long line of back up midfielders/on-ballers amongst recent recruits: KK, Jordon, Nietschke, Sparrow, Baker, Lockhart and Dunkley. We need to develop these guys over the next year or two and see who will make it. I feel ANB, Stretch and JKH have had their chances (and each has significant weaknesses) so its time to give the new guys their chances.

I've just updated the Contracts thread and posted my thoughts on possible list changes. It may be a bit early but given our season is done it is relevant to look at possible changes. The Contracts thread: My thoughts on list changes that I posted in that thread: I'm guessing we will lose quite a few Rookies. Its hard to see a lot of the primary list players who are OOC this year getting an extension. My thoughts: Baker, Frost, Weideman will get new contracts. J. Wagner, Garlett, J. Smith are 'maybe' depending on assessment of depth. Stretch, Neal Bullen, Kennedy Harris at real risk of going. They have been on our list for 4-5 years and not able to cement a regular 22 spot. Can only keep them for so long. Lewis, Maynard gone. Jones - not sure. Will challenge the list management team: Nostalgia vs value add vs keeping a younger player out of the team/out of position. We will get some good draft picks this year: a top 10 and a high second round pick so a chance to get some high end talent and skills. Time to refresh.

Updated for Lockhart and Dunkley, both recruited as Rookies. By my count we still have 39 players on our primary list because latest additions have been as Rookies. If anyone has more accurate info please let me know. Re the list: I'm guessing we will lose quite a few Rookies. Its hard to see a lot of the primary list players who are OOC this year getting an extension. My thoughts: Baker, Frost, Weideman will get new contracts. J. Wagner, Garlett, J. Smith are 'maybe' depending on assessment of depth. Stretch, Neal Bullen, Kennedy Harris at real risk of going. They have been on our list for 4-5 years and not able to cement a regular 22 spot. Can only keep them for so long. Lewis, Maynard gone. Jones - not sure. Will challenge the list management team: Nostalgia vs value add vs keeping a younger player out of the team/out of position. We will get some good draft picks this year: a top 10 and a high second round pick so a chance to get some high end talent and skills. Time to refresh.

That highlights the problem brilliantly! Our worst kicks are in the midfield or the forward line which is exactly why we can't keep the ball i50 and can't kick a winning score. And, to me it highlights a major flaw in our 'chaos', play on at all costs styled game plan. Simply, 'chaos' football does not allow time for players to lower the eyes or gain composure. So, kicking efficiency suffers. Our major problem is in the fwd half and it will not be overcome simply by getting injured players back.

Of course I would. Just saying his dad didn't look too excited.

His dad didn't look too happy...very slow and low key in congratulating his son. Maybe they were hoping he would slip thru to Sydney.

Geelong will save the $10,000 by not challenging; they were going to rest him anyway. Nonetheless, its good he was suspended, he was acting like Mr Teflon by throwing 'clumsy' punches every other week, then pouting to escape penalty.

To me we can't play two small forwards because there is at least one mismatch when the opp have only one small defender. I counted at least four times yesterday when a highish kick went to Garlett who was pushed under the ball or the ball was punched away by a taller opponent. Jeff had no chance to mark those. On Jeff, I think he has lost confidence after the sprays he received in his first game back when he took two low %age shots for goal instead of getting the ball off to a team mate. Now, whenever he gets the ball he hesitates and looks for an alternate play rather than play on instinct. As a result he has lost his x factor. Nonetheless, I would take Jeff before Charlie every day of the week.

A real worry for me is Tom Mc. He has improved in recent weeks with a couple of goals. Nonetheless, he doesn't get separation from his man to mark, nor is he able to bring the ball to ground and let the small forwards go to work. Has he lost the ability to jump? Also, did he fail to make the distance with a shot for goal from about 40m yesterday? I know the mid field is bombing it in but Tom should at least bring the ball to ground if he can't mark but he rarely is in a position to do so.

I have long argued on here for a 'Director of Football' ie someone who sits on the Board who has 'football' as their portfolio. He is the person the Board expect to be across football strategy and performance. At the moment the responsibility to the Board is shared between Pert and Mahoney. The last Director of Football we had was Greg Healy. GWS have Jimmy Bartel and Carlton have Chris Judd. Not sure what other clubs do. From my reading of the Scott situation, he wants another Senior Coaching gig. But am totally with you in the need for a Director of Football and/or a Neil Balme type in the Football Department.

Because he wants to be The senior coach. Doesn't make sense for him to take an assistant role for 2-4 years. Better off taking a 'gap' year and see what comes up.

Brayshaw has gone from a player who does his best work with head over the ball, at ground level and at the bottom of a pack. He did very little of that today or in recent weeks. He actually looks like he is unable to bend down. He missed most of the pre Xmas pre season for back reasons. If he has back problems again it would explain his inability to get over the ball, tackle or chase. It would also explain why he is not in the middle - it is less risky on the wing. I'll cut Gus some slack on this for a while as he doesn't seem to be the type to spit the dummy for a change of position, especially if the reasons have been explained.