Sydee

Lindsay looks like a great pick up and I’m feeling good about my sneaky wager I e got on him for the Rising Star award But let’s just stick to best available rather than focusing on Gippsland only 😀

If we had Jakovich plus one of Neitz , Lyon or even Jurrah running around now we’d be close to flag favourites atm Our lack of a genuine consistent performer in the F50 has and continues to be a weakness Getting the ball inside F50 hasn’t been the challenge - conversion and taking opportunities has been Unfortunately we have nobody of the calibre of these guys coming through either so we just have to make do

Geeez we always seem to have a number of top 22 players missing Whenever I look at other teams injury lists they have a list of players that I’ve hardly heard of Surely we are due for some luck on the injury front soon

Anyone see how this is a holding free kick to Greene - he has a fist full of his opponents jumper but somehow gets a free kick and goals Astonishing imo

I think Adam Kingsleys post match interview should get a watch from a few of our “supporters” I haven’t watched the game yet but he thinks we are going to be a very good team - I think his assessment is probably more accurate than some of those who seem very glass half empty atm Yep really disappointed in a loss but seriously didn’t think we’d get that close having watched GWS live the week before Truth is we could put in a few stinkers and then you’d be entitled to be negative but not after today as this game was ours until the last minute Work to be done but a really decent effort from a team with more new blood than we’ve seen for a very long time

Next thing it will be 2 quarters not 4

Just back from watching live Collingwood look pretty slow - yeah it was hot but I think there are too many plodders to take on the likes of GWS or Hawks, Freo Really impressed by Finn OCallahan wow he can run Sam Taylor is a gem Darcy Jones is a very handy small They will be a very good test for our boys next week make no mistake As for the pies I know it’s only opening round but I think they will struggle to play finals - their future doesn’t look that bright to me - hopefully I’m right 😀

Surely that is a given Make it happen DA

The goalkicking was disappointing obviously but a number of shots at goal were either posters or close calls even if a few of these went the right side of the post we probably win the game statistically we won key areas of the contest I’m staying glass half full as at least two of our bigger bodies who should be playing ( JVR, Petty or even TMac) were not there which made our structure a bit small imo without wanting to single him out I honestly don’t think Billing’s should take set shots and should pass off to someone else wherever possible - his efforts and output other than that were quite good

Having watched the replay my thoughts were - overall we were on par with them or the better side but efficiency inside 50 cost us the game - losing JVR and not having a Petty or TMac to swing forward cost us because none of Turner, Fritta or even Johnson (in his first semi real AFL game) could play the role of big / packing breaking forward - despite what the above observation I thought AJ did quite well and probably better than I’d expected (he could certainly play some games this year) - I know Windsor missed a couple of tackles but I actually liked him running off half back because he covers the ground so quickly and usually delivers well - this helps clear defensive structures which something we have lacked in the past couple of seasons - Langdon as a mid I’m not convinced - Rivers a bit underwhelming for mine as a mid he always seems to struggle to find a target when he gets a possession - may and Lever both solid and mostly reliable apart from the inevitable brain fade short dinky kick in D50 which is intercepted - great to see both Clarry and Trac back in form - critical to stay fit if we are to be there in finals - Langford seemed to struggle a bit with the pace of the game but I am confident he will adjust a be a v good player in time - Lindsay looks a bit faster than I thought and his kicking skills are better than most on our list - going to be a good player for many years I think - Howes will always struggle when he is played on stronger bodies we have seen this many times - he is lightly built and gets out positioned easily - not the worst though - Chandler a big concern a poor game - Fritta disappointing and looked to be going through the motions - Adams not terrible and potential in the medium term maybe not this year - Max was courageous as usual and probably needed the run but seems to constantly get belted by moving back into packs - yes it’s his job but he cops so much physical pressure I’m always stressed he will not get up. At least we have Tom Campbell who can compete as a backup and give him some rest - Woey is honest but I struggle to see him getting regular games mainly due to lack of leg speed - Sharp a reasonable game and a chance for round 1 - Turner needs to play to his strengths which leading and using his mobility he is not going to beat most AFL backs in a battle of strength imo - Salem did enough - Viney what we expect - Billings if only he could kick a goal Overall I think it was a reasonable performance but clearly efficiency inside F50 is a real key to focus on - it has been for a while unfortunately

What happened to JVR afl site says he is out ?

This appears to be heading like all other games recently vs Flogmantle might get ugly

So I assume Windsor is not playing HB?

He played back mostly last year for GP I believe

Is he doing it so he cannot be contacted after hours ? Would be handy after a bad loss

Sadly the AFL seems to be more focused on a whole raft of non football agendas these days rather than being laser focused on what’s best for the sport It’s forgotten the sole purpose for which it exists - a common problem with so many organisations these days

Looking Sharp then ?

We might be nobody is giving us a score

It’s like my teenage daughter is giving updates 🤔

Solid first quarter effort from the boys then

Score?

Said it before but it’s a very even competition You do need some luck within games and on the injury front to first make finals and then win them We can definitely make finals with an element of luck in these two areas I’m still not sure we have the forward structure and the the ability to shut down teams who transition the ball quickly to go all the way - we’ll find out soon enough

Thanks for sharing that might make a few people rethink exactly what was going on behind all the noise

Reading that why do I feel like I’m a 5 yo on a school excursion?

Based on what Ive been reading on training reports that sounds v unlikely Hardly setting the world on fire in Match sims - still a very long way off it seems