Bombay Airconditioning

Need to make tackles stick.

We’ve come with intent.

Biggest test of the year coming up, we’ve had at least three years to study how Collingwood will play. No need to check the pressure ratings because oddly enough we’ll be able to tell simply by watching the game if we’ve come switched on to play. Also a big difference in laying a tackle and laying an effective tackle. I’d be interested to know what the build up to this game internally has been like. Can’t be caught guarding grass otherwise they’ll put us to the sword very quickly. Need to minimise the “long down the line to Gawn” as they’ll be all over this by setting up numbers around Gawn, attempting to spoil the ball then run in waves away from the contest. Are we the only team that plays two key fwds for reasons other than kicking goals? Petty doesn’t kick a lot of goals but provides structure and ties up a key defender freeing up our other tall fwd who’s apparently is only in the side to play second ruck or my personal favourite, bring the ball to ground. Would ideally love more delivery inside fwd 50 from Melksham who not only picks the right option but kicks to the fwds advantage. Sadly if we don’t come out firing from the opening bounce we unlikely to fire up as the game progresses. Let’s bring relentless tackling, let’s use the corridor and let’s open up our fwd 50, better chance of converting directly in front and more options for our smalls. Another 5 goal game from Kosi please. Give em hell.

And some people still want expansion in this league.

Tasting pretty good at the moment.

5-6 weeks ago TMac was leading a couple of defensive stats across the league. Can’t remember which ones as I’m not big on stats. Two weeks later he was dropped for Lever. Last week Disco was ranked the no.1 defender for the last five weeks. Regardless I’d play him forward as he can take a contested mark and is a reasonable set shot for goal.

90% of posts on this site are based purely on people’s personal opinions and the majority of us including myself are for lack of a better term are mug punters who share not only a common love of footy but ultimately this club. The stats are not going to tell me the difficulty of the draw for a particular block of the draw (unless I’m looking purely against top 8 clubs) or if a club has chosen to rest key players or missing them through injury. Yes all the games make a season but certain wins mean so much more for various reasons. I’ve watched enough footy to know that as good as our wins against Freo, Brisbane and Sydney were l don’t believe that we’ve maintained a level of pressure for the whole game in the same manner that Collingwood did when they played Freo and Brisbane. When Collingwood is on their pressure is relentless, we’re building but we’re not there yet. Many will disagree and that’s fine, we play the Pies in two weeks so it will be a great test for us. I also believe Collingwood’s ball movement is better than ours, no stats to back this up just what I think. As I said earlier I’d like to see us use the corridor more but it’s harder to defend the turnover, so we’ve been working the boundary then looking in board as we go inside 50. The last few weeks opportunities have presented themselves to go more direct but we’ve resisted.

Stats is your thing. I’m purely going on what I’ve watched, and nothing we’ve produced comes close to that of Collingwood or the Dogs. Their pressure around the ball carrier has been relentless. Stats don’t take into account the quality of opposition and how certain teams can maintain their KPI whilst missing key personal through injury or in Collingwood’s case by at times resting players. We’ve got some big games remaining this season against Pies x 2, Crows at AAMI, Suns at Metricon, Carlton, Dogs & Hawks at the G so we will be tested. Whilst it’s great we’re winning and evolving the way we play I believe we’re still a bit of the pace of some teams. I’d like to see us use the corridor more after we’re created a turnover.

A player can influence a game in many ways but to suggest that more importance is placed on bringing the ball to ground than contested marks or kicking goals for a key fwd is madness.

No I’m not, less contested marks is a reflection on how some teams are playing the game today offensively and defensively. Daniher was massive for Lions last year as is Cameron, Darcy, Thilthoroe etc. I also said goal kicking, Turner imo has been one of our best set shots during the little time he’s spent fwd. Just because contested marks aren’t as common as in years gone by doesn’t mark them less important. Ball coming to ground will happen after a failed marking attempt, give me the player who’s the best chance of taking the mark and converting anytime.

[censored] me, No.1 job of a key fwd is to take contested marks and kick goals. Bringing the ball to ground is a distant second and is a bi product of not marking the bloody thing to begin with. We all love the way AJ goes about it but if he is to keep his spot based on purely that and a few deft taps we’re not serious. Play Turner fwd and if Petty has to spend some time in the ruck so be it. Turner has nailed some important set shots this season from difficult angles. Against better opposition our opportunities will be less, we need key fwds who can take their chances and nail set shots.

Whilst all three of those things have improved drastically since rd 1 our pressure had not even come close to that what Collingwood brings. Big test in two weeks.

Agree. Was there today and enjoyed the win. Whilst we had a big win we need to acknowledge at times our kicking is bloody ordinary, led by none other than Trac and Oliver. Gawns handball after receiving a 50 (40) metre penalty was just ridiculous, is his confidence that shot? He can kick them from everywhere in general play but is spooked by set shots. Also at times we were too loose defensively and I’d like to see us try and use the corridor more when transitioning after we force a turn over, this should be a focus for us moving fwd, this will / should benefit our fwds. This will seem like an odd comment just after kicking our biggest score for two years but putting aside some individual brilliance at times scoring doesn’t come naturally to us. Yes one week at a time but a massive test coming in 2 weeks against a Pies outfit that have the luxury of resting players and still dominating. Any potential change that makes us better by as little as 1% should be made. It wasn’t that long ago TMac was leading a number defensive stats across the league, I’d bring him back in and move Disco fwd in place of AJ. Disco can take a mark and can nail difficult set shots in addition to crashing packs and tapping the ball fwd. Sharp to get a full game ahead of Spargo. Gawn can’t be killed. Kosi must be kep at all costs. I met Fritsch’s nan, no relevance to anything just thought I’d mention it.

AJ out. TMac down back. Disco up fwd.

Not missing much, I don’t know why but footy never feels the same there. Also the ground has a massive crown in it meaning sitting ground level pocket feels like being in a bunker. Note : can’t get hot jam donuts and no train to the ground.

I’ll be down in Melbourne this weekend for the game, I didn’t realise this was the case, makes the occasion even better.

So Kosi staying that’s awesome, what are we giving up for LJ?

Disco is a pretty reliable set shot from varying angles.

Did you tip this?

A coach should be kept because he can coach not because of his relationships with certain players. As I said in another thread it’s these same relationships that have gifted certain players games and potentially turned a blind eye to certain goings on with others. Port have achieved nothing under Hinkley and should have turfed him years ago. If Butters is to leave it probably has more to do with chasing success than his relationship with Hinkley. Players aren’t stupid, very few would have the one coach at AFL level.

No doubt all teams would love more talent, footy is interesting game had we gotten Houston we potentially say goodbye to one of Langford or X. But as it stand we have a lot of talent on this list. Some completely out of form, some past their past, some up and coming and some at the peak of their powers. We need to stop looking for excuses, so far this year we’ve had thrown up injuries, new gameplan, off field issues and as recently as a week or two ago @Disco InTurno suggested this year was a gap year of sorts as we transition our gameplan. I was of the opinion as I think most people were when our draw come out that we were finals bound. Goody needs to go along with one or two of favourite players in order to move on. There’s a stale feeling about the place.

That’s a cop out for mine, we have plenty of talent, Collingwood and the Bulldogs have their fair share of average players that thrive in a good system and not all of their players are elite kicks.

I think now everyone acknowledges Collingwood are a massive chance but let’s not forget rd 2 MCG, Dogs v Pies. Dogs without Bont, Treloar, Weightman & JUH (note : At this point the extent of JUH issues weren’t fully known) vs a full strength Pies outfit. The Dogs only lost by 6 points but also lost the free kick count 14 to 33. The umpiring without any doubt affected the result of that game.

Over the years more high profile coaches have had strong friendships with the players they coach and been sacked. Some suggest that Goodwin could play a part in the potential return of LJ or retraining Kosi whilst forgetting to mention the gifting of games and favourable treatment to others. Goody needs to go and whatever comes of that player wise we’ll deal with.

I wouldn’t be trading him as some on other threads have suggested. We know he can play, yes he’s currently in a slump but hopefully a new coach at seasons end can bring out his best.