Earl Hood

4 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Thought the word this week was, "ruthless".

Ruthless to me, means "putting them to the sword". We had the chance and stopped. We really are softies. 

I heard Lever talking about ruthless, he kinda indicated, it was in the preparation, the process.

I'd like to see us show no mercy in the game.

Petracca can swing the momentum, as can Oliver, Viney used to be able to.

I thought we played keeping off well. Though, when it came to going, we couldn't transition to fast again. Need to work on their tempo and rhythm. They aren't on the same page!

Good backline again.

Midfielders found their straps at times. Gawn working well.

Salem, linking, getting space and zoning, doing team first.

River, an old head on young shoulders.

Baker getting involved and looks like he will get better.

Kossi is nearly, will get better.

Still a few passengers. 

Played ok but we were the exact opposite of ruthless, let’s face it. We managed to keep them in it all game to the point where we lost control and could have lost it. What’s the opposite of ruthless? Not sure but that is us. 

11 minutes ago, A F said:

Melksham may show leadership off the field, but he showed very little on it this year. I've been a fan, but he struggled this year and it looks like the game has passed him, which is worrying since he still has two years running on his contract.

Yes but hard to work out what is going on. This guy has serious footy ability but it goes missing for long periods that wouldn’t earn him a game in most sides but maybe it does in ours because we lack real footy smarts and skills? 

39 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Was going to comment on his 7 possies as well but thought with 4 majors it just doesnt matter.

At least he can kick straight! That is worth gold in our side, first qtr we should have been 4.1 not 1.4. Missing so many set shots from 30 to 40 on slight angles just kills us. 

I think he can also take goal kicking instruction next season! Very good on set shots, snaps out of packs and on the run. Very good today. 

 6 Salem

5 Petracca

4 Langdon

3 Gawn

2 Fritsch

1 Hunt

1 minute ago, Kiss of Death said:

I’m blaming Smith because SEN is blaming Smith, and it’s all I have to go on.

Damage was done upfield, the ball should never have going into their forward line. Very poor defending with 10 sec to go. We really lack the killer instinct to bury sides.

4 minutes ago, gs77 said:

Langdon tackles, player drops the ball - incorrect disposal - free kick?  Noooooo. [censored] off umpires.

I think the umpires threw that rule out mid season, it’s inexplicable, but it is the AFL! 

Warning signs already some really dumb footy played there despite early dominance and should have 4 on the board, not 1.4! 

Not likely to happen now I think. A win against the Swans would have changed the maths but no we missed that boat yet again. 

12 minutes ago, binman said:

Disagree with both of these comments bing.

It was a simply ridiculous decision to drop him for preuss. The fact that was wet just amplified the stupidity of that decision.

Not just becuase preuss is not a forward and is slow as wet week but alps becuase Pruess barely left inside 50 and brown gets on his bike and provides options and cover.

That decision was big factor in our inability to stop them crossing and not being able to stop their chains of uncontested possessions. 

mind melting decision. 

Could not agree more. I was just flabbergasted at that decision it made no sense and sums up the problems we face, not just players out of form but a coaching selection panel that consistently puts us at a disadvantage before the first bounce. 

20 minutes ago, ProperDee said:

Agreed. Looked good down back when he was there too. Cool head. Underrated player imho.

Yes agree this bloke is a very versatile and mobile tall so much better value than TMac this season. Give him another year. Good game tonight, some critical efforts down back when we needed him. 

6 May

5 Gawn

4 Langdon

3 Rivers

2 Petracca

1 Oliver

Pickett kicks 3.1 like he should rather than 1.3 he gets six votes. Hopefully he gets his goal sense right from here on. 

Midfield just has to step up Viney especially and then Clarry and Tracca we need a blinder last quarter, 

Umpires doing my head in again not because of bias just missing so many frees or picking out bullshyte frees. Below the knees remember that rule? 

1 minute ago, DemonOX said:

Should have kept Preuss in the side. 

Please! 

The umpiring is a joke. Not talking bias just ridiculous, all these in the backs and highs just aren’t there, it is what naturally happens if you actually tackle someone and they go to ground. Then you have the De Boar cameo! Should be charged for staging. 

Great goal but zero thanks to the umpires

Holding free not paid, Mark not paid and freak goal. Thanks umps! Signs not good. 

In suburban footy the coach would word up his enforcer to take out Mummy next quarter if only to stop him maiming our players. You can see what he is there for, Max best keep an eye on him as well. 

56 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Geelong’s disposal is Melbourne like. 

But it was under constant pressure on the ball carrier. Imagine if MFC could apply that sort of pressure across the whole ground, pressure not only on the ball carrier but on all his options up the ground so everyone is covered. How do they do that? Why can’t we do the same because if you could it covers a lot of your own deficiencies as you eventually get the turnover and a chance to go the other way. Goodwin talks about defensive pressure but we are miles off what I saw tonight. 

49 minutes ago, 3183 Dee said:

How this team has not won a flag by now is just ridiculous! Talk about compromised recruitment - Look at their Ins and Outs: how many top end draft picks in that lot?

Hope we smash them.

Unfortunately their selected side is probably the strongest 22 they have had in for some time and here I was thinking 9 changes meant they were dragging in untried kids but no we have 5 or so experienced players coming back! A big ask now. 

2 hours ago, Demon3 said:

Further to that, Goodwin has played Melksham all year and he has been less that average.. 15 goals is a surprise so its hard to argue on just numbers but he is playing part time football. We need him full time. I cant believe Hannan isnt given the time Melksham is. Hannan is quicker, better mark, more flexible and can kick goals. I actually think they have a winger right there is Hannan and they have not tried him. The frustration levels are increasing everyday with this club the more i think about their failures and why the poor supporters continue to be the brunt of the jokes of the AFL while the players and teh FD and teh club seem to be covered in oil, because nothing sticks to them. You can hold them to account all you like but until there are changes, whats teh point. Nothing has changed in 2 years since we lost a prelim and the club thought they would waltz into finals the next year, they thought they could coast through a pre season, they didnt think injury management and a timeline was important, they confirmed to me that they are the most unproffesional sporting organisation in Australia. Convince me that they are not? ill wait. there is a list a mile long of poor decisions and mismanagement and mistakes. They simply cannot get their act together and until they do, this is our lot. I care about them, i love them, but right now, i hate them.

Yes I have been wondering why Hannan hasn’t been given a run on the wing. Does he lack the endurance to do the required running like Langdon? He looks to have the speed and skills but playing forward he goes missing but again is that as much to do with our forward entries, kick long to contested packs of defenders hoping for someone to crumb the ball but we rarely have someone front and centre for the spilled ball. Hannan, Melk and Fritsch aren’t crumbers or defensive forwards more the slippery, smart flanker types who can get free to mark on the lead. But we rarely spot a forward up with our entries so can’t play 3 blokes we aren’t gonna use. Moving Hannan to the wing might make better use of his skills but only if he is prepared to gut run to position, chase, tackle, all the stuff that most of our players should be able to do but often don’t. 

9 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Correct, if we win both of our last two games then any of the above three scenarios sees us make finals.

The St Kilda scenario requires us to make up 7% on St Kilda. Given we'll be winning twice and they'll be losing twice from here, that is probably not that much of a stretch.

The other two don't rely on percentage but obviously require upsets.

The only relevant game to be played before we play GWS is St Kilda v West Coast on Thursday night. If St Kilda win that, we'll know we're down to only two of these options being available. But, in what I think is good news, we'll still have the Dogs and Collingwood games unplayed when it's our turn, so we won't know for sure. Means we can't get ahead of ourselves and hopefully helps us focus.

 

Chances of us winning the last two? Not good I would think on past performance.

On 9/6/2020 at 11:05 AM, rjay said:

It's one part personnel and another part coaching I reckon 'Earl'...

I've been avoiding this one for a while but I think it's becoming apparent we need to lose one of Brayshaw or Viney.

My preference would be to lose Viney but I'm not sure of the value there as he's a free agent.

Let's say we could trade Brayshaw for Cerra, would that be a good move?

Thought I would wait and have a look at Cerra before replying to your question, rjay. After that performance, basically BOG I would say yes but doubt Freo will let this kid get away from them. He would bring a number of attributes that our boys struggle with, speed, outside run, elite decision making, goal kicking ability....

I think we will be left trying to make something out of what we have got and I still think a good midfield coach could get this lot working much smarter andmore cohesively. I think we can make use of all of them, Brayshaw, Oliver in the middle with Harmes doing a run with role, Viney more time forward as a defensive forward, maybe Tracc more time up forward and more working on the outside for the receive. And we need to find another Langdon type for the other wing, with better kicking skills hopefully. But I like Langdon’s running, positioning and evasive skills, he is nearly always available as an option on the outside for the ball carrier. 

Yep many of the first round decisions have reflected that we thought we were in the window, early picks for Lever and May etc. now we find ourselves well outside finals with [censored] all draft picks. Great.