Earl Hood

Why am I sure that we will have a great preseason and all will be positive in 2021 then we will lose some early games because we are lacking connection between our midfield and our forwards, our mids are bombing it long, while our forwards are leading out etc, etc. Then there will be the inaccuracy in front of goal, gee we need to look at our kicking technique etc. Then our mids learn to lower their eyes to pick targets.....Oh and then there will be selection, where we experiment with people unsuited to their new roles, slowly work that out and eventually drop them or move them to their more suitable roles. I suppose my point is we seem to be caught in some Ground Hog day circumstance with Goody. We start every season with the same game plan deficiencies, then slowly rectify them thru the season but drop vital games along the way. This has been a feature of the last 4 seasons, 2017 to 2020.

That might be it for Harley. Sad really.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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