Earl Hood

Good point but still worry about our small forward set up especially when we insist on kicking long into the forward line time and time again often without a tall to at least bring the ball to ground. The Hawks backline will have a field day ext week picking off the high entries to no tall targets. More than happy if our mids lowered their eyes to target our small forwards on the lead but they don’t.

Re our use of two extra players running off the back of the square at centre bounces, Luke Ball on 774 was non plussed. He said we were winning the centre clearances 2 to 1 yet we’re then kicking into an out numbered forward set up, allowing Daws to look good. If you are dominating clearances why not man up in the forward line. Not sure how often the two extras running off half back had an impact at centre bounces though. And if Hogan is going to play up the field we need another tall up forward. And did I hear correctly that Harmes and Trac were pinch hitting in the ruck? Bring back Pedo I think until TMac is fit.

Given they are full time professionals I wonder why they aren’t out on the field every day at least in preseason! What do they do for the six days they train in the preseason months when they need to develop their skills and are not having to analyse their performances or their opposition coming up as might be the case during the season. Anyone know what they do for the other 4 days we don’t see them? I mean you can still fit in a gym session before or after a 1 or 2 hour run around the paddock kicking a ball. How many hours are needed to study the game plan that consists of kicking it forward at all costs?

I thought Martin evened things up with Gawn, Lewis was a liability, but otherwise agree. Hunt is worrying not sure what his problem is. Hasn’t gone on with it this season. If we didn’t have Oliver in the guts I wonder if we would win a game. And that is a worry. We need Viney back as soon as.

6 Garlett 5 oliver 4 Hogan 3 Jones 2 Hibberd 1 Petracca

Not great. Now who wanted Garlett dropped after last week? He saved our bacon. Not a lot has changed, our midfield goes missing at crucial times. Bugg? One more chance, you have to kick them when you get the chance. I still think our game plan is deficient, as soon as we start to lose the contested possessions in the midfield we have no system to absorb pressure, use up time, deny possession etc. Again we played a lowly side into form in the second half and made a tight game of it, why do we do that? I think we will struggle over the length of the season until we get Viney, TMac back and tweak our game plan to be more defensive.

We must keep the same intensity in the second quarter, we need to be 40 to 50 up at half time!

Yes I remember Hawkins chasing possessions down on the wing in the first and thinking that is a good thing for us at the time.

Is that avatar John Wayne playing Red Adair in Hellfighters DV?

What about MFC fans? We just get screwed as per normal?

This is what can happen if you leave the car out in Fitzroy. Yes Daisy you have a point. But the Corvette is parked securely with the Bentley, no need to worry.

The forwards were running under the incoming ball all game on Sunday so the drill is working a treat!

Channel 7 said elbow problem. Sent for scans, looked in discomfort during light training. Arm bandaged. Standby to receive the worst prognosis possible for a sore elbow.

Out and about in the Corvette today in Fitzroy. I want to add some colour and class to revitalise this thread that seems to be losing its chutzpah dare I say! Its amazing how the homeless Street people are energised when I drive past in the Vette It is just part of how I am giving back to society now that I am retired but back contracting part time, the new retired system it seems these days!

Agree TU it’s called momentum footy, I think Roosy invented it? Know when to attack and when to just possess. Geelong slowed us down towards the end of the first quarter by possessing the footy, chipping it around down back. We needed to do that in the second quarter but we just kept going helter, skelter pushing forward although it kept being intercepted and run back into their forward line by hand and foot right into the 50m arc that made our backman look inept but what could they do?

I mentioned in another post that we seemed to be continually running under the flight of the ball in marking contests leaving the Geelong guys to take an easy overhead on our backs. We were absolutely smashed in the air after the first quarter and wouldnt punch to make a contest at ground level in our forward 50. geelong did rack up the marking stats chipping it around in the first quarter but that was to slow down our momentum, soak up time and look for an opening forward. That is exactly the tactics we should have deployed in the last 10 min of the second quarter when Geelong were on a role, scoring at will. Maintain possession to slow their momentum. Used to be called tempo footy, we don’t have it our game plan.

I agree somewhat. Jeff may not have a game B but his A game is worth pursuing. How many goals last year for him? 42. Our coaches strategic group needs to work out how to get him one out to realise his talent and they can work on O Mac etc.

Jones often gets hard, contested ball with little assistance which tends to lead to what is mentioned above.

Wasn’t Garletts sort of game, he was never setup with a one on one opportunity in an Otherwise vacant forward line after an interception and kick forward against the flow of play. That is his strength. One thing that stood out to me in the 2nd and 3rd was our inability to do any intercepts and turn the ball quickly back into our forward line. For most of the game our backline couldn’t punch, our tall forwards couldn’t take a mark, our small forwards couldn’t get front and centre and neither could they put any forward pressure on. If Gawny had kicked straight and we won it would have been a steal on my observations today at the ground. And then we need to ask the question of the coaching staff and leadership group. In the second quarter I reckon Geelong kicked out from our behinds at least 4 times to the Members flank and each time cats players took uncontested marks, turned inboard and delivered to a free player at CHB and then had running options on either side. A set play time and time again that we did not counter. OKay perhaps except we had selected a number of small defensive forwards, Hannan, Melch, ANB etc who did not play all that defensive. Anyone else notice how our key forwards and key backs kept running under the marking contest leaving the Geelong player to take a clean mark and play on? I am am worried about our game plan against top sides. As has been said it relies on contested ball control to work. Loose the contested ball and we get smashed.

Maynard penalised for blocking McEvoy out of a marking contest??? You now can’t hold your position and guard space to a ball kicked to your left side?

Why don’t teams put a hard tag on Mitchell? They seem happy to let him get his usual 45 odd disposals every game.

No training with the Casey (reserves) squad. Not injured and coming off preseason surgery so needs time.

Well that explains why TMac has been MIA at training/JLT for the past 10 days or so. Jones was walking a few laps this morning at training then left. I would think TMac, Viney, Lewis, ANB and now maybe Jones will not be in the mix for round 1. At present we are on track for a normal injury year for us, 5 to 10 in rehab at any stage of the season. Which I suppose is to be expected, it’s just that the top sides in every season usually have a great run with injuries, example the Tigers last year

Showed up late for training this morning. The main squad was split into blues vs yellows doing a 3/4 ground ball movement drill, kicking the ball to a free player to get a set hot on goal, then reset from the backline and repeat. Emphasis on precision kicking and switching across the ground. About 22 players involved. The Casey boys had not arrived as yet. Oliver & OMac running laps together, Lever running on his own and later joined the main group, Lewis in rehab with Cross and 2 others who I did not identify, one must have been Viney, but the rehab group left before I could get over to look. Jones walking the boundary. Did not see T McDonald, ANB, AVB, Petracca. What is the go with TMac? They then split into 3 groups for some more lightly contested drills that indicated who is in the mix for round1 and where they might play Mids were Max, Tyson, Salem, Stretch, Harmes, Angus, Maynard Forward group - Hogan, Pedo, Melcham, Jeffy, Bugg, Fritsch, Backs - Frost, Lever, Jetta, Hibberd, Vince, J Smith, Wagner, Hunt. That is 21 players plus add Jones, OMac, Oliver, Trac, that is 25 Do we assume that Viney and T Mac and ANB aren’t starters for round 1 and maybe Lewis? Frost, Fiitsch, Billy, J Smith all looked impressive at times. Vince the whole time I was watching.

Sorry what is religious about Nutbeans comments? The cost of compliance to minimising CO2 emissions is minimal, globally but yes there are local winners and losers big time. So the logical decision is to reduce emissions. However if we, logical thinking people are in fact wrong, well what are the costs? A totally renewed energy system that is clean and efficient, ready for the next century. Nothing remotely religious here but I suspect you are holding on desperately to some religious beliefs Wrecker.