Opinion Positives

[Proud Bogan]

Second tier players showing vast improvement in development. Which is the RL imprimatur.

Kids like Neale are being played, despite the bullshit that RL would not play them.

We have structure and we have heart for the first time ever. We don't lie down and we adapt.

We are getting what we paid for and we are winning.

And it is about fking time!

 

[Righteo]

As good as Mayne's been in front of goal this year, he's been equally as disciplined when it comes to free kicks, a perfect start of 12 FF and 0 against

I'm really stoked though to see Chopper performing so well this year, he's had his fair share of detractors in the past that's for sure.

 

[Lord Rod]

Second tier players showing vast improvement in development. Which is the RL imprimatur.

Kids like Neale are being played, despite the bullshit that RL would not play them.

We have structure and we have heart for the first time ever. We don't lie down and we adapt.

We are getting what we paid for and we are winning.

And it is about fking time!

What he said

 

[sportsmaniac89]

I think everything that's been said, I agree with but for my perspective, the biggest positive is

I didn't have to yell "DAWSON YOU BLOODY IDIOT" or "GET HIM OFF" once.

That's quite an achievement.

 

[Clay Davis]

A win and percentage from top spot.

 

[valkorum]

5 - 2

That is a positive

 

[sumavich]

As good as Mayne's been in front of goal this year, he's been equally as disciplined when it comes to free kicks, a perfect start of 12 FF and 0 against

I'm really stoked though to see Chopper performing so well this year, he's had his fair share of detractors in the past that's for sure.

Indeed !

 

[freo84]

The 3 major positives for mine are:

Pearce - has been one of our best all year and just keeps improving.
Mayne - stepped up and is looking better and more confident -2010 styles
Hill - 1st class game again. So much talent and a lot of upside to come.

 

[Outshined]

Did what we needed to. Good performance from our mid tier players (especially Johnson, Ibbo and Dawson), and excellent games from Hill, Mayne and of course, Pav.

Now on to the Hawks next week. Would love to knock them off down at Aurora.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

5 - 2

That is a positive

plus we haven't really hit our straps yet..

 

[Nothing]

After qtr time we kicked 10.7 so it was only the first qtr that was inaccurate.

 

[Spirit Level]

ballas hasn't been his usual bellicose self - i wonder if he's output is down because he's trying not to get up in people's shit. must be a hard adjustment when you've done it all your life.

Ive been thinking this aswell. He needs to not give a shit what other people think, and do what makes him a great player. Was the catalyst for us beating Geelong

 

[freo84]

All it will take is a little niggle here and litte niggle there and Ballaz will be back.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Ive been thinking this aswell. He needs to not give a shit what other people think, and do what makes him a great player. Was the catalyst for us beating Geelong

he needs to be playing as a forward pocket, not as a midfielder

 

[prattsta]

Running theme for the season: If we've got the lead, we're not giving it up. If we're behind, we're not giving up.

 

[Tommo]

I think Balla plays better when the other team is giving it to him. As in the Geelong game they were constantly at him. So he lifts and gives it back.

I've notice now that teams are make a deliberately effort not trying to rile him up.

I saw it yesterday, one of the Port players tried getting stuck into him, and the player tagging Balla immediately came over a pulled his player away, then proceeded to wave a finger in his face. Same thing happen in the Saints game.

So someone need to get stuck into Balla before the game so he is ready to rip heads off as soon as he crosses the line.

 

[Paracleet]

I saw it yesterday, one of the Port players tried getting stuck into him, and the player tagging Balla immediately came over a pulled his player away, then proceeded to wave a finger in his face. Same thing happen in the Saints game.

There is your answer right there. He is being tagged. He cut Geelong, and to a lesser extent the Saints, up in the first two games he played for the year. Since then the opposition has been all over him. I don't think sending him forward will necessarily see him suddenly hitting his straps again as he'll still get tagged playing there. He needs to work through the tag and that takes practice.

 

[valkorum]

Watching the game again last night I saw that Balla was being tagged while Hill wasnt. Evidence is there with Hill with 10 touches in the 1st quarter.

 

[Harry Reems]

I was at the game and listening to the call on the radio and the commentators said that Freo were starting to tire in the 3rd quarter like they did against the Gold Coast Suns. This can be be evidenced through the lazy kicks, half-arsed chasing of opposition players when they had the ball, hospital hand passes and turnovers.

On the positive side though we are 5 and 2.

 

[george2]

I think the major positive for us this year is that fact that we have depth, so blokes like Dawson and Mayne and Deboer and MZ etc. all knew that they needed to lift their games because there is blokes in the WAFL putting pressure on them for those positions. Like Spurr, he just kept putting good performances in and putting his hand up to play and pushed Suban out of the team, who many over the summer thought would be a walk up starter to our back line.

This is the most depth that i can remember at our club, even our rookie listed players are performing well. We have first year players like Neale that has already forced his way in to the team and then blokes like Crozier, Sheridan, Sutcliffe, Menegola and JWK are all starting to put a bit of pressure on the team.

That to me is a major positive for us as a club!

 

[tofushark]

I have put some thought into this, and I think the best solution is that whilst everyone else is doing the team warmup, Ballas should be wheeled around the boundary in a straightjacket with a mask on (think anthony hopkins silence of the lambs). The crowd should be pre-armed with projectiles (nothing to harm him just irritating things) and told to abuse him. After that he would be chained up (like a dog, but with quick release) so when the siren does sound he is unleashed onto opposition.

 

[freo84]

^^^^^ that would be brilliant

 

[JimDocker]

I think Balla plays better when the other team is giving it to him. As in the Geelong game they were constantly at him. So he lifts and gives it back.

I've notice now that teams are make a deliberately effort not trying to rile him up.

I saw it yesterday, one of the Port players tried getting stuck into him, and the player tagging Balla immediately came over a pulled his player away, then proceeded to wave a finger in his face. Same thing happen in the Saints game.

So someone need to get stuck into Balla before the game so he is ready to rip heads off as soon as he crosses the line.

Surjan was on Balla. When Crowley scored the first goal, Balla got into Boak's face, obviously letting him know that the guy taggining you just got a goal the other way and Boak was about to react to it when Surjan pushed him away. Surjan is a very aggressive player but did not once yesterday try to fire Balla up. He tagged him well, but did not get into any shoving matches with him. Balla ended up with 12 possessions. Only Lachie Neale and Roberton had less. Surj is a very good shutdown player. (Disclaimer- He is my cousin).

Interesting at the start of the game, a Port player pushed Balla and Balla pushed him back, then another Port player pushed him. The umpire ran in from about 50 metres away and told Balla to settle down. I was screaming at the ump before the siren went !!!

Hawthorn play pretty unsociable football. It is hard to imagine that it won't get pretty fiery next week.

 

[valkorum]

Surj is a very good shutdown player. (Disclaimer- He is my cousin).

So it was you that started the rumor about Surjan coming to Freo

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Surjan was on Balla. ... Surj is a very good shutdown player. (Disclaimer- He is my cousin).

A few of us were disappointed when we didn't rookie list him. Had been playing well at South Freo and has 1st class attitude.

I've been critical of poor forward line structure .... then realized we have highest percentage we have had in at least 5 years. Even in 2010 we've always had trouble geting over the 100% line. We're now at 114%.

Next two weeks will tell a tale. Win those and we fulfill Lyon's statement "we're in a hurry".

Just don't bring in Grover for Cyril. I am sure he still wakes up in bed in a cold sweat over last years game. Can't wait for the usual Buddy vs McPharlin battle.