Review Good/Bad v North Melbourne, R1 2016

[whitey_1975]

I think there were a number of reasons why we lost last night. Isolating any one of these reasons and blaming it solely for the loss would be a major mistake.

Lack of input from senior players
Too many of our senior players were absolutely awful last night. VB had the worst case of the fumbles that I've ever seen from him. Tex and Betts were both liabilities when kicking for goal. First Tex missed from the point of the goal square, then Betts missed from 20m out running into an open goal. Neither redeemed themselves. Sloane was nowhere near his best and appears to be struggling with the extra attention he's receiving, now that He Who Must Not Be Named is no longer with us. Lynch was barely sighted and his shank in the final quarter was one of the final nails in our coffin.

Brad Crouch is much hyped as the player who is going to make up for losing Dangerfield. He was awful last night, but that's to be expected given the time he's spent out of the game due to injury. There's not a lot of point in playing him in the SANFL. His problems were caused by a failure to adjust to the increased speed and physicality of the AFL competition. Playing in the SANFL won't fix that - only more game time at the AFL level will make a difference.

Poor Discipline
I can give Brad Crouch some slack for struggling with the pace of the game, given that he's missed 18 months due to injury. What I can't forgive is his shocking lack of discipline throughout the game. He needs to pull his head in, and he needs to do it now. Matt Crouch got reported and it looked ugly in real time, though a number of posters seem to think slow motion replays may help his case. Either way, it was unnecessary and poorly disciplined.

Adelaide gave away a number of goals through 50m penalties. Laird's push, combined with Thomas' diving skills, gave North a 2nd goal without the ball being bounced - that halved our lead in an instant. Yes, it was in response to Sloane being punched in the jaw, but it was still dumb football. He shouldn't have allowed himself to get sucked in by North's niggling and diving tactics.

Murdering the ball
Adelaide had an abundance of wasted opportunities to win the game in the final quarter. We wasted every single one of them. Betts ran into an open goal, and missed. McGovern tried to kick a checkside goal, and missed. Walker had 2 misses from 50m, normally the only range where he does kick reliably. We had 2 players streaming towards the 50m arc, confronted by a single North player - a certain goal beckoned. The handball goes behind the player, and the opportunity goes begging. Time after time we bombed the ball into our 50m arc, hoping for the best - with the ball invariably being turned over.

Then there's the Brodie Smith hospital pass to Sloane, earlier in the game, when he should have been taking the shot himself. Smith turns the ball over and it goes down the other end for a goal - a 2 goal turnaround, in a game we lost by 10 points. Not to mention Tex's miss from the point of the goal square.

Goldstein
Unlike the other factors, which were entirely within Adelaide's control, there was nothing we could do about Goldstein. His marking and calm assurance in the final quarter was the biggest individual difference between the sides. I sincerely hope that he is rewarded with 3 Brownlow votes for this game, as he thoroughly deserves them.

Umpiring
Adelaide had a pretty good run in the first half, but the price we paid in the second half - when the umpires decided to even things up - was just plain vicious. North were given free license to rip Adelaide heads off and throw the ball at will, with the umpires doing nothing to discourage them. In return, Adelaide just had to touch a player or go within 25m of them after a mark, and it was an instant 50m penalty. Shocking display of incompetence. I'm not accusing them of bias, just incompetence.

North's Tall Forwards
Brown, Petrie and Waite kicked 7 goals between them and looked dangerous whenever the ball was coming in high. None of our defenders looked like matching them in the air - not Talia, not Lever, not Cheney. Often they found themselves competing against vastly undersized opponents, such as Seedsman and Smith, with our taller defenders nowhere to be seen. I guess that's the nature of the web defence... Adelaide had no answer - and things weren't helped by these players receiving multiple 50m penalties, bringing them within scoring distance. Hartigan wouldn't have made one iota of difference.

So u watched the game then Vader
Seriously thought you made a top summary there.

 

[spexau]

Other than the goal he kicked?

Other than that.

 

[NSWCROW]

2nd half of the 3rd qtr and all of the 4th we REEEEEKED of " oh this is all too hard "


Not a good way to start a season.





But **** this club , pick VB and Mackay every week and you get what you deserve so i'm done tearing my hair out over this club.

 

[Paladin]

I think there were a number of reasons why we lost last night. Isolating any one of these reasons and blaming it solely for the loss would be a major mistake.

Lack of input from senior players
Too many of our senior players were absolutely awful last night. VB had the worst case of the fumbles that I've ever seen from him. Tex and Betts were both liabilities when kicking for goal. First Tex missed from the point of the goal square, then Betts missed from 20m out running into an open goal. Neither redeemed themselves. Sloane was nowhere near his best and appears to be struggling with the extra attention he's receiving, now that He Who Must Not Be Named is no longer with us. Lynch was barely sighted and his shank in the final quarter was one of the final nails in our coffin.

Brad Crouch is much hyped as the player who is going to make up for losing Dangerfield. He was awful last night, but that's to be expected given the time he's spent out of the game due to injury. There's not a lot of point in playing him in the SANFL. His problems were caused by a failure to adjust to the increased speed and physicality of the AFL competition. Playing in the SANFL won't fix that - only more game time at the AFL level will make a difference.

Poor Discipline
I can give Brad Crouch some slack for struggling with the pace of the game, given that he's missed 18 months due to injury. What I can't forgive is his shocking lack of discipline throughout the game. He needs to pull his head in, and he needs to do it now. Matt Crouch got reported and it looked ugly in real time, though a number of posters seem to think slow motion replays may help his case. Either way, it was unnecessary and poorly disciplined.

Adelaide gave away a number of goals through 50m penalties. Laird's push, combined with Thomas' diving skills, gave North a 2nd goal without the ball being bounced - that halved our lead in an instant. Yes, it was in response to Sloane being punched in the jaw, but it was still dumb football. He shouldn't have allowed himself to get sucked in by North's niggling and diving tactics.

Murdering the ball
Adelaide had an abundance of wasted opportunities to win the game in the final quarter. We wasted every single one of them. Betts ran into an open goal, and missed. McGovern tried to kick a checkside goal, and missed. Walker had 2 misses from 50m, normally the only range where he does kick reliably. We had 2 players streaming towards the 50m arc, confronted by a single North player - a certain goal beckoned. The handball goes behind the player, and the opportunity goes begging. Time after time we bombed the ball into our 50m arc, hoping for the best - with the ball invariably being turned over.

Then there's the Brodie Smith hospital pass to Sloane, earlier in the game, when he should have been taking the shot himself. Smith turns the ball over and it goes down the other end for a goal - a 2 goal turnaround, in a game we lost by 10 points. Not to mention Tex's miss from the point of the goal square.

Goldstein
Unlike the other factors, which were entirely within Adelaide's control, there was nothing we could do about Goldstein. His marking and calm assurance in the final quarter was the biggest individual difference between the sides. I sincerely hope that he is rewarded with 3 Brownlow votes for this game, as he thoroughly deserves them.

Umpiring
Adelaide had a pretty good run in the first half, but the price we paid in the second half - when the umpires decided to even things up - was just plain vicious. North were given free license to rip Adelaide heads off and throw the ball at will, with the umpires doing nothing to discourage them. In return, Adelaide just had to touch a player or go within 25m of them after a mark, and it was an instant 50m penalty. Shocking display of incompetence. I'm not accusing them of bias, just incompetence.

North's Tall Forwards
Brown, Petrie and Waite kicked 7 goals between them and looked dangerous whenever the ball was coming in high. None of our defenders looked like matching them in the air - not Talia, not Lever, not Cheney. Often they found themselves competing against vastly undersized opponents, such as Seedsman and Smith, with our taller defenders nowhere to be seen. I guess that's the nature of the web defence... Adelaide had no answer - and things weren't helped by these players receiving multiple 50m penalties, bringing them within scoring distance. Hartigan wouldn't have made one iota of difference.

So you suggest we were vastly undersized - why wouldn't Hartigan have made any difference then?

 

[Vader]

I just like watching Brad Scott throw his arms out and open his mouth wide 50 times a game

He's like my mum. She can't believe it when the other side so much as touches the ball. How can that possibly be allowed?!

And why does Brad never seem to have anyone sitting anywhere near him?

Would you want to be whacked in the face every time he throws his arms out?

 

[VSTone]

I guess because all of Seeds kicks were long damaging and broke the zone. I can't remember any of Mackay's disposals which had such influence on the game.

he goosed a goal from McLovins fine body work...

 

[adelaidecrows]

This game falls into game we should have won category. The best thing we can take away from that is really we were missing possibly 4 players from our best 22 (on potential; Menzel, Cameron, Henderson and Hampton) whereas North couldn't have been any better. Our ball movement was lightening quick and the only way the Kangaroos could stifle our run was to body us off the ball. Which at times we looked too lean and small in comparison to the bigger bodies. I am disappointed the umpiring seemed to be too reactive to North's blatant diving and I am hoping after the umpires game review they acknowledge they went too far. Thomas's goal should never have been awarded, you could tell the commentators weren't happy with it but as usual now the AFL have silenced the coveraged. I mean how dare the umpires get blasted for a poor effort. Brad Crouch's over turned mark also should never have been awarded. It should have been 50 because Thompson didn't let him go. A few things for the umpires to get better at. Anyways I feel although we lost, Don can be happy with the ball transition and that we are very capable of playing some very fast footy where as all North could do was chip around the boundary line. We need Henderson and Hartigan in defence, its a blight on us that a plodding buckle wheel like Waite can have such an influence, we really lacked that good intercept mark which Henderson can provide. Cheney is just too small and although a big tough body, he simply gets found out against taller opponents.

 

[spexau]

he goosed a goal from McLovins fine body work...

Seed? That was tough though he was going full tilt

 

[MRB37]

Stats from todays paper.

 

[VSTone]

Seed? That was tough though he was going full tilt

remebering Mackays kicks

 

[Bay62]

Watching Gameday

Sando Bernie Sloaney and Tex all discussing the game

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I'm a bit on the anti vb brigade so I'd like your insight.

But with those 9 touches what exactly did VB offer us?

I'm sure I saw a at least 1 clanger. Went at 78% efficiency so there is something.

My thoughts on VB ......he did some nice pass's and was certainly giving 100% .......but whilst we have discussed the impacts of his Archilles ....the reality is his hands are not one grab now and he's lost his agility .....that's turned him from a good player to a role player

At his age he won't be part of our next premiership .....in a 50/50 selection decisioni'd be going for another type, like a Shaw? .....hopefully that doesn't come across with any bias

 

[whitey_1975]

I agree .....Seedsman looked dangerous ....but only 5 kicks from a wingman?

We've been critical of Mackay for those numbers .....yet laud Seedsman?

Agree with that, Seed needs to do more, (doesnt have the terrible history that David does though) but once our mids got done by their mids in the 2nd half his ball dried up. I think he showed more with his disposal, but not 100% sold on him yet. It is why I cant wait for Hampton to be ready, as he has the ability to go inside successfully when the ball dries up from the mids. David and Seedsman dont offer that.

 

[Vader]

Because VB was clearly the worst player on the ground. Sure, Walker and Sloane weren't at their best, but they were miles ahead of VB in terms of their contribution to the team

VB was bad. Fumbles galore. Not convinced he was worst on ground. Tom Lynch mounted a pretty strong case for that particular honor. Walker and Betts both get honourable mentions too.

 

[VSTone]

geez smith gained some huge meterage... is that a typo?

 

[BRL121]

I thought I was the only one who saw this dog act, so I thought I must have imagined it.

The commentators saw it!

 

[Cap]

My thoughts on VB ......he did some nice pass's and was certainly giving 100% .......but whilst we have discussed the impacts of his Archilles ....the reality is his hands are not one grab now and he's lost his agility .....that's turned him from a good player to a role player

At his age he won't be part of our next premiership .....in a 50/50 selection decisioni'd be going for another type, like a Shaw? .....hopefully that doesn't come across with any bias

Way better than my summary would have been

 

[Scorpus]

Stats from todays paper.
View attachment 228943

I can just see it now: VB's 13 pressure acts and Mackay's 19 pressure acts will assure them a spot next week

 

[adelaidecrows]

I am disappointed in that last quarter when the game was on the line we still chose to go down the boundary line right into Goldsteins direction. That was just really stupid as the game wore on. If Goldie was on one side of the ground, the smart objective is to switch the play. I think our on field leadership need a spray for that. Maybe it was a sign of it being the first game of the year but our match awareness was just crap.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Because VB was clearly the worst player on the ground. Sure, Walker and Sloane weren't at their best, but they were miles ahead of VB in terms of their contribution to the team

Errr NO? ......

I seriously doubt this is true. Hartigan isn't anymore reliable by hand anyway.

 

[baldandbroke]

This was the issue with Dangerfield ......of course until he left

Dangerfield with the Crows ......his good outweighs his bad
Dangerfield with Geelong .........His disposals were atrocious

Walkers 3 misses were all getable for a player of his quality .....the 20 mtr miss for goal a gimme for him .....his grubber kicks caused turnovers

But continue to praise that and go hell for leather on the board whipping boys ......that's the double standard here

I disagree with this WW.

Dangerfield with the Crows ......his good outweighs his bad.
Dangerfield with Geelong .........his good outweighs his bad, but please realise he has some bad and is not the messiah.

As far as Walker goes - his kicking was ordinary early last year too. He will come back to his normal levels soon enough.

Comparing Walker / Sloane / Jacobs / Talia to VB or Mackay? I don't even know why anyone would start that conversation

 

[Bay62]

Pyke's presser

Glad we can finally hear the questions being asked

But the questions were a bit light on I thought

No one wanted to ask whether in hindsight they should have picked Hartigan? Or how he saw McGoverns game? Or Milera Seedsman Brouch?

 

[Scorpus]

Errr NO? ......

If you want to keep accepting shithouse performances from a player with a record of shithouse performances then you can keep believing that somehow Sloane and Walker were worse than VB last night

I do partially agree with Vader though, Lynch was unsighted as he was tagged out of it by McDonald. However, VB had an active negative contribution to the team whereas Lynch did absolutely nothing

 

[Huntercrow]

The main problem with VB and Dmack is they are not AFL standard but are good SANFL types.
Let's say they are both dropped this week. More than likely they will put their hands up for a recall next week.
They will bide their time playing decent SANFL until the next Crows loss.

This is where Pike has to make a decision. To go with either VB or Dmack or take a chance on a younger player. Keep in mind we are not blessed with experience in our league side.

 

[creme_fraiche]

I love that we scream out for years to play anti social football and then we get 2 brothers who are elite anti-social mongrels and we're up in arms calling them stupid and saying they need to tone it down.

Sections of this supporter base are just awful.