Autopsy Positives and Negatives vs Richmond

[Black Saab]

I agree in part that maybe we should have another flag under our belt but I also want to put up a counterpoint.

It’s hard to judge our “results” over the last few years based purely off the number that we finished. We realistically could’ve finished anywhere between 6th and 1st over all those years, that’s how close the top 5-6 have been and it shows that one f*ck up can be your season. Last year the Collingwood game was it.

Look at this year even. We had a bad start but won 8 matches on the trot, lost an 8 point swing and still find ourselves on an uphill battle for 4th, despite all we’ve done over the last 2 months.

Richmond have been the better side over the last few years but during the H+A they certainly haven’t shown it. They just kept themselves around the mark (as they’re doing again this year) and are the better side when finals come. We’ve just slipped up one time too many in a few of those years that cost us the vital starting position at the beginning of finals. Last year as a prime example again.. If the ball bounces our way in the last minute of the Tigers game, we take their place in the top 4 and possibly win the flag instead of them as well. That’s literally how close it is and shows you how hard it is to win one, let alone multiple in one window.

The sliding doors throughout seasons are huge, you can be unbeatable for weeks on end and lose one single game that defines your season. Last night could have been it again. Although there’s plenty still to go under the bridge before the end of the year this time around. Similar to last year, if we make top 4 I believe we can beat anyone on our day (specifically day time, none of this QLD at night rubbish )

Interesting observations.

I think something to keep in mind with Richmond is the role losing games plays. Having watched them religiously, since 2017 they have learnt how to compose themselves even if they aren't on top of the ladder. In fact being on top of the ladder like 2018 might not be the best thing for a team like Richmond because they seem to relish the fire at the coal face, gritty wins and tough losses. They have consistently shown they are better at the business end of the season after having to work hard for their opportunities. They are galvanised by failure and it seems to give them the rock hard ability to stand their ground rather than capitulate. The Port loss came at a good time.

 

[Monocle]

Hmm....

Whats left in the small forward cupboard?

Bloody hell ........... where is Mitch Brown when you need him ?

 

[leroyeagle]

We still have a game in hand to those above us, we have won 8 in a row, were going to lose sooner or later, they are not a bad side. Tigers have a bye coming up and a tough game against Geelong. We could quite easily be a game and half in front of the Tigers by the time it all evens up. We have some good ins still to come, bad loss but not the end of the world.

You are correct! Head says YES, heart says jeez that was bloody awful & s**t I just *en hate losing to those protected Richmond flogs!

 

[Black Saab]

And and and Collingwood have won 2 of the last 16 Grand Finals (2 drawn) they have played in. Ouch!!!

It's bloody brilliant!!!! During the off season I watched the 18 GF replay just for a laugh. Poor Collingwood. It was brilliant . I was washing my dishes when the winning goal went through. I laughed.

Who was it that went through Maynard? Was it Ryan. To me that was the turning point that ended up making that GF another one of these delicious Magpie stats.

 

[leroyeagle]

Positives
Cole and Duggan were very good.
Shuey tried all night but all his help kept fumbling the ball.
Ryan offered something.
We can improve greatly but we must find a no prisoner killer instinct.


Bottom line for me is that we don’t have the killer instinct.

This! "To many of our players fly for marks or fly to punch and no one stays at ground level. Juniors know this type of stuff yet we keep doing it.
Any team that interrupts how we want to play we look lost and don’t know what to do."

 

[ghostbat12]

Hmm....

Whats left in the small forward cupboard?

Jetta.

People forget he kicked 45 goals in 2012.

 

[RookiePick]

Holding the ball is completely cooked

 

[wce4premiership]

Interesting.

I would have had Ryan or Duggan over Gaffy, but fair enough.

I also rated Duggan's game massively.

To argue Gaff's BOG though for the sake of playing devil's advocate.

Lead the team in: Disposals, Tackles, Goal Assists and Ground Ball Gets.
Lead the mdifielders for: Disposal Efficiancy, Score involvements (equal) and Intercept Possessions.

He also ran 1.5km further than the next closest player. To put it in perspective, he ran the length of the ground 87 times. 9 times more than the next best players.

I'd still have Duggan ahead due to the way he attacked the game and intercepted though. But Gaffy did help create a lot of plays and it was the ground ball gets that stood out.

Gaff is our best midfielder in open play, a lot of the others specialise at stoppages.

 

[wce4premiership]

Also, Cripps played 100% TOG last night.

We don't have players as fit as he is. Petruccelle is coming off a hamstring and is a burst player.

 

[kempy]

Also, Cripps played 100% TOG last night.

We don't have players as fit as he is. Petruccelle is coming off a hamstring and is a burst player.

That’s because he’s not playing again for three or four weeks.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Andyy]

Just mulling over last night it seemed to perfect storm of factors against us;

• Not having our accommodation sorted until a few days before the game
• Travelling on a 4 day break
• A seriously in form opponent
• 5 players in the 22 with less than dozen games experience
• Only playing in bursts the last few weeks
• A growing injury list
• Losing our no.1 forward target very early
• Oppo getting the rub of the green from the umpires

All that considered it's probably a positive that we were still in the game at 3QT. We won't face that kind of adversity for the rest of our hub games.

From tigers perspective:
- traveling on a 5 day break
- seriously in form opponent
- 5 players with approx 20 or less games
- some unconvincing wins the last few weeks
- injury list, including our top 2 from 2019 b&f
- Nank first game back from ages out. Houli second game back from ages out.
- losing our #1 defender early
- oppo getting almost twice as many free kicks as us

Wouldn't overthink it if I was an eagles man. One of those losses you 'had to have' maybe but lots of positives. NicNat was great in patches. Gaff and Duggan excellent. Williams exciting. Ryan holy moly I would throw a sink at him.

Hope we meet again in finals. Other than us two + Geelong I think nobody else can win it. Don't rate Port or Lions, or any of the other top8.

 

[EagleEgo]

Also, Cripps played 100% TOG last night.

We don't have players as fit as he is. Petruccelle is coming off a hamstring and is a burst player.

That can be a problem.
Some office workers can be sitting 100% of the time in the office on a Friday only thinking of a birthday party on the coming Sunday with the family.

 

[ziad]

Holding the ball is completely cooked

That rule is so 2018

 

[Level_Headed]

Positive: Richmond were ON on Thursday. They played like the reigning premiers. But we were not blown away in spite of looking a little down.

Negative: looking a little down in our first game back in the hub is going to add to pressure to perform away.

 

[Winky]

For sure, I’m not moping about it, and definitely 100% grateful to not support perennial losers like St K and Freo

Gee people have been a bit harsh on here. I certainly don't think there was a lack of killer instinct. A couple of players had an off night but most really put in. I was really pleased about O'Neill's game, I thought he showed a lot and his decision making was excellent. Williams showed enough although he tended to be a bit out in his timing. Rotham was good and Reid tried hard although he struggled to get the ball first grab. Brander needs to get better in the air but was OK. Cripps, Shuey, Kelly and Sheed ran their guts out and any errant kicks were simply due to pressure of Richmond forwards and a few fumbles from other players. Gov and Barass were simply mauled which made it hard to even set for marks. I guess Hurn may have looked too slow at times but he did a couple of bursts through packs which were good. A Chee fumbles far too much but if he can get that right will be a handy player. Shep, Cole and Duggan were good and Darling played well even though he too was mauled. Basically the game was lost during a short period where Richmond had everything go right for them including dodgy free kicks right in front and several no calls allowing them to get free.

I also rated Duggan's game massively.

To argue Gaff's BOG though for the sake of playing devil's advocate.

Lead the team in: Disposals, Tackles, Goal Assists and Ground Ball Gets.
Lead the mdifielders for: Disposal Efficiancy, Score involvements (equal) and Intercept Possessions.

He also ran 1.5km further than the next closest player. To put it in perspective, he ran the length of the ground 87 times. 9 times more than the next best players.

I'd still have Duggan ahead due to the way he attacked the game and intercepted though. But Gaffy did help create a lot of plays and it was the ground ball gets that stood out.

Gaff is our best midfielder in open play, a lot of the others specialise at stoppages.

Actually, just in general play I thought that was a great game from Gaff and maybe one of the best I've seen him play. His running put him in a position to help other players with a get out and he competed hard for the ball playing a similar role to Richmond's chaos plan. He also looked for players and just threw it on the boot when he had to. I wasn't too disappointed with the team. Richmond had one of those days when everything just went their way. There were a few decisions at either end which were straight out dodgy by the umps and that cost us. That and the fact we lost Kennedy (while Allen was out) and had 5 players with less than a dozen games in a high pressure game must have had an effect on the team. Couldn't fault the effort of the players and the errors made are easily identified and should be learnt from

 

[wce4premiership]

That can be a problem.
Some office workers can be sitting 100% of the time in the office on a Friday only thinking of a birthday party on the coming Sunday with the family.

He had to cover for our lack of depth and fitness in that role.

I don't doubt that the team will adapt, but maybe at the loss of other strengths. One of the few who apply good defensive pressure from behind. We seem to be relying on pressure from the front a lot.

 

[DickDunn]

I'm not too worried by how we played overall but jeez it'd be nice if someone who isn't Nic Nat could win a few groundball contests. It stood out to me how often players like Cotchin won those 50-50 balls. Fair to say we are missing Yeo and Redden sorely

 

[insidious]

We struggle for ground ball gets. I'm surprised this issue hasn't been raised with the coaches involved.

 

[wooshwhisperer]

Eagles can't win in Queensland without Oscar Allen?

 

[Andyy]

Positive: Richmond were ON on Thursday. They played like the reigning premiers. But we were not blown away in spite of looking a little down.

Negative: looking a little down in our first game back in the hub is going to add to pressure to perform away.

Agreed. As a Tigers supporter I was thrilled with our 4 quarter effort. Most of the time they turn it on for half a game and bag the points which gives me heart attacks. Hope this is indicative of mentality approaching finals.

RE: Hub > several teams traveling to WA have noted how different the surface of Optus is (very hard). Maybe it gives WA teams an advantage over there, but do you think maybe it also has the opposite effect? Might make foreign grounds harder to play on a bit when you are so used to a particular surface?

I'm not too worried by how we played overall but jeez it'd be nice if someone who isn't Nic Nat could win a few groundball contests. It stood out to me how often players like Cotchin won those 50-50 balls. Fair to say we are missing Yeo and Redden sorely

Admittedly Cotchin is one of the best in this business at this particular skill > he really goes hard at the loose/ground ball and that's why he's a good captain.

 

[captain blood 17]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that. No need for a Patreon or anything of the sort (yet ), just hoping that we can offer a decent alternative to listening to the Channel Seven blokes want themselves silly over Dusty getting on the end of the easiest goal in the world.

I have heard good things about for stream/poddy. Well done.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

I have heard good things about for stream/poddy. Well done.

Thanks mate, it was you guys that gave us the idea in the first place with your calls

 

[Ok Boomer]

Yeo is a huge out against a side like Richmond no doubt, he adds that bit of nasty for those ground balls even if he doesn't win them.

 

[captain blood 17]

Thanks mate, it was you guys that gave us the idea in the first place with your calls

Honestly, i think it's great you guys took it on. The fact that we felt compelled to do it (and now you guys are as well) just shows how ordinary the broadcasting calls have become. But, there really is a market for it. And i hope you guys cash in on it. So all you eagles out there get on it and support these guys. Have some fun with it and be as biased as hell.