Autopsy Round 3, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Fremantle

[WCErevival]

I thought of a positive. Next game is away so we won't be subjected to Adam Simpson.

Seriously m8 if Harry Edwards goes for too many marks maybe you could've mentioned it to him in the 6 years you were his coach.

From what I've been told, Edwards isn't the smartest guy going around. He's probably been told multiple times.

 

[stallon]

A few weeks? They have been shithouse for 3 years now. Mini should have moved them to the flanks in the pre season and not give them credits. Baker should go back to HBF or outside as originally was the plan and Graham should play HF just like he did at Richmond for 8 years as a starting point....

Mini has to go in and make his own judgements from inside the 4 walls

Allan is versatile and can play by ear in that sense. Im confident he will provide more then Duggan does in the middle. A bigger body too . Gross is that extra midfielder. You cant complain about our lack of run in the midfield then suggest we dont add a extra midfielder or 2 to the mix. You are right in saying its a weakness so lets fix it by actually playing midfielders in the midfield and not well Liam Ryan and Liam Baker. I mean do you think Liam Ryan is providing a solution in the midfield or something?

Did you read what I wrote?
Add 1 young mid who will be on limited minutes and see how we go. After a couple of weeks if we think we can add another then go for it.
We already have 2 young mids in the side on limited minutes
Gross/Hall/Allan arent half forwards, if we want to play them there we may as well let them play WAFL and develop there.

Its hard to say midfield is our biggest issue yet suggest we keep a low midfield rotation that sees us put flankers in the midfield ahead of well midfielders. If things go wrong we do have a switch to flick in the game. Put the flankers into the midfield. Instead of starting them there just simply have them as backup. A easy equation id think

Why are you responding to me as if im disagreeing with you on this?
Rushing in a heap of kids is stupid, bringing them in over time makes more sense, Graham and Kelly should 100% be playing off a flank in a rotation but only if we have the mids ready to go.

 

[Astro7]

Accepting mediocrity because it can be compared to surrounding mediocrity.

I like Duggo’s leadership skills but he needs to be assisted by Mini to stay put in the backline - not a midfielder, and actually perform consistently there at the very least

I was suggesting he's not the problem, or only problem. Who does he replace in the backline? Ginbey is doing well, provides speed and attack and kicks more accurately than Duggan. I presume you're trying to shoehorn Hall in, I understand that, and your dislike for Graham. But Duggan and Graham aren't going anywhere soon, need to find another player to substitute for Hall. Long?
However coach also said he wants players to be flexible re positions, so anything's possible going forward.

It doesn't matter how many times you repeat it on BF, it will only happen when the coach decides. Hall might be in the next game, or the one after. He might play a stinker, or he might be a revelation. I hope he is a revelation, we need some dynamism at the coalface. Hall, Hewett and Reid might provide that, but the last two are still underdone. With Yeo, Hutch and Snake back, will help straighten us up.

But I doubt Graham's going out of the team in the short term for reasons previously explained. Coach said he wants to reward Wafl form, but is mindful of throwing young/ underdone players into the AFL midfield. (suggesting short rotations or sub like Hewett)
It's a long season ahead with a lot of changes to come yet, maybe take the long view...(I forgot about Allan)

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

One issue with Allen is he is simply too slow to play the Waterman role when Waterman isnt playing. Too often yesterday he meandered up to the contest and simply overran the ball or got lost. Allen has one use nowadays. Stationary, run and jump at the ball. He is very good at that and that only nowadays. I suspect a more professional club like Hawthorn could fix his flaws right now but we are a long way from doing that. I feel if Waterman isnt back this week we are probably better off playing Shannahan in the Waterman role then Allen. Jack Williams can make way til Allen leaves for good

 

[Yeahnahmate]

I was suggesting he's not the problem, or only problem. Who does he replace in the backline? Ginbey is doing well, provides speed and attack and kicks more accurately than Duggan. I presume you're trying to shoehorn Hall in, I understand that, and your dislike for Graham. But Duggan and Graham aren't going anywhere soon, need to find another player to substitute for Hall. Long?
However coach also said he wants players to be flexible re positions, so anything's possible going forward.

It doesn't matter how many times you repeat it on BF, it will only happen when the coach decides. Hall might be in the next game, or the one after. He might play a stinker, or he might be a revelation. I hope he is a revelation, we need some dynamism at the coalface. Hall, Hewett and Reid might provide that, but the last two are still underdone. With Yeo, Hutch and Snake back, will help straighten us up.

But I doubt Graham's going out of the team in the short term for reasons previously explained. Coach said he wants to reward Wafl form, but is mindful of throwing young/ underdone players into the AFL midfield. (suggesting short rotations or sub like Hewett)
It's a long season ahead with a lot of changes to come yet, maybe take the long view...(I forgot about Allan)

Agree with most of that for sure. Mini can also reward Grahams WAFL form if selection integrity is going to be a thing if he stinks it up next week and has to work his way back in, so be it. We need ball winners in the middle

 

[ziad]

Mini has to go in and make his own judgements from inside the 4 walls

Did you read what I wrote?
Add 1 young mid who will be on limited minutes and see how we go. After a couple of weeks if we think we can add another then go for it.
We already have 2 young mids in the side on limited minutes
Gross/Hall/Allan arent half forwards, if we want to play them there we may as well let them play WAFL and develop there.

Why are you responding to me as if im disagreeing with you on this?
Rushing in a heap of kids is stupid, bringing them in over time makes more sense, Graham and Kelly should 100% be playing off a flank in a rotation but only if we have the mids ready to go.

A positive is that I will be in Perth this week and next. Thus I will miss the GWS game. It will be a blood bath as in past years without rushing in kids. To rush many in would be just dumb.

 

[EdCurnowRules]

The big positive is Archer Reid. Big blokes take a few years so imagine him in a few… he could really be something.

Bailey Williams gets up there boy, thought he did fairly well but was at work so couldn’t watch it much.

Just out hustled by Freo pretty much all day. They just worked harder, were cleaner. It really showed the true gap between the two sides.

Our midfield is in big strife.

 

[ziad]

One issue with Allen is he is simply too slow to play the Waterman role when Waterman isnt playing. Too often yesterday he meandered up to the contest and simply overran the ball or got lost. Allen has one use nowadays. Stationary, run and jump at the ball. He is very good at that and that only nowadays. I suspect a more professional club like Hawthorn could fix his flaws right now but we are a long way from doing that. I feel if Waterman isnt back this week we are probably better off playing Shannahan in the Waterman role then Allen. Jack Williams can make way til Allen leaves for good

I don't think thats a credible role at FF at AFL level, as a full back its an absolute free ride for Hogan.

 

[Astro7]

Agree with most of that for sure. Mini can also reward Grahams WAFL form if selection integrity is going to be a thing if he stinks it up next week and has to work his way back in, so be it. We need ball winners in the middle, not fit, mostly untalented tryers - we have enough of those

Fair call. Graham wasn't the only stinker, but the midfield is a concern and needs to be addressed asap. Still have to keep some seniority around. Too much youth is also not good, a balance required. But be interesting to see how Mini responds this week.

 

[Scotland]

Long and Hewett have done SFA so far this year. I thought Hewett was good after coming on vs Freo but he won't build match fitness playing half an hour. I think Long should play WAFL this week and if Hewett isn't starting the game then he should also. They've both missed a lot of footy. People hate on Owies (the one time he is hit up on the lead he drops the mark OMFG) but he's playing a defensive role deep forward in a team that never has the ball. Talk about a thankless role. He is #2 for tackles behind Graham and is at least active inside forward 50.

We need more from the forwards up the ground. Liam Ryan is deadly putting the ball inside 50 but only had 8 kicks for the game. I don't think Frederick had a particularly great game for Freo but he played forward and had 14 touches and 7 marks. He was providing an option all over the ground whereas when we had the ball after a kick in our options were long down the line to Luke Jackson each time. We can't rely on Cripps who is almost 33 to be the hardworking arc to arc forward.

 

[random260]

This Bailey Williams fella. I've never seen a ruckman less interested and allergic to tapping to others beside himself then I have seen with him.

Do we have any data analyst and the club that can see the impact of him-
1. Grabbing the ball from the center kicking it blindly to the foward line as opposed to maybe

2. Grabbing the ball in the center and handballing to a mid on the run

Somebody mentioned he had many clearances. Well i mean when the only tap outs you win you tap 2 meters in front to yourself it's not that surprising

It does my head in. But i want to see the data analyst report first

 

[eaglesnutcase]

I think Voss bullied us yesterday.
BBW I think was still feeling the effects of last week as were a few players.
Loved TK and HR interacting after Hs mark/goal.
Hutch and Gross into the middle soon.. please!!
TK to a flank.
It’s VERY early in the season and I think Mini will slowly sort the team out.Greco and HJ could get in the team as well. It probably makes sense to get more youngsters into the team later in the season when the frenetic pace has slowed a bit as it does every year.
I think it’s more important for a bottom side to finish well than it is to start well.
We could have lost by 80points easily yesterday.

 

[Hoskin300]

Disappointing game. We still look a long way off.
Even though we didn't get smashed on the scoreboard we played terribly. Maric, AReid, Ginbey all played their parts but most of the team, especially the senior guys didn't play well. BWilliams went back to letting his opponent be the best player on the ground.

It doesn't look like there will be any quick turnaround with a new coach/gamestyle. We just lack the players in the midfield.
It shows we shouldn't be chasing Warner this year. We still need some high draft pick midfielders. At the moment if he was to come to the club we would still suck plus we wouldn't have any high picks for the next 2 years. We need two more years of top draft picks and then Warner would help.

Time to start playing the next Gen,

Out: Long, Brockman, Billiams, Hedwards, Gov (injured), Hunt, Owies
In: Gross, Hall, Brock, Waterman, Flynn, HJ, Allan

Mini needs to keep trying things. Allen, Reid to defense to find some form. Hough to the middle to see what he offers in there. Gross to take Longs spot rotating forward/Mid. Who knows what to do with Duggan, if he wasn't captain he'd be on the chopping block. Mini has this year to try things and work out who fits where.

Very harsh on BWilliams. Was probably one of our best yesterday.

 

[Scotland]

TK as a 24/25 year old played mid/forward for a Geelong side where mids kick goals.

2018: Danger, Kelly, Menegola kicked 20+ and Ablett kicked 16 in 19 games.
2019: Danger, Kelly, Ablett, Menegola, Duncan kicked 20+

He's kicked more than 6 goals in a season for WC once when he kicked 10. We don't believe in goalkicking mids and haven't for about 15 years. Harley Reid is a dangerous mid/forward but only kicked 10 goals last year. I'd love to see him 60/40 forward with bursts in the middle like De Goey who has a similar build and often isn't fit enough to run out games.

I have a feeling that TK on a flank might be a disaster. The ball is rarely in our forward line so it's not our forwards get lots of opportunities for stoppage goals which he is good at. His defensive running as a mid is also poor, so can see him jogging around against someone like Luke Ryan racking up 35 touches or Nick Blakey turning every possession in 100 metres gained.

 

[Woutizmoo]

After a loss we want 6 changes and magnets thrown around. stuff it [emoji6]

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

magnets Gatorade bottles

 

[Hoskin300]

Mini has to go in and make his own judgements from inside the 4 walls

Did you read what I wrote?
Add 1 young mid who will be on limited minutes and see how we go. After a couple of weeks if we think we can add another then go for it.
We already have 2 young mids in the side on limited minutes
Gross/Hall/Allan arent half forwards, if we want to play them there we may as well let them play WAFL and develop there.

Why are you responding to me as if im disagreeing with you on this?
Rushing in a heap of kids is stupid, bringing them in over time makes more sense, Graham and Kelly should 100% be playing off a flank in a rotation but only if we have the mids ready to go.

What actually suggests that “rushing kids in is stupid”. The current tactic of bringing them in slowly over time has completely failed and it’s why we are so far behind in the rebuild.

Hall should be playing as an inside midfielder in the AFL team. End of story. We are getting absolutely pumped in there regardless. The senior alternatives suck.

 

[Hook461123]

Very harsh on BWilliams. Was probably one of our best yesterday.

Maybe harsh, but he was absolutely pantsed by Jackson who IMO was best on ground. Disagree that he was good.

 

[Scotland]

Agree Jackson was BOG. Was absolutely everywhere.

 

[Seadog]

I think Voss bullied us yesterday.
BBW I think was still feeling the effects of last week as were a few players.
Loved TK and HR interacting after Hs mark/goal.
Hutch and Gross into the middle soon.. please!!
TK to a flank.
It’s VERY early in the season and I think Mini will slowly sort the team out.Greco and HJ could get in the team as well. It probably makes sense to get more youngsters into the team later in the season when the frenetic pace has slowed a bit as it does every year.
I think it’s more important for a bottom side to finish well than it is to start well.
We could have lost by 80points easily yesterday.

Could have lost by 80 and probably should have. Freo's midfield was just as dominant as GC's but they are way less efficient going forward than GC.

 

[Hoskin300]

Maybe harsh, but he was absolutely pantsed by Jackson who IMO was best on ground. Disagree that he was good.

For us he had the most contested possessions, most clearances and third most pressure acts. AFL player ratings had him as by far our best. He was clearly good Jackson was just a 10/10.

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

TK as a 24/25 year old played mid/forward for a Geelong side where mids kick goals.

2018: Danger, Kelly, Menegola kicked 20+ and Ablett kicked 16 in 19 games.
2019: Danger, Kelly, Ablett, Menegola, Duncan kicked 20+

He's kicked more than 6 goals in a season for WC once when he kicked 10. We don't believe in goalkicking mids and haven't for about 15 years. Harley Reid is a dangerous mid/forward but only kicked 10 goals last year. I'd love to see him 60/40 forward with bursts in the middle like De Goey who has a similar build and often isn't fit enough to run out games.

I have a feeling that TK on a flank might be a disaster. The ball is rarely in our forward line so it's not our forwards get lots of opportunities for stoppage goals which he is good at. His defensive running as a mid is also poor, so can see him jogging around against someone like Luke Ryan racking up 35 touches or Nick Blakey turning every possession in 100 metres gained.

Quite possibly. But doing nothing is also not an answer.

I'm happy for McQualter to try different things, even if they don't work. At least he is thinking his way through it.

The worst possible outcome would be Baker, Kelly, Graham and Harley all together in the midfield next week.

It would mean we have learnt nothing.

 

[Hook461123]

For us he had the most contested possessions, most clearances and third most pressure acts. AFL player ratings had him as by far our best. He was clearly good Jackson was just a 10/10.

What I don't like about Bailey is he always taps to his own advantage which means he may win contested possessions and clearances but he doesn't help our midfield. He had 6 HTA as opposed to Jacksons 18. If your letting your opponant control stoppages like that then its not a good game.

We know what we are going to get with Bailey, weve watched it over the past 3 years. He is ok around the ball and tries hard but doesn't offer much around the ground (1 mark on the weekend).

 

[Scotland]

Quite possibly. But doing nothing is also not an answer.

I'm happy for McQualter to try different things, even if they don't work. At least he is thinking his way through it.

The worst possible outcome would be Baker, Kelly, Graham and Harley all together in the midfield next week.

It would mean we have learnt nothing.

I am all for changing up the midfield mix. I would like to see Reid, Hewett and Hall in combination at centre bounces to see how that goes.

I also have no issue with any player in the 22 playing in the AFL if form warrants it.

 

[Hoskin300]

What I don't like about Bailey is he always taps to his own advantage which means he may win contested possessions and clearances but he doesn't help our midfield. He had 6 HTA as opposed to Jacksons 18. If your letting your opponant control stoppages like that then its not a good game.

We know what we are going to get with Bailey, weve watched it over the past 3 years. He is ok around the ball and tries hard but doesn't offer much around the ground (1 mark on the weekend).

It’s much easier to have hit outs to advantage if you are tapping to competent midfielders. Williams is trying to tap to Graham hahahah.

I’m not arguing BWilliams was close to Jackson level. But to drop him off that game for Flynn is brain dead.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

What actually suggests that “rushing kids in is stupid”. The current tactic of bringing them in slowly over time has completely failed and it’s why we are so far behind in the rebuild.

Hall should be playing as an inside midfielder in the AFL team. End of story. We are getting absolutely pumped in there regardless. The senior alternatives suck.

"We need bigger bodies in the midfield"

Proceed to play two dwarves who have never played midfield before in midfield to counter that....

Make it make sense