Review R8: The Good, Bad and the Ugly vs. Carlton

[AFC979810]

It’s still early in the season for Tex, he was top 5 in goal kicking early on, is he fading, who knows.

Disagree here. He was on fire all of 2023.

In 2024 he had a couple of niggles and remained fairly consistent that year kicking 29 goals from 18 games.

Kicked 15 from the first 9 games.
Kicked 14 from the last 9 games.

First 4 games kicked 7 goals.
Last 4 games kicked 8 goals.

As to affecting Curtin - C'mon.

 

[Captain Furious]

Well maybe that would actually make us better?

If there’s a been a better small defender in the comp this year than Laird, I’m not sure who it is.

 

[FR0GGY]

Disagree here. He was on fire all of 2023.

In 2024 he had a couple of niggles and remained fairly consistent that year kicking 29 goals from 18 games.

Kicked 15 from the first 9 games.
Kicked 14 from the last 9 games.

First 4 games kicked 7 goals.
Last 4 games kicked 8 goals.

As to affecting Curtin - C'mon.

I don’t even know why I’m arguing it, it’s not my position just offering an alternative view.
What’s the % of forward entries that we go to him?
Having attended our home games this year (except yesterday) there’s been plenty of times when Curtin has been in a great position and we don’t go to him.

 

[FR0GGY]

If there’s a been a better small defender in the comp this year than Laird, I’m not sure who it is.

I’m sure there is, but he’s been really good.
People also thought crouch was doing well and as soon as he wasn’t there we saw a different mix and look to the midfield.
Who knows maybe bond would be good back there, but laird isn’t getting pushed out anytime soon.

 

[Cromulant]

When he shopped around a while back, there were NO takers.

He started the season pretty well, then he got hurt.

He played through, to his detriment

 

[Captain Furious]

I’m sure there is, but he’s been really good.
People also thought crouch was doing well and as soon as he wasn’t there we saw a different mix and look to the midfield.
Who knows maybe bond would be good back there, but laird isn’t getting pushed out anytime soon.

Crouch racking up possessions without being damaging won’t have surprised anyone. Think Bond would be great but he wouldn’t be averaging 24 touches at 83% while cutting quality small forwards out of the game. It’s been a while since Laird played back there consistently but we’re all being reminded why he was a dual AA in that position.

 

[King Elvis]

Milera and laird were v good and been building

Difficult to find it acknowledged on here but it’s a reality

How'd they go last week?

 

[Cromulant]

How'd they go last week?

Laird got a lot of the ball and did sweet FA with it.

Was good last night mind you, they both were.

For Milera, that is the standard now. Play like that and you've got a place

 

[King Elvis]

Laird got a lot of the ball and did sweet FA with it.

Was good last night mind you, they both were.

For Milera, that is the standard now. Play like that and you've got a place

Agree completely - but that isn't his standard game as yet.

Was irrelevant last week in a high pressure game, was excellent today against pathetic opposition.

I hope he can consistently play at the level he did today, but let's not pretend like he's proven himself capable of it.

 

[sirpablo]

I know, I know, I am tough on Nicks. I (still) want him sacked.
I don't believe for a minute Nicks was behind Dawson playing forward, middle and back --- it has Davis, all over it.
If it was Nicks, why has he not thought of it previously?

They were good moves; Dawson was bog (close second, Worrell/ Rankine/Max) tonight.
I shouldn't care who suggested/made the moves but if a lot of them are coming from Davis, what's the Club paying Nicks for? Kumbaya Factor?

I hear this a lot: that the good things are Davis and the bad things are Nicks. But, these days I think coaches work as a team and tend to focus more on the relationships with their players - something that I think Nicks seems to do well, at least from the outside.

 

[Captain Furious]

How'd they go last week?

The 4 small forwards Freo ran through there averaged 6 possessions and .5 goals. One got subbed out. Whilst Milera and Laird were doing that, they got almost 40 touches between them. So pretty good.

We had a lot of problems last week but they weren’t one of them.

 

[sirpablo]

Hugely impressed with out backline: Milera, Michalanney, Worrel, Keane, Smith (played a great game) and Butts (it's kind of nice having a pure lockdown defender - and he is good at that).

I was underwhelmed by Crouch before he went out injured, but I'm excited at our midfield without him - especially with other players coming in to the mix (e.g., Rachelle). I am still not quite sure why we never tried Hinge in there.

Also, I've heard a lot of talk about giving young players more games, and I think when we chose Smith over players like Edwards or Ryan I was a little frustrated. But, the reality is choosing them over Smith wouldn't have made us a better side in the short term - and we're eyeing finals - so I think it was the right call.

Plenty of other quality teams (Geelong and Collingwood) don't rush their young players in and prioritise experience - in fact it seems with player longevity increasing year by year (Collingwood the oldest team, Tex, Zorko, Pendles) this is more of a trend.

 

[Minor Threat]

It’s rare we hold momentum for a whole game, so it was good to see there were no “ok, here we go…” moments for Carlton

 

[Cromulant]

The 4 small forwards Freo ran through there averaged 6 possessions and .5 goals. One got subbed out. Whilst Milera and Laird were doing that, they got almost 40 touches between them. So pretty good.

We had a lot of problems last week but they weren’t one of them.

40 possessions, what did they do with them ??

Last night however, they were fantastic. Credit where it's due.

 

[footy4ever]

Curtin was excellent. Strong hands. One handed pick ups.

Getting better and better and better.

Will become a formidable beast for us.

Absolutely love the guy!

 

[John Who]

The pleasing thing for me is that we can kick a big score without the need for the big 3 forwards to fire on the day. It shows we have plenty of avenues to go on the attack.

I thought our defence was immense, Laird, Worrell and Milera all did mostly right and hardly gave them a sniff.

Curtin’s and Dawson’s marking were also the glaring highlight for me. Dawson’s game last night really felt Deja Vu like a Goodwin game when he was half playing center and half at forward. I remember Goodwin kicking some nice bags in some of the games.

Just a really good team effort and the persistence right through till the end. We won all 4 quarters!

 

[Captain Furious]

40 possessions, what did they do with them ??

Last night however, they were fantastic. Credit where it's due.

Milera went at 91%, Laird at 74% - average across both teams was 70%. So again, not the problem. But burying the lead - as people have done all year - that they’re cutting opposition small forward groups out of the game, and we’ve come up against some pretty good ones.

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Tex will definitely get a rest after the showdown

We can all see Tex has lost a bit of his pizazz but he is playing a vital role up forward taking a good defender away from Fog and TT. His leadership is also critical.

a 75% Tex is still better than Burgess or whoever would come in for him lets be real.....

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Curtin, Max M and Worrell...

3 guys who absolutely hate getting beaten and are competitive beasts.

3 very special long term players for us

 

[Minor Threat]

I was grabbing a coffee at a cafe down at Henley Beach this morning and heard a rumour that St Kilda are willing to make ROB the AFL’s first 2 million dollar man. Make of that as you will

 

[1970crow]

I think its more the get rid of anyone over the age of 30 bandwagon. Wants Walker & Laird & Crouch all out.

Walker needs to be properly managed, we’re overplaying him. But in general, I remain unconvinced on 4 tall forwards, which is being addressed with Curtin spending more time further up the ground. If we were a flag chance this year, a fit and firing Tex could be an important piece. But I don’t think we are, which is why I was ambivalent about this extension.

The way Laird plays I reckon doesn’t improve us. When we’re up against sides going poorly he’ll win plenty of ball and look fine, but when we’re under pressure I reckon we’d be better with an actual defender added to the group. That said, I didn’t get a chance to see today’s game, hence not commenting on the game itself.

 

[AFC979810]

I was grabbing a coffee at a cafe down at Henley Beach this morning and heard a rumour that St Kilda are willing to make ROB the AFL’s first 2 million dollar man. Make of that as you will

Completely False.*

*its closer to 3million.

 

[1970crow]

Cmon time for Nank fan bois to admit their mistake, he is in shocking form and no where near the much derided Mileras talent level. Watch Mileras clean hands almost every time under pressure and distribute to the right option. He shits all over Nank. Nicks abused timee and time again - pathetically by some like the geriatric school teacher guy who I forget his name - but surely the truth can’t be denied any longer. Nicks was RIGHT, And that is:

Milera>>>>>>Nank

Waiting for everyone to own up inc some of our faves like Le Frog. Geroge, don’t respond I can’t see it

Who was suggesting Nank play wing and ahead of the ball though? The discussion was Nank v Milera off half back. If you don’t understand that, then why would anyone bother discussing with you. Nank has been poor, but he’s being deployed to a role very few wanted him playing.

 

[AFC979810]

It’s rare we hold momentum for a whole game, so it was good to see there were no “ok, here we go…” moments for Carlton

Apart from round 1. And round 2. And round 3. And against Carlton.

So yeah apart from 50% of our games this year its pretty rare

 

[Greenfinger]

Smith was neither here nor there.

Didn’t do anything wrong. Solid start and got a few late touches and a goal. Nothing special

Perfect opportunity to play a debutant missed.

Nah . He had a good game.