Autopsy Cats lose to GWS* AFL trust fund babies by 26 points.

[joe444]

Hard to see a happy ending to the year after our most recent two losses.

Zuta's post about the running stats pretty much matched what the eye saw ... sheesh. I'll do some research later to see if that's a trend.

Things to cling to?

• Can we play one, just one, game against a contender without Stewart getting hobbled early and having to play the game sore? Has it actually happened in every single one of the losses he's played in?
• Shannon Neale. Nuff said. (WA clubs will come for him, of course)
• That first ten minutes was on fire stuff. Then .... pfffffffft.
• That's the worst unforced turnover game I've seen from us in a long, long time. I mean, there have been games with dumb kicks straight to a spare defender, but this was different.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

You know it was not a good night when even Scotty in his after-match press conference is saying it was a poor performance after the first quarter. Most teams have a midseason slump, and we seem to be having ours currently. Maybe they're going through a hard training period at the moment, and that's affecting them? It is worrying that GWS and the BL have figured out a way to nullify our strengths, and this is the challenge for Scotty to try and rejig things enough to counter it before the finals, because you can be sure all the finals teams will be using these tactics against us. But I have a feeling they won't change much, thinking that if they can play their best, they'll be OK. That does not make me confident we'll do much in these finals other than make up the numbers.

 

[ShaunWDT]

Ive always rated Jack Bowes

12

Jack Bowes

Age

27

Ht

189cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

318.1

4star

D

18.0

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

6.3

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.1

2star

MG

318.1

4star

D

11.6

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

but he may aswell have put a GWS jumper on, if he's not dropped something is very wrong.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Ive always rated Jack Bowes but he may aswell have put a GWS jumper on, if he's not dropped something is very wrong.

He’s suffered I think from being a bit part role player.

Personally I think he’s best 22 for the fact he is flexible and playable in a number of positions - Scott likes those types.

Bowes might find himself settling at half back now that Duncan is injured. I’d certainly play him before Martin. He’s also played some solid games through the midfield. Handy for midfield rotations / run with type roles. Pretty well suited to sub role as well due to his versatility.

Was the least of our problems yesterday. As was Mullin who was again one of a few that I thought battled out pretty well over 4 quarters. Fast becoming our best Irishman

 

[calder_daddy]

Few of my observations from last nights game.

Anyone who said Bowes is a good kick and will be a good Duncan replacement was wrong “myself included, I think I was sucked into he’s a good kick”
3 times instead of using his left or a basic drop punt he went the outside of the foot.

I listen to SEN and talk back radio all day most days and I have heard the calls and professionals talk about the decline in afl umpiring.
I haven’t agreed in the past but last night was average to be kind, the calls, the non calls, the lack of knowledge and just confusion was diabolical.
Had no effect on the result but did on the spectical.

I haven’t noticed the Geelong Anti bias commentary like I have recently when Dunstall and Healy have our games.
Stick the boots in when they can and won’t drop a argument until it is known Geelong was either lucky or at fault.

I also know the Giants have got us the past 4 times but I have a confidence if we come up against them at the G that we win.
These narrow grounds these days don’t suit us one bit

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Ive always rated Jack Bowes but he may aswell have put a GWS jumper on, if he's not dropped something is very wrong.

Not just him, but for the life of me i don't understand how a player at AFL level can't kick on both sides of the body, the amount of times yesterday Bowes was caught on his left and just checksided the ball with his right foot was infuriating.

It's a lost skill with a lot of modern players.

 

[Frappe]

Not just him, but for the life of me i don't understand how a player at AFL level can't kick on both sides of the body, the amount of times yesterday Bowes was caught on his left and just checksided the ball with his right foot was infuriating.

It's a lost skill with a lot of modern players.

Players encouraged to use pace to get on preferred or give off to teammate.

It’s not deemed as important now for some reason - I think hands on both sides is important.

 

[Frappe]

Few of my observations from last nights game.

Anyone who said Bowes is a good kick and will be a good Duncan replacement was wrong “myself included, I think I was sucked into he’s a good kick”
3 times instead of using his left or a basic drop punt he went the outside of the foot.

I listen to SEN and talk back radio all day most days and I have heard the calls and professionals talk about the decline in afl umpiring.
I haven’t agreed in the past but last night was average to be kind, the calls, the non calls, the lack of knowledge and just confusion was diabolical.
Had no effect on the result but did on the spectical.

I haven’t noticed the Geelong Anti bias commentary like I have recently when Dunstall and Healy have our games.
Stick the boots in when they can and won’t drop a argument until it is known Geelong was either lucky or at fault.

I also know the Giants have got us the past 4 times but I have a confidence if we come up against them at the G that we win.
These narrow grounds these days don’t suit us one bit

I thought they were ok. I think they both commented the non-paid holding the ball was a shocker.
Sadly probably a little easier to be disparaging yesterday.

 

[joe444]

AFL Tracker measurements: we normally hit about 280km per match
Opponent - km
GC: 289
Ess: 282
Bris: 280
Rich: 286
WC: 276
WB: 306

Yesterday: are you freaking kidding me? 219.
What on earth happened? It's not "game style", because GWS had 303.

note: our second lowest result is 277 (v Brisbane in the wet)

 

[Zuta]

AFL Tracker measurements: we normally hit about 280km per match
Opponent - km
GC: 289
Ess: 282
Bris: 280
Rich: 286
WC: 276
WB: 306

Yesterday: are you freaking kidding me? 219.
What on earth happened? It's not "game style", because GWS had 303.

It's so off the charts that I'm questioning if the stats from yesterday are correct. If they are then it's damning.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Can't believe I saw some giving Z.Guthrie votes. He had Stringer and was well beaten.

 

[Tony Barber]

I said it pregame. They dismantle us.
And we do it to others.

It might be time for a bbq at scarlo's place.

 

[standupand]

It's so off the charts that I'm questioning if the stats from yesterday are correct. If they are then it's damning.

We always have a few performances like this throughout the year. Would be interested to see what those numbers were like eg v carlton from earlier in the year. I think it's directed. You don't just decide as a collective to run 2/3 as far as you usually do. It's a long season and player's workloads are individually managed very stringently.

 

[FootyLad0]

I'm hoping that it's just a blip and they'll figure it out now for the run Home. There's still time to ramp up the run into Finals and no you don't want to spend your fuel tickets early but that loss potentially burns us from getting a Victorian Final first week and the running numbers were damning. That looked lazy and lacksadasical.

Frustrating to say the least...but i went into the game thinking we'd lose and wasn't surprised with the end result.
They have our number, Scotty needs to try something different. Honestly playing them again i'd try going full uncontested possession kick mark game and force them to play slow for 3 quarters and then ramp up in the last and beat them past the post because trying to play shootout with them doesn't work.

The World isn't ending, keep the faith peeps. Plenty of games to be played.
Enjoy it for what it is!

 

[joe444]

It's so off the charts that I'm questioning if the stats from yesterday are correct. If they are then it's damning.

Agreed; at least we have a novel excuse for losing ...

 

[joe444]

We always have a few performances like this throughout the year. Would be interested to see what those numbers were like eg v carlton from earlier in the year. I think it's directed. You don't just decide as a collective to run 2/3 as far as you usually do. It's a long season and player's workloads are individually managed very stringently.

see above - it's 68km below our second lowest (v Brisbane @ GABBA)

 

[Mr Meow]

When you have to hide a pure one dimensional inside mid in a forward pocket because they are getting cooked to such a significant degree its pretty clear they just arent up to the level lol, George will learn from that but hes got a long way to go to match it with the big boys.

Potentially. My point was just that a bunch of experienced, quick, fit, A-B grade players also offered nothing defensively and did traffic cone impersonations for most of the game too.

 

[Mr Meow]

Pies bottom 6 is pretty good.
We are a bit like Carlton- elite top end, but if you look at it unbiasedly, our lesser lights are very lesser and although we love our own, they are very middle of the road. Not insulting, just how it appears, and we should not be expecting Danger, JC, Blic to stand up week after week

We are absolutely nothing like Carlton. Please, let's not lower ourselves to this kind of analysis.

 

[God Mode]

We were extremely poor after our initial 4 goal burst. All of our energy seemed to have been zapped and we were second to the ball for the remainder of the game. We didn't attack the contest with aggression and appeared to lack the energy to cover the ground.

Our small forwards need to be better at locking the ball inside 50. I recall hearing that we are one of the best sides at tackles inside 50?? You could have fooled me.
Too often we let teams run it out of their defensive 50 and we are caught out of position and generally scored against. Improving on locking the ball in would go a long way to mitigating the scores from turnovers. I'm not sure why our brigade of smalls can't quite seem to do it. They appear quick enough, is it how we structure?


I think we all need to relax a little with Stevens. You can't come to a final verdict on a player, either positive or negative, off 2 games. Both reactions are extreme. He needs to be judged on a body of work and with the run home against teams below us, I hope the club takes the opportunity to play him.
What other choice do we have? We need that type of player in the side, we may as well persist and see if he can grow and play his role.

It was super encouraging seeing Neale perform against a top side in a loss. He is slowly building up his consistency as we head into finals and could be a real rock for us in the forward line after these next 6 games. Against weaker sides, I hope he continues to improve his craft and grow in confidence.

We need Dangerfield back in the form he displayed earlier in the year.

Keep getting game time into Martin, I think he improves us.

I'm not holding my breath with Henry this season, but it would be a welcome surprise if he could recapture his 2024 form or at least show glimpses. He provides another marking target up forward to compliment Neale.
I know that he's never offered much else other than kicking goals, but last year, even if he was having a quiet game he would kick 2 or 3. Many a time, we would get easy goals (against the flow of play) just by him finishing off our hard work

Thankfully, we are still in a strong position to finish in the top 4 and continue to improve along the way. We've got work to do if we want to win the flag, but it can be done.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

AFL Tracker measurements: we normally hit about 280km per match
Opponent - km
GC: 289
Ess: 282
Bris: 280
Rich: 286
WC: 276
WB: 306

Yesterday: are you freaking kidding me? 219.
What on earth happened? It's not "game style", because GWS had 303.

note: our second lowest result is 277 (v Brisbane in the wet)

I did say during the game are we running in cement, because no one on our team was covering the ground well.

GWS are an elite running team but to have almost 100km more than us, what the hell is going in there, looks really bad for us.

 

[joe444]

CS press conference:
Playing sore after copping a knock: Danger, Cameron
Described some defensive efforts are "pretty slack"

Gave the impression in his comments about GWS that they drive him nuts.

 

[joe444]

I did say during the game are we running in cement, because no one on our team was covering the ground well.

GWS are an elite running team but to have almost 100km more than us, what the hell is going in there, looks really bad for us.

GWS have two of the top 5 kms per game this year. In one match, they covered 315.

 

[bombersboy]

He tries hard but if I was an opposition forward I'd be happy with a COS match up. Not convinced on him as a defender. Good at intercept and general play but gives the opponent too many easy marks. Wish we had Kolo.

Otherwise the mids really were ordinary

I agree. At this stage of his development he is simply not upto it against a quality forward. If I was an opposition coach I would be trying to get a match up on COS and then isolating the pair and directing as much ball as possible to them. If SDK gets back and can find some form then COS could drop back and take the third or fourth best forward but if he is forced to take the second forward he is exposed.

 

[bombersboy]

The umpiring was country grade but had little effect on the outcome.

We were simply outplayed.

Our skills and decision making were poor, they were too fast and we couldn't cope with their pressure.

They have our measure. Simples.

Agree we were outplayed but the first half of the first quarter the GWS players were given an inordinate amount of time to dispose of the ball when tackled on numerous occasion probably at least 4-6 free kicks not paid. Helped swing the momentum.

 

[standupand]

see above - it's 68km below our second lowest (v Brisbane @ GABBA)

Ok thanks. Maybe that's the third lowest then? You had us v WC at 276 which was lower than 277.

I was at the Gabba game and it had a very similar feel to yesterday. Good early and then basically a warm down for 3 quarters.

I didn't see the Carlton game but thought maybe we hit a bit of a low there as well.