Review R19: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs. Gold Coast SUNS

[BRL121]

Apparently thilthorpe was ill leading up to today's game, nearly didn't play.

See above.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Dermie: "Mark Keane isn't scared to take a risk"

Derm, Mark Keane is Irish and doesn't know the rules. He doesn't even know that he's taking a risk.

 

[MrBarry]

Crows have come in to $5.50 for the premiership and Geelong are $6. Not sure we should be above them.

Bookies rarely get it wrong. We looked a level above them this year until fatigue kicked in.

 

[MrBarry]

Good. We were very tough down back as a unit. ANB best game for the club. Dan Curtin is becoming a real headache for opposition sides. An all round effort infront of goal with no one player dominating

The bad. Another game v a contender where we lost the centre square clearances.

The ugly. Not for us but its going to be for port this week in the showdown

The midfield game is simply not as important anymore. Collingwood are down the bottom in terms of average clearances and we are mid table.

 

[CrowBloke]

I think Draper is positioned to come into the team as a sub and this time I don't think Draper would take it for granted.

Interesting.
I reckon Nicks wants to get another pre-season under Draper's belt first.

What makes you think Draper took being sub "for granted"?

Would love to see him playing finals instead of Jones.

I think Draper is still a bit frail/scrawny for AFL, especially rough, hard Finals.

 

[MrBarry]

Hardwick is and has always been the biggest sook in the AFL

Can't stand the prick, got a face like he's been sucking lemons for about 30 years. Loves dishing it out but can't take it.

 

[Crows I Am]

I was a bit worried when TT greeted him in a friendly manner at the start of the game, instead of thumping him in the chest.
However, it turns out that TT was ill and managed throughout the game. That would be consistent with his facial expressions during the match.

He definitely looked gassed when he kicked that goal in the last quarter. Smart move to rest him after that.

 

[Bovo]

Interesting.
I reckon Nicks wants to get another pre-season under Draper's belt first.

What makes you think Draper took being sub "for granted"?

I think Draper is still a bit frail/scrawny for AFL, especially rough, hard Finals.

Draper is definitely next years major project. He is Curtin 12 months ago.

 

[pjcrows]

The midfield game is simply not as important anymore.

I think this is a bit of a naive comment. High end midfielders are absolutely vital in big finals.

 

[ABAB]

I think this is a bit of a naive comment. High end midfielders are absolutely vital in big finals.

Who are Dawson, Rankine and Soligo??? They just don't have the CBA craft, Soligo is the most natural when he is in there.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Needed to hit players up on him (like Thilthorpes first goal) and not bomb it on his head.
His one wood is running and jumping which he can out reach anyone.

Yep although a good sign our big 3 forwards had low ish output and we still got a 10 goal win

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

The midfield game is simply not as important anymore. Collingwood are down the bottom in terms of average clearances and we are mid table.

Getting shaded in clearances is manageable if there's pressure on the ball - forcing dump kicks, scrappy, bombs. I'm sure I've heard coaches call it "dirty ball."

Need to avoid the clean exits. There was one early where the Suns used hands well and released Anderson from the centre. On the burst. But that was really the only unpressured exit I can remember. We really stepped up our tackling and started winning our share.

 

[pjcrows]

Who are Dawson, Rankine and Soligo??? They just don't have the CBA craft, Soligo is the most natural when he is in there.

Dawson yeah. Rankine isn't a mid. Soligo is good but hasn't elevated yet. We'll see if he can this year.

 

[cmndstab]

Good: I’m getting 2017 vibes.
Bad: I’m getting 2017 vibes.

I'm getting 2016 vibes. Start the year off thinking, alright, we're a decent team, might make finals. 6-4 record after ten rounds, not bad. Then we come home with a wet sail (went 10-3 after round 10 in 2016, currently 7-1 after round 10 this year) and you start to think, hang on, are we actual premiership contenders here?

I still think it's one year too early for us to get too excited... but then you see Collingwood starting to fall away and wonder, are the stars aligning?

 

[ABAB]

Dawson yeah. Rankine isn't a mid. Soligo is good but hasn't elevated yet. We'll see if he can this year.

Rankine hasn't hit the height of last year when he played as a midfielder and had 25+ disposals and 2-3 goals but he has shown he can, he is still getting 20 disposals and 1 goal a game in the midfield. Soligo started the year as influential as Dawson, hit the wall and only started to regain his form after the break.

 

[Beejay Crow]

UCK YES 100 times. And *** Port for not doing so.
Dominant win.
Vale Barrie.
Done

Port wore black armbands when Ron Barassi died a few years ago, but nothing for Robran this week. Poor form.

 

[Footypie32]

Good: I’m getting 2017 vibes.
Bad: I’m getting 2017 vibes.

This. I'm constantly asking myself: "Would this stack up on Grand Final day?".

Only one way to find out...

 

[Footypie32]

In the 8 by 3 wins with only 5 to play.

Been trying to remain calm as I really expected some sort of form drop.

We had the form drop earlier in the season. We corrected some things, and this is the result.

Just need to stay healthy.

 

[Golumless]

This. I'm constantly asking myself: "Would this stack up on Grand Final day?".

Only one way to find out...

The only problem with this run is we're not getting the games that show if it will. Our problem this year is when teams can shut down our uncontested marking game as we can be beaten in the grind.

That said, it's very promising that we've managed to get the game on our terms against genuine top 8 sides for two weeks in a row.

 

[Moonwatcher]

I think this is a bit of a naive comment. High end midfielders are absolutely vital in big finals.

We learned that the hard way

 

[Footypie32]

The only problem with this run is we're not getting the games that show if it will. Our problem this year is when teams can shut down our uncontested marking game as we can be beaten in the grind.

That said, it's very promising that we've managed to get the game on our terms against genuine top 8 sides for two weeks in a row.

Every game plan can be beaten though. The question now, is do we have the composure now to weather the storm when opponents get a run on.

We have a few interesting tests coming up. Port/Hinkley will try everything to upset our finals run next week. We should win, but they will try and expose our weak links.

 

[WetCrow1991]

Ugly: Watching the replay the umpires call on Rankine running too far was as terrible as it was watching it live.

 

[StonesThrow]

Good:
Neal-Bullen was unbelievable. I don’t know who his opponent even was, but that player probably won’t be playing next week. Regardless, ANB gets the 3 votes here. Did everything. A genuine leader and heart and soul player.

Worrell continues to make a rush at an All-Australian gig. Has gone from strength to strength and is just about back him in against any forward at present.

Michalanney was excellent. Clearly the next captain of the club for mine.

Curtin with another influential performance. Simply must win the Rising Star if he can keep this up in the last 5 weeks of the season.

Soligo battled really hard and continues to evolve into an excellent pressure player.

Matt Rowell - in a team that lost by 10 goals, Rowell was clearly in the best 2 players on the ground. That’s quite an achievement. The highest rated game of his career. What a beast.

Berry avoiding a concussion after being wiped out by N Murray



Bad:
The Suns

Dawson - I love the guy, and clearly he was under some duress today, but apart from the goal right on half time, he had a shocker

Injuries just starting to creep into the equation a little bit after a charmed run prior to the bye. Hopefully Hinge’s issue isn’t too serious. Fog seemed ok by the end.



Ugly:
Ben Ainsworth thinking he’s relevant enough to get in anyone’s face about anything ever

Watched Dawson in the warm up fumble everything. Was not on.

 

[StonesThrow]

They don't have a clue what they're doing.

There was a deliberate out of bounds on the outer side. We handballed it out under pressure, no player in the vicinity. It was between two umpires and they each looked at each other. Hesitated. Is it you or me...?

A bit of a delay.

Then too much time had passed. They'd almost forgotten what had happened in the confusion. Oh... just throw it in one of them signalled. Suns' players incredulous. I'm watching the replay now so I hope they cut to Hardwick in the box at this moment.

The umpires were inept but at least it was in our favour overall this time, especially early

Yeah I was right near that. One of the most deliberate deliberates I've seen and you're right how the umpires handled it.

We've had a pretty good run with the umps for the second half of the year.

 

[MRB37]

Ironically Mac Andrew played a better individual game today than he did in rd 4.

I think he did most of his damage once they moved him onto Tex, who couldn't go with him at ground level. He had 10 intercept possessions, but 5 came in the last quarter where Thilly spent most of it on the bench