Autopsy Round 3, 2019: Fremantle v St.Kilda

[Mikka84]

Same thing happened with White two years ago

Same thing happened to White this year!

 

[CaptainRisky]

Hes a pure mid were screaming for a big body in there and he plays forward ruck.

Our club is dumb as ****.

I didnt see all of the game , just wondering how many ruck contests Blake was in

 

[plugger66]

NHL were smart enough to long ago understand that fans don't like seeing the refs effect the product they're trying to deliver, which includes the biffo. The AFL shot themselves in the foot when they accepted the request from the umps to discard with "discretion" and assess on "technical correctness", allowing them to call every possible perceived infraction regardless of it's degree or relevance to play. Essentially, they lowered the bar and traded good officiating for officious officiating in that one moment. Those responsible need to be strapped to a ute and paraded at every ground for fans to throw hot pies and half bricks after every game. Hopefully one day a CEO will be brave enough to overhaul the umps and go professional. One day..

They won’t go full time and neither they should. Would make the pool of umpires even smaller. They will continue to make mistakes because they are human and secondly half the time we think it’s an incorrect call it’s actually correct.

 

[CaptainRisky]

It has been a constant theme for the last 5 years, he gets the ball, holds it too long, the forwards have led into space, not honoured, then its kicked to a contest.

I have seen it at training as well as games, but I know I won't convince his admirer's who for some inexplicable reason call him GOAT, when he isn't even a GOP.

For once your right Joff

 

[Browny2Carlisle]

It has been a constant theme for the last 5 years, he gets the ball, holds it too long, the forwards have led into space, not honoured, then its kicked to a contest.

I have seen it at training as well as games, but I know I won't convince his admirer's who for some inexplicable reason call him GOAT, when he isn't even a GOP.

What you just described is what half the team does. Ross, Dunstan and Newnes do it alot more than Acres so how does that disqualify him from being a mid?

You seem to be targeting him because people call him GOAT. It's a joke. No one really thinks he is the GOAT. We just have a lad with some potential as a mid not being used as a mid in a team that is consistently beaten in the mid. If he gets a chance in there and stinks it up then you can say I told you so but so far historically when used in the middle of the ground he has done well.

 

[kernelT]

Same thing happened with White two years ago

... and Markworth 4 years ago, it's the richo way... he's a tremendous developer of young talent, just really knows how to get the most out of young guys.

Awesome to see Acres flying in a forward pocket yesterday

 

[Joffaboy]

That's a bit harsh, he has a similar loping running style to Raph Clarke but I haven't seen Acres make the sort of brainless mistakes Raph used to make.

Acres actually started the game quite well yesterday with a goal and another score involvement but then faded out of the game. I don't think he played any of the JLT games so maybe his match fitness isn't as good as it could be, I'd still keep him in the team as he at least offers us some versatility and X factor.

Clarke got us into the 2009 GF with his final quarter. Haven't seen Acres do anything like that.
Acres is turning out to be a fraud. Can't play inside or outside, seems ordinary up forward and can't play back.

Maybe Richo was right playing him in the ruck.

 

[D2D3]

He is not an inside mid and hasn't shown he can play outside either. When he plays there he confuses the forwards with his erratic and crazy entries.

They are trying to get some utility out of a player who is very quickly becoming a major disappointment.
He has so many making excuses for him that others are never afforded.

Except in his best games bar one he has played as an inside/outside midfielder? For Sandy he plays as a midfielder, in juniors he played as a midfielder... what exactly is the argument other than “he’s not”?

The only place he isn’t doesn’t play midfield is currently the saints side and unfortunately there’s little reason to trust the reasoning for that is anything other than “Paddy and King are injured and we don’t want to play Marshall or Battle forward.”

People were making the same excuses of “he’s played out of position” for all of Sinclair, Newnes, Lonie and Paton last year as well. Acres just seems to be the main one still played out of position and it’s hard to make that same point for DMac and Geary when they are actually half backs. Although I agree they cop it unfairly.

Whether or not Acres becomes an AFL level player is still up in the air but he’s not going to become an afl player as a marking forward and back up ruck that’s for sure, so why on earth is he playing there?

Then when he inevitably gets dropped he’ll go back into the midfield at Sandy and be named in the best again and the cycle continues.

 

[stavro#4]

Yesterday felt like we reverted back to the bad old days of the past few years where we put in a lot of effort for little reward on the scoreboard.

During the JLT it looked like we had developed a more efficient direct game plan that would help our scoring but that seems to have gone out the window.

We weren't helped with our best mid in Steven being rested and the umpires doing us no favours but we still had enough chances to win that game.

We had 21 scoring shots to Freo's 16 scoring shots but we kicked 7 more points than them, turn a couple of those points into goals and we win the game.

We also made it difficult with our lack of forward structure along with our old tactic of bombing it into our forward 50 and just hoping for the best.

Realistically we aren't a finals quality team at the moment but neither are Freo, they were very ordinary yesterday and were lucky to escape with the win.



Yeah he's no good as just a pure forward, ruck is his best position and he has been impressive the last couple of weeks.

Pretty safe to say he has now nailed down the no.1 ruck role and should only get better with more experience.

Our game plan is based on 3 tall forwards. 2 move up to the wings/CHF and 1 stays deep. Which means a tall target the entire way down the line.

Right now we have 2 talls. So either Paddy comes back. Marsh plays chb and battle moves forward or we keep on keeping on.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Acres doesn’t have a physical bone in his body. Just because he’s tall doesn’t mean he’s suited to be an inside mid. This isn’t exactly the Collingwood midfield he can’t break into either, if it hasn’t happened by now it’s probably not going to happen.

And for the “he never gets a go in there” brigade start since his nice stint in there at the end of 2016 guys like Steele, Stevens, Ross, Dunstan and now Billings and Gresham have all been given a go and have gone past him and in time so will Clark. Surely by now he’s run out of excuses.

The issue is that he hasn't been given the opportunities that others have. When Blacres was played on a wing last season before he got hurt he was in our best performing mids. It has taken Cho 4 seasons to finally play JB in his best position so there's hope for Blacres yet.

It's an interesting viewpoint that a number of posters have this morning though... Blacres is no good as a mid after he being played as a forward for the past two games.

Put him on a wing and leave him there FFS.

 

[Sab22]

Not the biggest fan of Dunstan but he stays. Just keep him away from kicking for goal and into our 50.

 

[Plugger35]

Clarke got us into the 2009 GF with his final quarter. Haven't seen Acres do anything like that.
Acres is turning out to be a fraud. Can't play inside or outside, seems ordinary up forward and can't play back.

Maybe Richo was right playing him in the ruck.

You must have a short memory, this time last year Acres was one of our best players, it was only injury that prevented him from having a breakout year.

I'd like to see him play more midfield with the occasional stint up forward but maybe his fitness from an interrupted pre-season isn't up to playing more midfield minutes at this stage. One thing is for sure he shouldn't be playing as a back up ruckman, we have Bruce who can play that role.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

Our game plan is based on 3 tall forwards. 2 move up to the wings/CHF and 1 stays deep. Which means a tall target the entire way down the line.

Right now we have 2 talls. So either Paddy comes back. Marsh plays chb and battle moves forward or we keep on keeping on.

It was really obvious that we were a marking target short yesterday, especially when Skunk was pushing up to HB to contest marks... we lost momentum a number of times when he had to wait for blokes to get forward and give him options.

I'm really looking forward to Marsh getting into the side. Even if the 'Battle as a Back' experiment is short lived, I'm sure it will be beneficial in his development.

 

[Sab22]

So we all agree we are 2 X A grade mids short?

Hanners and Steven, yeah I agree.

 

[plugger66]

... and Markworth 4 years ago, it's the richo way... he's a tremendous developer of young talent, just really knows how to get the most out of young guys.

Awesome to see Acres flying in a forward pocket yesterday

Maybe the players aren’t good enough. It’s not like our delisted players get constantly picked up and perform with other sides. By the way where should acres play?

 

[plugger66]

It was really obvious that we were a marking target short yesterday, especially when Skunk was pushing up to HB to contest marks... we lost momentum a number of times when he had to wait for blokes to get forward and give him options.

I'm really looking forward to Marsh getting into the side. Even if the 'Battle as a Back' experiment is short lived, I'm sure it will be beneficial in his development.

The reason we are playing better is the pressure up forward. That is one area I would not be changing.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

I know the theory behind what the club is trying to do, and Richo is still filthy at him for how he returned to the club, but my opinion, we’re going about it the wrong way. His confidence is shot and the attacking side of him is being crushed. He’s now at the stage of not being warranted for senior selection because he’s basically giving up in the reserves. Give him 2 weeks in the midfield with some freedom and see how he goes.

If Coffield is giving up because he's getting some tough love then he needs to get some better advice from those close to him.

Sometimes it's the most talented kids who need to really earn their chance. No issue with that.

 

[Joffaboy]

What you just described is what half the team does. Ross, Dunstan and Newnes do it alot more than Acres so how does that disqualify him from being a mid?

You seem to be targeting him because people call him GOAT. It's a joke. No one really thinks he is the GOAT. We just have a lad with some potential as a mid not being used as a mid in a team that is consistently beaten in the mid. If he gets a chance in there and stinks it up then you can say I told you so but so far historically when used in the middle of the ground he has done well.

No am just explaining why he is a disappointment. Can't just lob the rest of the team in for convenience to support your argument.

Acres is the worst culprit I have seen, mainly because as P66 said, he is not a smart footballer and goes off into la la land.
He cost us the game against Port in 2017 by not protecting the space, forgets where he should be, and is generally not switched on.
Have heard coaches yelling at him, 'where are you going' to him during match sim, when he wanders off.

You reckon the GOAT thing is a joke well it started out seriously but is certainly a joke now.
And the thing is, he has size, reasonable pace and football talent, but is pissing it up against the wall.
He should be a dominant mid, but is a bit player.
Fast becoming a waste. I would love for him to turn it around, nothing better, Billings has and I am wrapt.

But time is passing him by and he will blow a promising career.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

The reason we are playing better is the pressure up forward. That is one area I would not be changing.

I agree with that but unless we can run the ball through the midfield constantly, we seem to be a marking player short.

We're fortunate that with Marsh and Battle we have two very mobile targets.

Would we lose much defensive pressure if Battle went forward in the place of Kent?

 

[plugger66]

I agree with that but unless we can run the ball through the midfield constantly, we seem to be a marking player short.

We're fortunate that with Marsh and Battle we have two very mobile targets.

Would we lose much defensive pressure if Battle went forward in the place of Kent?

I would think so but not 100% sure. Whether you have one marking player or 3 they will still not have a tall forward if they are defending then attack on the rebound. That’s just how the game is played now. They all push up. No one hangs back

 

[mighty_sainters]

If Hannebery can capture some form through the season for what we know he’s capable of I can see us doing better than I originally thought.

For me it was the class through the middle that let us down yesterday. Back 6 holding up better than anyone could have hoped.

 

[Pardon me]

Disappointing but we’ll be better for the run.
Last year that was a 50 point loss.
Straighten our kicking and we start the year 3-0.
Stuv comes straight back but I wouldn’t be dropping Hunter after 1 game. Kid needs some consistency at the top level - so a selection quandry looms.
Won’t be surprised if we win this week but it will be a slog against a very improved hawthorn outfit.
Looking forward to selection and game day.

 

[AirWinmar]

He is not an inside mid and hasn't shown he can play outside either. When he plays there he confuses the forwards with his erratic and crazy entries.

They are trying to get some utility out of a player who is very quickly becoming a major disappointment.
He has so many making excuses for him that others are never afforded.

Members was real confused when he got hit lace out on the lead, would of expected the long bomb to the top of the square for sure.

 

[Mikka84]

If Coffield is giving up because he's getting some tough love then he needs to get some better advice from those close to him.

Sometimes it's the most talented kids who need to really earn their chance. No issue with that.

Can go either way.. have to back the club that they know what they’re doing. But I have my concerns.

 

[t_94]

Our game plan is based on 3 tall forwards. 2 move up to the wings/CHF and 1 stays deep. Which means a tall target the entire way down the line.

Right now we have 2 talls. So either Paddy comes back. Marsh plays chb and battle moves forward or we keep on keeping on.

This is the answer once Marsh is fit and in form. He can really play and is versatile. Be interesting to see if it happens but 2 talls is unsustainable with the game style and level of skill of the mids. Be interesting to see if it happens.