Review 2019 inconsistent performances

[Eagleboy68]

Just as the title says I have noticed along with a lot of other people out performances within games have been inconsistent.

Our game against Richmond was an explosive opening piling on 7 goals only to kick another 5 or for the entire match.

Our game against hawthorn we didn't turn up for the first 15 minutes then kicked 4 quick goals and struggled after quarter time again.

This has been happening all year against top 8 sides and against bottom 8 sides.

At our best we can beat anyone anywhere but we don't play our best all the time.
Usually it's 1-2 good quarters. This has cost us top 2 imo.

Is this down to fatigue? Complacency?
What are your thoughts?

 

[kaiserchief13]

A lot of players not pulling their weight consistently - Petracelli, Cameron, Ryan, Rioli, Barrass, Cripps, Kennedy, Redden, Waterman, Sheed which then means the likes of Yeo and Shuey have to play well for the midfield to just compete. They seem to have gotten tired then the team falls apart. Poor recruiting as well not having any seasoned back ups to come in who can impact.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Being the reigning champs isn't easy. Not only do you have a tough draw, but everybody studies you more than any other side over the break. Each club has dozens of staff members doing this recon these days, it's so thorough.

I feel a few of the players have lacked the drive having won last year, which is disappointing. It's no coincidence that Gaff and Sheppard were two of our better players on the weekend. They want it more than the others.

We overcame a shallow midfield last year with the bookends doing excellent work. I don't think McGovern (and especially Barrass) have papered over the midfield cracks anywhere near the same extent as last season, and obviously Kennedy has slowed down remarkably as well.

We need a bit of change next year. Kelly can revitalise us through the middle and Naitanui needs to be fit. Otherwise, I don't think we challenge in 2020.

 

[Eagleboy68]

Being the reigning champs isn't easy. Not only do you have a tough draw, but everybody studies you more than any other side over the break. Each club has dozens of staff members doing this recon these days, it's so thorough.

I feel a few of the players have lacked the drive having won last year, which is disappointing. It's no coincidence that Gaff and Sheppard were two of our better players on the weekend. They want it more than the others.

We overcame a shallow midfield last year with the bookends doing excellent work. I don't think McGovern (and especially Barrass) have papered over the midfield cracks anywhere near the same extent as last season, and obviously Kennedy has slowed down remarkably as well.

We need a bit of change next year. Kelly can revitalise us through the middle and Naitanui needs to be fit. Otherwise, I don't think we challenge in 2020.

It's definitely noticeable with gaff and shepherd having more drive in games than the others.

Kelly will make a difference should we get him. If not Kelly who is likely to come in and provide midfield work rate with Shuey and gaff being a year older?

In a realistic sense does Kennedy need to retire to allow Allen to slot in to the forward line permanently and have natanui ruck with williams debuting hopefully.

I see hickey as being a contributing factor to this inconsistency.

 

[woosha24]

Simmo touched on it on Saturday night - its effort. The team lacks the hunger and desire for glory that we saw all through 2018. Too many players willing to sit off the back of packs and let someone else do the in-and-under stuff, only to stand around like a stunned mullet when the opposition extract the ball and run off with it.

We're not willing to go hard for all 4 quarters. That's all it is. Currently individual players + structure is good enough to ensure we win more than we lose. This is going to turn to sh*t in 2020 when players like Kennedy, Hurn, Schofield, etc start dropping off further and other players are expected to shoulder the burden.

 

[Doashuey]

Personally, I put it down to a lack of consistency.

 

[Max zero]

Simmo touched on it on Saturday night - its effort. The team lacks the hunger and desire for glory that we saw all through 2018. Too many players willing to sit off the back of packs and let someone else do the in-and-under stuff, only to stand around like a stunned mullet when the opposition extract the ball and run off with it.

We're not willing to go hard for all 4 quarters. That's all it is. Currently individual players + structure is good enough to ensure we win more than we lose. This is going to turn to sh*t in 2020 when players like Kennedy, Hurn, Schofield, etc start dropping off further and other players are expected to shoulder the burden.

Of course it is effort.

Its not like WCs gameplan is some mystical mystery box that teams took a year to figure out.

We just are not as hungry as last year. We can appreciate what they did last year while being critical of the drop in effort this year.

 

[Biggie]

Hunger isn't there. They should have wiped Hawthorn away like a mod does a Gunnar alias

The contested ball differential is a MASSIVE concern.



Not going anywhere with that bullshit

Gaff and SHeppard look like players that haven't reached the pinnacle and they have every right to question their teammates hunger.

Interesting times.

 

[Chris_6678]

It is fixable. That same midfield were the best at it during the finals series.

 

[Biggie]

It is fixable. That same midfield were the best at it during the finals series.

Now that were in the shit maybe they'll lift accordingly.

Lads have the fire - we've seen it. Just need it back

 

[Balls In]

When we put the foot down no side in the league who can go with us (and that's half the problem). We either go on these 5 goal runs then collectively ease off or we just don't show up to play at all. Its like our players rate their team mates so much that a bit of a "someone else will get it done" has crept into the team. Us finishing 5th is worse than 2007's effort to let Lucas kick 7 goals in the final quarter that cost us second spot.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

Need a slight tweak of our Game plan as well. Feels like most team have evolved their Game plan this year whereas ours I carbon copy of last year.

But hard to tell when the effort from the boys is not there, or at least sporadic effort.

 

[The Stid]

Now that were in the s**t maybe they'll lift accordingly.

Lads have the fire - we've seen it. Just need it back

I think we can expect that lift from Shuey, Yeo & Gaff. It’s just a question of whether Redden, Sheed & Masten rise to the same levels.

I think the guys were just wanting to cruise this year and do enough to qualify for finals. The first quarter against Richmond was just a warning shot and finishing 5th presents a new exciting challenge for the boys because everyone says we can’t win premierships unless we’re top 2/4

 

[Chris_6678]

Midfield needs to lift and our backline will sort itself out. Our midfield went up another few levels in the finals last year and in patches this year so they have it in them.

We NEED to bring in Ah Chee in place of Pet. He offers another big bodied HFF/mid who can role into the midfield.

This would be my midfield setup:

Wings:

Masten - Play his usual defensive wing role.
Gaff - Needs to play more wing than inside.

Rover/Centremen:

Shuey - just needs to step it up a notch like he has done a fair bit this year.I’d say he is playing sore so the week off should help.

Yeo - Ditto. Was a beast for a good 7-8 weeks. Get angry Yeo.

Sheed - Was in some fine form early in the year. Noticed he has spent less time in the middle and his impact has been down because of it.

Tagging:

Redden - A big bodied mid who can head to head with the teams best mids. Has done it before and I can’t see Hutchings coming back before prelim.

Players to run through:

Cripps, Ah Chee and Rioli to all roll through the midfield.

We also have Nic Nat to hopefully add some power to our stoppages which is something we didn’t have last finals series.

 

[Eagleboy68]

Now that were in the s**t maybe they'll lift accordingly.

Lads have the fire - we've seen it. Just need it back

I'm hoping this happens.

I'd say there would be some stern words spoken behind closed doors.

Beat Essendon and I know if we bring our best consistent football we can defeat Collingwood or Geelong at the g.

After that I think we can beat Brisbane in Brissy if they get over richmond. Which I think they can.

Again, all depends on retracting the digit.

 

[ME ME ME]

Just as the title says I have noticed along with a lot of other people out performances within games have been inconsistent.

Our game against Richmond was an explosive opening piling on 7 goals only to kick another 5 or for the entire match.

Our game against hawthorn we didn't turn up for the first 15 minutes then kicked 4 quick goals and struggled after quarter time again.

This has been happening all year against top 8 sides and against bottom 8 sides.

At our best we can beat anyone anywhere but we don't play our best all the time.
Usually it's 1-2 good quarters. This has cost us top 2 imo.

Is this down to fatigue? Complacency?
What are your thoughts?

The ground ball and contested ball is where the opposition are trying to get us. I think it has been pretty evident all year.

some of our mids and other players need to go there and try to win the ball rather than let the opposition win it so easily and run off with it. And when the opposition gets the ball, more pressure needs to be put on their ball carrier in order to force an error out of them. We are not doing enough of this.

Fatigue may play a part as well as niggles and injuries that some of us may be unaware of. If the AFL chose to be little more accommodating, they could perhaps give us 3 or 4 consecutive games at home before we travel again. They gave Richmond the last 6 or so games at home at the MCG, so IMO we are not asking for much

 

[KERRPOW]

Complaceny, hunger, being the hunted.

 

[Natho]

I think we made a big mistake not trying a few of the fringe midfielders this year. We still dont know what Mallen and Brayshaw can do at the top level. Bubba had a taste last year. Arch probably didnt play enough. He offers something different.

Hunger and winning key moments have hurt us a little. Losing to Collingwood by 1 point. Ah the haunts.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Just lack effort and willingness to do the hard yakka all game. The antithesis to the Bulldogs and Richmond when they're on. Those post clearance gets are woeful but not surprising. Teams seem to just get it out so easy, it's frustrating. I actually feel the Adelaide game, even though they got close, is the closest we've come to putting in a 4 quarter performance in recent weeks. But they were in poor form so there's that too.