Autopsy 2025 Rd 1 Most Embarrassing Loss in Years

[SurreyBlue]

Positives:
Weitering, TdK, JSoS, Cerra, Cripps, Campo

Negatives:
Evans (why is he even in the side?)
McGovern (how many times before we wake - up he is a huge liability) Overrated by a bit.
Haynes (alarm bells - one more week?)
Harry (that was embarrassing)
Saad - learn to f@#$&*% kick to our advantage and stop running around like a headless chook. Overrated.
Walsh - not the player he was. SAD

Forward line entries and setup, just plain rubbish.
Midfield defence non existed and not willing to defend or tackle. Just not AFL standard.
We wanted to play bruise free football - did we carry too many not ready?
Midfield consisting of Hewett and Cripps is slow, too slow. Can’t keep saying it.
Why did we sub Lord and not Evans?
We needed to play Young and refusal to play him is costing us games. Moving SoS forward highlighted this mistake.

This game showed why the AFL industry has no respect for us!!!!

 

[DangerousD]

Nomcourage?


No courage?flipping lol any player that plays this game at the highest level has an abundance of courage…did you miss the collision with hollands???

Maybe no courage with ball in hand?

 

[Stamos]

If you or anyone thinks that a basic uncontested mark, or a simple handball is the responsibility of an AFL coach, we will end up sacking anyone that walks in the door

I think there is a huge difference between dropping a chest mark and ****ing up a handball.
The latter is unforgivable, and happens so often for us that it has to be a coaching issue.
If you set up properly around the contest/player with the ball, a handball is easy. We make it so hard for ourselves.

We do not do the basics of football well. That's a coaching issue.

 

[The Bighouse]

Not sure why so many people are in a rush to pot Voss. We have been overly dependent on one midfielder for 10 years now through 4 different coaches.

At this point, you have to question the list management above anything else. There is no excuse for still being so dependent in Cripps through the middle.

On top of that, serious questions need to be asked when players like Motlop are on the list, let alone have a spot in the best 22. Owies might not have been a star but he's a far better player than Motlop and Evans, and shouldn't have been pushed out of the door over our other small fwds (and no I don't subscribe to the contract excuse).

Its 2025 and the modern standards of the game demand at least 3 quality small forwards. This clearly takes precedence over a second quality tall forward. Hawthorn and Sam Mitchell were smart enough to realize this and recruited Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan, Connor Macdonald, and still have Dylan Moore and Luke Breust.
Meanwhile with us, our list management is stuck in the past believing key forwards are everything. We have given a large portion of the cap to McKay and Curnow, and still don't have a single good small forward. We should've taken the path Collingwood did with Grundy; make a tough decision for the good of the team. Keep Curnow, cut McKay, then use the draft capital + salary space to lure someone like Stengle/Hayward.

Owies contract timing was real.
Motlop should have been on the trading block (interesting that we had MacDonald in our sights, the pick prior).
We had a crack at Hayward.
Club probably too soft-minded/righteous to draft Stengle in when 1st available as a DFA.
McKay continues to provide meek efforts, physically and mentally. Impose yourself!
Fleeced by Mitch McGovern and Zac Williams.

 

[morningbrown]

Just incredibly grim stuff and it was so obvious it was going to happen once they kicked those three in a row leading up to half time.

We are a pitiful football club that is still the laughing stock of the league after nearly 25 years.

I don't know how much more I can take. Many of you experienced the glory of the 70s, 80s and 90s, but I am 32 years old and know nothing but utter utter despair.

Voss probably goes and that makes it five coaches in 11 years. Horrific.

 

[kingkingston]

Maybe Voss is better at boundary level where he can talk straight to the players when they come off

 

[StaggerLee]

Two questions:

1 - Why does TDK continually try and wrestle bigger ruckman at a ball up?
Surely he could stand 3-5meters away and run in and use his leap

2 - When 41pts up, whats wrong with keeping the ball outside our forward line and pplay kick to kick when the opposition flood back?
No need for us to score, takes time off the clock and bombing the ball in to out numbered contests doesn't work

 

[Beyond Blue]

Harsh here, Nank is the ne of the most underrated players in the game, he is a great player and is a lot stronger than Tom

I agree Nank has been a great player but he is ageing. Tom is in his prime and is considering a contract to make him the highest paid player in the league. He can’t let an opposition ruck outplay him like that.

 

[Crippa#9]

What position does es Fogarty play for us? 12 touches 3 tackles and no scores doesn’t really tell good game.

He's a protected species. A bit like Setterfield was for far too long.

How you can keep playing a guy in the small forward role who averages just 0.3 goals a game is beyond me. Let alone one that has 2 x Coleman Medallists (who don't lead to the ball) to crumb off. Over 50% of his paltry 9 goals last season came against the two bottom teams...

Spare me the whole 'oh but he's a high pressure forward' - we are the easiest team to run the ball out of our forward line. We get obliterated at almost every stoppage in our forward line (concede that's on the whole group).

 

[Soapy V]

In Voss’s first year he started slowly and then got into a role and made a preliminary final with a manic contested game style. It worked.

Since then we have rarely put 4 quarters together

What has happened?

 

[Sharks On A Plane]

What position does es Fogarty play for us? 12 touches 3 tackles and no scores doesn’t really tell good game.

Yes obviously not outstanding or anything but I thought he competed extremely hard from very limited opportunities.

Can’t say the same for the other small forwards. I do accept your point though.

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

Positives:
Weitering, TdK, JSoS, Cerra, Cripps, Campo

Negatives:
Evans (why is he even in the side?)
McGovern (how many times before we wake - up he is a huge liability) Overrated by a bit.
Haynes (alarm bells - one more week?)
Harry (that was embarrassing)
Saad - learn to f@#$&*% kick to our advantage and stop running around like a headless chook. Overrated.
Walsh - not the player he was. SAD

Forward line entries and setup, just plain rubbish.
Midfield defence non existed and not willing to defend or tackle. Just not AFL standard.
We wanted to play bruise free football - did we carry too many not ready?
Midfield consisting of Hewett and Cripps is slow, too slow. Can’t keep saying it.
Why did we sub Lord and not Evans?
We needed to play Young and refusal to play him is costing us games. Moving SoS forward highlighted this mistake.

This game showed why the AFL industry has no respect for us!!!!

It was a poor, totally amateur effort from most of the players and ALL of the coaching staff.

 

[Blue since 72]

Of course it is, but once the Tigers upped pressure, we didn't respond, that falls on the players, but Voss now needs to make a statement so it doesn't become habitual


Which changed due to the pressure change from the Tigers, but our players became lazy. Mots trying to trap the ball with his feet, players kicking the ball off the ground rather than putting their head over the pill

Junior footy levels


Last week GWS were in 2nd gear, it was a practice match


This side is currently Jeckle and Hyde, but ultimately this falls back on coaches to get consistent buy in

Have to disagree here at least in part Arrow, it’s a two way street and the players need to do their part in terms of buy in.

Some are but a lot can’t seem to find that bit extra when it’s required.

Pretty much all these players have enough talent and fitness, between the ears separates them

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

In Voss’s first year he started slowly and then got into a role and made a preliminary final with a manic contested game style. It worked.

Since then we have rarely put 4 quarters together

What has happened?

most of the players simply didn't want it enough.... as you say, why?

 

[JustaBattler]

Well said. It's shared responsibility

Coaches will need to take responsibility for many aspects, such as structure, rotations or starting positions, etc

Players missing easy marks, targets, tackles or a lack of intent has nothing to do with coaching

We were completely disconnected as a team

Disagree

I love Hewett but he is a poor kick. I actually thought Cerra was good and then in 2nd half they put him at HB??

Walsh bombs it all the time. Doesn't lower his eyes. My question is why and have the coaches addressed it?

Good question

Disagree. This is deeper.

We were hitting targets and not making misatkes early. Then like usual we drop away. Last week we didn't have this issue? A little bit of pressure and as a group we fall away.

There is no belief, confidence or trust in what we are doing and this is 12 months of data

This sets up the question is it coaching or players or a biot of both - which is the hardest place to be

We've lost 8 out our last 10 games. This is looking more like a bottom 4 finish this season. Either way Voss will not be our coach next season. Hard to see TDK staying now.

Voss was always under the guin in 2025 and so he shoudl be - to be honest I couldnt care less wether TDK stays or goes - if he wants the life changing money go change your life - this saga is as bad as E Hollands dump on the CLub imo - they can both pizz orf in my book

Okay, this is good approach and starting point

It's difficult to emulate real games at training or practice matches

We saw last week with the Pies, if you pressure is low or can't combat opposition pressure, you won't get a positive outcome

To me, this is the starting point of the modern game, pressure. This also is shared responsibility.

Players with high footy IQ adapt and drive on field standards to drive the collective group. Coaches need to act quicker with messaging to either take the heat out of the game and or make tactical change to increase pressure levels

Not one player was was responsible for our lack of intent, not one coach, it's a collective approach

Ultimately, it rests on the coach to change his mindset and approach, to change player buy in

Which is my conclusion after giving Voss the benefit of the doubt - ultimately it is thte COACH and his TEAM that have to take responsibility for outcomes ...

Speaking of Brisbane, it's amazing the different psychology going into the first round in 2024, and then this year.

Last year we spent the whole preseason knowing we had the toughest trip in football - Lions at the Gabba. Get 46 points down when the game was "hot", Lions take foot off the pedal, we come back and win.

This year we spent the whole preseason listening to everyone say Richmond would be the worst team since Fitzroy '96. When the game was "hot", the difference between the sides was pretty clear. We took the foot off the pedal and we got what we deserved.

Voss had us up for the start of the game. If we started terribly, it would be more on him. We simply have too many that cannot be described as mentally tough. We still should have found a way from three quarter time, but the reality is we never looked like it.

and this is teh pinball game we are all in in trying to make sense of this team and coaching...

how many times has Carlton gotten to a 40+ point lead in the first quarter or so and then ending up losing teh game FFS! That isnt 'just' on players it is also as much on coaching

last night unaswered goals all of them from scarggy rubbish that was allowed to happen because playes made fundamental errors and sure signs of here we go again - switched off as if the game was over when youy get to a cwertain lead

I'll say it again - Carlton has NO MONGREL and that is partly coaching and also BIG TIME on Players.

How do Cerra/Walsh/Hewett alow themselves to get out muscled and fought by thsi Riuchmond midfield- how do players allow a bald scragger to manahandle our Captian an no one goes in for the kill?

Weak as pizz Ive got no time for weak as pizz - and THAT is what I expected Voss to fix.

 

[Stamos]

Player basic, junior footy level acts is not on an AFL coach or his assistants

Cannot disagree more.
It's McRae's most important aspect of coaching. I'm not saying he's a great coach, but he won a flag with a pretty average list.

 

[haveago]

Not the reason we lost, and it's only one game.

But geez Nick Haynes was VERY rusty...

I questioned his recruitment and was lamabasted here.
HE IS NO GOOD!
On two occasions dropped his head and sh_t his pants in a marking contest.
One of them wasn't even a contest just perceived pressure.
Very, very poor.
Should be dropped.
Along with Evans, Cotts (just goes walkabout )

Doch has been fumbly and poor all preseason. Why should it change last night? Should have played VFL to get touch back or retire.
Game may well of gone past him.

Worst game I can remember from Walsh.
Shows even he can't be at his best off no preseason.

Acres worst game for club.

Jessie just horrible! Where did the preseason form go?

Harry was not right. Saw a slight limp .


I am genuinely scared whats Hawks could do to us next week.

 

[Accidental genius]

There were many crap plays last night, but almost none pissed me off more than this



Burnt 2 players to kick long for a 2 on 2. A good team hits the lead up player 10/10 times, which is why we’re no where near it.

Who is the player with ball in hand?

This passage of play needs to come up on review and discussed in detail to ensure this never happens again.

Inexcusable really.

 

[GoBlues!]

My only defence of our small forwards is early on they looked good. When you move it in with purpose and to advanatge they do okay. After qtr time we kept bombing it high and their talls just picked us off.

I admit they aren't the greatest bunch of small forwards but we don't make it easy for them

We need to stop making excuses for these players.

Motlop, Fogarty and Williams are ineffective as forwards.

We got rid of Owies and Kennedy both head shoulders above this group as effective forwards/footballers and then to top it off we bring in the likes of Evans, Haynes etc. Stupid decisions by Austin and Voss.

 

[Zlatan]

Who is the player with ball in hand?

This passage of play needs to come up on review and discussed in detail to ensure this never happens again.

Inexcusable really.

Williams, who I really rate kicking into the F50. If it was a dozen other players, I wouldn’t even post it cause I wouldn’t expect them to make even a simple kick like this

 

[Arr0w]

I think there is a huge difference between dropping a chest mark and ****ing up a handball.
The latter is unforgivable, and happens so often for us that it has to be a coaching issue.
If you set up properly around the contest/player with the ball, a handball is easy. We make it so hard for ourselves.

We do not do the basics of football well. That's a coaching issue.

A 5 metre handball from Doc to Jsos missing by 2 metres? Gov 20 metre switch of play to an open Lucas dropping 2 metres short?

That is different to say instructions on where to set up on a forward as a defender, depending on space between the ball carrier and recipient and knowing where the hurt factor is tyo being beaten

 

[kingkingston]

We made the worst sub last night. Cooper Lord was playing great and combining with Cripps and Walsh often.

 

[17in25]

The title of the thread is accurate.
We have no excuses.
Great facilities
Top line talent
Members to burn
A soft draw
A largely healthy list
What’s missing? Culture, commitment, mongrel, care, effort but most of all a sustainable game plan that can withstand pressure. We sh*t ourselves against a group pimply teenagers, on day one. Well done young tigers!
I have zero faith in our coaching group.
The fish rots from the head and that head is M Voss. This is his team this is year 4.
Faith lost. Trust breached.

 

[Accidental genius]

We need to stop making excuses for these players.

Motlop, Fogarty and Williams are ineffective as forwards.

We got rid of Owies and Kennedy both head shoulders above this group as effective forwards/footballers and then to top it off we bring in the likes of Evans, Haynes etc. Stupid decisions by Austin and Voss.

Still cant believe we traded Owies - because according to some on here ...all he could do was kick goals

 

[majesticseacapt]

Motlop - looked afraid of the ball and was always trying to do too much instead of doing the basics well (trap the ball with his foot instead of sliding for an easy mark, fend off opponents instead of using agility to at least get a handball off, not front and centre around F50 entries etc)

Haynes - can see why he couldn't break into GWS team. Drops easy marks, fumbles, kicks like he's playing A7 (how many times did he randomly kick across goals when under pressure?). Hopefully it's just confidence but at least Young can hold a mark.

McGovern - panicked more than at the disco. Not sure who he played on all night but again, can't do the basics right and play to percentages. Rather him up forward if he's has no composure. Let him be that option coming out of defence and let Harry play deeper or something, we needed to try something last night.

There was more passengers that that, but those 3 were my biggest disappointments.

We also really missed Jagga's speed and agility throughout the middle. All of our midfielders are moulded much in the same way. We desperately need to add someone different than the 3725 inside in and under, one paced, extractors we currently have.