Autopsy 9.17 19 point win against Port.

[Ticky009]

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Grundy, Isaac and Gus were all great in the mids. Rowie too but tackles don't get you a B&F vote. McCartin gave Georgiadis a bath, 7 disposals 1.3. Roberts was great when he was playing the mid role. Good on a wing but not great. Mills was super Ted. I loved his game he was directing traffic all around the ground. A special mention to Wil, stood up when most didn't. Only player not to kick a point. I also would like to say that Aaron Francis put his body on the line, nearly took mark of the year and was not paid, and brought the ball to ground, again and again. Those acts will not get much credit.

Run Down of players;

Amartey; Had a great game except he could,t find the middle of the two big white ones. Now Joel, you have to kick the ball in between the two big white ones. Not the little white one and the big white one. Try again

Bice; Good option as sub. I thought one of the comeback kids would be subbed out. But they went for Francis instead. Probably a mistake as it turns out. Port got a run on in the last and Gulden and Papley were cooked. Bice was good.

Blakey; Was very good. His running set up so many forward entries. But he got lost in the defensive mire quite a few times too. This is not his fault it is the coaches fault for not playing him up the ground.

Campbell; A really good game. Some of his defensoive efforts were so strong and rugged. His tackling pressure and run down pressure were super. He was very good at anticipating whre the Port players would run.

Cunningham; Harry was, well, Harry. He was high Pressure Harry. Good luck getting out of his grasp if he gets hold of you

Francis; May not have had too many disposals but he did the hard things well. He competed and brought the ball to ground.

Grundy; Was superb. I can't believe he ran away from Butters. Pushed off him and ran away. WOW. He did the hard things, the easy things all well. His rucking was super and he flogged their two rucks, he then became an extra mid. People tend to forget, when he was AA he was the most mobile ruck in the AFL.

Gulden; A good return. He disposal was the thing. He went missing in the second, 2 disposals. But came back again in the third. He hit up so meany leads, at one stage he didn't have a handball.

Hayward; Due to his accuracy, he was the forward of the night. He was super competitive too.

Heeney; What can I say. An absolute champion. Best player in the AFL. Don't give a a @@@@ about Daicos. Daicos does not take hangers or mark the ball like this guy. He is the most complete footballer in the AFL.

Jordan; Did some good things and kept their mids quiet until the last quarter. Ran out of puff I think. Certainly cleaned up in the clinches.

McCartin; Tommy was good. Super good. His marking and spoiling were super. He kept Georgiadis to 1.3 and negated their forwards with the other known outlaws who stole ball again and again. Harry, Melly, Wicksie, Ramps, Mills & Blakey. They work so well together and this guy is the pin that keeps the threads together.

Mellican; Another fine game from this guy. He just gets the job done, no fuss, no ado. Goes about his business efficiently. He was on the resting rucks and burned them.

Mills; What A SUPER GAME! He is well and truly the leader the club says he is. Heens keeps talking about his ability to see the game and identify the problems or options. He did exactly that. He led by example and directed the game. He pointed out options when players were taking too long. He quickly identified space and turned that into a marking opportunity fir his forwards and mids. A truly top captain's game

Papley; A good return. Gave us all a fright when he got that corkie. But could have kicked better vfor goal, same as Joel just not as much opportunity. Goal kicking practice for these forwards I think.

Rampe; Getting to the end I think. Defended well. But his disposal is like LLoyd's, wait forever and then bomb long. It's as though he doesn't have the confidence to pass the ball. He waits an eternity to kick it. If I was an umpire I would have been saying play on several times when he had the ball. A much loved character and bloke but time waits for no man and it is catching up with Sir Dane.

Roberts; Was really good. I liked his role better than at HB. The wing and Mids suits him better. He used his brawn to muscle opponents out of the play then handballed or kicked to advantage. Liked his game.

Rowbottom; Had another ho hum game. He has had less than 20 disposals or less in the last 6 games. Port 14, Tigers 15, Crows 20, Dees 12, Baggers 19, Bombers 21, GWS 14, Suns 20, Port 23, Pies 22, North 20, Dockers 22, Lions 11, Hawks 16. These figures show a mixed season. He is still a tackling machine but sometimes his output is not good enough for a mid. I love this bloke but he has two flaws he has to fix. The random kick in haste our of a pack or in the backs. The panic kick. Or the kick from a stoppage with no plan. Just kick the @@@@ out of the thing in hope a forward might just get onto it. The second is in most matches this year he has not gotten enough disposals to warrant him being in the mids. This is worrying as he is a heart and soul player. I want him to succeed. But look at what Gus has been able to do recently and he is going past Rowie at a rate of knots. I think he might be carrying some bruises. Maybe time to give him a rest and let him recover.

Sheldrick; Boy was he good in the clinches. He doesn't get 30 disposals but he does extract so others can get 30. He gets the ball out no matter what, no manner where. Tap ons, shove it out, handball, kick, knock ons. He might be small but he is a brute in there. A good game.

Warner; Not one of his best but had Willem Drew up his kyber most of the night. Drew has done the job on nearly every top mid this season. Still managed to get 17, the average on Drew is 13.

Wicks; Took on Rioli and did it well. Rioli kicked 1.1 with 7 disposals, most of which he got up the ground. Great negating game from Wicksy.

Wicks and Cunningham were very solid. There was beautiful front on footage of Harry effecting an awesome spoil on what looked like a certain mark.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Odd place for a job interview.

Kenny for CEO !

 

[Bloods86]

Kenny for CEO !

This is why BF needs a vomit react.

 

[wolftone57]

Obviously had some poor performances, but I think we are playing a much more sustainable style of footy under Cox.

Hayden McLean is banged up and needs to have a rest. He looked done in the third and I was surprised he came back out after three quarter time. Yes, the style is more sustainable because it is a defensive style. What he has done is teach them about movement and stopping movement. This is something Longmire never came to grips with. anticipating where the opponent will go with the ball. I have been very critical of Cox for not playing his own style, not changing things too much. But trying things like the McCartin move and the Blakey shut down move and staying with them for long periods. But recently, he has started to show what a game plan might be under him. Defensive intercept footy, turn the ball over and create chaos. Short kick and hit up a player wide. Then bring the ball in to the central lead, but only after space is opened up, or to the pocket. Very good. I have been screaming for this approach for ages. He did this in the preseason v Suns and a couple of early matches, we lost a couple but you could see development. But then he went back to Horse specials, long bomb, kick down the line, static movement. Just horrible.

The last two games he has gone back to what he was trying preseason and in early games. The players are going to stuff up in a new game plan but stick with it, this is the way to a premiership.

 

[tombomb]

Hayden McLean is banged up and needs to have a rest. He looked done in the third and I was surprised he came back out after three quarter time. Yes, the style is more sustainable because it is a defensive style. What he has done is teach them about movement and stopping movement. This is something Longmire never came to grips with. anticipating where the opponent will go with the ball. I have been very critical of Cox for not playing his own style, not changing things too much. But trying things like the McCartin move and the Blakey shut down move and staying with them for long periods. But recently, he has started to show what a game plan might be under him. Defensive intercept footy, turn the ball over and create chaos. Short kick and hit up a player wide. Then bring the ball in to the central lead, but only after space is opened up, or to the pocket. Very good. I have been screaming for this approach for ages. He did this in the preseason v Suns and a couple of early matches, we lost a couple but you could see development. But then he went back to Horse specials, long bomb, kick down the line, static movement. Just horrible.

The last two games he has gone back to what he was trying preseason and in early games. The players are going to stuff up in a new game plan but stick with it, this is the way to a premiership.

I don't think they are playing more defensive. There is just a greater focus on winning the ball in the centre. Which was killing us over and over again under Longmire.

 

[wolftone57]

His true position

I agree. He was sensational playing for South Adelaide Seniors. Blooded young against men and beat them.

 

[elastic]

Maybe recruiters haven't targeted enough variety of voices:

Kind of a naff tradition really singing a song after a win.

I'd like to see Kinnear announce that we are targeting a baritone in this year's draft

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Without being too pre emptive are we seeing a consistent brand of footy under Cox? The last 2 games have been consistent - strong pressure, forward press, focus on contested ball.
Last year we were awesome for most games, but generally relied on a brilliant1 or 2 quarters, rarely played 4. If this is the new game style I believe it would hold us in better stead and in theory there is no reason we won’t be a stronger version of 2024. Our defence looks amazing right now but let’s see how we fare against the dogs

Good to see some positivity.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Obviously had some poor performances, but I think we are playing a much more sustainable style of footy under Cox.

Yep, and we’re adjusting to a world post-Buddy.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Loved seeing the CBA stats.

Heeney, Gus & Rowy attended the bulk of them, with Chad, Errol and McI largely staying outside as the runnners.

No sign of Papley or Mills at a centre bounce.

It just looks and feels like a good mix to me.

 

[The King!]

It's a bit of a meaningless platitude that is primarily used as a counter to "we would have won if we kicked straight!"

Sure, if you lose a game of footy because you didn't kick straight, that's "bad".

When it comes to Amartey last night, his general play was excellent and he really could - and should - have ripped the game apart.

At the end of the day we had a strong win against a bit of a bogey team, but still not enough for some.

Will sound a bit dumb but I think Amartey played better than his 9 goal game in terms of overall footy , he just kicked for goal like me. Yes it is a key part and it's like a midfielder butchering it that many times. But just felt like we had a genuine strong target

 

[The King!]

Last night made me believe we could run home and win every game and make finals, think i'll temper that feeling

 

[wolftone57]

McLean may well be injured. He was very proppy. Most likely Ladhams to replace him.

Yes. I thought he would not come out after 3/4 time. But he did. I was surprised. He looked done. I think they gave him an injection. Either Ladhams or Buller next week. Buller had 17 disposals and 2.3 against last year's runners up. Pretty good figures. Almost like playing an AFL game against the lower teams. Lloyd, Cleary, Florent all great.

 

[The King!]

Is Mclean confirmed out? I think Ladhams should play he's been ok and shown he can behinds

 

[wolftone57]

Great to see some confidence and consistent effort from the group.
Gulden and Mills having obvious impact.
Mcinernny was very good early.
Heeney spectacular.

I wish Cox would stop this business of waiting until the oppositions best midfielder tears apart until he deploys a hard tag. It’s just stupid and stubborn.

Dogs a huge and legitimate test as Port were deplorable.

Get McLean out of that team, just dead weight.

I think Hayden is injured anyway.

As to the mids move. He certainly can't wait until Bont or Richards destroy you to shut them down. Really funny seeing Richards playing for the Dogs. His grandfather was Lou Richards. In different times he would have played for Collingwood. Eddie has never gotten over seeing Lou's grandson playing for the Dogs.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Will sound a bit dumb but I think Amartey played better than his 9 goal game in terms of overall footy , he just kicked for goal like me. Yes it is a key part and it's like a midfielder butchering it that many times. But just felt like we had a genuine strong target

Aliir’s absence helped.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Last night made me believe we could run home and win every game and make finals, think i'll temper that feeling

Yeah I had that feeling too, till I did the ladder predictor......
Even if we win every game (and that's a BIG if), our % is going to kill our chances. We'd need an awful lot of crazy results to get there.

 

[Bloods86]

Aliir’s absence helped.

A bit, but Joel also worked hard, got into space and was effectively targeted. Aliir wouldn't have done much with some of the entries. Would have been different if we were just bombing it in all game, that's when Aliir mops up.

 

[Glenn_]

Yes but my point is, unless someone with greater football knowledge than me (ie, practically anyone on here) can point out some fundamental flaw in Amartey’s set shot technique, I have no doubt he was doing everything right, everything he possibly could have done, to make those shots go through the big sticks.

Effort, determination, technique were all there, but to no avail.

In which case, sure, it’s “bad” football in that no-one except Port players and supporters are going to get any joy from it, but is that really saying anything profound?

Yet “bad kicking is bad football” is said in footy circles like it’s some sort of Zen aphorism.

Matthew Lloyd picked it out perfectly on the Footy Show, he is basically lining up in the direction he is going rather than towards the goal.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Last night made me believe we could run home and win every game and make finals, think i'll temper that feeling

Maybe a nice lukewarm bath.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

A bit, but Joel also worked hard, got into space and was effectively targeted. Aliir wouldn't have done much with some of the entries. Would have been different if we were just bombing it in all game, that's when Aliir mops up.

You’re right that Aliir is the master of mopping up the aimless bomb. But I do think he’s also important to their structure.

Anyway - a far more challenging test awaits this week. Armatey likely gets Lobb, who is going ok.

We absolutely MUST get more out of McLean (if he plays).

I just hope Francis doesn’t get dropped. I thought he was fairly good & certainly looks to be the more dangerous forward when compared to McLean at the moment.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

our % is going to kill our chances. We'd need an awful lot of crazy results to get there.

Comin’ right up!

 

[Bloods86]

You’re right that Aliir is the master of mopping up the aimless bomb. But I do think he’s also important to their structure.

Anyway - a far more challenging test awaits this week. Armatey likely gets Lobb, who is going ok.

We absolutely MUST get more out of McLean (if he plays).

I just hope Francis doesn’t get dropped. I thought he was fairly good & certainly looks to be the more dangerous forward when compared to McLean at the moment.

Francis looked good in marking contests etc yeah. If McLean is injured, you know what I'm going to say (did warn you when a certain someone nailed one from the boundary in VFL yesterday)...

 

[31400]

I can't recall a game by Gulden where his physicality was even more impressive than his skill and vision, which was very good. Thought he really played a tough game.

 

[wolftone57]

I don't think they are playing more defensive. There is just a greater focus on winning the ball in the centre. Which was killing us over and over again under Longmire.

By defensive, I mean defensive actions have improved. We are able to cut off opposition before they can get the ball full ground. We are anticipating where they go and shutting them down. Port were caught so many times yesterday between centre and HF. Defensive does not necessarily mean dour. It can be a conduit to restarting the offensive actions. Turnovers, that sort of thing. We did that so well yesterday.