Autopsy Analysis vs. Sydney

[Ferntree Freo]

Thanks Seppo.
Yeah was thinking how does ballas get in next week. Who goes out????
Maybe Tabs but not good for his development tabs that is.
Would hate to be on the selection committee this week.

 

[teamex]

Although he wasn't bad. De Boer could make way. Thought Suban did enough to hold his spot, but could be another option

 

[kingswood71]

Although he wasn't bad. De Boer could make way. Thought Suban did enough to hold his spot, but could be another option

No way will Subes go out! My money is on De Boer out, Balla in.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

Let's not get technical.

1st half premiership

2nd half oh my god!

Take the win and move on.

 

[Mr Peabody]

Has anyone seen/heard what happened to Pav in the first? Got assessed for concussion. Looked like he copped something in the moosh behind play but didn't remonstrate so perhaps accidental if such a thing exists off the play. I did see the ump walking by him on the telecast during the quarter time break perhaps quietly enquiring on what happened.

 

[beetz]

If Subes has held his spot after his previous performances then after last night he will probably be made Captain moving forward.

 

[jedi mind tricks]

If Subes has held his spot after his previous performances then after last night he will probably be made Captain moving forward.

Let's not get too carried away...

 

[hoss]

Has anyone seen/heard what happened to Pav in the first? Got assessed for concussion. Looked like he copped something in the moosh behind play but didn't remonstrate so perhaps accidental if such a thing exists off the play. I did see the ump walking by him on the telecast during the quarter time break perhaps quietly enquiring on what happened.

Was just going to post the exact thing. Pav was down for quite a while then bleeding from the nose. I didn't see the incident but it was completely off the play up our end in an open forward line. Likewise, we saw the umpire approach him at quarter time.

 

[schnoods]

I think we missed a few players, Dawson always holds Tippet to a lower score, Ballantyne's run would've come in handy. Overall the game was great, holding onto leads is worrying but still having the poise in the latter stages has helped us on several occasions already this year, last year it probably gone the other way.

 

[Unique Name]

First two games vs Port and Geelong we finished strong in the last half because the game was still there to be won.

Last two games vs Weagles and Swans we had what was a game winning lead by half time only to see it whittle away. Part of the issue is surely coming down to mental focus.

 

[jusjoshin]

Wouldn't worry too much about that. I traded him into my Fantasy team a few weeks ago.
Will trade him back out this week, so he should be right as rain from then on.

We play the demons next, so maybe trade in Nathan Jones to replace him? Use your powers for good, not ill.

 

[estibador]

Has anyone seen/heard what happened to Pav in the first? Got assessed for concussion. Looked like he copped something in the moosh behind play but didn't remonstrate so perhaps accidental if such a thing exists off the play. I did see the ump walking by him on the telecast during the quarter time break perhaps quietly enquiring on what happened.

Was just going to post the exact thing. Pav was down for quite a while then bleeding from the nose. I didn't see the incident but it was completely off the play up our end in an open forward line. Likewise, we saw the umpire approach him at quarter time.

Watching the replay one of the commentators suggested Pav had accidentally run into a defender while changing direction without looking.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Managed to get home and watch the second half.. I apologise to everyone.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Pros:

A Loss without the loss.
I know they say you learn more from losses but we got to look defeat in the eye last night without having to taste it. In stark contrast to losses against North and Port last year, we were able to wrestle back control of the game. I felt it showed what the Hawks did to us in the 2013 GF. Great teams can come back from anywhere, the best teams can regain the steering wheel. We will grow alot from the third.

The Knife
For mine it was Fyfe's best game for the club, right up there with last years escape against the Blues. It was Fyfe's Dockers last night.

The Outsiders
The players we often count as weaknesses were great last night. Subes, Pig and Clakkas were solid throughout.

Knockin them down a few pegs
After Accassis' great thread with Tim answering questions about Neale I felt like I got to know how the young fella operates a little better. He got schooled last night, on his 50th game no less. After being praised all over the press it was perhaps the best thing that could have happened for Lachie. If Tim is right, and I believe he is, Lach will use last night as a catalyst to keep improving.

Commentary
Didn't suck.

A game of chess
We knew they were going to come and boy did they! Credit to Swans coaching staff, they saw what they needed to do around the ball at half time and their boys executed it to perfection. They killed us on the fringes and their delivery inside became clean. Luckily RTB was on his game. The 3rd quarter break RTB didn't go off his head, he got the message across about how we needed to adjust. The 4th was the arm wrestle we expected with us winning the insides 50's 14-9 (I think).

The crowd
Thought they held us in the game. If you were their last night I thank you

4-0 and Injury Free
The best start to a season for us, ever. We have done well yet still have lots of room to improve. Man what a great time to be a Freo fan.

Cons:

So close yet so far
Noodles' almost speccy in the last and Fyfe's almost over Franklin in the first were incredible. The latter mainly because in was on Buddy.

Too much whistle
While we probably got the rub of the green in this department despite their "balancing" in the 2nd half, the umps were just too keen.

The wrist cutting
Think a few posters need to calm a little over the third quarter. We have seen these epic deficits mowed down regularly across the comp this year. It's a trend and one that RTB and the crew will be looking to stop. I think we can analyze what isn't working without resorting to insults against our boys and their effort.


All told, it was a great game. Lived up the hype. I couldn't be prouder! Go Freo!!

 

[FFC4ME]

Intriguing game that began as one thing then almost turned into another. In the first half our clearance domination and kicking efficiency was almost so good that the midfielders became accustomed to it, so when the Swans really ramped up the clearance work and contested ball in the second half they looked to be caught unawares. Certainly Mundy had a number of occasions where he stopped and waited for the ball to come to him (which Neale was doing all match in the derby) and it just didn't. So good on him and Fyfe to just carry the team over the line in the 4th.

That was Chris Mayne's best match in ages, and not just because he kicked the sealer. Which is a credit to him given how proppy he looked going into half time. What was most noteworthy is that he returned to being an offensive force in addition to supplying great pressure - and would surely won mark of the round had that massive leap on the wing stuck!

Zac Clarke looks to be ever more capable in the air. I hope our midfielders realise that when he's resting in the forward line, they must kick to the space in front of Zac so he can run into it - he usually seems lost in stationary marking contests with experienced defenders, but can really clunk them if he gets a run up.

Our defenders were absolutely superb, forcing Sydney into a "Buddy or bust" strategy going forward for much of the first half and it didn't work. Even in the second half, they managed to hold Sydney off for over 10 minutes in the 3rd before their run on started. If there is a quibble to be had, it's probably that there were a few too many panic kicks out of the defensive 50 when the Swans had us under extreme pressure that went to contests we had no real hope of winning - I could see that we were still attempting to maintain that "play on" game plan and not go ultra defensive, but it took seemingly forever to make the adjustment.

I have long suspected that a huge factor in why Buddy would never countenance returning to WA is the simple fact that he never plays well at Subiaco. He just doesn't have the space to get free and be as damaging - and while you do have to respect his talent and the fact he's played in 4 grand finals, there was more than a little glee to be had of watching him strut around like a peacock being completely schooled by the oldest Freo player out there...

The crushing midfield dominance masked it both last week and this week, but the absence of Ballantyne (and the omission of Crozier which I disagreed with) continues to be problematical for our forward setup. With Walters still looking out of sorts somewhat, and Neale being nullified, we had zero crumbing pressure at the fall of the ball for almost the entire match - so if Pav, Tabs or the resting ruckman didn't mark it, the ball just waltzed out of dangerous spots. While I do understand the rationale in subbing Taberner for Mzungu, I didn't think Tabs was playing poorly, and it left us trying to kick to Walters as a marking target again.

For all that, this is the best start in our history. Some parts of our play have been majestic, others have been horrendous - but the fact that we have still won in all cases means the margin for improvement is enormous. And we have a two game cushion on Hawthorn and Port, to boot!

 

[dthom]

I really hope our supporter base can stop being so negative. A win is a win at this point of the year. Fade-out, Schmade-out. We got 8 goals up in a half. Sydney have no business thinking they can win in that situation and Longmire certainly won't be praising them behind closed doors for coming back and almost winning. Also, show me proof of a single side going from Round 1-22 and dominating every week. It just doesn't happen these days. Premierships aren't won in April and it's time that some people on this board realised that as each new season comes, the sheer speed and demanding physicality of the game makes it near on impossible for a team to play at it's best for the entire matches. The 4 points are the important thing. Collect them and move on.

 

[samFFC]

Pros:

Superb defensive effort yet again. Just great. Superlatives would be an understatement. If McPharlin and MJ are not front running for FB/CHB in AA, that's a disgrace. And Spurr back to his 2013 form, not to mention the others.
The efficiency in the first half. Good forward entries, great set-up, accurate goal kicking = winning games of football.
Tabs took more steps forward - really important.
Those spoils at half forward - De Boer, Mzungu and Ibbo- just excellent work all around. Key moments.


Cons:
Was nearly Port SF all over again. More accurate first half, and some clutch plays inQ4 prevented that however. Not good enough from the team or the coaches.

Subbing out Tabs? Why??? Bring him in, score 100+ two weeks running. On track for same in this game. Sub out and then we don't score a goal for 1.5 quarters. It's not rocket science Ross!!

 

[Granny Val]

Pros:

A Loss without the loss.
I know they say you learn more from losses but we got to look defeat in the eye last night without having to taste it. In stark contrast to losses against North and Port last year, we were able to wrestle back control of the game. I felt it showed what the Hawks did to us in the 2013 GF. Great teams can come back from anywhere, the best teams can regain the steering wheel. We will grow alot from the third.

The Knife
For mine it was Fyfe's best game for the club, right up there with last years escape against the Blues. It was Fyfe's Dockers last night.

The Outsiders
The players we often count as weaknesses were great last night. Subes, Pig and Clakkas were solid throughout.

Knockin them down a few pegs
After Accassis' great thread with Tim answering questions about Neale I felt like I got to know how the young fella operates a little better. He got schooled last night, on his 50th game no less. After being praised all over the press it was perhaps the best thing that could have happened for Lachie. If Tim is right, and I believe he is, Lach will use last night as a catalyst to keep improving.

Commentary
Didn't suck.

A game of chess
We knew they were going to come and boy did they! Credit to Swans coaching staff, they saw what they needed to do around the ball at half time and their boys executed it to perfection. They killed us on the fringes and their delivery inside became clean. Luckily RTB was on his game. The 3rd quarter break RTB didn't go off his head, he got the message across about how we needed to adjust. The 4th was the arm wrestle we expected with us winning the insides 50's 14-9 (I think).

The crowd
Thought they held us in the game. If you were their last night I thank you

4-0 and Injury Free
The best start to a season for us, ever. We have done well yet still have lots of room to improve. Man what a great time to be a Freo fan.

Cons:

So close yet so far
Noodles' almost speccy in the last and Fyfe's almost over Franklin in the first were incredible. The latter mainly because in was on Buddy.

Too much whistle
While we probably got the rub of the green in this department despite their "balancing" in the 2nd half, the umps were just too keen.

The wrist cutting
Think a few posters need to calm a little over the third quarter. We have seen these epic deficits mowed down regularly across the comp this year. It's a trend and one that RTB and the crew will be looking to stop. I think we can analyze what isn't working without resorting to insults against our boys and their effort.


All told, it was a great game. Lived up the hype. I couldn't be prouder! Go Freo!!

Thanks for the voice of reason. It was an epic game which we won! RTB and our boys did enough to get us over the line with a 14 point victory. Great summary Lost Deputy. The wrist cutting in the Game Thread was driving me crazy.

 

[estibador]

The best thing about last night's game is Fyfey's two best moments happened Right In Front Of Me! The great mark, then that awesome burst through the pack like an NFL running back using Sandi as a human shield.

Most of the action usually happens on the interchange side so last night I felt blessed.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Pros:


Subbing out Tabs? Why??? Bring him in, score 100+ two weeks running. On track for same in this game. Sub out and then we don't score a goal for 1.5 quarters. It's not rocket science Ross!!

No it's not rocket science but it's not that simple either. The ball just wasn't getting in there. We were getting murdered around the ball and could not get that last kick into our fifty. Getting Zung on allowed to have more pressure on the wings, add a greater chance of an intercept and more opportunities to transition cleanly. Tabs will stay in but RTB had to adjust and going off the result, it worked.

 

[Lach72]

Ross mentioned chest infections as well as colds.
Lachie and Barlow barely started in the center for the whole game, with Suban being the 3rd mid with Fyfe and Mundy.

May have a lot to do with their poor nights

 

[Granny Val]

Did anyone notice the Swans' banner? Talk about bad taste, especially on Anzac Day (Cellarbrations!). Loved the simplicity of our Lest We Forget.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Did anyone notice the Swans' banner? Talk about bad taste, especially on Anzac Day (Cellarbrations!). Loved the simplicity of our Lest We Forget.

What did it say?

 

[samFFC]

The best thing about last night's game is Fyfey's two best moments happened Right In Front Of Me! The great mark, then that awesome burst through the pack like an NFL running back using Sandi as a human shield.

Most of the action usually happens on the interchange side so last night I felt blessed.

You must be near us in 130! Tremendous grab!

 

[samFFC]

No it's not rocket science but it's not that simple either. The ball just wasn't getting in there. We were getting murdered around the ball and could not get that last kick into our fifty. Getting Zung on allowed to have more pressure on the wings, add a greater chance of an intercept and more opportunities to transition cleanly. Tabs will stay in but RTB had to adjust and going off the result, it worked.

Of course bring Gu into the game.
But other options for subbing out: one of the mids having an off night? Clarke? Even could have been Mayne - would have been less disruptive to structure.

You are right about lack of entry, but that also carried forward into q4 when we had entries too. And if Tabs was at home, Pav could push up to help get the ball in, or vice versa.