And it all came down to 20 seconds....

[mattys123]

So, after all that, the bad umpiring, the turnovers, the fallovers (Mr Cox and Toovey please stand up), it came down to 20 seconds of AFL football where we were in front.

TARKYN LOCKYER WHAT THE &$%^ WERE YOU THINKING.

You had 5 options;

1. Step over the line, forcing the umpire to bounce the ball, 2 ball ups, we WIN
2. Kick the ball to yourself, run 15 meters, waste 10 seconds and kick the balL 50 metres to the edge of the boundary, WE WIN
3. Kick to Toovey who was the only player who lead, even if he drops the mark it goes out of bounds, 10 seconds left, WE WIN

Any 3 of those would have been considered correct options.

Now for Tarkyn Lockyer's brain choices;

1. Kick it up the middle, basically giving the ball to Essendon, WE LOSE
2. And the Doozy, the one that he actually chose, dont play on and run 15, kick the ball 40 meters to the 50 metre line, to a 3 on 2 contest, guess what WE LOSE.

Gratz Tarks, the unlosable game became a loss, because after everything, the game came down to the last 20 seconds, and we had the lead, the worst thing to do was kick inbounds to a contest where we were outnumbered.

 

[Ron]

Yeah i did think it was a rather silly choice from Tarks.

I was sitting there thinking just kick it to yourself, but nah that would be too easy.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I thought it was going to be okay, but once the ball went out the back of the contest, we were ****ed.

Apparently we're the only team in the league who can't ice the clock properly, and in the wet no less.

 

[smiddaz123]

Pendlebury made a bad decision too just outside the 50.

Should never have bombed long. I'm certain he could've found a target to his side or behind him with ease.

We coould've iced that game, no worries, if we kept our heads.

 

[The Dawes]

Matty - you are completely correct - a simple matter of retaining possession, or at worst kicking to a boundary-line contest is the most basic lesson any footballer learns when the game is in the balance, but a bloke who has played close to 200 AFL games couldn't work this out?

Idiotic.

 

[Teak_Pies]

why didn't rocca take the kick in and roost a torp

 

[Rohan25]

why didn't rocca take the kick in and roost a torp

Incredibly low percentage move. Just like what Lockyer did though, I suppose.

 

[Optimax]

Incredibly low percentage move. Just like what Lockyer did though, I suppose.

he turned around and looked the other side he would of found 3 collingwood players and 2 essendon players

monumental **** up, went with hero (with his goal mouth save) to villain within seconds

 

[Rohan25]

I just wish Swan and Davis had have kept their kick-to-kick in the back pocket going and finished with 40 odd touches each. That's what I thought was going to happen. I seriously thought the game was over at that point, and was debating which of those two would get the medal.

 

[Optimax]

I just wish Swan and Davis had have kept their kick-to-kick in the back pocket going and finished with 40 odd touches each. That's what I thought was going to happen. I seriously thought the game was over at that point, and was debating which of those two would get the medal.

Pendlebury should of kicked short instead of bombing inside 50 as well

 

[Rohan25]

Pendlebury should of kicked short instead of bombing inside 50 as well

In those last two minutes I screamed "LOCK IT DOWN, LOCK IT DOWN" until I literally couldn't make a sound. I don't know why we were in such a hurry.

 

[Rohan25]

I smashed the best portable radio I've ever had too. That things been with me for 5 years and is the only one I can get perfect reception on any station all through each game. Bad, bad day.

 

[RRRooocccaaa]

FFS, it came down to over 60 minutes of crap football, not the last 20 seconds. I wouldn't hold one player accountable for the sins of the whole team.

 

[bombers_4_ever]

I smashed the best portable radio I've ever had too. That things been with me for 5 years and is the only one I can get perfect reception on any station all through each game. Bad, bad day.

That's Gold.

 

[Helfarch]

coulda, woulda, shoulda

Must be what this guy thinks every time he's reminded he supports Melbourne.

 

[rose jam]

I agree with the OP's statement - leadership, where of where is it?

But still, when you look overall, to see 22 players all day running up and down on the one spot because they looked fatigued before the ball even bounced, frankly, you have to question what the fitness staff is doing. This trip to Arizona to give us an edge in early season to avoid slow starts - bam! right back in our face if we can't even have our players physically ready to play round 5 after an 8 day break.

 

[Vtorians]

I smashed the best portable radio I've ever had too. That things been with me for 5 years and is the only one I can get perfect reception on any station all through each game. Bad, bad day.

What brand & model was the radio? (sick of not getting good reception on SEN)

 

[larrikan]

We seem to have no lock down play at all...adelaide and essendon...surely we learnt something after adelaide..no?...our game plan is too predictable...everyone knows we hug the boundary leaving the corridor and top of the 50m ark clear for the opposition...no wait, we changed our game plan in the last 20 seconds...straight up the middle!

 

[OnceWeWereKings]

why didn't rocca take the kick in and roost a torp

Because he would be too stuffed to take the kick if he had to run all the way down to the defensive end of the ground.

 

[Valve Bounce]

I smashed the best portable radio I've ever had too. That things been with me for 5 years and is the only one I can get perfect reception on any station all through each game. Bad, bad day.

I hope it wasn't one of those expensive Sonys with the digital display. That will set you back heaps.

 

[Skade]

I smashed the best portable radio I've ever had too. That things been with me for 5 years and is the only one I can get perfect reception on any station all through each game. Bad, bad day.

What was it Rohan25, I'm after something decent. Was it miniture(pocket size)

 

[The Royal Sampler]

In those last two minutes I screamed "LOCK IT DOWN, LOCK IT DOWN" until I literally couldn't make a sound. I don't know why we were in such a hurry.

Yep, I was yelling at Pendles to pass short or sideways, and the bloke next to me was yelling at him to pass backward to Davis if necessary. Stupid, stupid football.

 

[Gymnorhina tibic]

Tarks has been my favourite for a long time but have to agree he made the wrong decision this time. Even that wasn't the last bad decision of the day - MaCaffer (I think) ran at the Essendon boy from side-on and gave him an open shot at goal, running to the front in that situation would have put him off-balance and far better % play for a defender. Hopefully both learn along with many others, I would love to sit in on the video review.

 

[Grey Smith Bar]

Just watched my tape of the game, not only did Lockyer kick it to a contest, he kicked it to a contest involving Ryder who was obviously our best player.

Hate to say it, but having watched the last quarter replay twice now, the Pies had plenty of opportunities to ice the game late. Leigh Brown's miss, Medhurst's miss, Thomas' showboating in the goalsquare trying to snap/soccer the hero goal, Rocca's 50m (that's the one that I actually think turned the game) and Leon Davis' not taking the opportunity to chip it around.

If I were a Pies fan I'd be furious.

Anyway it takes 2 great teams to play in a great game, and I'm looking forward to the rematch later in the year and many more ANZAC clashes to come.

 

[mrmagoo]

You can't lump the loss all on a bad decision by Lockyer. Sure it was dumb, but we lost the game during the last 4 minutes when we did'nt lock the game down.