Dear Chris Scott...

[hbk_aus]

Good question,as who was the last older player to be dropped to the VFL ?
Wojo didn't play VFL today,so he might not have been dropped.

Exactly JJ. I just don't understand who he meant. Shannon Byrnes?

 

[Belisarius]

Dear Chris - things look ok but that's about it.

So why not try a few things as many agree - it is very unlikely we will be there on the last day defending our Cup.

Taylor has always been a potential CHF IMO - just that we needed him down back.

Try Brown in the side and if necessary as the third tall.

Keep Murdoch and Smedts in for the next game.

The team will get better over the season and the younger guys get some AFL experience and we could still launch a campaign fron 6, 7 or 8 th position.

Bundy, Duncan, Motlop, Thunt, Guthrie, Brown, Simpson and Murdoch. They seem like a good group to get some time into.

And who knows - if the young guys can rejuvenate the side - the older guys may yet play big in a final or two ?

Long shot but we gotta dare and try a few things. There is still Kersten, the Hyphen, Simpkin, Walker and Schroder playing well enough in the VFL - that if they had 2-3 outstanding games could yet get promoted and have their trial at AFL level.

We have to start to look and see who will be taking this team forward. We have enough mid to late aged good to gun players to get us into the finals this year. Let's see from the 3-4 positions open - who can show enough to be there when finals start.

 

[The rabbi]

What if those older players aren't performing? Who has been shown disrespect exactly?

Exactly, selection on form not past reputation. Otherwise no new players would be blooded.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I doubt we'll see many brand new youngsters blooded for the rest of the year past next week. We won the game on the weekend while playing a bunch of youngsters. Hopefully we can do the same next week on the Gold Coast.

Realistically, the youngsters that are either best 22 or right in the mix are Duncan, Christensen, Motlop, T Hunt, Guthrie and Smedts. With Smedts really stepping up yesterday I'd expect a minimum of 4 of those 6 to be in our best 22 for the rest of the year. I'd expect them all to play a fair few games from now on too.

Other blokes like Horlin-Smith, Murdoch, Schroder and Simpkin might get games here and there but I can't see more than 1 or 2 playing each week. We're getting to the tough road and we need to be looking at finalising our top 25 or so players. Maybe one of these blokes can jump out from the pack like Christensen did near the end of last year but that would be about it. We could have a game or 2 near the end of the year when hopefully we've wrapped up our spot in the 8 but maybe we can't make the 4 and we could look to blood even more youngsters.

Overall our development's been positive this year. I think it's important though that we're always looking at playing our best 22 coming up to finals to be as competitive as we can be. It doesn't help the development of youngsters to show that we're willing to play below our best in order to blood them when the games are now vitally important.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

It seems that there are 2 groups of supporters; those that think we can still win it this year, and those that think that we are already rebuilding for the coming years.

I think Scott (and the rest of the MC) are doing an excellent job at trying to balance the side to meet both "types" of supporters' expectations. We have had the most first gamers in the competition this year (helping the rebuild) while still maintaining our spot in the 8 and giving ourselves a realistic chance at making a late assault at the flag (all things would need to go perfectly, but while there is still a chance I am unable to write this team off).

I can't praise Scott enough. Since the first day he took over as coach, he has spoken extremely well, stressing that 2015 was as much in his mind as 2012 in terms of how he coaches the side. Our inconsistent form really shouldn't come as a surprise, given that Scott told us that it was coming from his very first press conference.

So Chris, if you are reading this, keep up the good work!

 

[The rabbi]

I doubt we'll see many brand new youngsters blooded for the rest of the year past next week. We won the game on the weekend while playing a bunch of youngsters. Hopefully we can do the same next week on the Gold Coast.

We have already blooded nine new players. So besides Shane Kersten, who else is there to blood who is an AFL listed player?

Unless you have in mind rookie listed players.

 

[Partridge]

Dear Mr Blight,

Can you please play Hinkley in the back line?

Big footy circa 1990

Dear Mr Blight,

Why don't you watch losses, especially Grand Final losses? How else are you meant to learn?

 

[Partridge]

Dear Mr Thompson,

Winning every game through the year isnt the goal, winning the flag is. Rest players, injured players are lying to you, rest them too.

Cheers Guesty
June 2008.

Should be written in stone that one.

 

[Gogeelong]

Dear Mr Chris Scott,

Our decline is well and truly under way. This was evident to see against Collingwood and for most of the season. We know we are in transition and cannot wait for it to happen asap.

The umpires did not help, but this was not the reason we lost. Just a reason for the team to say it was not all their fault.

We understand the team is hurting but so are we.
Our team has been in 4th gear for most of the season and continues to go backwards
One thing for sure it is time to change.

Habits the team have picked up include-
A Slow starts and trying to come back from ridiculous situations is not a recipe for success. You cannot recover from this more often than not.
B We are getting killed in the transition because we are not quick enough to cover the ground and leak goals from simple turnovers in the middle of the ground. We do not have the hunger to cover the ground defensively.
C Discipline had become our constant companion. When the game does not go our way the players loose control. Corey, Scarlett, Chapman and Hunt are the main offenders. How many frees did Corey give away tonight? Bartel rested while watching in the stands.
D Teach them the basics. Running through the mark most weeks, kicking over the line etc, how basic can it be. The same offenders more often than not.
E Kicking for goal is a glaring issue even though the club is in denial.
Give them kicking practice until they get it right, and get a kicking coach please. A forward that kicks 3 goals and 1 point is better than one who kicks 2 goals and 6 behinds.
F Hardball gets have dropped away atrociously and we have no intensity around the contest. Whatever the game plan of laying off and getting the next more effective kick does not work. This star-gazing is starting the rot our attitude.
G Johnson is a joke, I do care how many times he gets the football. Play the percentages please. When we are playing well fair enough but at the moment we do not need show ponies. (I could not believe that banana set kick for goal in the second, how pathetic)
H Our confidence is shot. If it is not that is the problem they feel they are better than what they are, like a punch drunk fighter.
I There is no team cohesion, to many changes combined with lack of effort.


WHERE TO NOW?
REBUILD
My advice is play the youngsters for the rest of the season in mass, we do not care if we get smashed. This season is beyond us even though as you say “It is mathematically possible”. If we make the finals we will be embarrassed anyway as we were today.

Must give game time to Brown and Walker. (I would have liked to see Bathie as a key defender also. Keep him on the list).

A host of our older players will have to accept the tap on the shoulder or our decline will be prolonged.
Gillies, Stokes, Chapman, J Hunt, J Corey (21 possies with 52% efficiency tonight, I know some posters say he played well???), Hogan, Byrnes and Wojo (it appears he has become too injury prone) are gone at the end of the year. Might be time to let Pods go. We will not be ready to win a premiership while he is around. Overhaul is required and yes I know this looks way too many.

Draft inside midfielders with grunt, and more grunt. Selwood needs support to help carry the load before he gets killed. Boak for our first and second pick.
If not Menzel mark 2 (he kicks straight thank God!!)

 

[Cattery]

G Johnson is a joke, I do care how many times he gets the football. Play the percentages please. When we are playing well fair enough but at the moment we do not need show ponies. (I could not believe that banana set kick for goal in the second, how pathetic)

Oh dear, and you were doing fairly well up to this point then had to go and ruin all your credibility.

 

[SJ]

Dear Chris,

Why do we try to play an 'A-grade midfield, dry track' game plan on a wet night against with a weakish midfield against far stronger opponents?

 

[footscore]

Dear Scott

Still believe and haven't given up hope.
As long as we remain inside the top 8, we are just as much chance as the other 7 teams around us.

Only concern....could we try tweaking the game plan from here on in.
We still have 7 weeks to find our very best form and as you mentioned most of the 1st half, you are confident our best footy will be played near the end of the season.

 

[mcwilrob]

Dear Scott

Still believe and haven't given up hope.
As long as we remain inside the top 8, we are just as much chance as the other 7 teams around us.

Only concern....could we try tweaking the game plan from here on in.
We still have 7 weeks to find our very best form and as you mentioned most of the 1st half, you are confident our best footy will be played near the end of the season.

You're joking right? I'm laughing anyway. "Just as much chance as the other 7 teams" - now that's a good one!

 

[Jef Costello]

Dear Chris

1. Another poster suggested caffeine before the game. Can l suggest amphetamines. Or we run on the ground 30 minutes before.
2. Goal-kicking practice every training session regardless of what some sports scientist tells you. It's critical.

 

[catman 71]

Hawkins marked pretty much everything that came near him. The conversion is a problem - a big one - but it's the only flaw in his game now. There isn't a defender in the competition he can't outpoint in a marking duel.

Not quite useless.

I have noticed something with Tom Hawkins.

I can now often know whether he will kick a goal or not. Because I don't believe that the problem is his kicking, it is his run-up.

I notice that, when Hawks runs up to the man on the mark, he sometimes gets too close, meaning that he has to kick over their head, and he often misses the goal.

However, if he runs up and leaves a bit of space between his kick and the man on the mark, he usually gets it.

So, what Hawkins has to do is go back a couple of more steps, and kick a metre earlier, further from the man on the mark, and his goalkicking will improve.

 

[catman 71]

Dear Chris,

Congratulations on winning the 2011 flag.

PS. See you in 2016, when we will be able to contend for our next flag!

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Dear Chris

What the hell has happened to our defense that you spoke so much of was the focus on 2011 season? We leak goals faster then a Commodore leaks oil. I thought you want our players to play Geelong Footy, but we are playing Dees Footy.

Put a rocket up the players bum or if that doesn't work then see ya in 2015...

 

[ATSAM]

Dear Chris,
Please dispel the rumour that six weeks ago you, and the rest of the Coaches, decided that wew ere not going to contend for/ win the 2012 flag and thus decided to just keep tyring new players.
If the rumour is true then please tell us. If it is true then please tell us what the players think about this. Reember that we have been watching this group since say 2002, we know them pretty well and seeinmg them play this half hearted way is quite distressing for us.

 

[LukeWarm]

Dear Chris

1. Another poster suggested caffeine before the game. Can l suggest amphetamines. Or we run on the ground 30 minutes before.
2. Goal-kicking practice every training session regardless of what some sports scientist tells you. It's critical.

You'll probably find that Tomahawk nails them on the training track, you just can't replicate the game-day pressure when the crowd gets into your head. Once the crowd is in Tommy's head, he can't get close to the big sticks. Most of our problems are mental (though Tom certainly has technical faults) and I don't really know how we solve them. I hope someone has some ideas.

 

[Partridge]

Dear Chris

1. Another poster suggested caffeine before the game. Can l suggest amphetamines. Or we run on the ground 30 minutes before.
2. Goal-kicking practice every training session regardless of what some sports scientist tells you. It's critical.

3. The next sports scientist who advocates avoiding goalkicking practice has to answer for every missed set shot to the board.

 

[Partridge]

A host of our older players will have to accept the tap on the shoulder or our decline will be prolonged.

Gillies, Stokes, Chapman, J Hunt, J Corey (21 possies with 52% efficiency tonight, I know some posters say he played well???), Hogan, Byrnes and Wojo (it appears he has become too injury prone) are gone at the end of the year. Might be time to let Pods go. We will not be ready to win a premiership while he is around. Overhaul is required and yes I know this looks way too many.

Gillies? He hasn't had anywhere near enough chances. You might want to compare the amount of games played between him and the others in that list.

 

[CatTricks]

Dear Chris Scott,

Your game plan doesn't seem to be working. Fix it and win the flag again please.

 

[LukeWarm]

Gillies? He hasn't had anywhere near enough chances. You might want to compare the amount of games played between him and the others in that list.

I think at the very least, most of our other young players have shown something when they've come in. Personally, I haven't seen much from Gillies to suggest we shouldn't have traded him to Haw when he wanted to go and we should attempt to find the same deal again. If we want to make the decision to pump games into these players now to see what they're made of, we'll all have to accept that we wont have any chance of featuring in September this year (which we might not anyway).

 

[Partridge]

I think at the very least, most of our other young players have shown something when they've come in. Personally, I haven't seen much from Gillies to suggest we shouldn't have traded him to Haw when he wanted to go and we should attempt to find the same deal again. If we want to make the decision to pump games into these players now to see what they're made of, we'll all have to accept that we wont have any chance of featuring in September this year (which we might not anyway).

No one has seen much from Gillies; he's only played 13 games. I'd be playing him for every game for the rest of the year. Give him a sustained run in the seniors and see what he can do. Same with Brown.

 

[vivien]

Probably the best post I've seen in this thread.

Man, chris you really need to read the posts in this thread.. Bigfooty has some great football analysist.