Autopsy Freo overrun Essendon

[silverscope]

Is hawthorn getting something else for that trade, otherwise I think you paid significant unders.

Well Collingwood Signed Mayne and we got pick 22 for that then on traded that 22 for B.Hill

So for us Hill cost Mayne. In this Trade Collingwood are the massive losers having signed Mayne for what like 4 years and a ton of money.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Stoked with the win, but if we are being realistic it was obvious Essendon slowed right down in the second half.

Our first half was a big concern. When we play badly we look atrocious and we were honestly lucky not to be 50 points down. The backline was a big culprit, Spurr and Ibbo are whipping boys for a reason and Weller had his worst game for us (I saw someone give him votes in the other thread wtf).
But our midfield were smashed early which was the main reason. Credit to them for turning it around but that was a worry.

There is also a long way to go in terms of developing chemistry and trust in each other - A feature of our bad performances/quarters/halves this year is that when it's going wrong we are constantly outnumbered at every contest which means we are either not working hard enough for each other or there is a lack of understanding in the game plan.

I think the main positive is another big come from behind win. While you down't want to be coming from behind all the time like we have in literally all our wins this season, it has never been a feature of Freo teams in the past to fight back from 4-5 goals down like this. I think there's some strong character in the team. Long way to go but lots to work with.

 

[Jezzitizle]

I really liked how Walters controlled the pace of our attacks when he got the ball in the middle of the ground. If we were on he turned and went, if we weren't he made sure we kept the ball. If we play 3 talls he is more valuable in the middle because his kicking is so good.

Tabs really worked his way into it. If we had a fit Bennell and Hill we'd have the best midfield in the comp, and finally a forward line that can capitalise.

I also think kerstan is very smart with his leads, can find space where there isn't much.

 

[Sweetback]

Our backline struggled again in the 1st qtr when the pressure was at its peak. It's our biggest area of concern. Midfield were poor in the first half increasing the pressure on the backline...

Yep, Ross needs to get the balance of the back third right. Do that and I think the overall team balance will be right to work with for the rest of the season.

 

[Dump Truck]

If anyone can post a slowmo gif or something of Walters doing that steal (which Pav hilariously said "he's from Midland" to Geralds bewilderment ) then they would be doing the world a great big favour!!

 

[Docker82]

Is hawthorn getting something else for that trade, otherwise I think you paid significant unders.

I'd say it was more the fact that the free agency compensation pick for Mayne was significant overs. That pick was a direct swap for Hill not Mayne himself. In hindsight perhaps pick 23 wasn't enough for Hill either.

 

[yoong]

So that's what it felt like to have a decent forward line

 

[Grape Bear]

We have started really poorly in almost every game this year, with the exception of the Bulldogs game. Credit to us that we've managed to claw our way back and pinch a few, but good teams or heavily attacking teams will make us pay and just hold us at arm's length until the last siren (see Derby last week). Obviously we have the capability to work our way into games, but why aren't we able to get out of the blocks with the same intent as we seem to finish?

 

[Arcassius]

Here I thought you'd appreciate me not being super optimistic

Two other things I noticed - hamling and MJ were well up the ground at times getting involved on the wing with Sutty our deepest defender. Walters getting isolated 1 on 1 in defence in a marking contest was a bit shit too given our defenders were up the ground

It's great that our team can interchange and switch it up, but sometimes it backfires with people getting caught out of position on a break

 

[democritus]

Really liked the forward line of McCarthy, Kersten and Tabs. Mobile, versatile and when we clicked in the second half meant we weren't relentlessly out marked and rebounded against. Remains to be seen how this goes in the long-term, but definitely worth persisting with.

Loved Blakely's game. Dog-hungry at the contest.

Neale and Hill were superb and Fyfe's second half was immense.

Stoked that it's the younger brigade leading the way, with a few old heads keeping us composed when it counts (Mundy, MJ and Sandi in particular).

 

[theGav56]

Hardly fair. Thought Balic did some great things, didn't even realize he only had 10 disposals. Walters took the midfield spot so Balic got the much-aligned half forward. Many that played in that role have already been quiet, tough one or so it seems at Freo. Suban, Barlow, Crowley, Palmer have all had to play there.

eh? I'm not having a crack at Balic. heaveho was praising Balic and having a go at Tucker, so I popped up the stats. I thought they were both fine.

 

[free at last]

Man that second half from Blakely was jaw-dropping.The two way running between Billy & Blakely was the best I think I've ever seen from two freo players!

 

[Arcassius]

Haven't seen it mentioned, but good to see Brady keeping up his 2 scuffle a game average. He got dropped behind the play from behind after standing up for our guys in the scuffle involving heppell, walters, and a few others

(did anyone else see heppell shit his dacks when walters did a shadow bob and weave at him? was hilarious)

 

[Big Animal]

thread is dedicated to the "Tabs isn't a footballers ahole" devotees (you know who you are) who are spending the rest of the evening cleaning albumin off their faces.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

**** that first half was dog shit. They spread a lot better than us and kept it simpler in the forward line. We tried too much weird shit. Crozier at full forward for the first 15 or so, yeah righto Ross, good joke.

Everyone worked really well in the 2nd I thought. Balic and Tucker both had enough good moments. Agree that Ibbo is cooked, make it stop already. I'm torn on Spurr though, he really is a better intercept mark than anyone else on the damn list.

 

[ImperialPurple]

IAMJUNGLEMUFFIN

What? I sense that you wished to berate me for something.

 

[wayToGo_]

Not enough love for Kersten imo. Thought he was one of our few players who gave it a crack right from the first quarter. He had 7 inside 50s and 3 goal assists on top of his 2 goals. If he'd kicked straight - wowee! Some of his ball handling was sensational. Thought he worked really well with Tabs, and is showing he is the ideal 3rd tall as he does the hard work so the other two talls get more opportunities. Still the recruit that has surprised me the most.

Going to love watching Cam, Tabs and Kersten working together over the coming weeks. Felt sorry for our small forwards, with Tabs grabbing 7 contested marks, there were no crumbs

Feeling a lot more confident in our future forward line now. Break out performance in his first game back is exactly what Tabs needed to deliver. Hopefully it continues over the coming weeks.

 

[Bicco]

Neale was just superb today.
Blakely just looks like he belongs at this level.
Mundy is so important to us.
Tabs, wow, finally did what his body looks like it can do. Plenty of sterner challenges for him coming up though.

 

[Cobbler]

Thought Tabs showed more in the ruck then Johnson too.
Nothing brilliant, but competed and split most contests.
Also got hands to a couple in marking contests and spilt ball led to goals too.
Not just the best performance of his career but the best one by a Freo forward in some time.
I've always had a lot of time for him.

 

[free at last]

I really liked how Walters controlled the pace of our attacks when he got the ball in the middle of the ground. If we were on he turned and went, if we weren't he made sure we kept the ball. If we play 3 talls he is more valuable in the middle because his kicking is so good.

Tabs really worked his way into it. If we had a fit Bennell and Hill we'd have the best midfield in the comp, and finally a forward line that can capitalise.

I also think kerstan is very smart with his leads, can find space where there isn't much.

How was that play by Walters in the last when he knocked it on and ran on to it?

 

[Outshined]

Gotta laugh at the (deserved) hell WA journos go through every 2 weeks at Ross's post-game press conferences

Do you think the second half was a case of you playing better football or Essendon dropping away from the heat?

RL: Well I think that's simplistic isn't it?

Awkward silence...

...Next question.

 

[electricfeel]

Has anyone made the Lamb over Blakely jokes yet?

He was an absolute beast and he was actually really clean at the contest. Looks like he's really worked on his skills over the preseason. Huge improvement and probs one of his best games for us.

 

[theGav56]

Has anyone made the Lamb over Blakely jokes yet?

He was an absolute beast and he was actually really clean at the contest. Looks like he's really worked on his skills over the preseason. Huge improvement and probs one of his best games for us.

Wonder if he has a date with Dusty?

 

[Carnthedockers]

Kersten, Tabs and Mcarthy... Hate to say I told you so... but I told you so!

 

[electricfeel]

Wonder if he has a date with Dusty?

He might but Dusty will probs murder him up forward