Analysis How did we nearly win?

[GameofSloanes]

North took their opportunities. We didn't.

I thought it looked like they wanted it more, which was disappointing. That didn't happen last year and must be stamped out quickly. Last year there was a steely resolve in the side that said 'we won't lose'. Last week reminded me of the Sando years

We ran out of legs more than they did, understandable as we are a younger side but we must learn from this and ensure it does not become a common theme.

Also there was a period in the second half where we got absolutely smashed in centre clearances.

 

[dogs105]

We're really good.

Played below our best and lost.

Sometime we will click, and be a top team this year.

 

[Slippery Pete]

There really is just no X factor and silky-ness running through the middle.

Nailed it.

 

[azza77]

Nailed it.

Hopefully Milera can get into the midfield sooner rather than later and provide some composure and X-factor. He might not be ready just yet obviously and its a big ask, but it we can rotate Betts/Cameron/Menzel/Milera through the midfield 1-2 at a time in short bursts, then it may improve our creativity through the middle 10 fold.

North took their opportunities. We didn't.

I thought it looked like they wanted it more, which was disappointing. That didn't happen last year and must be stamped out quickly. Last year there was a steely resolve in the side that said 'we won't lose'.

This too

 

[dude316]

We nearly stuck to our structures. We nearly remained composed. We nearly had good disposal. We nearly didn't give away stupid 50's and a reversal. We nearly didn't kick 1.5 in the last.

That's kind of how I imagine Van Berlo pleading his case to Pyke to get another game...

 

[Red mist]

That's kind of how I imagine Van Berlo pleading his case to Pyke to get another game...

Blues brothers, Get Smart... Nice.

 

[Sanders]

We got a good start and lost our way completely in the second half.

North kicked 10 of the last 14 goals, they won going away from us.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

What really hurt too was all 3 of those discipline lapses were taken full advantage of and we got the maximum punishment - 3 goals from nothing, wow that stings in a close game.

This was the game right here. Really disappointing to see our players totally throw a game away with bad discipline. North have a reputation for niggling tactics and we got sucked in big time.

One of the things that perpetually disappoints me about the Crows is how we always end up the victim of these shitty tactics. We seem incapable of turning it around on our opponents.

Ultimately blame has to rest with the senior coach. I know it's early days. Pyke needs to instill some fight into the side but it has to be a smart brand of mongrel. What we saw on the weekend was a very stupid football team.

 

[spexau]

Interesting isn't it because you felt even though we were up that we weren't playing that great. We had some good passages and exciting moments but they were few and far between. If we kept our cool and made the most of our chances in the last quarter we would've won by 2 or 3 goals. But that's footy!

I agree that we lack polish in the midfield but that's nothing new. Even with Dangerfield our midfield was a blunt weapon which served the purpose of getting it quickly to our potent forward line. Hopefully we can start to expose Milera to the midfield a little more and get the ball in Seedsman's hands more often too as they both have more x-factor about them. My big hope is for Hampton to get over this foot injury and work his way into the team toward round 8-10ish as he has some class and unpredictability about him. Hopefully our finals chances aren't gone by then!

 

[SydCrow]

A couple of straight kicks in the last (and fewer brain farts) and we would have won. I do worry about our key forwards in the last quarter as the ability to take contested marks will be key IMO. Fewer runners means more kicks to contests. McGovern could come into his own.

 

[Brentmeister]

Noticed a real effort from everyone to play on at every opportunity. Players were in good positions to receive quick running handballs. I haven't seen that from us before, at least not for many many years. Quick ball movement makes any defense nervous.

 

[maxlilly]

Jenkins, 5 goals
If only he had kicked 7

 

[DroppingTheBall]

Maybe they played badly until we were four goals up, then they played well and outscored us by six in a quarter and a half.

I dunno.

 

[Stiffy_18]

By the end of round 4 we will have a mich better idea where we are at as a team. Midfield depth and lack of x factor through the midfield are my real concern.

 

[Wright Away]

Yeah we need Knight at Cameron doing runs through the middle and Menzel cannot get fit quick enough.

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[StonesThrow]

The footskills of walker and Smith need to be questioned. Why are they not getting close to their lofty standards?

 

[WeeBlake]

We really were better than them for much of the game. Some great defensive second efforts in the first half. I agree we had lots of players down on form but we were still better for much of the game. Besides Goldy and Waite, did they have any stand out great players on the night? Not really.

 

[Golumless]

We still hit 71% DE or something which in itself is not bad.

But I was talking about efficiency of use not disposal. We didn't fluff around with our possessions. Quick ball movement is part of this.

Fair point, i do agree that we were very direct and it complimented us quite well.

I just wouldn't say our use was something that is worth praise. If it was, we probably would of won by 10 goals with how the first half went.

 

[blackadda]

Some poor decisions/discipline along with being too short up back are the main reasons we lost...thought apart from that we were prrtty good

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[Jeffcrowe]

By the end of round 4 we will have a mich better idea where we are at as a team. Midfield depth and lack of x factor through the midfield are my real concern.

Do we have to get smith in there and rely on laird Seedsman possibly Henderson and Milera across half back at times ?!!

Smith would give us X factor forward of centre but how much do we lose making that call ? Risk v reward

I'm not sure

 

[Stiffy_18]

We really were better than them for much of the game. Some great defensive second efforts in the first half. I agree we had lots of players down on form but we were still better for much of the game. Besides Goldy and Waite, did they have any stand out great players on the night? Not really.

Jeez I thought Ziebell and Cunnington were excellent for them all night. Thomas was pain in the ass.

 

[Huntercrow]

The footskills of walker and Smith need to be questioned. Why are they not getting close to their lofty standards?

Why does Smith kick short to 1 on 1s within 65 metres of goal????

 

[WheresGroomgone]

It is an interesting point that has been raised by a few people and that I felt myself when watching the replay - that it all looked a bit pedestrian, now hear me out, I listened to the game so watching I obviously knew the outcome, but at one stage I watched the players jog off from a throw in and it all seemed a little "business like". I think this is a good thing because as others have said when we click and play exciting "flair" type footy we will be scary good. There looked to be a bit of a lid on it {I haven't watched the last qtr} I wouldn't say flat but low key - hoping once we get our chess pieces sorted we will take some beating.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Do we have to get smith in there and rely on laird Seedsman possibly Henderson and Milera across half back at times ?!!

Smith would give us X factor forward of centre but how much do we lose making that call ? Risk v reward

I'm not sure

I was advocating this during the preseason but we obviously are going to keep him at half back given that he has trained with the defenders whole preseason.

 

[Huntercrow]

It is an interesting point that has been raised by a few people and that I felt myself when watching the replay - that it all looked a bit pedestrian, now hear me out, I listened to the game so watching I obviously knew the outcome, but at one stage I watched the players jog off from a throw in and it all seemed a little "business like". I think this is a good thing because as others have said when we click and play exciting "flair" type footy we will be scary good. There looked to be a bit of a lid on it {I haven't watched the last qtr} I wouldn't say flat but low key - hoping once we get our chess pieces sorted we will take some beating.

Maybe a result of the cap?? Perhaps the players don't want to spend their fuel tickets too early in the match.