Johncock

[jackster83]

What is it about Stiffy that he plays like a million dollars when we play poor to average opposition, but as soon as we play a top team, he plays an absolute shocker?

His game today could only be described as appalling. Far too loose on Milne, and clanger after clanger after ****ing clanger. It's shockers like today that stop him ever getting AA status. He panics and then turns the ball over. He should never, ever do another kick in again - give that job to Otten.

Great player but **** me sideways, does he go to pieces when the heat is on!

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Gee, I didn't think he was that bad

Yes there were some skill errors but it was one of those days that you look up field and only see St Kilda players, turn left and its St Kilda players, turn right - more St Kilda players. Eventually the error came but we simply did not get enough players around the footy to give our team mates an outlet when the pressure was on.

St Kilda on the other hand... we just couldn't tackle them. Any time we got close they always had 2-3 options readily available.

And the game was played almost entirely in St Kilda's forward half after quarter time. Of course Milne was going to kick some goals.

 

[King Elvis]

What is it about Stiffy that he plays like a million dollars when we play poor to average opposition, but as soon as we play a top team, he plays an absolute shocker

Or

What is it about our Defence that they plays like a million dollars when we play poor to average opposition, but as soon as we play a top team, they play an absolute shocker

Our defence was completely exposed today, in three ways - the speed and accuracy of the ball coming into the Saints forward line; how hard the Saints midfielders worked to get into their forward line and outnumber our defenders, and lack of movement and guys running to create space in the middle of the ground, preventing our backline from being able to confidently move the ball forward.

 

[macca23]

What is it about Stiffy that he plays like a million dollars when we play poor to average opposition, but as soon as we play a top team, he plays an absolute shocker?

His game today could only be described as appalling. Far too loose on Milne, and clanger after clanger after ****ing clanger. It's shockers like today that stop him ever getting AA status. He panics and then turns the ball over. He should never, ever do another kick in again - give that job to Otten.

Great player but **** me sideways, does he go to pieces when the heat is on!

I wouldn't say that he always done that, but he certainly did today. As others have intimated he had quite a few mates in that department.

I agree with you though, his decision making absolutely stunk today. People shouldn't be fooled by some of his few good things because he cost us a mozza today with loose checking, errors and poor decision making.

 

[smoovy]

The actual defensive work wasn't too bad. We had some shocking bounces go against us.

Where we looked bad is coming out of defence. However, this is a function of what is happening up field and comes back to our midfielders not working hard enough to create space and just the awesome zone the Saints play.

 

[sbenno]

I think this needs to be taken into context. Remember, they're playing the best side in the AFL, who take pride in, and are renowned for, their pressure all over the ground, and who have the best forward line in the competition by miles.

Considering how hot it was in our 50 for most of the game (cos our midfield crumbled, with the exception of thommo), I reckon they did a reasonable job to not conceed a cricket score.

 

[kulak]

Our defence was completely exposed today, in three ways - the speed and accuracy of the ball coming into the Saints forward line; how hard the Saints midfielders worked to get into their forward line and outnumber our defenders, and lack of movement and guys running to create space in the middle of the ground, preventing our backline from being able to confidently move the ball forward.

I concur.

I'll go on to say that our good defensive efforts are more about teamwork and structure than talent - hence we are consistently exposed by the very best teams.

In the first quarter of the '98 grand final, when the Roos were dominating the midfield, Ben Hart single-handedly repelled a number of attacks through his sheer ability, and McLeod likewise in the first half of '97. I don't see anyone with that raw talent there now.

This isn't a real criticism of the defence though, it just means that we can't afford to get smashed in the middle like we were today. But here's hoping for another Hart / Smart combo sometime...

 

[Drummond]

What is it about Stiffy that he plays like a million dollars when we play poor to average opposition, but as soon as we play a top team, he plays an absolute shocker?

His game today could only be described as appalling. Far too loose on Milne, and clanger after clanger after ****ing clanger. It's shockers like today that stop him ever getting AA status. He panics and then turns the ball over. He should never, ever do another kick in again - give that job to Otten.

Great player but **** me sideways, does he go to pieces when the heat is on!

In actual fact I tend to think the opposite, he generally stands up in loses, that's what makes him such a good player. I can think of many games that we've been poor and he's been one of our best.

Scott Thompson though, he's the opposite of Danyle Pearce, the reverse front runner. Gun, love him.

 

[cmndstab]

Personally I didn't think he was too bad. As for his poor kickouts, did you see what was ahead of him? I can't believe the players didn't work harder to present options. You'd look up and see players standing perhaps 10m away from any opposition - ie on their own but not a safe option to kick out to. If they start moving suddenly they have the advantage.

 

[Wood_Duck]

Our backline in general are such good rebounders and are so used to running off their men that I think at times let themselves down defensively. I reckon Bock and Johncock played pretty ordinary defensive games on Sunday. Milne and Riewoldt had too much freedom.