Lets focus on the positive

[half_back_flank]

I thought N Brown had a good game. He started the season terribly but it seems he is working into it. Agreed that most of our young mids have average disposal and can't believe people are complimenting Barham's game. See what Montagna did to him in q1???? He doesn't look out of his depth when the ball's not in his hands but when it is? He's clearly been told not to kick which is good because he clearly can't do it but it's making him question himself and he looks hesitant when handballing.

People are recommending him as a tagger but these days a tagger needs to be able to hurt a player in the other direction; he wouldn't do that in an under 17s game.

Sometimes i don't understand why a tagger has to also be an offensive tool as well. Even if a tagger does get 20 possies, his opponent is still going to get 25+ as well. I would rather sacrifice an average player getting only say 5 possies to see the oppositions best player get only 15 or even less, which is possible if he has a player following him everywhere.

 

[Dansolo]

Once I got over the fact we were being smashed, I actually found a few positives. Sidebottom was pretty damn good in his debut against a very seasoned Saints outfit. Alot of unfair criticism considering the pressure out there - you'd struggle to list anyone who could have overcome that on debut - and he didn't stop. All our young players played their guts out and did pretty well - even Toovey's disposal has improved out of sight (remember where he came from, people...!). The entire second half I could see our future on parade and man, I don't care what anyone says, I'm excited. We all knew this was going to be a tough year and we wouldn't start coming together for another 18 months or so, but man, when some of our younger players are men rather than boys and have 50-100 games under their belt, we're going to have a pretty damn serious team! GO 'PIES!

ps. Can you tell I'm excited?

 

[Dansolo]

I doubt it, but if that is one of the reasons for his poor form he needs to get over it, it was a good four and a half months ago.
Would it help if a boxing match was arranged for him to regain confidence?
Worked for Howard Moon when he took on this man mountain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15wZeEJWKxc

I beg yours? Unless you're a qualified counsellor or have been king-hit in the back of the head/gang-bashed you're not entitled to an opinion on this. Stick to talking football.

 

[mattys123]

Once I got over the fact we were being smashed, I actually found a few positives. Sidebottom was pretty damn good in his debut against a very seasoned Saints outfit. Alot of unfair criticism considering the pressure out there - you'd struggle to list anyone who could have overcome that on debut - and he didn't stop. All our young players played their guts out and did pretty well - even Toovey's disposal has improved out of sight (remember where he came from, people...!). The entire second half I could see our future on parade and man, I don't care what anyone says, I'm excited. We all knew this was going to be a tough year and we wouldn't start coming together for another 18 months or so, but man, when some of our younger players are men rather than boys and have 50-100 games under their belt, we're going to have a pretty damn serious team! GO 'PIES!

ps. Can you tell I'm excited?

If your excited now, wait till Ryan Cook, Rusling, Ben Reid and John McCarthy come in, plus Cameron Wood.

We actually have a bloody good young list, it's some of the middle aged and older players that are holding us back.

When I was at the game last night, and found out Leon and Medders were out, I had no expectations at all after that. All I wanted to see was some positives from the youngsters, and Steele and Barham showed enough to get me excited as well.

Steele "Rusty" Sidebottom will be our next Pendlebury, an elite midfielder with clearance ability who can go forward and kick goals.

It's not a matter of if with Steele, it's a matter of how good.

 

[half_back_flank]

I beg yours? Unless you're a qualified counsellor or have been king-hit in the back of the head/gang-bashed you're not entitled to an opinion on this. Stick to talking football.

Fair enough

 

[greening22]

I think you've stumbled into the "Positives" thread by mistake.
I think you'll be more comfortable in the sticky thread at the top of the page

OK. The skill levels were appalling. The backline was poor. The forward line non-existent. The rucks were totaly ineffective. Yes Steele Sidebottom had a go and got the ball and yes he has good disposal skills. But is that something to celebrate. I mean if we are simply pleased that full-time professional AFL players can actually kick the ball from A to B then it really tells me where this club is in terms of satisfaction levels. I will tell you last night who was poor:

Nathan Brown
Harry O'Brien
Taryn Lockyer
Travis Cloke
Anthony Rocca
Danny Stanley
Anthony Corrie
Leigh Brown
Dane Swan
Dale Thomas

The rest very ordinary. Yes, Barham got the ball but his disposal skills need lot of work. Remeber we were thrashed by over 80 points.

 

[Brent24]

OK. The skill levels were appalling. The backline was poor. The forward line non-existent. The rucks were totaly ineffective. Yes Steele Sidebottom had a go and got the ball and yes he has good disposal skills. But is that something to celebrate. I mean if we are simply pleased that full-time professional AFL players can actually kick the ball from A to B then it really tells me where this club is in terms of satisfaction levels. I will tell you last night who was poor:

Nathan Brown
Harry O'Brien
Taryn Lockyer
Travis Cloke
Anthony Rocca
Danny Stanley
Anthony Corrie
Leigh Brown
Dane Swan
Dale Thomas

The rest very ordinary. Yes, Barham got the ball but his disposal skills need lot of work. Remeber we were thrashed by over 80 points.

You're still in the positives thread, mate.

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

Sidebottom... he and Beams will be our stars of the future.

Pendlebury... even when he has a bad game he's good.

Wellingham... not bad mate.

Maxwell... led by example, shame very few followed.

Leigh Brown... surely dropped?

If he stays in the seniors put him where his kicking doesnt cause such disappointment for Pies supporters. Would North take him back?

 

[half_back_flank]

OK. The skill levels were AWESOME. The backline was AWES0ME. The forward line AWESOME. The rucks were totaly AWESOME. Yes Steele Sidebottom had a go and got the ball and yes he has good disposal skills. But is that something to celebrate. I mean if we are simply pleased that full-time professional AFL players can actually kick the ball from A to B then it really tells me where this club is in terms of satisfaction levels. I will tell you last night who was AWESOME:

Nathan Brown
Harry O'Brien
Taryn Lockyer
Travis Cloke
Anthony Rocca
Danny Stanley
Anthony Corrie
Leigh Brown
Dane Swan
Dale Thomas

The rest very AWESUME. Yes, Barham got the ball but his disposal skills need lot of work. Remember we were thrashed by over 80 points.

Edited for the positive thread. There are about 20 other threads that this post would fit very nicely in, however this thread is for positive thoughts and consecutive criticism.

Also, i mentioned in the very first post we were thrashed.

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

If your excited now, wait till Ryan Cook, Rusling, Ben Reid and John McCarthy come in, plus Cameron Wood.

We actually have a bloody good young list, it's some of the middle aged and older players that are holding us back.

When I was at the game last night, and found out Leon and Medders were out, I had no expectations at all after that. All I wanted to see was some positives from the youngsters, and Steele and Barham showed enough to get me excited as well.

Steele "Rusty" Sidebottom will be our next Pendlebury, an elite midfielder with clearance ability who can go forward and kick goals.

It's not a matter of if with Steele, it's a matter of how good.

With Josh sounding ordinary I was looking forward to seeing whether Browny's rave about Wood was accurate. Looks like Dawes has gotten over his slump and a few others are waiting in the wings.

 

[loki04]

First team to enter the 50 more than 40 times against the Saints this year in a game.

Maxwell - Best game for a long time.
Barham - His tackling was terrific.
Rocca - Found some of the footy, can only help.
Steele - Looked at home and found the footy.

Only if you don't count the 1st half when he was crap and also his opponent ran riot most the game, he is a front runner played his best footy when the pressure was off and is constantly playing on the opposition kids/5-6th forwards.
As a senior player and captain he was found wanting in the 1st half oif the game especially the 2nd quarter when saints turned it on.

 

[The Coach]

I honestly don't see how anyone can praise Sidebottom after that performance. Maybe it looks good on the stat sheet, idk, haven't looked.

But as much as I want him to succeed long term, I though he was woeful, and should be first out next week. Well, second out after Leigh Brown.

edit: On second though, third out after L.Brown and Corrie.

No Idea

Sidebottom doesnt have bad disposal, he has 22 posessions tonight and had 82% efficiency, I know they are just stats, but I only saw one bad kick from him all night.

He may not have penetration in his kicking. but that is one thing you can improve on with leg strength built up over time.

We have found 2 inside mids in one draft, who will both play 200+ games of AFL footy, barring bad injuries of course (poor Rusling).

And he only had 60% TOG

looked to have decent depth in his kicking in the under 18s gf. Kicked 1 goal on his left from outside 50 so it cant be too bad.

Another positive is that we have the opportunity of smashing Carlton next week and let them know that they were beaten by a side that couldn't get within 14 goals of St Kilda!

Positively funny . You need to give a slice of your optimism to the next bloke

Yes Steele Sidebottom had a go and got the ball and yes he has good disposal skills. But is that something to celebrate. I mean if we are simply pleased that full-time professional AFL players can actually kick the ball from A to B then it really tells me where this club is in terms of satisfaction levels.

Playing his first bloody game

It's not a matter of if with Steele, it's a matter of how good.

Would love to have him but can't be greedy

 

[bothfeetshanker]

Only if you count the 1st half when he was UNREAL and also his opponent played tiddlywinks most the game, he is a GOOD LOOKING MAN WHO played his best footy when the pressure was HIGHER THEN A TEENAGER ON A SATURDAY NIGHT and is constantly playing on ALL 5-6 OF the opposition forwards.
As a senior player and captain he was found INSPIRING HIS TEAM MATES in the 1st half oif the game especially the 2nd quarter when saints turned it on.

just fixed up a few typos for you...this IS the positive thread isn't it

 

[buzzbuzz]

For some reason, these edits are making me laugh like a hyena at the Comedy Festival Gala.

 

[loki04]

just fixed up a few typos for you...this IS the positive thread isn't it

lol my bad Maxwell is a star and lead like a Micheal Voss on the way to his 3rd premiership, Saints didn't know what hit them when we kicked our 1st goal for the half. Maxwell is such a great bloke he felt sorry for his opponent so let him loose to get a few kicks set up a few of his teammates goals and even kick a couple of goals himself.


Oh continue on and find positives in a 88 point thrashing.... here I'll help .... least it wasn't 100 points.

 

[lewddude]

I honestly don't see how anyone can praise Sidebottom after that performance. Maybe it looks good on the stat sheet, idk, haven't looked.

But as much as I want him to succeed long term, I though he was woeful, and should be first out next week. Well, second out after Leigh Brown.

edit: On second though, third out after L.Brown and Corrie.

Agree, Brown and Corrie both poor choices IMHO

 

[bothfeetshanker]

Oh continue on and find positives in a 88 point thrashing.... here I'll help .... least it wasn't 100 points.

That's the spirit Loki. Must say I thought it was super we avoided the 100 as well.

No doubt it was a shytehouse night, but there are plenty of threads for venting and discussing the wasted 3 hours of my life. Here is where I have come to hide and pretend it wasn't that bad. Can you let us live in happy land please?

Happy thoughts shanker, just keep thinking happy thoughts or I'll burn this place down

 

[Chase the Ace]

OK. The skill levels were appalling. The backline was poor. The forward line non-existent. The rucks were totaly ineffective. Yes Steele Sidebottom had a go and got the ball and yes he has good disposal skills. But is that something to celebrate. I mean if we are simply pleased that full-time professional AFL players can actually kick the ball from A to B then it really tells me where this club is in terms of satisfaction levels. I will tell you last night who was poor:

Nathan Brown
Harry O'Brien
Taryn Lockyer
Travis Cloke
Anthony Rocca
Danny Stanley
Anthony Corrie
Leigh Brown
Dane Swan
Dale Thomas

The rest very ordinary. Yes, Barham got the ball but his disposal skills need lot of work. Remeber we were thrashed by over 80 points.

I'm not quite sure you've grasped the concept of "positive"