Autopsy NMFC vs Freo

[Whereitallbegan]

Scott may not be a Barassi, but we certainly need a Barassi, a Barassi of the 70's.....and then some!

Has anyone got the name of that psychologist that Barassi used on the boys during the '77 finals series, worked wonders, particularly for Arnie in the replay. Some of the current crop could really used it and he may be able to get Scott institutionalised.

 

[the big lebowski]

Swallow was good against the dogs

He really wasn't

 

[discomute]

We won't get a top 5 pick and Kelly.
Our first rounder for Kelly is bare minimum trade currency .
In fact we are probably better of not getting Kelly if we can nail the draft.
Technically a top 5 pick should be better then Jy sympkin

I'm not great with understanding how the Academy works, but I think the issue is that we have a gun from Tassie in next year's draft. Therefore we can't really trade it for Kelly. Which makes getting a good pick in this year's draft all the more important. I would have thought as long as we are in the top 6 picks, we will be able to get Kelly along with maybe a second rounder or player we don't want that much.

 

[Roo-Boy]

Honorable loses is bad footy 2013 all over again. Bring back Cameron Ling again just like 2013 for that same issue.

 

[Royal Flush]

I'm not great with understanding how the Academy works, but I think the issue is that we have a gun from Tassie in next year's draft. Therefore we can't really trade it for Kelly. Which makes getting a good pick in this year's draft all the more important. I would have thought as long as we are in the top 6 picks, we will be able to get Kelly along with maybe a second rounder or player we don't want that much.

Yes I think that's correct. Previous post said we need a top 5 pick and Kelly. Which won't happen.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[Moti]

They are hardly rookies though. This inexperience thing is a furphy. Even EVW has been there three years. We are playing no more kids than anyone else. It's not a rookie team, but we make rookie mistakes.

Exactly. Poor players or poor coaching.


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[Moti]

Correct

I think we would win a premiership this year without Swallow. In fact, I think we would have at least 50,000 members if he wasn't around. And we would have at least three chocolate bars per man, woman and child at Etihad games.


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[discomute]

Yes I think that's correct. Previous post said we need a top 5 pick and Kelly. Which won't happen.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

Well it could feasibly happen if we traded away next years first round pick, perhaps a second rounder and a player like Daw who can't quite crack our 22 but could be of use elsewhere.

But, yes, you're right it can't happen because we would lose our academy pick next year.

 

[muttley45]

On LT he started the game so poorly. Gave away a 50 and 2 free kicks. Watching the game on TV it didn't appear that he was dragged and given a talking to by the coach. Why? :stern look

Spot on Z, was thinking the exact same thing, could you imagine how quick Pagan or even Barassi would have had Thomas on the pine for a reality check, even Hansen after his sloppy elbow that gave away a 50m and a goal IIRC, the last time i can remember this actually happening was to Scotty MacMahon v Brisbane many moons ago.

 

[Uneik]

Spot on Z, was thinking the exact same thing, could you imagine how quick Pagan or even Barassi would have had Thomas on the pine for a reality check, even Hansen after his sloppy elbow that gave away a 50m and a goal IIRC, the last time i can remember this actually happening was to Scotty MacMahon v Brisbane many moons ago.

Re Pagan, maybe it should be considered bringing him back, he couldn't do any worse than Scott, even if he has been away from Hands-on aspect of the game, I'm sure he would have ideas from the outside, and he is a communicator to boot.

 

[Long Live the King]

Has anyone got the name of that psychologist that Barassi used on the boys during the '77 finals series, worked wonders, particularly for Arnie in the replay. Some of the current crop could really used it and he may be able to get Scott institutionalised.

Would be a fair line up to get onto the shrinks couch.....starting with the coaching panel

 

[koshari]

Re Pagan, maybe it should be considered bringing him back, he couldn't do any worse than Scott, even if he has been away from Hands-on aspect of the game, I'm sure he would have ideas from the outside, and he is a communicator to boot.

i suspect that there wouldnt actually be a lot of people that could honestly know this, for someone to indeed know if pagen could/would do a better job of scott they would have to have intermate knowledge into both blokes philosophys, also they would need to know exactly what areas of the running of the club the coaches have control over.

how much of their input results into who and what type of player are recruited?
how much does the coach influence selection compared to the rest of the selection committee?

 

[Grogg]

Spot on Z, was thinking the exact same thing, could you imagine how quick Pagan or even Barassi would have had Thomas on the pine for a reality check, even Hansen after his sloppy elbow that gave away a 50m and a goal IIRC, the last time i can remember this actually happening was to Scotty MacMahon v Brisbane many moons ago.

Reminds of the saying walk quietly, but carry a big stick.
I think our stick must have morphed into a feather duster.

Our older core are mentally weak and I genuinely believe a lot of this is down to development. Spitta could have more or less stiched up the win with that missed regulation shot on goal.

 

[Long Live the King]

Spot on Z, was thinking the exact same thing, could you imagine how quick Pagan or even Barassi would have had Thomas on the pine for a reality check, even Hansen after his sloppy elbow that gave away a 50m and a goal IIRC, the last time i can remember this actually happening was to Scotty MacMahon v Brisbane many moons ago.

Gen Ys.....its all about positive reinforcement these days.

 

[Robertsonroo]

A few years back we played the brand-new GWS at Etihad.
In the first half it was a 'goal fest' as expected.
As GWS came out after half time they had a NINE man defence.
I thought this was a poor show by Sheedy and showed a defeatist attitude.
BUT, this pack of kids kept us to just two goals for the quarter and even scored some themselves with a couple of fast breaks.
Last night we kept our 'usual' defence in place during the last two minutes when Freo needed to surge.
Seeing the Kirsten kick wobble through an UN GUARDED goal square was shocking.
Where were the brains of our coaching staff?

 

[ferball]

Far out, a disappointing loss but not the end of the world.

I think some of the "adults" on here forget that footy is a form of entertainment. It was a ripper game, as were the Dogs and Cats games. If you're getting that upset about other people kicking a ball around take a step back and rethink your priorities, rather than spewing s**t about Thomas/Swallow/Scotts and other whipping boys. Back them in to turn it around instead of stabbing them in the back when they need support the most.

PLENTY of Positives to take from this:
Wood looked good.
Simpkin made me cream.
Garner's mark, tackle on Fyfe, general ball use seemed better.
Decent defence.
LMac consistently brutal.
Cunnington appears to have stepped up after a below average year last year.

Here's hoping the injuries weren't that bad, a couple minor tweaks to the team and we'll be winning these close ones.

Although we're 0-5 I'm pretty content with how this year is tracking. We will improve as year goes on but until then, smoke a spliff and watch replays of Garner's mark repeatedly.

Stop smoking spliffs and get a vaporiser. You'll live longer.

Nice post tho. Makes a change to see a positive rookie instead of a negative sock puppet.

 

[Uneik]

A

Gen Ys.....its all about positive reinforcement these days.

And feathers! Gen Y's sort of reminds me of the Characters of the movie 'Demolition Man', Sandra Bullock played one of the characters, Stallone played an opposite type of character, watch part of it you should get my drift re the attitudes/approaches of the opposing characters of the Stallone character whilst not politically correct, achieved results.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

I think some of the "adults" on here forget that footy is a form of entertainment. It was a ripper game, as were the Dogs and Cats games. If you're getting that upset about other people kicking a ball around take a step back and rethink your priorities, rather than spewing s**t about Thomas/Swallow/Scotts and other whipping boys. Back them in to turn it around instead of stabbing them in the back when they need support the most.

PLENTY of Positives to take from this:

Although we're 0-5 I'm pretty content with how this year is tracking. We will improve as year goes on but until then, smoke a spliff and watch replays of Garner's mark repeatedly.

Some of the "kids" here take their own opinions a little too seriously and deny the emotional investment that we long-termers have in the club. It's more than just kicking the ball around - if that's your thing, go and do it in the park.

In what universe is there a scrap of evidence that Swallow and Scott will turn it around? Swallow is gone, and Scott had the golden opportunity of a clean slate at the start of this year and has reverted to the kind of rubbish we have been angered and anguished over for too long now. The possibility that we would be 3-2 or even 4-1 given appropriate selection policy is way more realistic than the possibility of the ones who no longer have it will "turn it around".

Yes, there were plenty of positives - they related to the newer players and that makes retaining the proven failures even more upsetting.

Again, you might as well go for a kick in the park if you're content with how this year is tracking. We all knew it was going to be difficult and we might struggle to make finals, but the way the club has managed to sabotage the year by the unacceptable coaching /selection failures makes it a bitter pill to swallow (pardon the pun).

I didn't hate the way we played for a lot of the last two games (in fact, all year), but I sure hate that the outcome in each was almost inevitable due to the farcical team structures.

 

[ansonholt]

They are hardly rookies though. This inexperience thing is a furphy. Even EVW has been there three years. We are playing no more kids than anyone else. It's not a rookie team, but we make rookie mistakes.

Which is the exact reason we had to move on those older players last year. We needed to get games into several guys, including Dumont, Turner, Garner and now players like Preuss, EVW and several others. Some short term pain will bear fruit in a year or two.

 

[Reginald0]

Competitive is good enuf for me
If we bottom out ok but think we will get going at some point

 

[hcd199]

I'm interested - What does demonstrate this then? Why are we, as you say, perennially unable to close out games - do we spend millions on a football department that develops strategies to combat this? Or are we going through the insanity period - just repeating the same formula hoping it will lead to a different result? It looks like the later to me but either or all we hear from the club is after the event rationale and excuses. It's been over a year since we beat a decent team...that simply cannot be tolerated when we have the core of a good team playing each week.

Whatever it is the club is doing is not working and needs to change as it now an above the head issue as much as anything - other clubs and media are feeding on it. We are just on a footy forum trying to get answers -some things seem obvious to us - like playing VDUB, not playing slow midfielders, playing Clarke, making adjustments to structure when we are 5 goals up and the other team gets 3 quick ones. But hey as you say its just hogwash, memes and biases... until it happens.

It always "seems obvious" on a footy forum that consistently overvalues youth, overrates disposal efficiency and underrates other aspects of the game, and stokes the fires of every vendetta until you'd think a certain group of five or so players are directly and solely responsible for every game we lose. Behind all of that, there's the nucleus of some valid points to be had - that Thomas is substantially underperforming, that Swallow being played out of position doesn't look to offer any advantage, that particular players are performing well in the VFL and might deserve a senior spot sooner rather than later, and so on - but it's hard to discern what's actually reasonable when, as much as it might seem that Brad Scott plays favourites and has different rules for different players re: what does or doesn't keep them in the side, most of the pundits on here are just as guilty of that, just with a different group of players.

Everyone's welcome to their opinions, of course, and like you say, we're just here to have a discussion about what the solutions to our present problems might be, but plenty here lambaste every imperfection from particular players and look the other way when their favourites do the same, or their whipping boys play well - hardly the conduct of a group that knows better than those in charge of the club. Might the club be making certain mistakes that people on here are picking up on? Absolutely, but it's far from a guarantee that people here are right.

 

[Flawed Genius]

At the absolute risk of my own personal mental health and sanity I sat down with a clear head to watch the replay this morning. This could be a long-ish post.

Firstly:

Swallow had 15 touches at 46.7% efficiency, played in multiple positions throughout the evening, including as our leading full forward. He has very clearly improved his marking if nothing else, throws himself at the footy no matter where he plays. But I feel as though I'm heading towards broken record territory stating that he is not and has never been and has never showed anything to suggest that he has anything remotely approaching the capability of an outside midfielder. Let alone a leading full forward. He should not have ever been in a position to miss that shot on goal in the first quarter. If he kicks that then we're up by a goal, then Wood kicks his and we're up by two goals, and away to the races. I know statistics don't tell you everything but the eye test is as clear as it's ever been and it's telling you, me and everyone else with a brain that not only has he gone past the end, he's doubling back for another crack at it. It's not his fault that he's in the team though.

You could tell it was going to be another bad night for Thomas when he put in a half-hearted push-in-the-back attempt instead of a full blooded tackle in our back pocket as Spurr ran out of the backline with the footy. They cut us up on the rebound, took it the length of the field and Langdon kicked their first goal. I commented at the time that I would have dropped him on the spot for that lack of effort and unfortunately it didn't get any better. At least there was a touch of trying in him. He did chase and he did get to a few tackles but it just wasn't his night. It hasn't been his season. I think he needs to be dropped to save his season and a little more dramatically, probably his career. He's obviously had a career of making it over mental hurdles to produce exceptional football but you wonder how much more a man can take. That, and he's costing us dearly on field. Simpkin is coming at a rate of knots and it might be time to see what Anderson and Wagner can do. Six touches, six clangers, three tackles and three free kicks against. Dire.

Thompson tried hard but isn't cut out for this level anymore. I thought the tall timber defensive setup actually worked quite well, but they rolled everything through SDT's man in the first quarter and then it continued for the majority of the night. Lyon is tactically astute, but that it's so obvious to Joe Public that opposition coaches have identified that SDT is the weak link and are starting to direct play through his opponent is a worry. 0 clangers in a whole game of footy from 12 touches is a positive, but defenders are supposed to defend and I thought first McCarthy was allowed to do as he pleased up on the flanks and pushing to a wing, and Kersten worked into the game as it went on.

Didn't notice any glaring errors from Gibson and the statistics back up that he had a good game clanger-wise (1 from 18 touches). He will retain his spot, but I'm officially unsure for how much longer, even though I know it will be permanently. His last three games: 20, 20 & 18. Held Hunter well last week, but last night all of Freo's winger-types (Hill, Hill, Weller) all had over 25. He has never been a massive impact player, but for some reason I feel as though he hasn't had as much impact on games as he was having last year. TOD will be in shortly to put me in my place and I'll deserve it.

Ziebell had barely any impact on the game. It was mentioned on the telecast that he was being tagged by Blakely? If so, Z got the bath of his life. 17 touches (Blakely 24) at 52%. Yes he had the knee issue, but he came back onto the ground. If you come back on you're fit and ready and he gave us nearly nothing after that. Even before that he was in and out of it. I'm not sure it's good enough as captain. I know we love him, I certainly do, and I believe that the losses are hurting him more than he will show in front of cameras, but as the captain we need more from him. It shouldn't be Swallow leading out of the goalsquare, it should be Ziebell, especially if Brown is hurt and Z has a sore knee. Bad coaching, but equally as disappointing an effort from the leader(ship group).

It's not Brown's fault that he has to go one-out in the forward line, that the delivery is less than impressive on multiple occasions, and that he is double and triple teamed deep in the 50 because we don't have any other tall forwards that draw their defenders away from contests, but if he's injured, he shouldn't be played. If he's been struggling with the knee injury since the start of the year then I don't understand how Brad can overrule the medicos on Higgins but say to Browny "yes, go out there and enjoy the greatest fisting of all time while we put Spitta in the square and let Michael Johnson run off him to spoil you sixteen times in a game of footy". Browny tries hard and is a warrior but needs proper help. It cannot continue the way it is. Dare I say it, we miss Waite more than we think.

Goldstein was OK in patches but I thought was far too timid against Sandilands. I didn't agree with the Preuss dropping at the time, given it would have made sense to put two ruckmen up against Sandi and let Preuss learn from rucking against his father, but alas, it wasn't to be. Goldy got worked over physically and showed a significant portion of mongrel to keep at it and even to come back after the ankle injury when I thought for all money he was done, but Sandi dominated him physically and gave Mundy and Fyfe far too much of it. Weight of numbers won out in the end. Todd also isn't having the impact going forward that he was in years gone by.

It is saddening and deeply disappointing to see all the flair and dash coached out of Atley. I am of the opinion that we are ruining his career by coaching him into oblivion. He has natural gifts and we refuse to use them. I could wax on like I've already done but all I'll say is that it is sad.

Simpkin was unbelievable. Running off the checklist: [x] no footy last year, [x] barely any pre-season, [x] coming off a severely broken leg, [x] weighs barely anything wringing wet, [x] four games into his career, [x] zero penetration on his kicks due to the leg injury. And he's a star. A genuine star. I scoffed in amazement at about six things he did last night, including but not limited to the four candy shop visits in one play, the perfectly weighted leading kick to Garner after realising he didn't have the leg to make it from 45 and taking about 0.5 seconds to make his decision on where to go next, the little jab to Fyfe's guts (Simpkin is a little prick and it's glorious), and the sharp little things he does like spinning in the right direction to end up on his preferred foot. The goal was all class. The kid is a star and I don't think we fully realise yet how good he has the potential to be. I'm bloody excited to watch footy just because I know there's a chance I'll see something special from him. I understand now why Hawthorn fans are so high on Rioli and why Adelaide fans love Eddie Betts and why Carlton fans used to go to the footy to see Fevola. We've got our own version and it's going to be extraordinary to watch his next 10 years of development. It is also concerning that just four games into his career, he's easily our most exciting young prospect.

I thought Macmillan was superb. That is the prototypical game we need from him. Was extremely damaging offensively, had 26 touches at 83% and gained a shitload of metres for the team. Was also exceptionally solid defensively and didn't have any glaring errors that cost goals. His game was dripping in leadership. He appears to do things others won't. Backed his speed like Atley won't. Picks the right options like others seem incapable of doing. A very good game and would definitely be in my votes.

Dumont was excellent. Second most clearances behind clearance pig Cunnington. Played very well on Fyfe for the majority of the game. A great kick of the footy into the 50 to a leading target. He is starting to look like he belongs and we should all be very excited. For all of Brad's faults, it appears that he's finally realised that Dumont is a better option inside the square than Swallow is and Swallow is suffering because of it. I'm all for the move. Dumont is creative, dangerous and understands that he has time and space to dispose of the footy, especially around the grounds (5 clearances from stoppages vs 3 from centre bounces).

For a pick 105, Williams should probably be leading our B&F. Slaughtered Walters. We haven't had a genuine lockdown defender like him since... Christ, I dunno, Makepeace? At just 23 he has another ten years of footy ahead of him and if they're all as stingy as this one is panning out to be, he'll be our best value pickup for a very long time. At 83% efficiency he didn't succumb to the crap disposal that he is rumoured to come with. This was definitely one of his better games.

If we ever move McDonald back to the back 50 again I'll vomit. Makes us a better side with ball in hand forward of centre. Starting to develop into a genuine animal now. That pass to Turner in the first was elite vision and ability. Has mongrel in spades. Wants to hurt and be hurt for the footy club. Never ever drop him again, never ever put him anywhere near a back pocket again. We're sorted down there, because...

...Mullett has taken McDonald's spot in the back pocket and is better at it than he is. I still would like to see how he goes on a wing, but he was great last night and kept their smaller forwards (Crozier etc) very quiet for huge patches. I sleep a little easier knowing he's bringing it out of kick-ins. I will give him a great deal of credit; I thought his career was over and his resurgence so far this season has been a massive part of why there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Garner is a genuinely exciting footballer. I feel as though perspective is necessary when looking at Garns' career - last night was his 20th game of AFL football. Was also the second time in his career he's played more than three games consecutively, and only the first time he's played more than three games in a row without being subbed off. And he produced MOTY, could've won us the game, monstered Fyfe in a tackle and generally looked as though he belonged on a HFF for the next ten years. Backed up a career high possession total last week with 17 again. Him finding more of the footy is just a good thing for this football side and he needs to be backed in to continue his good form.

It is relaxing to know that EVW is in the backline. All the Melbourne Grammar and hyphenated surname jokes are great about how he's bred to be a big nerd, but I'll take a big nerd in the team if he's going to play like that every week. Sensible, mature decision making, with the ability to back it up. That kick in the last quarter when he came out to Atley on the broadcast wing was a 45m dart (that if Brad Hill had any semblance of self awareness, he would've intercepted) that took huge nuts to attempt, let alone pull off. Would've been nice for him to kick his goal, but a 15d/5m game in a high-pressure environment from a first gamer is one that I'll take every day of the week. I hope he is not dropped.

Nice to see Wood back, and that he is still our best young forward. Some great marks and him wheeling around onto his left just makes me happy. Hansen was OK and certainly less of a problem than others, but he still makes some baffling decisions - case in point the two metre dribble kick when we were hemmed into the back pocket in the first quarter and some questionable handballs thereafter. But he definitely wasn't our worst. Turner might need a rest, virtually invisible all night (9 touches - time to see what Wagner can do in his role); Tarrant was solid without starring; Cunnington was excellent without breaking the game open and had some uncharacteristic fumbles; and I thought Hrovat had a good game which is a nice way to respond to almost being dropped.

Now...

We are obviously doing the right thing by getting into positions where we are five goals up. You don't lead teams by five goals without playing good footy. I don't understand, however, where the mental lapse once we get to that stage has come from, and why it infects our entire team. Not just one player or our midfielders or our defenders individually, but the entire team. Why does our game style change? Why do we go into our shells? Why does Brad feel as though a 30-point lead is safe when history suggests that it is actually far more detrimental for us to be leading by five goals at any point during the game? Why not try to double that lead?

Goldstein kicked his goal just before half time. After halftime, Crozier missed a goal, Brown missed one, then Dumont kicked one and by all rights, we should have been safe. From the 8 minute mark of the third quarter, we scored 2.2 for the rest of the game. For the rest of the game.
- From the 14 minute mark of the first quarter (Turner's goal from the 50m penalty) to the 20 minute mark of the first quarter (Wood's goal), we scored 2.1
- From the 1.30 minute mark of the second quarter (Cunnington's goal) to the 11 minute mark of the second quarter (Simpkin's goal), we scored 2.0
- From the 28 minute mark of the second quarter (Atley's goal) to the 31 minute mark of the second quarter (Goldstein's goal), we scored 2.0

There is absolutely zero excuse to only score 2.2 in a quarter and a half. Not when you're 29 points up. You shouldn't be defending your lead from that far out, you should be attempting to increase it. We went into our shells and we got reamed for it. It didn't help that Goldstein went off injured at the most crucial part of the game and they scored two goals while he was off. It didn't help that we had no second key forward and our first one was injured. It didn't help that we had a key midfielder struggling with a knee injury. But we should not have switched into the bizarre, defensively minded, kick backwards and chip and hope game style so far from home. It just doesn't make sense to be so risk averse so early. I can't get my head around it.

We lacked leadership in the last quarter, that is for sure. Cunnington does not and has never struck me as a "follow me boys" type. Swallow isn't. Dumont doesn't have the credits to be that player. The responsibilites, once Higgins wasn't playing, fall squarely with Ziebell both as the captain and the most natural leader on our list. And when he can't go, then we have diddly squat to replace him. There was no on-field direction to throw a player (Ziebell? Dumont? Bueller?) behind the ball when it was clear Freo were coming home stronger. There was certainly nothing obvious from the coaches box. We were probably down a tall (God strike me) that we can put behind the ball to nullify long strong I50s. How handy would Preuss have been to have sitting in the hole in the last quarter last night?

We got beaten because we went into our shells and tried not to lose, instead of trying to win. Combined with a lack of onfield leadership, an injury to our one ruckman that could literally not have been timed worse, and the lack of an extra tall to throw into the defensive 50 in the last quarter to plug a hole, we probably lost this one half on Thursday night and half because of everything that didn't happen after Dumont's great goal in the third quarter.

How do we change it? Who knows. Swallow has to be out. Thomas should be out. Goldstein will probably be a forced out. Thompson on Peter Wright gives me conniptions just thinking about it, but it's nice to know that Brandon Matera will be handled, and our smaller defensive stocks will negate their mosquito fleet. Tarrant will have a good match-up on Lynch, May will get Brown.. I can see us five goals up in the third quarter, and then it is genuinely an unknown as to what happens from there.

I just don't know. This one hurt, but there's enough positives from the younger players to not have me running a hot bath with the Gillette just yet. Simpkin, Garner, Vickers-Willis, Dumont, Cunnington, Hrovat, Williams, Mullett, McDonald, Macmillan - look to these examples of positivity in trying times. It hurts, but footy is supposed to. Anyone who tells you otherwise or attempts to dissuade you with the "it's just a game" line should not be taken seriously. We love this club and what it stands for and even though sometimes I question why, I will front up next week looking for some brilliance from Simpkin, a tackle to hurt from Garner, McDonald almost bursting someone's eardrum in a celebration in a crucial moment, the staunch defensive effort from Williams, or Macmillan's cool head.

Kudos to you if you read this far.

 

[Phillyroo]

Mate we haven't beaten a decent team in over 12 months - we haven't won a game at all in the last 10. At what point will you stop making excuses - one week its umpires, this week injuries - i didn't see you quoting Boyd's injury last week as a reason we should have won but your happy to say Goldy's injury cost us the game. Be consistent in the way you apply your arguements otherwise you'll just be considered a Brad Scott fanboi who can see no wrong in anything he or the club does.

Mate to be honest, I couldn't give a s**t what you consider me to be.
Call me what you will.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

^^ superb, FG

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

At the absolute risk of my own personal mental health and sanity I sat down with a clear head to watch the replay this morning. This could be a long-ish post.

Firstly:

Swallow had 15 touches at 46.7% efficiency, played in multiple positions throughout the evening, including as our leading full forward. He has very clearly improved his marking if nothing else, throws himself at the footy no matter where he plays. But I feel as though I'm heading towards broken record territory stating that he is not and has never been and has never showed anything to suggest that he has anything remotely approaching the capability of an outside midfielder. Let alone a leading full forward. He should not have ever been in a position to miss that shot on goal in the first quarter. If he kicks that then we're up by a goal, then Wood kicks his and we're up by two goals, and away to the races. I know statistics don't tell you everything but the eye test is as clear as it's ever been and it's telling you, me and everyone else with a brain that not only has he gone past the end, he's doubling back for another crack at it. It's not his fault that he's in the team though.

You could tell it was going to be another bad night for Thomas when he put in a half-hearted push-in-the-back attempt instead of a full blooded tackle in our back pocket as Spurr ran out of the backline with the footy. They cut us up on the rebound, took it the length of the field and Langdon kicked their first goal. I commented at the time that I would have dropped him on the spot for that lack of effort and unfortunately it didn't get any better. At least there was a touch of trying in him. He did chase and he did get to a few tackles but it just wasn't his night. It hasn't been his season. I think he needs to be dropped to save his season and a little more dramatically, probably his career. He's obviously had a career of making it over mental hurdles to produce exceptional football but you wonder how much more a man can take. That, and he's costing us dearly on field. Simpkin is coming at a rate of knots and it might be time to see what Anderson and Wagner can do. Six touches, six clangers, three tackles and three free kicks against. Dire.

Thompson tried hard but isn't cut out for this level anymore. I thought the tall timber defensive setup actually worked quite well, but they rolled everything through SDT's man in the first quarter and then it continued for the majority of the night. Lyon is tactically astute, but that it's so obvious to Joe Public that opposition coaches have identified that SDT is the weak link and are starting to direct play through his opponent is a worry. 0 clangers in a whole game of footy from 12 touches is a positive, but defenders are supposed to defend and I thought first McCarthy was allowed to do as he pleased up on the flanks and pushing to a wing, and Kersten worked into the game as it went on.

Didn't notice any glaring errors from Gibson and the statistics back up that he had a good game clanger-wise (1 from 18 touches). He will retain his spot, but I'm officially unsure for how much longer, even though I know it will be permanently. His last three games: 20, 20 & 18. Held Hunter well last week, but last night all of Freo's winger-types (Hill, Hill, Weller) all had over 25. He has never been a massive impact player, but for some reason I feel as though he hasn't had as much impact on games as he was having last year. TOD will be in shortly to put me in my place and I'll deserve it.

Ziebell had barely any impact on the game. It was mentioned on the telecast that he was being tagged by Blakely? If so, Z got the bath of his life. 17 touches (Blakely 24) at 52%. Yes he had the knee issue, but he came back onto the ground. If you come back on you're fit and ready and he gave us nearly nothing after that. Even before that he was in and out of it. I'm not sure it's good enough as captain. I know we love him, I certainly do, and I believe that the losses are hurting him more than he will show in front of cameras, but as the captain we need more from him. It shouldn't be Swallow leading out of the goalsquare, it should be Ziebell, especially if Brown is hurt and Z has a sore knee. Bad coaching, but equally as disappointing an effort from the leader(ship group).

It's not Brown's fault that he has to go one-out in the forward line, that the delivery is less than impressive on multiple occasions, and that he is double and triple teamed deep in the 50 because we don't have any other tall forwards that draw their defenders away from contests, but if he's injured, he shouldn't be played. If he's been struggling with the knee injury since the start of the year then I don't understand how Brad can overrule the medicos on Higgins but say to Browny "yes, go out there and enjoy the greatest fisting of all time while we put Spitta in the square and let Michael Johnson run off him to spoil you sixteen times in a game of footy". Browny tries hard and is a warrior but needs proper help. It cannot continue the way it is. Dare I say it, we miss Waite more than we think.

Goldstein was OK in patches but I thought was far too timid against Sandilands. I didn't agree with the Preuss dropping at the time, given it would have made sense to put two ruckmen up against Sandi and let Preuss learn from rucking against his father, but alas, it wasn't to be. Goldy got worked over physically and showed a significant portion of mongrel to keep at it and even to come back after the ankle injury when I thought for all money he was done, but Sandi dominated him physically and gave Mundy and Fyfe far too much of it. Weight of numbers won out in the end. Todd also isn't having the impact going forward that he was in years gone by.

It is saddening and deeply disappointing to see all the flair and dash coached out of Atley. I am of the opinion that we are ruining his career by coaching him into oblivion. He has natural gifts and we refuse to use them. I could wax on like I've already done but all I'll say is that it is sad.

Simpkin was unbelievable. Running off the checklist: [x] no footy last year, [x] barely any pre-season, [x] coming off a severely broken leg, [x] weighs barely anything wringing wet, [x] four games into his career, [x] zero penetration on his kicks due to the leg injury. And he's a star. A genuine star. I scoffed in amazement at about six things he did last night, including but not limited to the four candy shop visits in one play, the perfectly weighted leading kick to Garner after realising he didn't have the leg to make it from 45 and taking about 0.5 seconds to make his decision on where to go next, the little jab to Fyfe's guts (Simpkin is a little prick and it's glorious), and the sharp little things he does like spinning in the right direction to end up on his preferred foot. The goal was all class. The kid is a star and I don't think we fully realise yet how good he has the potential to be. I'm bloody excited to watch footy just because I know there's a chance I'll see something special from him. I understand now why Hawthorn fans are so high on Rioli and why Adelaide fans love Eddie Betts and why Carlton fans used to go to the footy to see Fevola. We've got our own version and it's going to be extraordinary to watch his next 10 years of development. It is also concerning that just four games into his career, he's easily our most exciting young prospect.

I thought Macmillan was superb. That is the prototypical game we need from him. Was extremely damaging offensively, had 26 touches at 83% and gained a shitload of metres for the team. Was also exceptionally solid defensively and didn't have any glaring errors that cost goals. His game was dripping in leadership. He appears to do things others won't. Backed his speed like Atley won't. Picks the right options like others seem incapable of doing. A very good game and would definitely be in my votes.

Dumont was excellent. Second most clearances behind clearance pig Cunnington. Played very well on Fyfe for the majority of the game. A great kick of the footy into the 50 to a leading target. He is starting to look like he belongs and we should all be very excited. For all of Brad's faults, it appears that he's finally realised that Dumont is a better option inside the square than Swallow is and Swallow is suffering because of it. I'm all for the move. Dumont is creative, dangerous and understands that he has time and space to dispose of the footy, especially around the grounds (5 clearances from stoppages vs 3 from centre bounces).

For a pick 105, Williams should probably be leading our B&F. Slaughtered Walters. We haven't had a genuine lockdown defender like him since... Christ, I dunno, Makepeace? At just 23 he has another ten years of footy ahead of him and if they're all as stingy as this one is panning out to be, he'll be our best value pickup for a very long time. At 83% efficiency he didn't succumb to the crap disposal that he is rumoured to come with. This was definitely one of his better games.

If we ever move McDonald back to the back 50 again I'll vomit. Makes us a better side with ball in hand forward of centre. Starting to develop into a genuine animal now. That pass to Turner in the first was elite vision and ability. Has mongrel in spades. Wants to hurt and be hurt for the footy club. Never ever drop him again, never ever put him anywhere near a back pocket again. We're sorted down there, because...

...Mullett has taken McDonald's spot in the back pocket and is better at it than he is. I still would like to see how he goes on a wing, but he was great last night and kept their smaller forwards (Crozier etc) very quiet for huge patches. I sleep a little easier knowing he's bringing it out of kick-ins. I will give him a great deal of credit; I thought his career was over and his resurgence so far this season has been a massive part of why there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Garner is a genuinely exciting footballer. I feel as though perspective is necessary when looking at Garns' career - last night was his 20th game of AFL football. Was also the second time in his career he's played more than three games consecutively, and only the first time he's played more than three games in a row without being subbed off. And he produced MOTY, could've won us the game, monstered Fyfe in a tackle and generally looked as though he belonged on a HFF for the next ten years. Backed up a career high possession total last week with 17 again. Him finding more of the footy is just a good thing for this football side and he needs to be backed in to continue his good form.

It is relaxing to know that EVW is in the backline. All the Melbourne Grammar and hyphenated surname jokes are great about how he's bred to be a big nerd, but I'll take a big nerd in the team if he's going to play like that every week. Sensible, mature decision making, with the ability to back it up. That kick in the last quarter when he came out to Atley on the broadcast wing was a 45m dart (that if Brad Hill had any semblance of self awareness, he would've intercepted) that took huge nuts to attempt, let alone pull off. Would've been nice for him to kick his goal, but a 15d/5m game in a high-pressure environment from a first gamer is one that I'll take every day of the week. I hope he is not dropped.

Nice to see Wood back, and that he is still our best young forward. Some great marks and him wheeling around onto his left just makes me happy. Hansen was OK and certainly less of a problem than others, but he still makes some baffling decisions - case in point the two metre dribble kick when we were hemmed into the back pocket in the first quarter and some questionable handballs thereafter. But he definitely wasn't our worst. Turner might need a rest, virtually invisible all night (9 touches - time to see what Wagner can do in his role); Tarrant was solid without starring; Cunnington was excellent without breaking the game open and had some uncharacteristic fumbles; and I thought Hrovat had a good game which is a nice way to respond to almost being dropped.

Now...

We are obviously doing the right thing by getting into positions where we are five goals up. You don't lead teams by five goals without playing good footy. I don't understand, however, where the mental lapse once we get to that stage has come from, and why it infects our entire team. Not just one player or our midfielders or our defenders individually, but the entire team. Why does our game style change? Why do we go into our shells? Why does Brad feel as though a 30-point lead is safe when history suggests that it is actually far more detrimental for us to be leading by five goals at any point during the game? Why not try to double that lead?

Goldstein kicked his goal just before half time. After halftime, Crozier missed a goal, Brown missed one, then Dumont kicked one and by all rights, we should have been safe. From the 8 minute mark of the third quarter, we scored 2.2 for the rest of the game. For the rest of the game.
- From the 14 minute mark of the first quarter (Turner's goal from the 50m penalty) to the 20 minute mark of the first quarter (Wood's goal), we scored 2.1
- From the 1.30 minute mark of the second quarter (Cunnington's goal) to the 11 minute mark of the second quarter (Simpkin's goal), we scored 2.0
- From the 28 minute mark of the second quarter (Atley's goal) to the 31 minute mark of the second quarter (Goldstein's goal), we scored 2.0

There is absolutely zero excuse to only score 2.2 in a quarter and a half. Not when you're 29 points up. You shouldn't be defending your lead from that far out, you should be attempting to increase it. We went into our shells and we got reamed for it. It didn't help that Goldstein went off injured at the most crucial part of the game and they scored two goals while he was off. It didn't help that we had no second key forward and our first one was injured. It didn't help that we had a key midfielder struggling with a knee injury. But we should not have switched into the bizarre, defensively minded, kick backwards and chip and hope game style so far from home. It just doesn't make sense to be so risk averse so early. I can't get my head around it.

We lacked leadership in the last quarter, that is for sure. Cunnington does not and has never struck me as a "follow me boys" type. Swallow isn't. Dumont doesn't have the credits to be that player. The responsibilites, once Higgins wasn't playing, fall squarely with Ziebell both as the captain and the most natural leader on our list. And when he can't go, then we have diddly squat to replace him. There was no on-field direction to throw a player (Ziebell? Dumont? Bueller?) behind the ball when it was clear Freo were coming home stronger. There was certainly nothing obvious from the coaches box. We were probably down a tall (God strike me) that we can put behind the ball to nullify long strong I50s. How handy would Preuss have been to have sitting in the hole in the last quarter last night?

We got beaten because we went into our shells and tried not to lose, instead of trying to win. Combined with a lack of onfield leadership, an injury to our one ruckman that could literally not have been timed worse, and the lack of an extra tall to throw into the defensive 50 in the last quarter to plug a hole, we probably lost this one half on Thursday night and half because of everything that didn't happen after Dumont's great goal in the third quarter.

How do we change it? Who knows. Swallow has to be out. Thomas should be out. Goldstein will probably be a forced out. Thompson on Peter Wright gives me conniptions just thinking about it, but it's nice to know that Brandon Matera will be handled, and our smaller defensive stocks will negate their mosquito fleet. Tarrant will have a good match-up on Lynch, May will get Brown.. I can see us five goals up in the third quarter, and then it is genuinely an unknown as to what happens from there.

I just don't know. This one hurt, but there's enough positives from the younger players to not have me running a hot bath with the Gillette just yet. Simpkin, Garner, Vickers-Willis, Dumont, Cunnington, Hrovat, Williams, Mullett, McDonald, Macmillan - look to these examples of positivity in trying times. It hurts, but footy is supposed to. Anyone who tells you otherwise or attempts to dissuade you with the "it's just a game" line should not be taken seriously. We love this club and what it stands for and even though sometimes I question why, I will front up next week looking for some brilliance from Simpkin, a tackle to hurt from Garner, McDonald almost bursting someone's eardrum in a celebration in a crucial moment, the staunch defensive effort from Williams, or Macmillan's cool head.

Kudos to you if you read this far.

Perfect summation.