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Review R2: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. Essendon

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How much of it is just early part of the year with better conditions, particularly on a big ground like MCG do you think? It's very common for the first 3-4 rounds of a new season to be more open & free flowing then as weather changes, players tire, coaches dissect things tighten up. I don't know the answer, I'm not saying this is it for sure, just wondering if you'd think it plays some role?
St Kilda scored essentially the same way at Adelaide Oval the week before, so it's nothing to do with the MCG
 
How much of it is just early part of the year with better conditions, particularly on a big ground like MCG do you think? It's very common for the first 3-4 rounds of a new season to be more open & free flowing then as weather changes, players tire, coaches dissect things tighten up. I don't know the answer, I'm not saying this is it for sure, just wondering if you'd think it plays some role?
There's some of the that. But it's still about running to the right spots and sticking your tackles.

The impressive thing for us was the footskills and uncontested marking.
That's repeatable and should hold us in good stead.
 
Still adding some extra scoring yesterday. Both ours & opponents. Felt we moved the ball even easier with more space to lead into yesterday, bit harder to defend.
Gold Coast will be a good measure. We will have to improve to be a top 4 side.

GWS, Geelong, GC, Hawks, Lions will cut us up otherwise.
 

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I was at the game yesterday with birds eye view.
Was noticeable when there was turnovers at HB or between HB and C that Essendon simply moved the ball far too easily.

That's what needs to be looked at.
We struggled to force them wide, missed tackles which allowed overlap run etc.

Most of the goals were because the ball got into our back 50 with minimal pressure and to the forwards advantage one on one.
The old Blight "we'll just kick more goals than you" trick
 
Remember when many on here were fawning over Redman? Along with Petty, two massive bullets dodged.
If the MRO has any concept of "potential to cause injury to a player" he should get 3 weeks for tunnelling Thilthorpe. Gutless cheap & petulant act by a much over rated player
 
No idea

I just saw 10 and though heck surely have f been that short in eons
We were $26 in the pre-season and have come in to $13 on Sportsbet.

The Hawks are $6 favourites despite allowing the hopeless Bombers score 85 points at the G last week and only winning by 26 points.

Imho, changes in premiership odds are pretty meaningless this early in the season.
 
Would be interesting to break down their 15 goals and consider what is worrying, easily fixed or out of our control.

For starters:

Keane falls over and gifts Merrett 1 goal - easily fixed.
By longer sprigs, balance classes, or Butts IN for Keane? :sneaky:
Keane gives away (I'm biased) soft free against Draper straight in front for 1 goal - out of our control.
It was a blatant holding free; Keane was holding one of Draper's arms with both hands (a la Eddie Betts being held same way in 2017 GF, except NO free, of course :grimacing: :mad:), here:
1742695540674.png
In Keane's defence, he was caught out-of-position in a one-on-one by (Merrett) speed out of the Centre and a kick to Draper's advantage, and maybe he's been told to give away the deliberate/professional free kick in that situation ...?
It was still within Keane's control.
ROB gets confused and gives away a ruck infringement in the goal square for 1 goal - easily fixed.
Yes; tell ROB to learn and remember the rules and pay more attention to the moment. :shoutyoldman:
Merrett kicks another 3 goals, absolute gun player - largely out of our control
Yes, Merrett is a gun; seriously damaging. Ran all day, 4 goals and created others.
I can see why he was not tagged eg by Keays, because we were scoring so freely, but in a closer game I'd wanna see him corralled.
 

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Good:

46.18 for the year.

Only 2 goals from Tex. The foocha is here.
Yes very pleasing. He is the director of our forward line still and the reason everyone is getting a go is because of him. Had an equal high 10 score involvements yesterday with Keays, Rachele with 9, Fogarty and Thilthorpe with 8 and Neale-Bullen with 7

Our forward line is absolutely humming, every one is contributing well
 
Yes very pleasing. He is the director of our forward line still and the reason everyone is getting a go is because of him. Had an equal high 10 score involvements yesterday with Keays, Rachele with 9, Fogarty and Thilthorpe with 8 and Neale-Bullen with 7

Our forward line is absolutely humming, every one is contributing well
Matt Crouch had an equal game high 10 score involvements as well.....top 5 in more stats than any other Crow.
 
Matt Crouch had an equal game high 10 score involvements as well.....top 5 in more stats than any other Crow.
Yes Matt has been excellent this season he's finally surrounded by the correct balance of midfielders so he can flourish doing what he does best.

We have a framed signed Matt Crouch photo on our mantle piece at home because Matt is my husband's favourite player.

IMG_20250323_134947.jpg
 

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Yes Matt has been excellent this season he's finally surrounded by the correct balance of midfielders so he can flourish doing what he does best.

We have a framed signed Matt Crouch photo on our mantle piece at home because Matt is my husband's favourite player.

View attachment 2258472
Never knew you were married to Bicks lol.
 
Brad better player, Matt better career.
He wasn't a better player... he might have been s faster player... but he was still a crappy kick of the ball, i haven't checked but he wouldn't have the disposal efficiency of Matt. Matt has been unbelievably consistent his whole career except for the period of time he struggled with form and injury. Back to all Australian form coinciding with an equally stacked midfield as 2017.
 
He wasn't a better player... he might have been s faster player... but he was still a crappy kick of the ball, i haven't checked but he wouldn't have the disposal efficiency of Matt. Matt has been unbelievably consistent his whole career except for the period of time he struggled with form and injury. Back to all Australian form coinciding with an equally stacked midfield as 2017.
Injuries took their toll on Brad, I've no doubt he would have been a better player.

Faster, stronger and more damaging
 
You can't ask for much more than winning by 10 goals at the grand final venue. I've seen enough to say we will make the eight.

Rankine. McLeod-esque.
Rankine is justifying his pay cheque every week.

Tilthorpe, Fogarty, Rankine and Rachele all kicked at least 2 goals.

If all 4 kick 3 goals each, most signs point to a crows win.

Forward Line looks good in a post Tex Walker crows.
 

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Review R2: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. Essendon

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