AFL Autopsy RND 1: Done by the Hawkes

[Cold Sober]

Why not Langford in the middle, he's big enough to hold a bull out to piss.
If he hasn't got the tank to get in there and throw his weight around why do we bother persisting with him.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Why not Langford in the middle, he's big enough to hold a bull out to piss.
If he hasn't got the tank to get in there and throw his weight around why do we bother persisting with him.

I think that was tried years ago under Woosha and he sucked at it

 

[Bombermania]

Premiership contender with game under there belt versus a bottom 4 side

we need to get a grip

In a strange way the result is worse for Hawthorn, they won as expected, however the potential downside for Hawthorn is they didn't max the percentage from it.

If Hawthorn is to become a premiership contender, they need to finish top 4 while avoiding having to play the Lions in Brisbane, which could be determined by percentage.

From Essendon's perspective, the first quarter was good, Parish and Merrett will get better. The forward line is young, was well beaten yet still scored a respectable 83. If that turns out to be the season average, Essendon will win a fair few games.

I would be more concerned if Essendon dished that up against a bottom six side.

 

[mike14]

Not really much to review, although I didn't bother with the last quarter.
Defence across all parts of the ground was so far below the standard required that it's not funny, and we clearly don't have enough players with the tank for modern footy.

We just seem to lack spatial awareness. Guys look ok in space or even 1v1 (Perkins and Langford being excellent examples) but as soon as there are multiple threats from different directions they just can't seem to work their way through it. We either run directly into trouble and hack the ball forward, or we give it to a teammate in a worse position because we can't evaluate what pressure they are under. I don't know if this is something we can test for with draft picks, but we need to figure out a way.

Good on Sharp for making the most of his opportunity, really the only bright spot on the night

 

[Dave]

disappointment.

 

[Vindicater]

Why not Langford in the middle, he's big enough to hold a bull out to piss.
If he hasn't got the tank to get in there and throw his weight around why do we bother persisting with him.

Langford in the middle was even worse defensively than Langford as a forward.

 

[Bombermania]

Langford plays best up forward, he should have taken a shot from the half forward flank in the first half.

 

[Howard Moon]

Ok Ive got one for Saturday morning...

The AFL is all about equalisation (yeh sure) watching us run in quick sand for the whole second half last night tells me they don't gaf. I'd expect anyone who played last week vs a non saying side just wins, even Carlton. (Not that we win anyway but a fairer fight)

But the real point, the new rules are going to further open the gap between the good sides and shit sides, but now instead of a scoreline like 100 v 40, it'll be 140 v 80 with a shitload of meaningless goals

Oh well, atleast they get more ad money

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

40 scoring shots was a battering. only managed to see the first half and dont think i’ll watch the second.

 

[WABomber]

Peter Wright is a better ruckman then he is a forward and that's saying ALOT because he flipping sucks as a ruck. Blakiston should be the backup ruckman, we need a decent first option. Anyone who can compete, he was actually playing well and getting praised for a good quarter and a half until he started to get run into the ground by the hawks 2 rucks.

Scott has to be tanking with the selections hes making and the positional changes. There is no other reasonable explanation other then being a horrendous coach.

 

[Megabattimus]

That's definitely the last Essendon game I watch this year.

 

[MightyDon]

Would have been nice to play the hawks first up last week, GWS getting flogged this week after easily dispatching the hawks last week.

 

[Blind Turn]

What I watched last night in the stands was a diabolically free-wheeling game of basketball, but using your feet. One team looked like they were starting their season while the other one was well into the intensity required and had something to prove from a previous crack at it. The ease of transition was not pleasant to watch. I like my footy to have contests at ground level and the possibility of the losing team being able to grind out a way back through winning the hard ball in congestion. It was way too open last night and I’m not sure that it’s the aesthetic I want to see. The Hawks kicking was outstanding and that is what’s needed in a transition game. Players like Roberts and Tsatas are up against it if it continues this way. They do their best work in congestion but are liabilities in ball movement by foot. Hopefully we see teams find an way to nullify the free-wheeling football.

And also, **** you AFL for putting money over a fair opening fixture.

 

[MiguelM]

What I watched last night in the stands was a diabolically free-wheeling game of basketball, but using your feet. One team looked like they were starting their season while the other one was well into the intensity required and had something to prove from a previous crack at it. The ease of transition was not pleasant to watch. I like my footy to have contests at ground level and the possibility of the losing team being able to grind out a way back through winning the hard ball in congestion. It was way too open last night and I’m not sure that it’s the aesthetic I want to see. The Hawks kicking was outstanding and that is what’s needed in a transition game. Players like Roberts and Tsatas are up against it if it continues this way. They do their best work in congestion but are liabilities in ball movement by foot. Hopefully we see teams find an way to nullify the free-wheeling football.

And also, **** you AFL for putting money over a fair opening fixture.

The negative effect from the less congested game that the new rules allow is larger game margins and not a congested style of game.

Will be interesting how teams counter this.

Still only a small sample so need to wait a few rounds to see the real trends. The start of the season can be hard to judge.

We all love to see goals and high scoring but also contests. too many uncontested blowouts will have supporters turning off.

 

[faible]

He had a good first half, but yeah too many midget ball hunters. Sharp or McGrath might give us more balance on the outside of stoppage.

Setterfield always balanced us better but his body isn’t up to it. McGrath was a bit meh last night down back so I’d push him up there and give him the role and use Farrow down back. Yes he’ll get burned by small forwards but his kicking alongside Johnson at least gives us something back the other way. McGrath in the middle gives us someone more defensively minded than Parish.

Sharp can build in to some genuine on-ball minutes throughout the season, but he’s probably that guy long term.

 

[Cold Sober]

If McGrath is going to be a Captain put him where he can lead, he might as well be an assistant goal umpire where he is now.

 

[Blind Turn]

The negative effect from the less congested game that the new rules allow is larger game margins and not a congested style of game.

Will be interesting how teams counter this.

Still only a small sample so need to wait a few rounds to see the real trends. The start of the season can be hard to judge.

We all love to see goals and high scoring but also contests. too many uncontested blowouts will have supporters turning off.

Collingwood showing us how to defend the ground tonight. Adelaide would be ten goals up against us.

 

[ant555]

Collingwood showing us how to defend the ground tonight. Adelaide would be ten goals up against us.

Not surprising given their base under Buckley was defence followed by defence. Fly only had to add a bit of dare. They already knew how to defend.

 

[BomberFan355]

Adelaide beat Collingwood. There goes the running in quick sand because we didn’t play last week excuse.

 

[Blind Turn]

Not surprising given their base under Buckley was defence followed by defence. Fly only had to add a bit of dare. They already knew how to defend.

Sure, it’s in their DNA as they say, much like the Swans did for so long. So why don’t we employ a coach who can implement a defensive structure before we spend entire preseasons training a transition gameplan that has no solidity in reacting to turnovers?

 

[eth-dog]

Adelaide beat Collingwood. There goes the running in quick sand because we didn’t play last week excuse.

Yours is such a bizarre argument.

Hawthorne were prelim finalists last year and are expected to be in the conversation for finals at a minimum, if not better. Yes, they likely beat us either way but to say that they didn't have a competitive advantage is legitimately crazy because anyone who's played any sport ever knows that if you play a competitive game (not practice match) before your opponents at the start of the year it gives you an edge.

Adelaide were minor premiers last year and even though they went out in straight sets they added Callum Ah Chee to their side and are expected to play well, whilst many see Collingwood as a side who are probably a bit over the hill list wise and will be down the bottom soon enough.

It's not an excuse. It's a legitimate reason as to why the score was blown out. Do we lose if there's no OR or they don't play in it? Probably, but it's also most likely going to be a lot closer than this.

 

[Blind Turn]

Adelaide beat Collingwood. There goes the running in quick sand because we didn’t play last week excuse.

No, it doesn’t negate that god-awful ****ing misfixturing disaster. Last year’s minor premier, with a serious point to prove hits the ground running against a Collingwood side with key pillars missing in defence win a close contest. That’s one of the games you’d think might be an exception. It’s a farce for teams like Richmond, Essendon, Melbourne, and WC to be playing good teams with a game under their belt. Melbourne could surprise tomorrow, you never know, but come on, it’s a legitimate objection to have.

 

[Blind Turn]

eth-dog you draw is quicker than mine once again

 

[eth-dog]

eth-dog you draw is quicker than mine once again

In fairness you replied to ant whilst I was writing mine

 

[jdstorm]

If McGrath is going to be a Captain put him where he can lead, he might as well be an assistant goal umpire where he is now.

HB is typically an important leadership position. It’s just McGrath is crap at it. However that’s true of most positions