AFL Autopsy RND 7: Done by the Magpies

[Nicholas61]

I think Katana had a point in the list management thread that we needed more genuine senior midfield depth and preferably two way running - that way we aren't held hostage to playing a bunch of senior guys not up to the modern game avoid over exposing the kids too early.

 

[ghostdog]

With May’s injury looking like a MCL, who replaces him?
How is McMahon doing in the vfl?

What the hell? I totally missed this.

 

[ghostdog]

I think Katana had a point in the list management thread that we needed more genuine senior midfield depth and preferably two way running - that way we aren't held hostage to playing a bunch of senior guys not up to the modern game avoid over exposing the kids too early.

Jack Steele going to Melbourne a couple of years ago didn't make any sense to me, with Oliver and Petracca still on their list. I did hope we'd pursue him at the time. His hardness at the contest in the middle today would have been appreciated.

 

[Petrify]

With May’s injury looking like a MCL, who replaces him?
How is McMahon doing in the vfl?

Just put Edwards back from the wing... Clearly they thought we were too tall up forward or something. Probably bring in Nguyen or Huss for him if we want another forward

 

[Vindicater]

In: Johnson, Nguyen and Cox

Out: Blakistan, Parish and May (injury)

Cox forward and second ruck.
Nguyen into the forward line and Sharp on ball to replace Parish
Johnson into the backline rotation.

 

[Phone]

What the hell? I totally missed this.

he went off early in the last quarter but it didn't scream ACL so it kind of got skipped over.

 

[King Patty]

No public holiday on monday and too many ppl know I support this clownshow

work from home...

 

[Nicholas61]

Jack Steele going to Melbourne a couple of years ago didn't make any sense to me, with Oliver and Petracca still on their list. I did hope we'd pursue him at the time. His hardness at the contest in the middle today would have been appreciated.

According to some here we did try but he wasn't interested.

 

[windyhill]

Tipped coll, but that they played on a cool Thursday night against Essendon who played on a stinking hot Saturday afternoon, interstate, was significant.
The second half Ess could barely run, keep up with their opponents.
Huge advantage.

 

[raskolnikov]

It did my head in how many of our players seem unable to pick a ball up off the ground cleanly.

At one stage I yelled out in exasperation. "Just pick it up. It's not a ****ing bomb".

 

[jdstorm]

For me here are the main takeaways from this game.

Team physicality
Collingwood had clearly practiced this, lots of blocks, shepards and what I’ll call “Raptor” tackling. Aka when the first tackler goes hard at the ball carrier, they dodge and get done by a 2nd player they didn’t see.

Selfishness:
A huge challenge for Essendon all season and for the past few seasons. Reverted to selfish as pressure turned up. Did so today

Coaching/positional changes

Coaches had a mare. Played two games well and so they reshuffle the whole side. El-hawli looked good at as a defender but aside from that nothing seemed to work.

 

[bommer16]

Tipped coll, but that they played on a cool Thursday night against Essendon who played on a stinking hot Saturday afternoon, interstate, was significant.
The second half Ess could barely run, keep up with their opponents.
Huge advantage.

Melbourne is unusually warm this time of year. So that’s two warm days. It would be draining.
Prior said post match they were gassed.

 

[ant555]

Jack Steele going to Melbourne a couple of years ago didn't make any sense to me, with Oliver and Petracca still on their list. I did hope we'd pursue him at the time. His hardness at the contest in the middle today would have been appreciated.

We did. He said no.

 

[The Donners]

As disappointed as I’ve been in a long time. Young team aside, It feels like everything we built over the past couple of weeks has just been undone. If the selection pressure Scott talks about is real, there are a number of players who should be heading into a very uncomfortable week.

And Pendlebury, just an incredible player. Nothing but respect.

Firstly, love Pendles. Champion of the game and glad he’ll be the VFL/AFL games record holder.

Secondly, don’t be too dejected. We know our senior players have never been consistent collectively for a full year (with the exception of Merrett, even individually they can’t put in consistent performances year after year). Just watch our youth to see it’s not all doom and gloom - just frustrating and we’ve all been more than patient for 20 years. We’ve got the best group of young players we’ve had in that 20 year period. Another high draft pick this year and Bewick the following. We nail these drafts and bring and trade for the missing pieces and we’re cooking with gas.

 

[ant555]

The disappointing thing is the way the likes of Langford, Caldwell, Wright and Parish just melted under pressure.
We can complain that our 3rd/4th string ruck had a total mare or our captain makes poor decisions by trying to push the envelope past his ability but there are key players on longish contracts that where a total liability as well.

It is easy to move on a Blakiston, who I will say has been given a real shit burger by continually being asked to learn how to play defence at AFL level, given he is basically an average back up ruck who you hope does not have to shoulder too much load.
It is not as easy to sort out Langford / Parish / Wright and co.

Merrett would have been frustrated. Plenty of time he sacrificed parts of his game to block for blokes who could not even pick the footy up.

Do not agree with comments we were not up for the game. Yes, we made skill errors in the first half and there were panicky moments, but our pressure was good enough to give them a few anxious moments before half time. We basically folded up after half time due to the weight of our skill errors and an inability to move the football due to poor execution. We should have been level at quarter time.

Lots of things went wrong. The major issues are with a few senior players, but we also have to play with fire to let some of the young blokes learn.
Farrow got lost a few times.
Robey got run off all game.
Reid is actually still learning despite him being 5th year.
They tried to create something different with Edwards which did not work.
May is still finding his way.
Tsatas is inexperienced and basically battling for his career.
Caddy is still working his way through how to find a more consistant game.
Even Roberts who is playing well still has a way to go as far as fine tuning how he uses the footy.
All of this compounds the problems with consistency as far as the senior players go.
Prior and McKay are very nervous players which is compounded when they are basically standing in front of the crumbling dam wall.

 

[Old Campaigner]

We did. He said no.

That’s the sort of high IQ player we desperately need

 

[Old Campaigner]

So 8 years ago Woosha went to the board and said we needed more defensive minded players. The board said No, well done guys, was Dodo blowing wind how good our list was? Now we are in 2026 and near 40 yr old Pendelbury and co were avoided like they had full body clap. Dodoro era players (just see our defenders for instance) are terrible one on one competitive, and like 2018 we still suck at sticking tackles. Seems when the game plan falls apart we see these blowouts.

Yeah they can all spell Gatorade backwards like absolute champions though

 

[The Donners]

The disappointing thing is the way the likes of Langford, Caldwell, Wright and Parish just melted under pressure.
We can complain that our 3rd/4th string ruck had a total mare or our captain makes poor decisions by trying to push the envelope past his ability but there are key players on longish contracts that where a total liability as well.

It is easy to move on a Blakiston, who I will say has been given a real shit burger by continually being asked to learn how to play defence at AFL level, given he is basically an average back up ruck who you hope does not have to shoulder too much load.
It is not as easy to sort out Langford / Parish / Wright and co.

Merrett would have been frustrated. Plenty of time he sacrificed parts of his game to block for blokes who could not even pick the footy up.

Do not agree with comments we were not up for the game. Yes, we made skill errors in the first half and there were panicky moments, but our pressure was good enough to give them a few anxious moments before half time. We basically folded up after half time due to the weight of our skill errors and an inability to move the football due to poor execution. We should have been level at quarter time.

Lots of things went wrong. The major issues are with a few senior players, but we also have to play with fire to let some of the young blokes learn.
Farrow got lost a few times.
Robey got run off all game.
Reid is actually still learning despite him being 5th year.
They tried to create something different with Edwards which did not work.
May is still finding his way.
Tsatas is inexperienced and basically battling for his career.
Caddy is still working his way through how to find a more consistant game.
Even Roberts who is playing well still has a way to go as far as fine tuning how he uses the footy.
All of this compounds the problems with consistency as far as the senior players go.
Prior and McKay are very nervous players which is compounded when they are basically standing in front of the crumbling dam wall.

This. It’s why I’m not calling for too many changes. The senior players you mentioned are essentially Dodoro’s legacy. We’re really only 2 years in to to a 5 year rectification of his list mis-management/poor recruiting.

 

[ant555]

Yeah they can all spell Gatorade backwards like absolute champions though

I think it was actually spelling Cat backwards

 

[windyhill]

Melbourne is unusually warm this time of year. So that’s two warm days. It would be draining.
Prior said post match they were gassed.

And for Craig kelly to have the audacity, three weeks ago to complain about his campaigner of a clubs draw when everyone knows that they are constantly kissed on the dick re fixturing was staggering.
Were his comments after another long lunch ? Or was he drug affected ? Clearly one or the other. Or both.

 

[MiguelM]

We were so slow coming out of the backline and went wide which plays into the Pies hands.

We need a quick running backman more than we need a Bailey IMO.

Prior not quick enough.

 

[bommer16]

For me it looked like the team was building a solid foundation over the last 2.5 weeks. It is disappointing when game C (from the usual senior group) rears its ugly head and undoes it all. Collingwood just got into their heads and let them run over us. Remaining composed under pressure was always an issue that the legacy group could never rectify in their individual games and will never improve. That kind of bad habit has to be traded or retired out.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Prior not quick anything enough.

Sorry not sorry

 

[bommer16]

And for Craig kelly to have the audacity, three weeks ago to complain about his campaigner of a clubs draw when everyone knows that they are constantly kissed on the dick re fixturing was staggering.
Were his comments after another long lunch ? Or was he drug affected ? Clearly one or the other.

Biggest club in Australia vibes WH. the afl knows coll puts bums on seats and so that’s where the audacity comes from. Coll won bc we let them. I can’t wait for next Thursday.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

That’s the sort of high IQ player we desperately need