AFL Toast RND 9: Win Against the Swans

[Milanista28]

For sure - if that’s your criticism, I’m assuming you’re advocating to bring someone in who could stick those tackles..?

Sure, that or someone who could develop that side of their game, who has time on their side? Considering it is a rebuild period for the club.

 

[Agronomus]

Old men like me and windyhill don't need Viagra after that tap at CHF by Goldy that resulted in a goal. Oh Lordy how good was that.

Nice to get the chocolates.

Don't need Viagra with that goal from Sammy

 

[div12ressie]

Sure, that or someone who could develop that side of their game, who has time on their side? Considering it is a rebuild period for the club.

Or maybe that said player could work on their flaws in VFL first

 

[Milanista28]

Or maybe that said player could work on their flaws in VFL first

Sure, also perhaps selection integrity means older more experienced players need to be on their A game especially considering their long term future is in doubt?

Selection integrity seems a one way street that factors in age.

 

[jannissary]

might be a blistering hot take, but i think that having a lockdown tagger playing in the guts really hinders your actual team game. if your tagger is getting 9 touches and not punishing them by hitting the scoreboard, when his direct opponent does far more, what does he actually add to the list balance on the day?

in a vacuum it’s probably the right thing to do because merrett is one of the most damaging players in the game, but it means you’re relying on two players even more than sydney already does. heeney was ordinary, warner was missing for a half. the game moves too fast for a limited ability player like ryan crowley

Ryan Crowley

Age

41

Ht

188cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.4

4star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.8

4star

K

5.4

2star

HB

8.4

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

1.4

4star

 

[Squeaky]

Don't need Viagra with that goal from Sammy

And the mark...

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Their list build is shit.

No idea if you follow NFL but look at what the Cleveland Browns did this year by trading down and building a **** load of draft currency. Gave up getting the best player in the draft (can play WR on offense and CB on defense) for a massive haul which got them pretty much an A-A+ draft rating this year and they're loaded for next years draft.

The fact that North have done **** all to boost their defense over the last 3-4 is a ****ing joke, and they wonder why they give up 100 points every game even with a master coach.

Taking both McKercher at 2 and Duursma at 4 in 2023 instead of trading one of the picks down to target Curtain or O'Sullivan is malpractice from their recruiters.

Imagine they trade 4 to Geelong for their pick + next years first, get O'Sullivan after they make the trade with us to get a second rounder, than at pick 20 in last years draft they take Whitlock instead of giving up pick 2 in the 2025 draft. (Or they take Trainor and still do that stupid trade with Richmond)

O'Sullivan, Mannagh (who geelong got with our second rounder), Whitlock & Pick 2 > Duursma & Whitlock.

Based on their entire history, I don't want to model anything I care about on the Cleveland Browns lol.

Having said that, I do think they actually made the smart move with their first round pick this year (before taking Dillon Gabriel with a third rounder) and I like the idea of having multiple shots at talented players.

Outside of QB, the NFL is similar to the AFL in that one player can't win a game on their own unlike basketball, which is why I'm a big fan of young/rebuilding teams picking multiple good players rather than gunning for one superstar. It's why I'm so against trading for Harley Reid (without a significant discount).

 

[FootyGuru]

might be a blistering hot take, but i think that having a lockdown tagger playing in the guts really hinders your actual team game. if your tagger is getting 9 touches and not punishing them by hitting the scoreboard, when his direct opponent does far more, what does he actually add to the list balance on the day?

in a vacuum it’s probably the right thing to do because merrett is one of the most damaging players in the game, but it means you’re relying on two players even more than sydney already does. heeney was ordinary, warner was missing for a half. the game moves too fast for a limited ability player like ryan crowley

Tagging has always had its downside.
Against Merrett and Essendon it’s probably worth it due to the lack of other elite players.

Tagging rarely happens in cb, too easy to manipulate things in your favour.

The tagged player can also stand on your oppos best player freeing up one of your own, or can take a tagger into oppo hit zones.

The tagged played can basically dictate where he and the tagger goes. He could go sit in the oppos hot spot creating congestion in their fwd half or go forward like Merrett did yesterday.

Taggers these days need to be pretty versatile types, but more than the old school athletes. You not only need to be able to go with the best mids, you need to know mid tactics and structures, play multiple positions but be prepared to be targeted all day by the oppo.

Yesterday Jordan wasn’t comfortable with playing down back on Merrett, to the point they dropped the tag. Even though Merrett didn’t have his usual big numbers was pretty influential.

It seems so simple to say stop Merrett stop Essendon, but it doesn’t come without its own complications and consequences. Hence why so many teams are resistant to do it, and usually just back in their own systems.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Lack of polish still really hurts us. Missed handballs that halt momentum or kicks that go over players heads at critical stages. The effort has generally been there. Just need to be able to convert more of the 50/50 chances and nail a few more in close handballs.
Second half we kicked down the line too much when we were set up too far up the ground. Work rate dropped off a bit and we had no run.
Goldstien deserves a tick in the last 10 minutes. Made some smart choices with his disposal and did not lose his head.

The Redman handball error turned momentum

EFC looked out on their feet with 5 or 10 still to play

We had some fortune with missed shots etc but hung pretty tough

 

[Darealrath]

might be a blistering hot take, but i think that having a lockdown tagger playing in the guts really hinders your actual team game. if your tagger is getting 9 touches and not punishing them by hitting the scoreboard, when his direct opponent does far more, what does he actually add to the list balance on the day?

in a vacuum it’s probably the right thing to do because merrett is one of the most damaging players in the game, but it means you’re relying on two players even more than sydney already does. heeney was ordinary, warner was missing for a half. the game moves too fast for a limited ability player like ryan crowley

I reckon tagging is more effective when used less often; if the opposition player and team is used to it it can be more easily planned for and manipulated but if it's used more selectively it can still be very effective.

 

[Andronicus]

My son has a Sydney supporting friend. Last year he would wear his Sydney gear and was very vocal in reminding my son when Sydney beat the bombers. Today when the tables were turned and he wore his bombers shirt and asked his mate if he saw the game, his friend responded with "I'm not really into football as much this year".

Is that not the most Sydney fan response ever?

 

[Darealrath]

Not sure if it's arrogance or naivety but hate seeing us playing to save the game so far out.

 

[jannissary]

My son has a Sydney supporting friend. Last year he would wear his Sydney gear and was very vocal in reminding my son when Sydney beat the bombers. Today when the tables were turned and he wore his bombers shirt and asked his mate if he saw the game, his friend responded with "I'm not really into football as much this year".

Is that not the most Sydney fan response ever?

minnow team response.

 

[outersanctum]

Another win but another hard second half watch.

How much is that other team adjusting and how much is our youth/running out of legs? It is noticeable that we are dropping off, not just in scoring but pressure and defensive acts in the second half.

It is often seen that the only difference between a great side and promising young side was how long they could sustain that max effort.. with the great sides only needing to play one good quarter to often win the game. I'm wondering if that is the case here or something else?

 

[Agronomus]

Based on their entire history, I don't want to model anything I care about on the Cleveland Browns lol.

Having said that, I do think they actually made the smart move with their first round pick this year (before taking Dillon Gabriel with a third rounder) and I like the idea of having multiple shots at talented players.

Outside of QB, the NFL is similar to the AFL in that one player can't win a game on their own unlike basketball, which is why I'm a big fan of young/rebuilding teams picking multiple good players rather than gunning for one superstar. It's why I'm so against trading for Harley Reid (without a significant discount).

And because that is exactly what Dodoro would do

 

[Zach Package]

Having a super aerobic, hard running player that can take an overhead mark on each wing is like man discovering fire.

No slight on Cox and Jones as footballers, but they are fundamentally not wingers.

It may not work sometimes but I love that Saad El-Hawli’s first instinct is always to go forward first.

 

[Old man fletch]

How much is that other team adjusting and how much is our youth/running out of legs? It is noticeable that we are dropping off, not just in scoring but pressure and defensive acts in the second half.

It is often seen that the only difference between a great side and promising young side was how long they could sustain that max effort.. with the great sides only needing to play one good quarter to often win the game. I'm wondering if that is the case here or something else?

Possibly that, but also coaching directive.

Felt like a couple of guys stopped leading for marks out of D50 after they were ignored on previous leads. We looked super stagnant after half time bringing the ball out.

 

[Yoda_]

It's good to see some educated people in the media are actually giving us (some) credit that we deserve to get the wins we are banking.

Sure, in isolation we have beaten 5/8 teams but then you look at it and we have beaten a grand finalist from 2024, a prelim finalist in 2024, a perennial finalist (Power) and two teams who are wanting to earn respect back (North and WCE).

I dont expect the season to amount to anything but there is no better culture than a winning one and with such a young group, these close wins will hopefully hold them in good stead for the future

 

[SydneyBomber]

old man’s getting cheated on

Hopefully his misso hooked up with an exceptionally well-hung dons supporter after the game

Did any of you blokes get lucky by any chance?

 

[thebigboy]

We are getting pretty close to "we need to talk about kyle" territory, since the mid point of last year he has been just going and I don't think we shouldve rushed him back into the seniors after his injury.
I dont think Scott will do it but I would like to see a forward line with only wright and caddy as the talls and bring in another small for Langford.

Langford’s playing injured, or not fully fit at the moment.

Happened to walk past him at the VFL game against North and his knee was in a compression sleeve and was limping more than you’d expect 24 hrs after a game.

I’d be tempted to play him in Ridley’s role and go smaller in the forward line and see how it goes. Scott originally intended for him to play down back before injuries forced him forward, this may be the chance to take the pressure off him.

 

[bombersim]

Zach Package said:
Swans are nowhere, WTF is going on there?

Big Cox.

Must have been cold…

I’ll see myself out…

 

[fairbump_playon]

My son has a Sydney supporting friend. Last year he would wear his Sydney gear and was very vocal in reminding my son when Sydney beat the bombers. Today when the tables were turned and he wore his bombers shirt and asked his mate if he saw the game, his friend responded with "I'm not really into football as much this year".

Is that not the most Sydney fan response ever?

LOL yep

“This year I’ve got really into the opera house and traffic jams”

 

[SydneyBomber]

LOL yep

“This year I’ve got really into the opera house and traffic jams”

"Go roosters/tahs"