Autopsy Round 1, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Gold Coast

[Ambrose Burnside]

I haven't watched the post match press conference but I am kinda hoping McQualter looks as befuddled as some have claimed. Was the last block of games he saw us play the 2018 finals series?

 

[RookiePick]

Midfield rot.

Our standards have just steadily eroded over time with Shuey, Yeo, Naita, Sheed perma-injured. I think Graham did all that could be expected in terms of leading the way with work rate and intensity. It will remain to be seen who follows, who spits the chewy and who simply isn't up to the task.

Really disappointing performance as all any of us wanted to see was a change in attitude and work rate. We know we aren't going to have it all worked out early but it was a body blow to hopes that the group had bought into the concept of a hard reboot in their approach.

 

[darksquare]

Looked back at the first 4 rounds last year we were bad, first real game new coach im not panicking,

Gross Allan in
cole kelly out

2 tough nuts in for 2 soft as baby shit seniors

Id also bring in B williams for flynn, Williams extra flexibility and maneuverabilityhelps when the ball hits the deck at stoppage
From what ive seen in Allan can be the ball first guy in the mid? am i expecting miracles? no, but it has to be better than down hill tim

Cole had a decent crack yesterday. Was one of our best, although that's not saying a lot.

 

[FKASC]

Cole had a decent crack yesterday. Was one of our best, although that's not saying a lot.

Would be nice if he could just make better decisions in tight and stop being such a panic merchant. Really should have fixed that by now but alas. Otherwise he’d be a handy role player

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Would be nice if he could just make better decisions in tight and stop being such a panic merchant. Really should have fixed that by now but alas. Otherwise he’d be a handy role player

Liam Duggan is much worse at that then Cole

Im dropping Duggan before Cole so calls to drop Cole are insane. I suppose everyone can see how stacked we are with flankers they see them as droppable as opposed to Tim Kelly whose got a 0 gamer taking his spot if he goes out

 

[EagleEgo]

And finally, just for the record ... before the start of yesterday's game the stats were

Games for WCE:
Brockman 10
Baker 0
Graham 0
Owies 0

AFL games:
AReid 0
Hutch 8
Dewar 8

Games for 2024:
Allen 11
Flynn 4
Hewett 0
Long 7

Half the team. As Simmo might say ... Synergy?

Love to have the same data of R21 WCE vs GCS for comparison.

 

[bUCKET__]

Not usually one to pile on or get overly dramatic, and I appreciate that this is game 1 under a new coach...but yesterday was the worst game I can remember seeing West Coast play. We were so utterly demolished in the mid field, and so far behind in talent and effort that its hard to see where we go from here.

We need to invest every resource we have in talent identification & development, and use the draft wisely. Find the best recruiter and list manager in the league and throw money at them.

This quote below from Don Pyke last year was alarming - I remember hearing it and not quite believing it:


“If you look at the deal in isolation — the slide from No. 3 to No. 12 and using 14 to get Liam Baker — (it) looks a bit odd, but for us it was part of a bigger play around Liam and the commitment we made to him to bring him to the club.

“We’re fulfilling and honouring that commitment as well as sliding back in a draft that we believe has got some depth.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...s/news-story/60d71c3014525fb28b966c005652a479

We move down the draft, and allow ourselves to get played by Richmond and Hawthorn, just to honour a commitment to Liam Baker? What did we promise him and when? Sorry, you don't mortgage a clubs future to be nice.

Not wanting to disagree with you at all, just highlighting the first part in relation to the latter. Unfortunately young kids don't just develop themselves by listening to coaches, they need role models for that effort on the track with them. Baker, Graham and Owies all brought that effort yesterday at least. We committed to blokes like this cos the young talent we bring in needs more of it around. Hell, our supposed leaders from recent years need it too. Hopefully we reward workrate via selection more this year too.

Plenty of good examples of highly talented lists who've not come on due to culture or lack of role models driving the standards at the club (recent Kangas perhaps, early GC and GWS, etc)

 

[THE A5]

Midfield rot.

Our standards have just steadily eroded over time with Shuey, Yeo, Naita, Sheed perma-injured. I think Graham did all that could be expected in terms of leading the way with work rate and intensity. It will remain to be seen who follows, who spits the chewy and who simply isn't up to the task.

Really disappointing performance as all any of us wanted to see was a change in attitude and work rate. We know we aren't going to have it all worked out early but it was a body blow to hopes that the group had bought into the concept of a hard reboot in their approach.

Graham is a foot solidier and tbh he gave his all yesterday despite his massive flaws. This young midfield really needs to really good mids that can shoulder them. Unfortunately Yeo’s body is cooked and he’s likely on the decline and Tim Kelly well is just coasting.

Yesterday was an absolute farce and brissy will be ever harder battle. The good and bad thing about yesterday was that the effort was as putrid as it’s been over the last three years and if we can lift that up(big if considering they put that up first game of the year) we might be fractionally more competitive.

Duggan and Baker both need to go into the middle as both Hewett and Harley seem to be underdone. I want Tk gone but he really needs to put up of his elite games this week. That said I don’t see us being anywhere close and really all I want to see is more effort and heart.

 

[EagleEgo]

 

[LewyBroome]

Oh boy we're really at fold the club levels today eh?

As an aside I find it interesting how the actual posters (accounts) completely change when things are grim - suddenly there's a dozen people you rarely see popping in to take a dump on Tim Kelly and everything at the club post 2018. Misery loves company I guess.

I’ll always be present to shoot down Tim, call me JUH on that front.

 

[shooshka]

Midfield rot.

Our standards have just steadily eroded over time with Shuey, Yeo, Naita, Sheed perma-injured. I think Graham did all that could be expected in terms of leading the way with work rate and intensity. It will remain to be seen who follows, who spits the chewy and who simply isn't up to the task.

Really disappointing performance as all any of us wanted to see was a change in attitude and work rate. We know we aren't going to have it all worked out early but it was a body blow to hopes that the group had bought into the concept of a hard reboot in their approach.

Flynn got outplayed (yeah that is being nice). It may happen but not sure bwilliams will move the needle that much (blind Freddy could see we needed to chase a ruck during trade/draft/SSP but alas our list team don’t like doing the obvious).

From there though, what are we thinking at the selection table??

I mean Duggan just is not an inside mid. Too reactive and not good enough defensively in close. Fine on a wing and for occasional cbd if needed.

Jack Graham, clearly the more defensive mid, needs to work on and hold position at CB.

Kelly, never has been never will be first hard ball get player. Great if he’s the first receiver though.

Harley, more hybrid. Had an off day after an interrupted pre season. Not quite a free pass but not a hangable offence for a 20yo

From there we roll through Hewett (needs time), Hutch (needs time) and Brockman attended 2x (got a clearance as well).

We surely need another ball hunter. Has to be Clay Hall (unless Allen at 18/19 can do it for more than a half). The small forward fleet adding pressure is fine as a game plan until you play 60-70% in your back half… all of a sudden you have selected 6 players, a quarter of the team, who are likely to have 0 impact.

Not saying Clay Hall (or Yeo once back) solves the problem, but we need to develop first possession players, it is why history keeps repeating.


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[Matele]

The end result. 87 points....man i thought we were getting past the shellackings.

I’ll admit me too, I think I consumed some of the preseason bath water. I’m thankful we got smacked around early though. Mini and co can point to GCS as the level the players need to be at. I’m hopeful he’ll be much more aggressive in reacting to such games and giving us something different.

I believe we are still going to get torched; especially over the next month which is a stupidly hard run of games for any bottom four side. However, I’d expect us to ‘click’ somewhat come the mid season and at least stop the haemorrhaging of goals late.

It’s be a very rough 4+ years. I know we as a supporter base are unaccustomed to being down and in disarray for so long. Uncharted territory for us as a club and fanbase I suppose. Let’s not turn on each other, eh?

 

[THE A5]

I’ll admit me too, I think I consumed some of the preseason bath water. I’m thankful we got smacked around early though. Mini and co can point to GCS as the level the players need to be at. I’m hopeful he’ll be much more aggressive in reacting to such games and giving us something different.

I believe we are still going to get torched; especially over the next month which is a stupidly hard run of games for any bottom four side. However, I’d expect us to ‘click’ somewhat come the mid season and at least stop the haemorrhaging of goals late.

It’s be a very rough 4+ years. I know we as a supporter base are unaccustomed to being down and in disarray for so long. Uncharted territory for us as a club and fanbase I suppose. Let’s not turn on each other, eh?

I never bought into the preseason hype as much or even the mini hype from all the clips and interviews the club posted. That being said there was a piece where he said he doesn’t measure kicks, marks and etc and the jist was really about intent and effort as a group. Yesterday was just about the worst of what he really wanted from us.

 

[MerryHell]

So many broken tackles, all over the ground.

That's the key indicator our intensity wasn't up to GC's level.

Thought the boys would come out 100% firing on all cylinders, clearly not.

Expected challenges with new players, new game plan, execution, and the like.

Didn't expect a pretty piss poor effort.

 

[THE A5]

I really don’t have much expectation for us but I really wanted was to avoid what we dished out in 2022/23. A lot of clubs can absolutely bottom out and not reach that standard of shiteness. It really looks like we about to have another season like that (the third one in four years). I can take losing and I can take some floggings but I struggle to watch game where it’s hard to take any positives out of the game

 

[KERRPOW]

I never bought into the preseason hype as much or even the mini hype from all the clips and interviews the club posted. That being said there was a piece where he said he doesn’t measure kicks, marks and etc and the jist was really about intent and effort as a group. Yesterday was just about the worst of what he really wanted from us.

Effort and intent was non existent yesterday.


Honestly felt like it was the same old shit that has been dished out the last 3 years....thats probably why everyones reactions to the game is so heated.

Also explains why there were lines to catch the busses home halfway through the 4th quarter.

I dont think fans will tolerate these obliterations anymore, we will see very low match day attendances and/or people filtering out 5mins into the last quarter.

 

[ep2018]

Richmond lost their first eight or so games, most by 40+ points, under new coach Hardwick in 2010 and then had a string of wins in the second half of the season (using them as an example as McQualter wants to copy their game style). I was melting last night but I think we best wait until mid season before being overly critical.

 

[DorothyG]

So many broken tackles, all over the ground.

That's the key indicator our intensity wasn't up to GC's level.

Thought the boys would come out 100% firing on all cylinders, clearly not.

Expected challenges with new players, new game plan, execution, and the like.

Didn't expect a pretty piss poor effort.

I think with the broken tackles, you really have to give credit to the GC lads. They a big tough boys who knows how to get their arms free and controlled release. Its a skill in itself.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Lots of people being too harsh on Flynn here. As awful as he was getting monstered in the ruck contests against Witts, he actually did okay around the ground. Took a couple of good clunks. Competed really well against Xerri, who is no slouch. I expect him to be more competitive against Brissies' rucks.

The overall talent discrepancy in the midfield is just plainly the problem affecting all of our rucks. We could've had Max Gawn out there tapping to our midfield and getting soundly beaten too. On the other hand, if Witts was palming down to our shitty flat-footed and reactive midfield, no doubt we still lose the clearances and get cut up on the outside. Rucking gets a hell of a lot easier when there's no pressure on the mids you're putting it out to.

It does highlight though, that a decent ruckman who can win it for your mids is worth paying over for.

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[RanaNaved]

Like other's have said, it's the lack of intensity, work-rate and effort that is the worst thing about this group.

You can actually see when they're about to throw in the towel and get steam rolled. They drop their heads, they stop talking to each other and they start playing for themselves, all going for the ball and leaving free opposition player's everywhere.

McQualter has a hell of a job trying to fix that

 

[dinnaz]

Positives.
Ginbey, Hough, A Reid debut
Negatives:
Waterman, Hutch, Bench Maric

Countdown clock enabled thread titled:
"How Much Longer can Andrew McQualter be debated"

 

[Cuzz09]

As long as Jack Graham is our best midfielder then we are last on the ladder. Not a knock on him per se just the reality of any team with him in that role.

TBH as on old timer there was a lot of 2000/01 about yesterdays team. Old guys that are washed up or close, some recruited “mature bodies” who were decent but echoes of “Collica, Richard Taylor, Prior, Merenda, Sierakowski etc”.

We had Cousins, Gardiner and a couple of maybe kids at that point as the future. It turned pretty quick when we played kids and got rid of the recently acquired “mature bodies” under Woosh.

yes! that's what I was saying.

felt Ken Judgey

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[Doashuey]

Those still saying we need a decent ruckman like it’s the silver bullet that will fix everything. Just stop.

If we swap Witts and Flynn today around we still lose by 80+ points. It would make next to no difference. Our midfield was out worked and out muscled at pretty much every stoppage contest.

It wasn’t to do with beautiful Nic Nat taps over the top to Shuey on the burst. We were just beaten up in the midfield by a bunch of blokes who were better in all aspects of the game.

Here’s a question and this isn’t a new thing just for this year. Why do we warm up before the game with our 1st choice midfield roving to Flynn jumping into a bag with a couple of blokes in green vests applying some token pressure?

Old saying train the way you want to play, that was realistically never going to happen in the next 120 minutes of footy and didn’t.

If you think a bloke who had 70 taps is only worth a 7 point turn around I have news for you.
That is massively under selling the impact Witts had on the contest, he was enormous.
Having a good ruck wont fix all our mid field woes but it will give them something to build around. At the moment they cant have any confidence that our ruck will get a hand to it let alone have a good idea where it is going. They are caught in 2 minds and haveno idea where to go. Despite being in a better class, GC mids worked knowing with 80-90% certainty where the ball was going. How many times did you see one of them peel out the front of the contest knowing that the other two would win it and draw our 3 mids then pop it over the top and out?
We are pushing shit up hill without a decent ruck, just makes the centre clearance set ups for a young mid brigade more difficult to run with any certainty.

 

[Doashuey]

It’s a good thing we didn’t trade away our future for a couple of non essential players in the hopes of a dead cat bounce.

Future looks bright.

Yeah pick 14 was our future for sure. Might have been the next Campbell Chesser, or Shanahan who we picked anyway. If anything, that game showed how much we need the likes of Baker and Graham during this period of the rebuild.
Im prepared to give it more than 1 game to tear it all down and start again.

 

[Cuzz09]

Richmond lost their first eight or so games, most by 40+ points, under new coach Hardwick in 2010 and then had a string of wins in the second half of the season (using them as an example as McQualter wants to copy their game style). I was melting last night but I think we best wait until mid season before being overly critical.

I keep thinking this too.

Hopefully the game plan gels and we start being super competitive and win a couple.

Maybe...

Jake is our Jack Riewoldt
Reid is our Dusty
Hewett is our Prestia/Cotchin

and so on...

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