Autopsy Round 22, 2025: Positives and Negatives vs Adelaide

[Broken_Chairs]

I know his ballwork sucks and he got pinged for that rough HTB after he earnt one, but he was a defensive beast in the 3rd and 4th I thought.


Curious as to how others saw it.

Yeah thought Cole was one our best overall

 

[chaddy22]

With great respect.

What are you guys watching?

Matt Flynn is the equivalent of a walking wicket in the centre square. He doesn't get his hands to the ball, can't jump and opposition sides can be so aggressive with their centre square set up.

He's nowhere near it. Letting his opponents rack up huge numbers.

Jordan Sweet 33 v Darcey and Jackson 23 combined
Nearly cost you the game not having a dominant ruckman

 

[twce13]

Not a hot take, just surprised by the number of fans counting a ruck domination as a positive.

Almost like you have anti Naitanui disease, you have become numb to what a competent, AFL standard ruck looks like.

Anyway, Shanahan & Mcarthy can play.

There’s the odd person praising him, but that derives from a low bar and let’s be real, every +/- on all boards have some takes that miss the mark.

I’d say most of Flynn praise is probably his marking between the arcs, because as a tap ruckman and his follow up at ground level in stoppage situations he is truly awful.

Eagles must find a solution to our ruck woes, no doubt. What you want for the slob? I think we can get him on board with promises of free hungry jacks for life.

 

[Mop]

Not a hot take, just surprised by the number of fans counting a ruck domination as a positive.

Almost like you have anti Naitanui disease, you have become numb to what a competent, AFL standard ruck looks like.

Anyway, Shanahan & Mcarthy can play.

Do you come in peace?


Jokes aside.


We're pantsed every game, and some games Flynn is miles off it. Today he at least competed and did some good even if well well beaten.

It IS a low bar, especially from an area of historical strength for as long as I've been around.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Guys I don’t know if you know this but [player who most people scream to be delisted most weeks and is only playing on a technicality] isn’t very good.

Gee thanks for the input, next you’ll say we should try to win more games next year.

 

[DorothyG]

Flynn went to 73 ruck contests today - won 22 hit-outs.

Obrien also went to 74 ruck contests, won 51 hit-outs.

Adelaide had 18 centre clearance to 8 for West Coast.

I appreciate that is a combination of factors, those at ground level aren't at the same level as Adelaide, but seriously, Flynn does not give his mids much supply.

Haven't seen him break even or get close to it, ever.

Huge handicap on his side.

Genius level insights here. If I were McQualter, I'd be getting this guy on the phone Monday morning to see if he wasn't an assistant role

 

[sharps24]

Nobody is disputing there are non AFL standard players getting games, and that our ceiling is hurt massively by that. Who is disputing that?

Your obsession with the Telstra tracker said this so therefore the kids are match fit is just a fundamental misunderstanding of fitness. I’m thrilled that everyone can run a nice time trial or cover lots of ground according to the chip in their jumper. He ran far = he’s fitter than the rest is simply not true, not in terms of actual match fitness which is what most people are discussing when we use the term.

Match fitness, true footy fitness, is exactly what you’re talking about but you’re refusing to connect the dot. “We lost because our system broke down and our decision making faded late”. I’m going to have to shout this because I can’t keep making this point.

THAT’S WHAT MATCH FITNESS IS.

The ability to keep your system working even when you’re tired, or to hit contests as hard as the first term and not get knocked off, or to have that extra half second of mental clarity even when your legs are burning. Proper chases with a chance of closing the gap, not jog chases that show up on Telstra Tracker as the same distance covered.

The system failing late and people making bad decision as they wear down IS FITNESS. And it’s what you build year on year, it’s why preseasons and real games under the belt are so important.

There is not much point in debating with you because you're obviously just not a very bright person and you have a terrible sense for the game. There is a reason they put the trackers on people and sure, its not everything but the combination of distance covered, distance covered at speed, number of sprints, number of repeat sprints, and the rest of the metrics give a pretty good idea of who the elite runners are on the field each week. That is why they provide that data.

So what is your argument here? That you are some kind of big brain that can just dismiss the tracking data as some kind of pseudo science because you once heard someone say winning time trials doesn't make you an AFL footballer and thought that sounded cool? Are you trying tell me that Clay Hall isn't a fit individual capable of running out a game of AFL football because he covers the most km's veer week while also often covering the most distance at speed and having the most sprints? And can do it week after week after week? Do you think it's clever to disagree by saying something along the lines of "yeah well Chris Judd never did that and nobody thinks Clay Hall is a better player than Chris Judd?"

Here's a suggestion for you to really, really, have a good honest think about. Match fitness is not, actually, and ability to make a good decision or execute a basic football skill. Match fitness is really just fitness, the ability to do physical work. They are entirely different things that are almost not related. Now yes, the almost bit that you seem to think makes you the smartest guy in the room. A players ability to execute mentally and physically might be diminished by the fatigue of 4 quarters of football. You get tired and then are less good at something. It's ok to believe that that is true, it is true mostly. But not all players actually go to shit skills or decision making wise just because they are tired. Some players are just better than others in this space. Generally, while to some measure this can improve, it's really kind of baked in [like fitness limits] at a level that isn't affected much by experience. Composure is an innate attribute much more than it is a learned skill. As is being able to repeat sprint 10 x 400m and not slow to a walk by the end of the 10th rep.

So, while I am sure you will go away thinking you have absolutely smashed this argument because thats just a function of your own baked in personality and intellectual limits and ego, others can plainly understand that the number of pre-seasons and games Liam Duggan and Tom Cole have played does not in fact make him better at executing under pressure than Jobe Shannahan or Harley Reid. But of course, you already pre-agreed with that in your opening sentence didn't you so are you arguing against me or yourself here?

 

[squashface]

Mad respect to anyone who actually reads old mate’s essays

 

[jdisc]

 

[UseR2006]

There is not much point in debating with you because you're obviously just not a very bright person and you have a terrible sense for the game. There is a reason they put the trackers on people and sure, its not everything but the combination of distance covered, distance covered at speed, number of sprints, number of repeat sprints, and the rest of the metrics give a pretty good idea of who the elite runners are on the field each week. That is why they provide that data.

So what is your argument here? That you are some kind of big brain that can just dismiss the tracking data as some kind of pseudo science because you once heard someone say winning time trials doesn't make you an AFL footballer and thought that sounded cool? Are you trying tell me that Clay Hall isn't a fit individual capable of running out a game of AFL football because he covers the most km's veer week while also often covering the most distance at speed and having the most sprints? And can do it week after week after week? Do you think it's clever to disagree by saying something along the lines of "yeah well Chris Judd never did that and nobody thinks Clay Hall is a better player than Chris Judd?"

Here's a suggestion for you to really, really, have a good honest think about. Match fitness is not, actually, and ability to make a good decision or execute a basic football skill. Match fitness is really just fitness, the ability to do physical work. They are entirely different things that are almost not related. Now yes, the almost bit that you seem to think makes you the smartest guy in the room. A players ability to execute mentally and physically might be diminished by the fatigue of 4 quarters of football. You get tired and then are less good at something. It's ok to believe that that is true, it is true mostly. But not all players actually go to shit skills or decision making wise just because they are tired. Some players are just better than others in this space. Generally, while to some measure this can improve, it's really kind of baked in [like fitness limits] at a level that isn't affected much by experience. Composure is an innate attribute much more than it is a learned skill. As is being able to repeat sprint 10 x 400m and not slow to a walk by the end of the 10th rep.

So, while I am sure you will go away thinking you have absolutely smashed this argument because thats just a function of your own baked in personality and intellectual limits and ego, others can plainly understand that the number of pre-seasons and games Liam Duggan and Tom Cole have played does not in fact make him better at executing under pressure than Jobe Shannahan or Harley Reid. But of course, you already pre-agreed with that in your opening sentence didn't you so are you arguing against me or yourself here?

 

[Hap Hapablap]

Positive

We put up a remarkable fight
Shanahan
Players just playing with desperation

Negative

These losses are ****ed. They really just suck the joy out of watching footy. 2010 vibes all over again. I do hope these losses are converted to wins next season.

 

[jdisc]

 

[jdisc]

Positive

We put up a remarkable fight
Shanahan
Players just playing with desperation

Negative

These losses are ****ed. They really just suck the joy out of watching footy. 2010 vibes all over again. I do hope these losses are converted to wins next season.

if this year is 2010 does that mean we're top 4 next year

 

[FDH16]

You obviously didn't see Max Gawn take bailey Williams to pieces in hit outs and marks around the ground last week.
Flynn can at least take a contested mark.

West Coast won the hitouts vs Melbourne...

I watched Max Gawn dominate Williams around the ground in the air.

Don't understand why Williams isn't bought up for Centre Square work, then rolls forward.

Flynn can be clumsy at stoppages with additional support at ground level, he can't have that in the centre square.

 

[Bacchus]

Totally agree on Ginbey.
I reckon he’s putting his hand up for AA.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

There is not much point in debating with you because you're obviously just not a very bright person and you have a terrible sense for the game. There is a reason they put the trackers on people and sure, its not everything but the combination of distance covered, distance covered at speed, number of sprints, number of repeat sprints, and the rest of the metrics give a pretty good idea of who the elite runners are on the field each week. That is why they provide that data.

So what is your argument here? That you are some kind of big brain that can just dismiss the tracking data as some kind of pseudo science because you once heard someone say winning time trials doesn't make you an AFL footballer and thought that sounded cool? Are you trying tell me that Clay Hall isn't a fit individual capable of running out a game of AFL football because he covers the most km's veer week while also often covering the most distance at speed and having the most sprints? And can do it week after week after week? Do you think it's clever to disagree by saying something along the lines of "yeah well Chris Judd never did that and nobody thinks Clay Hall is a better player than Chris Judd?"

Here's a suggestion for you to really, really, have a good honest think about. Match fitness is not, actually, and ability to make a good decision or execute a basic football skill. Match fitness is really just fitness, the ability to do physical work. They are entirely different things that are almost not related. Now yes, the almost bit that you seem to think makes you the smartest guy in the room. A players ability to execute mentally and physically might be diminished by the fatigue of 4 quarters of football. You get tired and then are less good at something. It's ok to believe that that is true, it is true mostly. But not all players actually go to shit skills or decision making wise just because they are tired. Some players are just better than others in this space. Generally, while to some measure this can improve, it's really kind of baked in [like fitness limits] at a level that isn't affected much by experience. Composure is an innate attribute much more than it is a learned skill. As is being able to repeat sprint 10 x 400m and not slow to a walk by the end of the 10th rep.

So, while I am sure you will go away thinking you have absolutely smashed this argument because thats just a function of your own baked in personality and intellectual limits and ego, others can plainly understand that the number of pre-seasons and games Liam Duggan and Tom Cole have played does not in fact make him better at executing under pressure than Jobe Shannahan or Harley Reid. But of course, you already pre-agreed with that in your opening sentence didn't you so are you arguing against me or yourself here?

Unreal stuff here.

“We didn’t lose because of fitness, we lost because the system fell down late.”

Why do some teams stand up stronger, for longer? Is it cause they’re just the team with the best skills and they wait until right at the end to show them off? Was our system found out by some coaching master stroke deployed in the final 10 minutes?

Or is that every link in the chain being 5% off their peak at once makes a huge difference, that that’s what makes the system fall down as the game goes on: guys not having that extra bit to give, or properly chase, or lead hard to make space for the guy behind them, because they’re spent.

Time trial fitness does not equal match fitness. It shows where your baseline is in a controlled environment, but doesn’t mean you’ll be able to lay that tackle or win your one on one after two hours of footy. Of course I’m obviously not a very bright person and my sense for the game is terrible so you’ll have to take the word of close to every single pro athlete in the history of the organised sports instead. The average age of teams are getting older year on year and it’s obviously just a big coincidence designed to make you look foolish, not confirmation that experience and actual football conditioning matter.

Next year we should skip the footy all together and just do a big relay sponsored by Telstra, given all our kids are the fittest in footy we might win the flag

 

[Ochre]

Mad respect to anyone who actually reads old mate’s essays

Actually the ability to read a 14km wall of text doesn't influence how much respect someone is able to learn. In this essay I will prove this by....

 

[Hasselhough]

Absolutely agree apart from Cole = poo

Cole was fantastic today . Recon a few clubs will take notice

 

[jdisc]

at least this season is almost over so I can pivot to watching arsenal disappoint me every week

 

[jdisc]

Cole was fantastic today

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Sharps mate, this is a gag only a real big brain operator like myself will understand, but you’re a bit of an asymptote on this one. Let me explain it to you, as we’ve both acknowledged I’m a bit of a poindexter in the upstairs department.

An asymptotic poster gets increasingly closer to the point with every post but never actually gets there.

A players ability to execute mentally and physically might be diminished by the fatigue of 4 quarters of football. You get tired and then are less good at something. It's ok to believe that that is true, it is true mostly. But not all players actually go to shit skills or decision making wise just because they are tired. Some players are just better than others in this space.

Nuffie comments about us running out of steam as if most AFL teams aren't tired in the last, game was lost due to break down in system in the final minutes.

I hope with a few more offseasons some of our players can become the ones who are just naturally better at running out games, so the system doesn’t fail late. Not that that has anything to do with fitness, of course.

I’ll spare my word count so you can have 1000 more, here’s a graphic for you.

 

[lmach]

I don’t even know what they’re arguing about? ^

 

[rebel23]

Positives... Effort... And McCarthy, Ginbey, Hough at times

Negatives.. decision making... Ryan at the end of the game just killed us with blunders

Good try in Duggan's milestone along with the two retired boys.

Anyways maybe win next week

 

[lmach]

Ginbey really should be in AA contention but because no one outside WA knows who he is he won’t make the squad until at least next year.

McCarthy’s a bona fide gun. I haven’t felt this confident every time someone gets the ball since Hurn. Whenever he doesn’t have the ball, all the other players should be asking, “where’s McCarthy?”

 

[stallon]

West Coast won the hitouts vs Melbourne...

I watched Max Gawn dominate Williams around the ground in the air.

Don't understand why Williams isn't bought up for Centre Square work, then rolls forward.

Flynn can be clumsy at stoppages with additional support at ground level, he can't have that in the centre square.

Would make too much sense

If we are playing both BW and Flynn we have to be doing this every time.

Ive seen the Saints do this in the past(not this year) when they have Marshall a bit underdone and no backup ruckman, they sit him in the goal square for stints but just roll him up for CBAs, with Owens or something doing a bit of rucking around the ground