No Oppo Supporters The Melt Thread

[Dignan]

Weller has done a couple of very nice things this game.

Smart handball to Ballantyne after roving the pack in the f50
Delivery by foot to Ballantyne on the lead in the f50
Over the head handball to Mundy on the hbf (who then missed the target, but I digress)
A few good chase downs and plenty of pressure
Most of his possessions were contested, too

He's exactly the sort of guy we need to be developing. Good disposal, sound decision making and that bit of polish and goal sense.

Once/if he can eventually start putting it together for four quarters, the kid will be a freak.

 

[free at last]

Weller has done a couple of very nice things this game.

He should make it!

Bennell coming in should make a significant improvement to our general field play.

 

[yakka man]

EVEN THE ESSENDON VFL TEAM HAS WON A GAME THIS YEAR!

 

[Tazmania]

I've got it Sussed. We're tanking for picks to trade to Melbourne for Hogan...it's the only explanation I can come up with.

 

[Lach72]

56 % of time in the game in our forward half...

If that doesn't scream disposal issues I don't know what does

 

[Steinfreo]

I've got it Sussed. We're tanking for picks to trade to Melbourne for Hogan...it's the only explanation I can come up with.

How about we are just an average football team that has lost 6 of the last 8.

 

[Tazmania]

How about we are just an average football team that has lost 6 of the last 8.

Ppffttt...too obvious. That's not how rtb plays the long game.

 

[Steinfreo]

Is Shero a spud?

 

[poshman]

Is Shero a spud?

He certainly has the same disposal weaknesses as other more senior players.

 

[Unique Name]

We gave this year's 2nd rounder to Gold coast and our first will more than likely go towards McCarthy so what's the point of tanking?

 

[FreoMonocle]

I think Ross and Co dropped the ball. Hopefully, a temporary setback and they move beyond it.

The reality is that there have been 4 rule changes for us to contend with. Then there are additional changes at the Freo end - and methinks it a bridge too far.

2 affect fitness, with the lesser rotations and abolition of the subject.
2 affect game play, the out of bounds and the 10 Meter shepherding zone on the mark. Some teams have staffing that these changes will benefit, others (looks like us) fare a little worse as they players were recruited for given rules.

Luke and Duffield retiring are out of our control. We can only control, what we an control. Injuries, etc can't control and have to make the best with what is available.

But to train all preseason with 2x rucks and 3 talls on top (pav, tabs, mayne) and to go so radical on a team that did well in the Nab and last year)... we deliberately swapped the two of Griffin (proven ruck, adequate tall forward good for a goal, two on a good day, takes the odd contested mark in the goal square) And swapped our leading goal kicker for the year up to and concluding the end of the bulldogs game for an untried 2nd ruck/unproven forward. Proof is in the pudding, A Pearce isn't a magically better forward than Tabs.

So I do have a gripe in the mantra play your self in/out not being adhered to with Tabs. He was fed garbage ball last week, still had more possession than Pav, even though Pav is the one the players kick to. Far better provision of ball to the forward line this week but Alex couldn't make use of it.

But the bigger issue and temporary, is too many fundamental changes. With the rule changes, coaching, retirement, that was enough to contend with. Structure (short a tall, short a legit ruck) in game 2 as a kneejerk reaction instead of what you'd planned for months is just madness.

 

[downthecorridor]

Is Shero a spud?

Complete spud. Crazy low football IQ

 

[PurpleWizard]

The problem I see is that our team defense in the past masked the fact that we have a lot of very poor defenders who just can't defend one on one. When we go to a more attacking style and our mids are forward of the ball instead of helping them out they are exposed badly.

We have some very soft defenders.

I agree Duds but nearly every defence would find it hard to defend against a team that keeps turning the ball over at central wing. Our basic skills and decision making tonight killed us; the amount of times we were smothered by hand and foot was deplorable. I think we have to go back and play more players behind the ball, close to down the game and play a high stoppage type of game. I know this game probably won't win us flag, But our strength is our inside game(maybe not now) and hopefully will can play the game on our terms. We can't shoot out against teams that have better skills and are faster than us.

Optimistically this game plan is new, our coaches have changed, we've changed nearly everything we were last year. I don't think you can flick a switch. These things will take time to click especially team cohesion. Harley and Mora will look damn good in purple too.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

At least we attacked. Or you know, weren't afraid to attack. Our disposal efficiency hindered our ability to attack big time

Plus we had 4 bounces and Gold Coast had 24. Far too much time and space imo

Second Half was okay. Not as worried after that

 

[Nickos66]

I'm actually not melting.

I'm watching the third quarter. Definite change of focus. More open, better run.

I actually took this as the players simply giving up on the gameplan collectively and just all playing for themselves, no defending, ignoring the coaches etc. like they figured Ross can't whack the entire team for disobeying his directions so they bound together and bolted for the gate.

 

[believe_it]

The way the Suns went forward and consistently hit targets was impressive. However I think we should continue sending high kicks into forward line packs or even better to Pav in a contest with a tall defender. I know it hasn't really worked for the many years we've tried it but if we persist it's bound to work some time.

 

[Grape Bear]

I actually took this as the players simply giving up on the gameplan collectively and just all playing for themselves, no defending, ignoring the coaches etc. like they figured Ross can't whack the entire team for disobeying his directions so they bound together and bolted for the gate.

I seriously doubt that would have happened with no direction. This isn't the Under-12's

 

[silverscope]

EVEN THE ESSENDON VFL TEAM HAS WON A GAME THIS YEAR!

Thanks to St.Kilda we aren't on the bottom.... by 0.1% !

 

[Nickos66]

I seriously doubt that would have happened with no direction. This isn't the Under-12's

Of course not, but that's what it felt like. How else did we score 100pts?!

 

[democritus]

We aren't a contender anymore. But the good news is that whilst there might be short term pain, I think we have the cattle to rebuild around relatively quickly.

Fyfe, Hill, Neale, Walters, Bennell are a formidable and classy midfield unit with plenty of years left in them. Weller, Langdon, Tucker and Blakely look to be likely types and Grey may add the defensive mongrel we are missing. Sheridan is developing nicely and I'll back in Sutcliffe to turn things around. Fingers crossed Morabito to can bring some x factor to the team.

KPP issues are our biggest concern. Aside from A. Pearce we have no real succession plans. It seems more likely than not that Tabs isn't up to AFL standard and it's too early to say what Sam Collins can offer, hopefully he can hold down a KPD post going forward. Clarke has stagnated and looks disinterested out there so we will have issues when Sandi hangs them up also.

If we recruit well and nab Hooker (free agent) and one of Hogan or McCarthy (probably McCarthy as Hogan's asking price will be far too much) we can sort out our bookends. In the mean time we also need to draft wisely and start to prioritise our future over our win/loss record.

Injuries aside this is the team I would like to see play in 2016

FB: Spurr, Dawson, Ibbotson
HB: Sheridan, A. Pearce, Tucker
C: Hill, Fyfe, Langdon
HF: Bennell, Tabs?, Weller
FF: Walters, Pavlich, Ballantyne,
R: Sandi, Mundy, Neale
I/C: Sutcliffe, Johnson, Morabito, Barlow


I expect Collins, Blakely and Grey to put pressure on the spots of Dawson, Barlow and Spurr/Sutcliffe respectively.

Not sure who we put forward, Tabs and Mayne have spudded it up and Clarke isn't a KPF. Sandi will need a chop out throughout the year and I'd rather see Tabs or Clarke throw in the ruck contest than A. Pearce who should be our blue chip defender.

 

[salim malik]

Barlow on the wing? WTF . I'm in with the sky is falling brigade.

 

[downthecorridor]

We aren't a contender anymore. But the good news is that whilst there might be short term pain, I think we have the cattle to rebuild around relatively quickly.

Fyfe, Hill, Neale, Walters, Bennell are a formidable and classy midfield unit with plenty of years left in them. Weller, Langdon, Tucker and Blakely look to be likely types and Grey may add the defensive mongrel we are missing. Sheridan is developing nicely and I'll back in Sutcliffe to turn things around. Fingers crossed Morabito to can bring some x factor to the team.

KPP issues are our biggest concern. Aside from A. Pearce we have no real succession plans. It seems more likely than not that Tabs isn't up to AFL standard and it's too early to say what Sam Collins can offer, hopefully he can hold down a KPD post going forward. Clarke has stagnated and looks disinterested out there so we will have issues when Sandi hangs them up also.

If we recruit well and nab Hooker (free agent) and one of Hogan or McCarthy (probably McCarthy as Hogan's asking price will be far too much) we can sort out our bookends. In the mean time we also need to draft wisely and start to prioritise our future over our win/loss record.

Injuries aside this is the team I would like to see play in 2016

FB: Spurr, Dawson, Ibbotson
HB: Sheridan, A. Pearce, Tucker
C: Hill, Fyfe, Langdon
HF: Bennell, Tabs?, Weller
FF: Walters, Pavlich, Ballantyne,
R: Sandi, Mundy, Neale
I/C: Sutcliffe, Johnson, Morabito, Barlow


I expect Collins, Blakely and Grey to put pressure on the spots of Dawson, Barlow and Spurr/Sutcliffe respectively.

Not sure who we put forward, Tabs and Mayne have spudded it up and Clarke isn't a KPF. Sandi will need a chop out throughout the year and I'd rather see Tabs or Clarke throw in the ruck contest than A. Pearce who should be our blue chip defender.

Agree with all this apart from Sheridan. You can't do anything with decision making as poor as his.

 

[Borry]

Home alone with two bottles of Moscato. And watching women activists on TV because there's nothing else on.

Such a shame really, could be picking up 50 year olds on Mitchell St right now.

 

[FreoRicci]

Can I make a Roast thread for the Ruckmen. Seriously. Thought we had it sweet in that area. Griffin going well, Clarke rebuilding back and add in Moller and Hannath. Now it's absolute joke that the coaches didn't even select a 2nd ruckman. Sandi alone did the job with Alwz Pearce helping. Absolute joke that Clarke has absolutely gone no where since 2013/2014. Griffin is just getting older and reached his ceiling.

 

[meima]

Barlow on the wing? WTF . I'm in with the sky is falling brigade.

Do you fall asleep in the match Salim ?