The positives thread

[Section 5]

With 7 games done we had 4 games that were 50/50 before the first game started.
Swans, Cats, Dogs, Pies.
We came away with 3 of 4 wins and that is a good result.
Only loss is to our equal top side being the Pies.

I still think the cyclone delaying our first game ended up being a blessing.

 

[Nunez]

With 7 games done we had 4 games that were 50/50 before the first game started.
Swans, Cats, Dogs, Pies.
We came away with 3 of 4 wins and that is a good result.
Only loss is to our equal top side being the Pies.

I still think the cyclone delaying our first game ended up being a blessing.

I don't tbh. I think we've performed extremely well despite the challenges the team has faced. I'd say there's a high chance we've had the least amount of genuine training sessions of any team to start the year which is not ideal.

The next few weeks of longer breaks have come at a great time.

 

[Section 5]

I don't tbh. I think we've performed extremely well despite the challenges the team has faced. I'd say there's a high chance we've had the least amount of genuine training sessions of any team to start the year which is not ideal.

The next few weeks of longer breaks have come at a great time.

Bolded- Exactly my thinking and why i think we got lucky in delaying playing a good side until round 3 and an extra week over playing the Swans that we met in the grand Final.
No way of knowing without a time machine though.

I think the Cats would have been way better prepared for the first game having that extra preseason time over the Lions.

Games in eventual order
We only beat the Swans by 4 points in what ended up our first game.
Trailed them till just before 3/4 time. Before this round 7 started the Swans were 14th on the ladder so not travelling well at present.

Next game we really did struggle to dispose of the lowly Eagles at The Gabba by just 19 points after they led us into the last quarter.
So, two wins but not impressive in either.

With two reasonably close wins under our belt and being a fitter outfit for those games we fronted the Cats at home.
We got home by just 9 points after trailing them by 32 points. I doubt we make up that lead in opening round but no way of knowing

Playing a week earlier in the season and playing the sides in the correct order we could easily have been 1/2 and that can change the players mindset.

 

[BangyBangy]

I think the Cats would have been way better prepared for the first game having that extra preseason time over the Lions.

Their season was over one week before ours? Let's add an extra week for the celebrations.

 

[BangyBangy]

I guess the stage is set now for a Geelong rebound win next week over Collingwood.......

Edit: My goodness the Swans GWS game should be good viewing too. Next round is looking very tasty.

 

[Lace Out]

Some chance to make top four with a 9/16 win/loss remainder of season

11/16 could sew up top 2

 

[BangyBangy]

Some chance to make top four with a 9/16 win/loss remainder of season

11/16 could sew up top 2

So five losses from here hey, I'll take Adelaide in Adelaide, Freo in Perth, Hawks at the MCG, Geeling at GMHQBA+ and the Suns at Carrara.

Big game this weekend then. Can't afford to drop it........

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Damien Barrett reminding us of a nice positive.

 

[MSB ROYS]

I will leave this here:

 

[Viceregal]

We didn't lose...

 

[flea29]

We drew on Mother's Day in our last premiership year

 

[dlanod]

We drew on Mother's Day in our last premiership year

We're such a family club, we don't want to upset the other team's mothers on Mother's Day.

 

[Section 5]

I will leave this here:
View attachment 2311730

Love our % considering we have played the hard sides North, Tigers & Eagles.
Next up 15th place Demons so that will help.

 

[p4p1]

A big positive - Jack Payne. Is he the best #2 key defender going around right now? I'm not talking about comparing him to Sam Taylor

15

Sam Taylor

Age

26

Ht

198cm

Wt

95kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.1

4star

MG

130.5

2star

D

8.0

2star

K

2.5

1star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

60.8

1star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.0

1star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.8

5star

MG

110.8

2star

or any of the other teams #1 defender. I just don't know if there is any other team with the luxury of having such a good #2.

 

[ZoBlitz]

We're such a family club, we don't want to upset the other team's mothers on Mother's Day.

 

[On the quiet]

A big positive - Jack Payne. Is he the best #2 key defender going around right now? I'm not talking about comparing him to Sam Taylor or any of the other teams #1 defender. I just don't know if there is any other team with the luxury of having such a good #2.

I am probably bias (but not as bad as 3KZ with Lester), but actually think when you look at the weekly match ups, with the exception of the Pies and the Dogs, Payne seems to take the oppositions #1 forward (he will make Thilthorpe, Curnow and Hogan when we play them), and as per the first half yesterday (until he was subbed) Harris was mostly marking a 2nd gamer. Harris is no doubt our #1, but Payne taking the KPF each weeks, provides Harris and the backline lot of flexibility.

As far as lockdown fullbacks go, I would have Taylor (he is a gun) first, Weitering second, Payne and Balta probably third and May after that. No doubt Payne is on less money than the other four, but IMO has the most upside.
There were a couple big footy posters a couple of years ago suggesting Griffin Logue would be a valuable asset in lieu of Payne...

 

[Nathan Barley]

I think the biggest positive from the last month is Hippy really taking ownership as the number 1 key forward

Losing Joe the biggest question mark on our forwardline for me was how do our forwards handle getting the next level up defender and Hippy is looking really comfortable at the moment

 

[On the quiet]

I think the biggest positive from the last month is Hippy really taking ownership as the number 1 key forward

Losing Joe the biggest question mark on our forwardline for me was how do our forwards handle getting the next level up defender and Hippy is looking really comfortable at the moment

agree. I actually put him in my top 5 from Sundays game. He is competing, and also crashing the pack as demonstrated in his second half against the dogs.

I still have some concerns regarding the forward line with Morris playing as the second tall, in his second year. IF Gardiner and or Forte and or Gallop and or Smith, does not work this year regarding our second/third tall forward option, I would play Cam as the deep third tall.

 

[mpal6]

Top of the ladder but not sydney 2024-like. At times annoying that we drop our level to the bottom teams and help them get real belief but we've eked out enough effort to get a win and in yesterday's case, a draw.

Happy not to hit the straps yet, but doing enough to get 4 points. However I'd like to get solid win against a top team to build more belief.

 

[Nathan Barley]

 

[Nunez]

View attachment 2313370

To be top of the ladder and knowing we have a lot of improvement left in us and have two years of history that indicate we know how to peak at the right time is such luxury. Obviously won't and can't take it for granted, but hard not to have a lot of belief in this team and the coaches. They have well and truly earned it.

 

[Section 5]

Swans 2 points lower than us after we lost the 2023 GF. Swans 96.4% to Lions 100.3%

Lions 2 points lower than the Swans were last year at the top of the ladder.

I doubt the Swans will do a Lions but probably knock off some good sides along the way.

Hawks did very well also from that low position

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Darcy Gardiner

27

Darcy Gardiner

Age

30

Ht

192cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.6

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

2.1

4star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.7

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.1

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.0

1star

played perhaps the game of his career.

 

[Mr Ripper]

My mobile didn’t cark it during the game.

 

[Monkey Daniel]

At least we’re not St Kilda….