Thoughts On The West Coast game

[macca23]

The week's break was the worst thing that could've happened to these two.

Went into this game just as underdone as Macca and Birdman.

Worse probably DT.

Players coming back off a bit of a break often perform well first up and then require a few more games to get conditioning and form.

Macca and Birdman were both good. Perrie's and Welsh's games stunk like a couple of polecats.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I must admit even when we were up by 20 odd points at half time I never really felt conifdent. Give me genuine class over "he was steal with pick 85" anyday.

Although, the loss is disappointing no matter how good a side you are it was always going to be tough to get to the big one with so many key players going down with injury at the business end of the year.

As good as Thommo, Mattner, Reilly and Doughty have been this year they are nowhere near the same level as Kerr, Judd and Cousins.

I take comfort in tha fact we will be around the mark again next year but we need to really find a genuine 1st tier KPP, Trents absense was huge today. We also need to find another a class midfielder, Shilrey, Thommo, Mattner, Reilly and Doughty aren't the answer. Maybe it's time for Stiffy to move up the field.

THE GOOD:

Stiffy - Very, very good today.

Clarke - Never been a big fan but he has won me over with his consistency and effort in this finals series. Enjoy your retirment big fella.

Torney

Bock - Our best tall.

THE BAD:

Edwards - A ton of possession but some shcoking errors. I wonder if the same people that bag Thommo becuase of his turnovers will do the same with Tyson.

UMPIRING - Some shocking decisions but not the difference between winning and losing.

Lack of genuine class - I think we have been found it. To win a flag we need our top tier players ( Johnock, Burton, Roo, Macca, Goody, Edwrads )all to be fit and healthy at the business end of the season.

Our Foward Line - After two prelim finals exits in a row I think we can safely say that a forward line consisting of either perrie, Kenny, Welsh and Bock lacks the class to get us to the big one. Meesen and even Gibson must be given a opportinuty in 07.

 

[Embers]

Opposition perspective

I think you lost it when Clarke had to ruck all day. I knew the ruck was gonna be important and the fact we won it was the main reason we won the game. Also I think you didnt rotate enough through the middle. Our midfielders like Cousins Kerr Judd and Stenglein were all rested forward for a large part of the game. I thought Bode and Johncock could of went into the middle a bit more to give Goodwin Thompson and co a rest. By the last qtr we had all the run left in our legs and you didnt seem to have it

Welsh Perrie were Ok, then the matchups were changed and it all went haywire. Welsh was comprehensively beaten by Brett Jones and Perrie didnt do enough at ground level or enough forward pressure. Mattner should of spent more time in the middle I thought. Bassett should of played on Ash Hansen rather then Hunter. Change in matchup wasnt made quick enough for mine.

Youngsters let ya down. Same thing happened to us last year. They have now went onto become some of our very good players (see Butler). Its not necessarily a bad thing cos it exposed there weaknesses and they can work on that.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Worse probably DT.

Players coming back off a bit of a break often perform well first up and then require a few more games to get conditioning and form.

Macca and Birdman were both good. Perrie's and Welsh's games stunk like a couple of polecats.

I think it is time to move on from the Welsh, Perrie experiment. While they are both honest tryers ( except for today ) neither will play as a key forward in a premiership winning team. Roo will rightly take Welsh's spot next year and Bock should take Perries spot at CHF. Pez tries his gts out but we need a bit more than just "he's a solid workhorse" from our primary forward target.

As for Kenny, people forget how ordinary his form was leading up to the 3-4 games before he got injured.

 

[tribey]

As for Kenny, people forget how ordinary his form was leading up to the 3-4 games before he got injured.

While what you say is true, people also tend to forget how awesome a fully fit KMac was for us in the second half of last year and especially the finals series - his contested marking and goalscoring was bordering on top tier.

 

[jenny61_99]

Dont be ridiculous...we were beaten by a classier outfit who had all their stars turn up to play. Their ability to gut run and the power they had in their legs to break our tackles was bloody amazing.

We have plenty of workhorses...we just need a little more "Stiffy" type class to get us to the next level.

Please dont blame the umps...they were bad both ways.

I disagree. I have just finished watching the replay and I honestly believe that the momentum would have been completely different had the free kicks in front of goal TO US that were absolutely there, been paid. Not to mention the 50 not paid to Bassett, or the holding the ball to Johncock in front of the WC goal that ended up being a bounce and resulted in a WC goal, or the free kick against McLeod for a push???? Momentum in footy is everything.

Yes WC have an outstanding mid-field combination... but for the first half, we pretty much nullified their effectiveness with great defensive pressure. To have the momentum dragged away because of careless umpiring decisions is just very very disappointing.

I could be magnanimus and say the best team won, but in my opinion they did not. West Coast won due to class, certainly, cream rises to the top when given a shake... however, that class MAY NOT have shone had the decisions been paid as they should have been. I will repeat... momentum in footy is everything and the umpires contributed to West Coasts.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Guess that's what happens when you play injured players on reputation alone.

What a ****wit comment. If you actually watched the game and had half a brain you would have realised that both Burton and McLeod were in our better players today.

THose 2 certainly did their job. Same can't be said for a few others that are match fit

 

[Stiffy_18]

I think it is time to move on from the Welsh, Perrie experiment. While they are both honest tryers ( except for today ) neither will play as a key forward in a premiership winning team. Roo will rightly take Welsh's spot next year and Bock should take Perries spot at CHF. Pez tries his gts out but we need a bit more than just "he's a solid workhorse" from our primary forward target.

As for Kenny, people forget how ordinary his form was leading up to the 3-4 games before he got injured.

Now Springy you really are over-reacting here.

A fully fit Kenny McGregor is a very good player. Do we forget his second half of last season or his finals series last year when his contested marking and goal kicking was right up there.

Do we also forget that Welsh kicked 60 odd goals last year and do we also forget that he is a permiership player.

When you really look at it we were up against it all year long. Roo was never fully fit and neither was Kenny. Burton, Perrie, Welsh, Bock, Torney, Hart etc all missed great chunks of the season. Only once did we have an unchanged line up this year. Thats only once in 24 games. Thats a pretty shocking statistic. One constant with all the premiership winners is that they don't play too many players through out the year.

A forward line of fully fit Welsh, Perrie and McGregor is very good. Don't throw the baby out with a bath water after a year when we had more people in the medical rooms that on the field.

 

[Von Douche]

One thing I noticed watching on TV was how lethargic the Crows looked in the second half. So I dont know what happened with this fitness tapering and the week off...but the Eagles ran rings around them after half time. Certainly didnt expect that to happen.

I know exactly what happened.

As soon as Biglands went down we had one 30 something year old ruckman to combat against the games best ruckman and his accomplished backup. Whilst Cox was dominating early we were reading his taps far better because Clarke and Biglands were both putting up more of a contest and we were at least breaking even in the middle of the park. When Biglands got injured Clarke began to tire and his leap shortened and that's when WC's mids got on top. Once their mids were on top we were constantly chasing two and three runners for the second half and this meant we were running twice as much as they were.

As soon as Biglands went down I knew we were in trouble.

 

[Von Douche]

Oh, and whilst I'm too distraught to go into any great depth right now.

Graham Johncock - that was one of the most sensational games of football I have ever seen anyone play anywhere ever. BOG for either side regardless of the result. Good work stiff

 

[RoosterLad]

Burton and McLeod both walked into the team as if they hadnt been injured at all, they were great

****heads like perrie let us down, welsh,, a lot of the time he had the ball miles from goal
we were useless second half today

Stiffy was our best by a mile

 

[- PC -]

Oh, and whilst I'm too distraught to go into any great depth right now.

Graham Johncock - that was one of the most sensational games of football I have ever seen anyone play anywhere ever. BOG for either side regardless of the result. Good work stiff

If it was the GF he would have shared the Norm Smith with Cox

 

[Cap]

While what you say is true, people also tend to forget how awesome a fully fit KMac was for us in the second half of last year and especially the finals series - his contested marking and goalscoring was bordering on top tier.

Kmac is handy when 15 metres out from goal - they have tried to use him as a go to man which doesn;t work

next year our forward line needs to be set-up around bocks ability to be the go to man. Mcgregor the strong marking forward in the goal square and piss welsh off he is as soft as butter and we will never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever win a flag when he is in the team

other thoughts for the game was the stiffy is ready to go midfield as soon as he gets his capacity up, Burton and Mcleod were great

this should be the last game that Douglas ever gets left out of the team

the one major thing that really annoyed me was the missed tackles it was terrbile

 

[tribey]

As soon as Biglands went down I knew we were in trouble.

Six man bench is a must in today's game.

The game has changed into an absolute runfest, where injuries can occur at the drop of a hat, but the number of men on the bench has only doubled since the advent of the game as we know it?

If there was room for a third ruckman everyone would have one and jeez Huddo would've been handy today.

 

[jenny61_99]

I know exactly what happened.

As soon as Biglands went down we had one 30 something year old ruckman to combat against the games best ruckman and his accomplished backup. Whilst Cox was dominating early we were reading his taps far better because Clarke and Biglands were both putting up more of a contest and we were at least breaking even in the middle of the park. When Biglands got injured Clarke began to tire and his leap shortened and that's when WC's mids got on top. Once their mids were on top we were constantly chasing two and three runners for the second half and this meant we were running twice as much as they were.

As soon as Biglands went down I knew we were in trouble.

In the first quarter though, we were playing third man up and it was working a treat... Clarkey wasn't even really contesting, knowing someone else would come in over the top and take the tap. They also had the smaller more mobile blokes running with Cox around the ground in the first half which left Clarke as a spare man in defence. I thought both of those moves were excellent, however came unstuck once Biglands went off.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Even though Cousins had a field day in the 3rd quarter I thought Van Berlo showed what he is made of today. Some careers are made in finals and I think this kid took a big step forward. A couple of his couragous effort were fantastic and his coolness under pressure was encouraging. In a couple of instances he was under pressure and could have been forgiven for blasting away and kicking long in hope someone provides a contest but the kid pulled off a couple of brilliant pin point passes that hit his team mates on the chest for shots on goal.

We desperately need to get more genuinely good midfielders to improve our rotation. Hopefully Van Berlo, Porplyzia, Douglas and Knights can come on and take their game to another level next year. Pfeiffer could be another one to give us something there.

I would get Johncock onto a serious program to get his aerobic capacity up to the point where he can be a regular midfielder. We need someone with some grunt and pace in there. I know he has been sensational in defence in the last couple of seasons but we need his type of player in the midfield.

I have given up on Reilly becoming anything more than a good average player. Midfield is the area that needs to be seriously addressed over the pre-season.

I know Bock showed a great deal as a forward ever since Trent went down but IMHO we need him at CHB as he gives us a lot of run from there and is a genuine big body players.

We need to bring more youth into the side. Preferably with some pace, grunt and genuine talent.

 

[The King!]

i thought edwards made a lot of mistakes today especially by his high standards.

 

[Drummond]

We desperately need to get more genuinely good midfielders to improve our rotation. Hopefully Van Berlo, Porplyzia, Douglas and Knights can come on and take their game to another level next year. Pfeiffer could be another one to give us something there..

Could be? Will be, he's the best young midfielder we've got. An absolute beauty.

I have given up on Reilly becoming anything more than a good average player. Midfield is the area that needs to be seriously addressed over the pre-season.

Sadly, I would agree. I was hopeful after his great performance against Freo, but he took a step backwards today. He started well, highlighted by his clearance and hard running which led to a shot for goal, but as per usual, he disappeared when we most needed him. Very disappointing.

We need to bring more youth into the side. Preferably with some pace, grunt and genuine talent.

Darren Pfeiffer.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Even though Cousins had a field day in the 3rd quarter I thought Van Berlo showed what he is made of today. Some careers are made in finals and I think this kid took a big step forward. A couple of his couragous effort were fantastic and his coolness under pressure was encouraging. In a couple of instances he was under pressure and could have been forgiven for blasting away and kicking long in hope someone provides a contest but the kid pulled off a couple of brilliant pin point passes that hit his team mates on the chest for shots on goal.

We desperately need to get more genuinely good midfielders to improve our rotation. Hopefully Van Berlo, Porplyzia, Douglas and Knights can come on and take their game to another level next year. Pfeiffer could be another one to give us something there.

I would get Johncock onto a serious program to get his aerobic capacity up to the point where he can be a regular midfielder. We need someone with some grunt and pace in there. I know he has been sensational in defence in the last couple of seasons but we need his type of player in the midfield.

I have given up on Reilly becoming anything more than a good average player. Midfield is the area that needs to be seriously addressed over the pre-season.

I know Bock showed a great deal as a forward ever since Trent went down but IMHO we need him at CHB as he gives us a lot of run from there and is a genuine big body players.

We need to bring more youth into the side. Preferably with some pace, grunt and genuine talent.

Spot on.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Could be? Will be, he's the best young midfielder we've got. An absolute beauty.

Sadly, I would agree. I was hopeful after his great performance against Freo, but he took a step backwards today. He started well, highlighted by his clearance and hard running which led to a shot for goal, but as per usual, he disappeared when we most needed him. Very disappointing.

Darren Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer needs to tidy up his attitude first though. Talent is never in question with him.

 

[Drummond]

Pfeiffer needs to tidy up his attitude first though. Talent is never in question with him.

It’s been tidied up. Yes it’s something that can’t be solved in a day or two, but he was back at training, which is a sign they were obviously satisfied he was cleaning up his act. Don’t worry; he won’t be foolish enough to throw away his career.

I’m genuinely excited at the prospect of Pfeiffer playing for the Crows. I know everyone here almost fainted in excitement when Douglas made his debut, but his debut will be something to savior. A tremendously talented player who can do it all; he has pace, astonishing marking ability, a great tackler and is versatile. Not many players at the age of 17 and 18 can play forward, back and through the midfield with the success that he’s had. Pfeiffer around the stoppages with Meesen feeding him the ball; it will make the Cox and Judd combination look tame.

 

[jo172]

Pfeiffer around the stoppages with Meesen feeding him the ball; it will make the Cox and Judd combination look tame.

This is the kind of thing i'm looking forward to in the off-season. Any Norwood players we can pick up in the draft mate?

 

[Drummond]

This is the kind of thing i'm looking forward to in the off-season. Any Norwood players we can pick up in the draft mate?

Mature age recruits:

• Bryce Campbell (21)
• Gavin Hughes (20)

Youngsters:

• Josh Donohue
• Luke McLean

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Not many players at the age of 17 and 18 can play forward, back and through the midfield with the success that he’s had. Pfeiffer around the stoppages with Meesen feeding him the ball; it will make the Cox and Judd combination look tame.

and yet he rarely figures in Norwoods best players. I like the look of this kid but let's not go overboard.

 

[Crow-mo]

Guess that's what happens when you play injured players on reputation alone.

you're a bit, erm, special are you?

now run along, and go clap for a banana.