To do list

[Bradesmaen]

I agree , if you noticed the reason that no one was on the mark was because Mundy did some gut running to draw the defender.

That should be praised and highlighted as well.

Shh, dont tell Dom that.

 

[Sman-21]

no it was mundy most round here cant praise him for a thing he does

also mundy seemed to be everywhere in that last quarter taking marks on the last line of defence, in the midfield an also creeping forward.

 

[dominguez]

I agree , if you noticed the reason that no one was on the mark was because Mundy did some gut running to draw the defender.

That should be praised and highlighted as well.

How many goals did we kick after Mundy pulled the handbrake? Him pulling out of a marking contest was the turning point IMO.

 

[bushie]

Thornton??

Well, I am sorry.

But he is selected as a defender.

And all of the run out of defence, breaking the lines etc, does not hide the fact that he simply cannot hold down a 1 on 1 defensive post, or display the necessary skills required as a line breaking defender..

Especially when the chips are down.

Sorry Scott.....you're GAWN!



Mundy!!

Geez, I like his skills and calmness under pressure.

But yesterday provided further evidence to me that he just lacks that little bit of ticker to make him a genuine footballer.

I have forgiven him in the past because of his youth.

But yesterday showed me that he still has the propensity to squib a hard contested possession.

And that simply isn't good enough.

To me, he is a lot like Ryan Murphy.....a player.....who if traded.....will come back and bite us on the arse, if he plays for a club that can cover his defiencies. Sadly, we can't do that at present.

It is what we gain in the trade for these players.....if someone wants Scotty.....that will decide their fate.

 

[Ripper]

How many goals did we kick after Mundy pulled the handbrake? Him pulling out of a marking contest was the turning point IMO.

Lol. He was 30 metres away.

Mundy does do some things that deserve critisism but this time it is way over the top.

 

[PrinceOfPockets]

What's the point of comparing Mark Johnson to Thonton and why would be be a better option? THey are completely different players and when has Mark Johnson played a decent game for Freo? Thornton has played quite a few of them. He was an integral member of the team during "The Streak" and he offers more than any other player on our list the ability to get the ball and just run & carry from defense. Clearly he has a license to back himself and with more match fitness it's starting to come together for him. He did some nice things yesterday. When you play a kamikaze role (run at all costs every time you get the ball) like he does you are going to win some lose some but he's starting to win a few.
Maybe we should stop ganging up on players and just get behind them..

No he wasn't (5 games early in 06). He does get the ball and run, and unfortunately that's about it... Apart from turn it over and put team mates under the pump. If it was his first year and he was making these mistakes you could accept it, but he's been around for years. Has to go ASAP.

 

[T-D-J]

Thornton??

Well, I am sorry.

But he is selected as a defender.

And all of the run out of defence, breaking the lines etc, does not hide the fact that he simply cannot hold down a 1 on 1 defensive post, or display the necessary skills required as a line breaking defender..

Especially when the chips are down.

Sorry Scott.....you're GAWN!

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Thornton is a model defender by any stretch of the imagination, and all the deficiencies everyone has pointed out would suggest that giving a young bloke a run for some experience would be a better option.

But, that single piece of play, where he got the ball, ran with, and tried (not necessarily succeeded) to be positive was a breath of fresh air in a Freo 4th quarter, it stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

 

[bushie]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Thornton is a model defender by any stretch of the imagination, and all the deficiencies everyone has pointed out would suggest that giving a young bloke a run for some experience would be a better option.

But, that single piece of play, where he got the ball, ran with, and tried (not necessarily succeeded) to be positive was a breath of fresh air in a Freo 4th quarter, it stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

No problem at all with what you are sayimg.

But remember, that first and foremost, he his selected as a defender.

And he simply can't hold that position down. Especially when we are under the pump, and he needs to be 1 on 1.

If he could display the same tenacity in his defensive pressure,(one on one spoiling instead of third man up spoiling or crumbing), that he does in his running.....pity about the lack of skill and thought process in the delivery....well he might be worthy of keeping.

Sadly, he can't!

 

[dominguez]

Lol. He was 30 metres away.

Mundy does do some things that deserve critisism but this time it is way over the top.

It would have taken a quality player to mark the ball, but any AFL player should have managed to get a fist in. He chickened out Rip and you know it.

 

[Scribble Monkey]

While the frustration is almost unbearable, it should be remembered we're less than a kick or two from beating any team in this comp. That only intensifies the mistakes some players made, or perceptions about their style/ability/role they've been given, that could've should've would've made a difference.

That happens in every game, every week, for every club. Of course the losers get ripped apart for it, and the winners can learn from it or ignore it while everyone's busy banging on about the win. Long losing streaks are microscoped, and Jees, if its Freo, every Robert Walls wannabe message board poster has an opinion.

I can't see why wholesale changes regarding players and positions, is warranted.

If, going by the tightness of the contests we've seen (Yeah, Richmond was stuffed), that its only a bit broke, why do so many people want to pull it all apart and see if it will work if put back together with some new bits, fitted by new mechanics?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Mundy!!

Geez, I like his skills and calmness under pressure.

But yesterday provided further evidence to me that he just lacks that little bit of ticker to make him a genuine footballer.

I have forgiven him in the past because of his youth.

But yesterday showed me that he still has the propensity to squib a hard contested possession.

And that simply isn't good enough.

To me, he is a lot like Ryan Murphy.....a player.....who if traded.....will come back and bite us on the arse, if he plays for a club that can cover his defiencies. Sadly, we can't do that at present.

It is what we gain in the trade for these players.....if someone wants Scotty.....that will decide their fate.

Second most overused and worthless word in football behind Superstar.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Lol. He was 30 metres away.

Mundy does do some things that deserve critisism but this time it is way over the top.

You're kidding aren't you?

I know you are very nice to our players and that has its place, but he was sledged by the commentators instantly. I would defer to a hard nuts opinion before anyone elses here.

The only people I've seen defending Mundy's actions are freo fans. Interesting. Perhaps we are the only ones that put up with that crap.

30 metres indeed.

Also, since when is providing an option worthy of praise?

Since when is gut running worthy of praise, and not just an expectation for very well paid people in football? i.e. everyone.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Second most overused and worthless word in football behind Superstar.

You get nowhere in anything in life, without some kind of determination. It's all it means. And freo lacks it in spades.

 

[PapaJ]

6. I think you'll find Keplar's taps were much better than Sandi's. Our clearances went up when he was in the middle. The reason the midfielders can't move when Sandi is tapping it, is because he can't hit them when stationary. Every highlight they keep showing with Sandi, there is an open player, and he can't get it there. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, he has absolutely no awareness of the players around him. Not good.

Part of the reason we looked batter in the clearance dept when KB was rucking is because he was so much better at getting and using the ball after the tap. He's 'in the thick of it' play was surprisingly serviceable to say the least.

also mundy seemed to be everywhere in that last quarter taking marks on the last line of defence, in the midfield an also creeping forward.

That has been missed big time. I had a good look at a recording of the last quarter and, as far as you can tell on TV, he was playing in the middle and without doubt one of the harder workers in the last quarter. Skills and decision making have been highlighted before so I wont go on about it.

As for that 'pull out' running with the flight. I looked at that 4 or 5 times. At first I thought he didn't give it his all as the commentators (and most 'round here) suggest. I looked again and it's not as clear as people make it. I'm not sure he would have made it anyway. However, he certainly took a half step or two when he should have been going full pace. So guilty as charged for mine ... shouldn't be dropped though.

Harvs should pull out some footage of how he used to play football and make Mundy study it all week.

Having watched the last quarter again I'll add one thing to the list. Use players in the fwd 50 better. Especially early there were a number of bad bad decisions when going in 50. The misses were obvious, but the amount of free payers that weren't used was terrible, including by Pav I'm afraid to say.

 

[bigkev bleeds purple]

Also, since when is providing an option worthy of praise?

Since when is gut running worthy of praise, and not just an expectation for very well paid people in football? i.e. everyone.

I see what you mean in that hard running to present or cover a player should be expected of all footballers, but too often important pieces of good, hard, honest team play go unnoticed in this game. In this instance, Mundy busted his gut so that he could open up the play for Thornton. Nobody would've noticed if he didn't do it, almost nobody noticed him actually do it. Sacrificing your own game for a teammate always deserves a pat on the back I reckon

 

[Bradesmaen]

You get nowhere in anything in life, without some kind of determination. It's all it means. And freo lacks it in spades.

Again, a very incorrect analysis of the game. This is the problem with this messageboard at the moment. People who don't have a clue trying to tell the club what to do. They are the ones plainyg/coaching AFL, we aren't. And then there are those that clearly barely played football yet suggest ideas and make themself look silly.

Freo does not lack determination, we just lack a killer instinct. End of story and if you try to say a ticker or heart does not exist then well you are no better than Robert Walls.

 

[bushie]

Again, a very incorrect analysis of the game. This is the problem with this messageboard at the moment. People who don't have a clue trying to tell the club what to do. They are the ones plainyg/coaching AFL, we aren't. And then there are those that clearly barely played football yet suggest ideas and make themself look silly.

Freo does not lack determination, we just lack a killer instinct. End of story and if you try to say a ticker or heart does not exist then well you are no better than Robert Walls.

Hang on a minute.

You have no ____ing idea who has and who hasn't played the game on here.

But I will accept all bets that I, and plenty of other posters, have played and coached a shitload more games than you, considering your age.

So don't come on all patronising and condesending if you don't mind.

As for your comment re a player lacking TICKER means little.

Well son, you show me a recognised champion of our game who ducked his head or squibbed a contest regularly, and I will call you out for bullshit.

Ticker/ determination is at the very core of a good footballer.

 

[Jetau]

Hang on a minute.

You have no ____ing idea who has and who hasn't played the game on here.

But I will accept all bets that I, and plenty of other posters, have played and coached a shitload more games than you, considering your age.

So don't come on all patronising and condesending if you don't mind.

As for your comment re a player lacking TICKER means little.

Well son, you show me a recognised champion of our game who ducked his head or squibbed a contest regularly, and I will call you out for bullshit.

Ticker/ determination is the very core of a good footballer.

That's the point, isn't it? And that's why I love Chopper Mayne already. Have you seen the way that kid runs around trying to lay a tackle? He's like a Jack Russell, he goes from one contest to the next, much in the way that Cookie used to do.

I would have thought that if every player on the list showed this kind of determination when they don't have the ball, it would translate into 10 times more pressure on the opposition. Consequently, their structures etc would break down. Not that this is easy to do. It takes outstanding fitness, which some of our players clearly don't have. But it also requires that hunger for the contest we see in a player like Dean Solomon.

The above is why I have been very disappointed in a player like Michael Johnson this year. He has the size, skills and physique to be a good AFL football, but does he have the 'ticker'?

 

[Ripper]

It would have taken a quality player to mark the ball, but any AFL player should have managed to get a fist in. He chickened out Rip and you know it.

Watched again and I was wrong. He was closer than I thought and should have tried to get a fist in.

 

[bushie]

That's the point, isn't it? And that's why I love Chopper Mayne already. Have you seen the way that kid runs around trying to lay a tackle? He's like a Jack Russell, he goes from one contest to the next, much in the way that Cookie used to do.

I would have thought that if every player on the list showed this kind of determination when they don't have the ball, it would translate into 10 times more pressure on the opposition. Consequently, their structures etc would break down. Not that this is easy to do. It takes outstanding fitness, which some of our players clearly don't have. But it also requires that hunger for the contest we see in a player like Dean Solomon.

The above is why I have been very disappointed in a player like Michael Johnson this year. He has the size, skills and physique to be a good AFL football, but does he have the 'ticker'?

An analysis of the hunger shown by both sides in yesterdays Doggies/North match would illustrate the real commitment needed when a game is on the line.

Jet, I strongly agree about Mayne, he has shown outstanding commitment and courage when you consider his age, size and inexperience. Getting up, and playing on, after that cheap shot on the weekend was a case in point.

MiJ has also been a disappointment for me.....I love the kid, but he is just too laconic for me at present. I don't think he lacks courage, but I fear that if he doesn't show a bit more zeal, we may have another Dion Woods on our hands.

I hope that I am wrong.

 

[Lach72]

Agree bushie.

How was that smother that allowed Grant to run into the open goal and choke?

Full length, throw of the body on to the boot of the Bulldogs guy kicking the ball...I can't remember the last time I saw one of our guys do that

 

[theGav56]

Warnock ......... will want to go to a club where he can play every game an a chance to be number 1 ruckman.

Must play him no matter how crap hes going in WAFL need to raise that trade value of his.

This plus this;

If he plays a few poor games in a row then yes hide him back in the WAFL.
I think he believes he should be playing AFL so when hes in WAFL he just doesnt put in.

Will crush his trade value. At the moment the PSD is not looking helpful to him, which will significantly 1) increase his chances of being on our list and 2) increase his trade value no matter whether he is playing WAFL or AFL.

Pick him if he is the best selection option available ust like any other player.

 

[bushie]

Agree bushie.

How was that smother that allowed Grant to run into the open goal and choke?

Full length, throw of the body on to the boot of the Bulldogs guy kicking the ball...I can't remember the last time I saw one of our guys do that

Dead right Lachy, that is the sort of commitment that lifts a whole team!!

It takes guts, heart, ticker.....call it what you like.... to win close games.

And until a few more of our guys show the commitment that some of our youngsters are displaying we will always be a laughing stock.

 

[DockerLand1]

Great List IP and as usual I cannot contest the majority of your post.
I would like to see us elivate a rookie to replace the great Haze otherwise we are simply wasting the position.
Dunn to me seems to be the logical player, especially with our lack of midfield punch at the moment. I know in the past that he has certainly not set the world on fire in his injury limited opportunities in the past but I dont think we have been much lower than we are right now in the Midfield.
Thornton, it is time to move aside and give Josh Head a go. if not now. When? If that is the case , why the HELL did we pick him up?

Time to see who has got the stones to play hard tough and accountable football. All those who do not should move on.

Dare I say it. I love the big man but Sandilands taps and not helping us at all. Either we get him to smash it to a pre set position 20 meters forward where out guys are waiting or try another ruckman.
We are getting KILLED by centre breaks that happen by opposition players sharking Sandi's hitouts.

All in all we are not a crap team but we have forgotten how to win.

Watch all the Rocky movies and get hard for God's Sake!

 

[prattsta]

In no particular order:

1. Drop Scott Thornton and then delist him immediately so they are not tempted to play him ever again. (Sorry Scott, you're a tryer, but you're just not up to it.)
2. Have a quiet word to Macca that we need to look to the youth, and he won't be playing anymore - until a send off game versus the weagles later in the year.
3. Drop David Mundy for shirking that contest in the 4th. He did some good work, but that was blatant. If he can straighten out that aspect of his game, he's a definite keeper for the long term.
4. Play Josh Head - at least let us see if he is up to it!
5. Give Kiwi a run as a stay at home FF. Play Taz further up the ground off a HFF, and let Pav rotate between CHF and the middle.
6. Give Peter German a rocket up the arse and tell him to coach his midfielders to rove Sandi's taps FFS!
7. Give Ryley Dunn a go. He's been injury free and playing good footy for East Freo - he's on the list, let him at least have a crack. He couldn't be worse than Thornton.
8. Do not play Mark Johnson even if he is fit and in good form at Perth. Accept it was a mistake and move on.
9. Play Kepler every week.
10. If Dodd is fit, drop him! He needs to learn some discipline.
11. Play Drum, Mayne, Foster, O'Brien, and of course Palmer and Ibbo, every week - injuries permitting.
12. Give Hinkley another 3-4 games at intervals for the year.
13. Do one of those hard-arse boot camps where team-mates have to rely on one another to get through. Force them to work together as a team and forge strong bonds of friendship and "brotherhood".
14. Fit Warnock in there somewhere also, at the very least to push up his trade value at the end of the year.

Any further suggestions? I'm trying to be positive here - looking forward! (Even though there are a few "negative" suggestions, it really is meant to be positive...)

If we are dropping players just for shirking a contest that means we have to drop Ibbo as well. That's a real shame he was one of our best on Saturday.