What is wrong?

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Healy brought up a good point during the game. He basically said you are missing Simmonds more than you realise. He may not have been a great player but he took a good defender and made the opposition honest. He was a part of your side's structure and you really haven't replaced him.

He's right in a way.

If Simmonds was still on our list he could ruck in tandem with Lonmuir and we wouldn't be forced to play Sandilands each week as a backup, who is almost a liability since he does not win the hitouts, has no mobility, no confidence in his kicking and cannot take an overhead mark. Having said that, Simmonds is a serviceable player at best and is definitely not worth a 5 year contract.

 

[BB gun]

You started off saying that our list was crap, then finished with our list would be scary with a good coach, which one is it?
Our Midfield struggled today, as any midfied would with two players missing.
QUOTE]

thats a weak excuse when u consider we had our captain Kane Johnson out amongst others

we also had Haines had scofield out, schammer coming back from injury, something must be wrong with haselby.
Who are these "others" you speak of

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

We don't have any fit, ready made replacements to come in which would improve the side. Woods has been dropped after rounds 2 and 3 but been a late inclusion due to injury the last two weeks.

Dunn, Grover, Browne or even Smith could have come into the side after the St Kilda loss at the expense of players who didn't deserve to be there such as Woods and McManus.

 

[BB gun]

Dunn, Grover, Browne or even Smith could have come into the side after the St Kilda loss at the expense of players who didn't deserve to be there such as Woods and McManus.

browne, smith and dunn haven't much at Wafl level.

 

[dominguez]

Dunn, Grover, Browne or even Smith could have come into the side after the St Kilda loss at the expense of players who didn't deserve to be there such as Woods and McManus.

The reason most people wanted McManus to be dropped is because his kicking is poor. I don't disagree with that sentiment but Grover, Dunn, Smith and Browne wouldn't rectify that problem. All 4 of those have very poor disposal skills. Grovers were in full display Today. Browne's not even playing for Claremont as far as I know (hamstring from memory). Woods has been very disappointing, soft as butter, since having a very good preseason. I'd be surprised if he and Sandilands play this week, with Smith and Dunn the most likely to come in. Their skills are poor, Dunn's performances at the highest level have been disappointing to date but atleast both will have a crack.

 

[bluey17]

Why do you think we were all so happy when you extended CC's contract?

Your players simply dont respect him, get a coach they respect and they'll work as a team and want to win more. Continue with a "promoter" and you'll get nowhere.

 

[Eagles4Ever]

What are you, the club's official excuse manager?

Now thats a classic one-liner.
Made me laugh

 

[YAKUZA]

Your players simply dont respect him, get a coach they respect and they'll work as a team and want to win more. Continue with a "promoter" and you'll get nowhere.

And that in a nutshell is the difference between Connolly and Worsfold.
Worsfold is the Coach and the boss and the players know where they stand whereas Connolly does not have the commonsense nor ability to demonstrate that to his players.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

And that in a nutshell is the difference between Connolly and Worsfold.
Worsfold is the Coach and the boss and the players know where they stand whereas Connolly does not have the commonsense nor ability to demonstrate that to his players.

Who do you say we replace him with Cletus?

 

[itsintheblood]

A virus went through the club. Obviously some were out there affected by it.

Sheeeesh.

 

[WA ROO]

You started off saying that our list was crap, then finished with our list would be scary with a good coach, which one is it?
Our Midfield struggled today, as any midfied would with two players missing.
If Carr and headland don't play, haselby and schammer struggling for form, we might have to throw pavlich back into the middle of the ground.
Johnson and Murphy to play up forward.
J lo is not much better ruckman than sandi, but J Lo offers more around the ground. It might be time to send sandi back to the wafl, we would struggle in the ruck. At the moment we are struggling with our clearances, so it might not affect us to much.

Not your whole list just certain players who show
1.Lack of basic football skills = Mcmanus and Sandilands
2.No heart = Sandilands and Headland
3.Crap attitude = kick it to me I am unaccoutable Headland,wont handpass goal hungry dwarf Medhurst and I have cornered the market on angry pills Farmer
You have players I would love at the Kangaroos but Connolly has lost the playing group

 

[WA ROO]

So Pagan only re-signed with Carlton because he knew he wasn't going to be the Fremantle coach in 2006? Imagine how good the blues would be if their coach actually wanted to be there!

Not saying that at all but seeing as Pagan could have been available.Rick Hart could have gone to Melbourne and sounded him out.Dropping off a DVD of how WA is the best state to live in cheap housing,beautiful beaches etc.
Now no choice.
Enjoy your time finishing no where

 

[funkyfreo]

Dear oh dear it sounded bad on the radio driving out in the country, I can;t imagine what it looked like on TV or at the game. what a disaster.

My thoughts:

1) Confidence, 1-2 was an acceptable start to the season given who and where we played, but the way we lost the two after being in winnable possies I think it was clear to see that from early in the game confidence was shot.

2) Loose man in defence. So we have Pav at CHF but having to lead out too far, a couple of fill ins on the HFFs and Farmer and Medhurst who tried - but basically with Pav up field we are trying to win games with two small forwards. Maybe a loose man in defense works if you have a dominant FF as a target, but with an extra man against them what are small guys supposed to do? Especially if you have a 1st year CHF specialist.

3) The midfield - we talk up the midfield a lot, and also the back line, but basically today from the HB line thorugh the midfield it sounded like the disposals were those of an u/15 reserves side. Honestly what is a forward line to do.

The radio guys said it well when they talked about Pavlich and asked what would you do if you were Freo's CHF - nominate for the preseason draft!

For the 1st time ever I am going to agree - maybe the coach must go. When I look at the players, great skills, pace, strength, height - we ahve all the attributes for a great side, but where is the mortar holding the bricks together. When you look in the eyes where is the fire.

DO THEY HAVE THE PASSION????

And not just CC - but the rest of the coaching staff - Eastaugh as the ruck STILL when our centre clearences are an ongoing disaster? We just don;t win the ball, even with 1st hands on it...

Are we missing Simmonds - maybe - but he wasnted to go, it is not like we didn;t want to keep him! Read he thought he had a point to prove to Freo - he had nothing to prove as he walked out, we did not ditch him.

Answers - 6 man forward line with a Key FF in spud, Medders on FWD line, Farmer on HFF alongside Pav, and then fill in the gaps with whoever. But we need a real froward line.

An extra man in defense does not help when the ball can;t get ahead of the midfield, as the score is bound to happen with the ball always coming at your 50.

That said - Crikey if Cooky and Pav could have just scored the easy chances in 1st quarter maybe the confidence would not have gone like it did. It is SO important esp away from home and when you are under media pressure for sensior players in Pav and Cooky to slot home opportunities. Esp when later on you see Johnson slot a doozy!

 

[funkyfreo]

I'm just going to reassess what I said re: CC and the coaches.

If this happens all year then they have to go. But just like players coaches need to be able to adjust to situations. CC has to show he IS a coach with flexibility and adapability, and be man enough to reassess the gameplan and the way he treats the payers and other coaches, and show that he can be a hard bastard.

We now have the list to cover the hangers-on, lets use it and try something different, rather than go the '04 path and stick with something that isn't working in the blind hope that it will suddenly just click into place.

But more than that, this coaching team needs to show it can instill real confidence and aggression in the players, rather than just know where on the park they should be standing.

 

[Frodo]

IMHO Freo needs to take a good look at themselves and where they are.

Let's face it, you could scrape into the 8 and get knocked out first game but it's doubtful.And what good is that anyhow? Particularly now Polaks out for a length of time. You see 1-3 with 9 home games left only gives you 10 wins if you win them all. That would probably mean at least 4 away wins to grab a home final. Possible but improbable.

I think it is rebuilding time. You have some good young players to build around. You may as well play them for experience, win no more than 5 and get a priority draft pick. Aim for a flag in 2010. And that means anyone over 25 goes. Along with them should go substandard players, and you've got a few. You will need to trade for at least a young ruckman and another kpp. The two "smalls" forward line doesn't work. Medhurst is a one position player so that means Farmer is traded or plays on the ball, and I think he could be good there.

Finaly, pay the compensation and get a decent coach.

 

[funkyfreo]

Let's face it, you could scrape into the 8 and get knocked out first game but it's doubtful.And what good is that anyhow?.

Can you shed some light on that for us - we have only done that once in our history - you guys do it every year.

Particularly now Polaks out for a length of time. You see 1-3 with 9 home games left only gives you 10 wins if you win them all. That would probably mean at least 4 away wins to grab a home final. Possible but improbable..

Bit early for that sort of talk. Was always going to be tough winning in Melb after three really tough games 1st up. We have a good mid-season run to get back on track - if the lads are up for it.

I think it is rebuilding time. You have some good young players to build around. You may as well play them for experience, win no more than 5 and get a priority draft pick..

Not so much rebuilding, but player promotion. we have the list just keep playing some tired old hacks (well Macca anyway).

The two "smalls" forward line doesn't work. Medhurst is a one position player so that means Farmer is traded or plays on the ball, and I think he could be good there.

well would work if there was a tall there too, instead of a loose man in our defence! Medders and Jeff are fine.

 

[Frodo]

Can you shed some light on that for us - we have only done that once in our history - you guys do it every year.


Bit early for that sort of talk. Was always going to be tough winning in Melb after three really tough games 1st up. We have a good mid-season run to get back on track - if the lads are up for it.


Not so much rebuilding, but player promotion. we have the list just keep playing some tired old hacks (well Macca anyway).


well would work if there was a tall there too, instead of a loose man in our defence! Medders and Jeff are fine.

Well, you can take that defensive view, but IMHO it will only lead to continuing mediocrity. The list you have is good on paper but not on the park. Do you want to win a flag? or is the occassional win over WCE enough? And how many wins do you forecast this year, early talk or not?

 

[Reveler]

I like murphy. Plonk the guy at FF for the rest of the season.

Screw rotating someone else through. He can't be any worse than or current forward structure. Even if he is having a bad day at the office leave the kid there.

 

[meekaboy]

A virus went through the club. Obviously some were out there affected by it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wish I could say that a virus went through my mob.

 

[Kapow!!!]

Johnson looked alright, so did Murphy. Pity the rest played like c*ap. The ONE game I get to go to in 2 years we get belted by a third rate club

 

[Ripper]

Johnson looked alright, so did Murphy. Pity the rest played like c*ap. The ONE game I get to go to in 2 years we get belted by a third rate club

I felt for you Kapow. Bad weekend for the whole family by the looks of things.

 

[Kapow!!!]

I felt for you Kapow. Bad weekend for the whole family by the looks of things.

I can't imagine how bad they felt being flogged by Hawthorn...luckily they weren't at the game with me that day.

I honestly don't see how we can get back on track and make finals after that display though. They just didn't want to win!