What went wrong.

[ThisIsJake]

I'm as disappointed as everyone, but rather than calling for players heads this is my take on what went wrong.

Clearances
although we've only won them 2 times this year it hadn't been a problem. because our numbers and pressure hadn't allowed efficient clearances, but last night that was gone.
We can't just leave it up to pendles, beams and ball to get the hard ball. which begs the question why did we take out 3 midfielders for 3 defenders?
not enough in tight contested midfielders = not enough pressure in the contest.

'Contested' marks
i seemed like at almost every marking contest, whether it was a set play (kick in) or long ball down the line that they were taking uncontested marks in contested marking situations. they just either had an extra man or we were too busy wrestling to actually go to the drop of the ball. it happened time and time again and although i really can't work out why or how it can be rectified, it was costing us.

Forward line structure
I dont blame Cloke(although he is out of form), i blame a lack of small forwards. we have jamie elliot as our only genuine forward crumber but even he seems to be spending less time staying in the forward line. kennedy or fasolo are the answer for me, we are grooming lots of small defenders but not enough small forwards.

A few players.

Blair- he doesn't get enough of the ball to play midfield and he can't crumb well enough to be a proper small forward. i love his attack at the football, and pressure is great but sometimes pressure is not enough. i feel like he is exactly where he was 3 years ago, he's still young and i hope he can improve as either a midfielder or forward

Maxwell- love seeing him return to form and this year he has been great, got in great positions last night but some of his punches were straight into the corridor and he needs to mark the ball when he can rather than double fisting. i love maxy and he definitely deserve his spot but i just think that some of his punches costed us last night.

Pendles- tried to lift us when we were slipping and was our best all night.

Sidebottom- not going to trash him, had a bad night and will be back next week. calls to trade him baffle me, he's 23 and has so much potential, consistency will come.

Keefe- i like this guy, but is out of form. needs a rest and needs to earn his spot back, and i have no doubt that he will. But brown deserves the spot for now.

 

[Mick98]

Everything,did you not watch the game?

 

[Alexander323bc]

The moment cloke and Blair dropped their sitters something deep inside told me it was going to be a long night! It was just one of those days!

 

[Stifler's mom]

It was frustrating to see our defenders spoil clear marking opportunities.

Too many times when we had extra numbers at the contest we punched the ball over the line.
Back yourselves in boys!

 

[mike123]

Our small forward vs there small forwards.

 

[Somebody]

I think it was something to do with the break, team was flat and with all the fumbles n missed marks I was thinking it must be slippery, but afaik it was dry (although I'm 7,000 miles away). In last q the team seemed to have totally lost confidence, eg missed every shot on goal by miles. Just came back v rusty from the break, I hope that means they had a good rest and will come back v fresh for rest of season.

But ADelaide played great, if they keep that up and with Tex coming in should def make the 8.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

We lost.

 

[OniAu]

Our small forward vs there small forwards.

I wish we would draft a specialised stay at home forward with crumbing/goal sense. Sick of midfielders playing forward going ball hunting.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

I wish we would draft a specialised stay at home forward with crumbing/goal sense. Sick of midfielders playing forward going ball hunting.

Sydney and Hawthorn (now with Rioli playing up the ground) seem to get by without one

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

Sydney and Hawthorn (now with Rioli playing up the ground) seem to get by without one

Yeah but they use the ball better than what we do when going forward. As long as we butcher the thing, we may need a permanent small forward who can mop up.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Yeah but they use the ball better than what we do when going forward. As long as we butcher the thing, we may need a permanent small forward who can mop up.

So would the solution be that we need to improve our skills, which I agree with

 

[Venkman]

Sydney and Hawthorn (now with Rioli playing up the ground) seem to get by without one

There's been a lack of good small forwards for some time. I think it's been masked due to the dominance of Cloke and the ability of the mids to chip in. Now Cloke is off the boil it's getting ugly. There's not a lot of strategy going forward - why would you ever kick to Blair? I think if you give the opposition a loose man in defence then you need to kick to guys that play on the lead, or have guys that crumb Cloke. I want dids back. And krak. And medhurst.

 

[Chief Ten Beers]

We lost.

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

So would the solution be that we need to improve our skills, which I agree with

For sure but I can't see it improving out of sight in the short term. I think Bucks needs to plant someone in there on a more permanent basis and tell him his job is to be at the foot of the contest. The only time he goes up the ground is to chase his man. Admittedly, I haven't seen any games live yet so it's hard to determine if anyone has been assigned that role. From what I see in the box, plenty chasing kicks up the ground.

 

[KJpie]

They were harder, more desperate and wanted to win more.

 

[bradrowe#32]

Lack of intensity killed us.

 

[mike123]

Sydney and Hawthorn (now with Rioli playing up the ground) seem to get by without one

Hawthorn have two. Rioli and Breust. Rioli is a forward that backs up in the midfield not the other way around.

 

[danielnajdek]

They played good , we played crap!

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Hawthorn have two. Rioli and Breust. Rioli is a forward that backs up in the midfield not the other way around.

I disagree

 

[mike123]

I disagree

Why?

 

[TheWoodsOf72]

Maxwell- love seeing him return to form and this year he has been great, got in great positions last night but some of his punches were straight into the corridor and he needs to mark the ball when he can rather than double fisting. i love maxy and he definitely deserve his spot but i just think that some of his punches costed us last night.

Agree 100%. It's almost like he is infecting players to punch wildly. If you punch, you need to be 100% certain it's not to a dangerous spot. Likewise with a blind kick out of defense.

 

[Geelong_Bisons_#36]

We lost because we are the dumbest football team with the worst skills of any side in the comp.
Poor decision making and skill execution are our major weaknesses.

 

[Chief Ten Beers]

We have too many South Australian's in the team, they were too at home.

 

[Big Bryza]

We were off. They were on. Footy is played 98% above the shoulders and we weren't switched on Thursday night.

 

[Didaics]

On the upside we didn't concede a huge score. The pies of last year would have pissed goals and the floodgates would have opened ala Anzac day '13.
Few things went against us, but they just had one of those nights, reminded me of their first ever game at footy park against Hawthorn in 91. once the 3 qt goal went through (legal or not) I felt they would be hard to stop.

Not panic stations as yet, need to consolidate with a couple of wins on the trot though.