Won clearances, won contested possession

[Clay Davis]

Odd. Wouldn't have thought that possible against the best midfield in the competition without Mundy and Pavlich.

Obviously lacked a lot of class, but how was it possible in this game, and not in others?

 

[Chops_a_must]

Players clearly were given defined roles in the middle. Had license.

Disposal was poor, but the talent is there. It just needs to be used properly.

 

[purpleblood29]

I thought the players tried pretty hard funnily enough. Our skills are just appalling, auskick level to be honest.

 

[silverscope]

Players clearly were given defined roles in the middle. Had license.

Disposal was poor, but the talent is there. It just needs to be used properly.

I think the above pretty much sums it up.

Also I think for the first time in a while we saw some fight and some toughness....

 

[malpaso]

Goes to show how important those stats are.

 

[malpaso]

The Pies look to be told in their gameplan to keep a defined space between themselves and others. By doing that they eat up a lot of space. Very annoying and very effective as their ability to recover and close down is unbelievable.

 

[Clay Davis]

Goes to show how important those stats are.

Well, I'll put it this way: if we had lost them, we'd have been belted by 200 points.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Only difference was class. Once the Pies got it, they didn't cough it up.

As condescending as it sounds... it was a good effort, considering the respective quality of the sides that were fielded.

 

[Ysaye]

Odd. Wouldn't have thought that possible against the best midfield in the competition without Mundy and Pavlich.

Obviously lacked a lot of class, but how was it possible in this game, and not in others?

I thought Barlow and Fyfe had a big part to do with it, and Lower played well.So did Hill for quite a lot of it. Pavlich should never be in there ever again.....

 

[tacopavlich]

if pav plays midfield again next year i will lose all confidence in harv's.

 

[Dudley Leopard]

if pav plays midfield again next year i will lose all confidence in harv's.

I am just wondering..is it Pav who decides where he plays? Maybe his ego demands a midfield role?

 

[Nickos66]

The clearance wins? 1 word: Sandi.

They were the thump 'clearances' to nobody that were quickly scooped up by opposition players or straight into disputed territory. It's not much different to what we were getting pre: 2010 in terms of dominating clearances on paper only.

 

[Righteo]

The clearance wins? 1 word: Sandi.

They were the thump 'clearances' to nobody that were quickly scooped up by opposition players or straight into disputed territory. It's not much different to what we were getting pre: 2010 in terms of dominating clearances on paper only.

Although there were a few of those, there was also quite a few deft touches down to the midfielders, I remember at least one passage where he put it on Lower's lap who won the clearance. Tonight IMO illustrated he is still the best ruckman in the game, it shouldn't be understated either that he is still working towards his best form after only a few games back from a serious lay-off.

I think most people will focus on the tapdown that landed straight into the arms of a Pies player who snapped a goal, but generally he was excellent tonight.

 

[Clay Davis]

The clearance wins? 1 word: Sandi.

They were the thump 'clearances' to nobody that were quickly scooped up by opposition players or straight into disputed territory. It's not much different to what we were getting pre: 2010 in terms of dominating clearances on paper only.

You're confusing things. We've rarely been a club that has dominated clearances. Hitouts, yes. Clearances, no.

We've consistently lost the clearances all year, even with Sandilands in the side.

 

[DOCKERZ]

Thought our rucks smacked Jollywood. Wood got a couple of arsey goals, but he is a serious spud.

Having a midfield in motion makes a difference, lost count of the number of ruck contests Lower hit at (his) pace, and he often won first possession. Hope he doesn't get too many weeks for the bump, I'd like to see him play a big part of our midfield next year. He can be our extractor.

 

[Nickos66]

I'm not talking about this year. I'm talking about in our previous unsuccessful years when our mids couldn't follow the tap so Sandi just thumped it to the point where it had covered enough distance to be classed as a clearance.

 

[Clay Davis]

I can't recall that happening often, if at all.

 

[Nickos66]

 

[Doctor J]

From memory, we won the clearances last week too - or at least we were well ahead for most of the game. In both games, the disposal after the clearance often killed us with a large proportion ending up in turnovers. Last night, despite how well they did winning the ball, both Lower and Mzungu turned over that first possession.

Still, it's a start...

 

[strobe00]

Odd. Wouldn't have thought that possible against the best midfield in the competition without Mundy and Pavlich.

Obviously lacked a lot of class, but how was it possible in this game, and not in others?

I think the fact that Pav wasn't there actually helped to be honest.

With Lower in there we know we have a player that'll get himself to contests and chase. And someone who will dive in after a ball, or pick it up from below his knees. And not fumble it often.

Just goes to show how stupid a f*cking idea it was to play Pav in there all season when we had ready-made replacements.

Sandi absolutely dominated Jolly last night. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

 

[strobe00]

Only difference was class. Once the Pies got it, they didn't cough it up.

As condescending as it sounds... it was a good effort, considering the respective quality of the sides that were fielded.

Fair comment. All true.

And on another point... Mzungu's kicking was absolutely f*cking terrible last night. Don't think I saw a single effective kick. Absolutely butchered the living sh*t out of it last night. A lot of work for him to do on the off-season if he's going to cement a spot going forward.