Issues

[B.M]

Ross - 10 (2.5 quarters)
Crouch - 15 (5 at HT) he was clearly underdone
Wilson- 11 - on debut and will improve
Phillipou - 12 not ready for starting midfield
Wood - 15 not enough for a winger
Hill - 12 not nearly enough for a winger


Just not enough footy generated by the midfield hence 44 i50s

Forwards were good but are all unreliable set shots

Backs were very good considering 63 d50 entries

[6621104]

Higgins butchers too many scoring opportunities

[cwrcyn]

For 12 years we've been cursed by an ineffective midfield lacking in class, power, and speed.

That's a long time. Our two best midfielders in that period have been Jack Steven and Jack Steele.

So, who have we got coming though who could be genuine, consistent, and damaging midfielders? Not one player under the age of 23 screams out 'gun midfielder in the making'. I'm not talking about outside runners like Henry and Wilson, I'm talking about damaging centre clearance players.

How many genuine centre clearance players have we drafted in the past 10 years? None

Therein lies the problem. It's why Seb Ross keeps playing, it's why we're overly dependent on Brad Crouch getting 30+ touches a game.

Only one midfielder stood up in our elimination final last year and that was Jack Steele. Lyon mentioned it then, and I'm sure he's acutely away of where we sit right now. He doesn't have many tools at his disposal and he knows it

Our backline is solid and dependable, our forward line is talented enough.

The same old problem year after year is our clearance players. We have to hope that Garcia and Hotton can really shine this year. We'll no doubt go to the draft again and maybe our new recruiting manager can finally select someone who is known to be a clearance beast, not a halfback or half forward who we hope MIGHT be able to be turned into one.

[Vortex]

Crouch - 15 (5 at HT) he was clearly underdone

Ross said the side picked itself, this is "flint hard" Ross who loves to tell us we are the fittest cause we work the hardest.

Does Crouch really get the excuse.of being underdone, not from me.

All of the experienced guys in the midfield didn't bring 4 quarters and hopefully get lined up by Ross in the reviews.

If Ross was in fact forced to pick Crouch in R1 in the knowledge of being underdone then it illustrates just how big the gap in our depth is needed to contend.

[Yorkeys]

Higgins butchers too many scoring opportunities

And manages to reverse momentum at the same time.
Is he capable of kicking a clutch goal.
He may have been lucky we had so many club debutantes.
Another game with more points than goals and selectors giving him the benefit of the doubt might stop. Garcia, Collard, Byrnes instead...

[Vortex]

our forward line is talented enough.

Midfield still the issue, sure, but scoring and the forward line is still a big issue.

Can King become the power marquee forward you can build a team around? Jury still out.

Members is still our best forward, is trustworthy, King not so much just yet.

Buttler is a tick.

Caminiti and Sharman a long way off it.

Higgins is probably going to find himself under press to stay on the list if he doesn't turn it around quickly.

Hayes could be the answer for the 3rd tall which also gives much needed Ruck support but can his body play AFL?

Forward line very much a work in progress still for mine.

[B.M]

Forward line is not the issue - or at least it wasn’t last night

44 entries is horrendous

Look at the source

[Vortex]

Forward line is not the issue - or at least it wasn’t last night

44 entries is horrendous

Look at the source

Absolutely no argument the midfield is well off the pace.

But we had 23 looks at goal, only 3 behind the Cats?

Our efficiency i50 was over 10% better than the Cats also.

Out stoppage clearance was better by 12 points also.

But did you think the forward line played well?

[SaintPav]

Wood and Hill practically ineffective because of the KP configuration.

Dow and Clark will make a difference.

We can get better, hopefully.

[B.M]

23 scoring shots from 44 entries was very good

Conversion poor - as per usual

King was excellent- bar conversion
Higgins kicking is embarrassing

[Scollop]

The coach has a bull inside mid at his disposal and flint hard tagger/stopper ...and yet...after the opening siren and the first bounce (Pou got held up and they had to do a secondary bounce)...who do we see?

Brad Hill is at the stoppage as the 4th or 5th midfielder instead of Mich Owens. Windhager?...on the bench or in the backline. Not sure.

Here's an idea. How about playing Owens and Windhager in the middle for a whole game...or three.

By the way, when the footy bobbled up in front of Hill's eyes he tapped it forward (Seb Ross style) instead of grabbing the pill and trying to actually pass it properly to a team mate...or at least hold it up the way Pou did. Instead he 'tapped' it straight into the hands of the opposition.

[Scollop]

Ross - 10 (2.5 quarters)
Crouch - 15 (5 at HT) he was clearly underdone
Wood - 15 not enough for a winger
Hill - 12 not nearly enough for a winger

Unacceptable from our senior players.

[B.M]

Midfield

Should be
Steele
Owens
Windhager (run with)

Bench
Crouch

Rolling through
Clark, Dow, Sinclair, Phillipou, Henry

[Teflon]

Need that second tall mobile option so Marshall can go forward and so Owens can play a genuine mid role
Sinclair composure back will help
We will be up against it facing a determined Pies side choc full talent on their home deck…

[Killa]

Crouch was no doubt found lacking match fitness - but selected on reputation (correctly) and because even at less than 100% prepared who is his equal (correctly)

Crouch will improve on that.

Interesting to me was the experienced Ross being subbed off for a debutant, which did not work out this time looking for run and carry but it delivers a message to Ross re his future at the Club

When you look thru those available and not selected the numbers are scarce - only the under exposed Jones with experience (and pace and mongrel)

Hence and apart from Sinclair, Clark (both automatic selections) and the recruited Dow (??) the options are already on the park, the likes of Owens, Windhager and Phillipou needing exposure

There is no doubt Lyon is looking to win every week - and they select accordingly

The fact the VFL is not playing compounds the situation with selection on the basis of training performances (Collard, no doubt).

At the least Collard sends a signal to the other youngsters on the List

Do the work and you will get opportunity

The disappointment was the wingers being Wood and Hill but it is a strangely configured ground which sets itself up for big bodies who can take contested marks not outside, skilled runners

On the basis of what we saw last night, we should be able to again take Geelong anywhere but on their dung heap

Now 5 days to Collingwood which will be a major ask.

On their dung heap - and a place we need to win at

With Sinclair back

For who, noting Collard was the Sub?

[Yorkeys]

Thought Cordy was good.
Would Howard have done better?
Probably not I think.

[Yorkeys]

With Sinclair back

For who, noting Collard was the Sub?

Seb. His kicking was not up to it, unfortunately. Can't get games as a specialist tackler.

[Vortex]

Need that second tall mobile option so Marshall can go forward

Hayes?

[The Fireman]

Well luckily we have depth
Jones
Hayes
Sincs
Webster
Butler
Clark
Howard
Paton
To come back in

[bigcarl]

Here's an idea. How about playing Owens and Windhager in the middle for a whole game...or three.

Yes, I’m wondering why the resistance to this. Perhaps they don’t have the tanks yet?

[Lennylegs]

Absolutely beyond me why Ross didn't put Chito into the middle when Roma was rucking. Just for ten minutes when we were getting smashed around the footy. I can't comprehend it. Let's at least have a look at it.

[Killa]

I note the references to Hayes, who played very good football year in and year out at WWT without getting drafted

He played everywhere at WWT, including as an undersized ruck

He remains to be tested at AFL level, and playing where?

Noting Wilkie now an undersized key defender, having played on a half back flank at North Adelaide (and earning an AFL Rookie spot)

We have a reasonable number on the injury list and some will need to make way, you would assess strengthening the side

In regards the absolute class of Marshall, how do we support him, not on the bench but around the ground

So where is Heath?

And Keeler?

So our youth resources

This is where we miss the VFL

In regards Howard, Cordy kept the ageing Hawkins quiet but Howard brings far more than Cordy to this side - in fact we need support for Howard (199cm), Wilkie (191cm) and Battle (193cm) being another KPP sized defender to add to the mix

It is interesting that Bonner is listed at 190cm

So again the kids not playing VFL at present

King up the ground more?

[B.M]

You never have more than 3 tall backs - you need run and carry out of the back half

[Killa]

And just to add, no doubt Owens, Windhager and Phillipou are being educated including on the training track

It is what the Coaching panel see on the track that says the game day responsibilities

These young players (and other youngsters starting with the likes of King and Wanganeen-Milara) show on the track in the first instance

[Killa]

For run and carry you firstly need the ball at ground level

If the ball is being marked by the big bodied tall key forwards and not coming to ground, how do you generate run and carry from the back line?

You need options given who you are up against - noting Sharman was sent back last night

Why was this?

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

May (with his bulk more so than height) and Lever have 3rd support being Petty

Which seems to work pretty well - Petty able to go forward and kick goals)