Play the youth

[B.M]

Phillipou 1 poss
Collard 2 poss
Sharman 2 poss
Caminiti 5 poss
Wilson 8 poss

Basically passengers

[bigcarl]

Who should be playing that is match-fit and isn’t? Look I daresay Seb Ross would offer more than, say, Phillipou … but the sad reality is that we aren’t contenders this year. And won’t be until we unearth some players

[skeptic]

I don’t think this post aged well

[Otiman]

Steele, Webster, King - all 10 touches or less.

[B.M]

Why not

They are our worst 5 players

Sharman subbed off again

[6621104]

in partial agreement with B.M. Wilson looks comfortable at the level, too early to judge Collard, BUT Pou looks completely out of his depth. Cannot break a tackle, his too easily brushed off, panics with the ball when he has it (rarely) and has yet to show, in my view anything to justify his draft pick.

[bigcarl]

Yes, you are correct Marto. I feel, however, Ross and the club have put the queue in the rack for 2024 and are looking to the future

[Otiman]

Yes, you are correct Marto. I feel, however, Ross and the club have put the queue in the rack for 2024 and are looking to the future

So send all the coaches home and save some money for the club, pay off the debt.

[Otiman]

Yes, you are correct Marto. I feel, however, Ross and the club have put the queue in the rack for 2024 and are looking to the future

So send all the coaches home and save some money for the club, pay off the debt.

[IluvHarvey]

Why not

They are our worst 5 players

Sharman subbed off again

Paton, Steele, Wood, Jones and Bonner all say Hi

[B.M]

Jones

He only cam on as Sub

[bobmurray]

Interesting that the panel on Fox Footy are talking about the way the Aints are coached as to why they are shite ?

Not so much about the inexperience of youth.

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

Speaking of the youth, I'm a big fan of Nas as he is one of our very few players with the talent to make things happen. He is arguably the most skillful player on our list.

My observations of him over the past season and a half is that he's not a defender's bootlace, yet because Corey said so they've played him there exclusively there over the last 34 games.

He lacks the strength and defensive craft to be effective there, and yes he does provide us with much needed rebound, but despite the modern trend of playing attacking, rebounding football, you still have to be able to defend as an individual. Could we stick him in the midfield, or on a wing, where he could use his dash and excellent foot skills to their greatest effect?

Another who seems to be beyond criticism, despite being part of our problem is Roma. Great around the ground, collecting marks and possessions like an extra midfielder, but a liability as a ruckman.

Yes, before BM reminds me how useless a stat the hitouts are, I'm talking about general ruck craft, at which he is one of the worst in the comp.

As a former ruckman myself (not at the elite level but in high grade metro and country leagues for a long time), I always take extra interest in the ruck contests.

The ruckman's job at a stoppage doesn't end with the hitout. You need to use your size to block your opponent's paths, and make it as difficult to get the clearance as is fairly possible. Throw that weight around. Roma is completely useless at that part and I believe part of our problem at stoppages.

In addition, is there any danger that when he does win the rucking contest, he palms the ball to one of our quicker and more skilfull mids instead of grabbing it and launching an up and under mongrel punt to nowhere? You can tell he has rugby in his background. He would've been useful in a lineout, but it is a useless tactic in the AFL. There. Rant complete. Season over. Any thoughts on my critique of our two stars?

[skeptic]

Why not

They are our worst 5 players

Sharman subbed off again

Wilson had 18 touches
Caminati kicked 2 goals

Hits and misses

[B.M]

If you’re going to criticise anyone from tonight

Rowan is actually the last ( out of 46 players) you should go after

Best on Ground

[Nick DalSanto Claus]

I take it your addressing me, BM. I didn't "go after him" at all. I merely pointed out an obvious flaw in his game, which is his lack of ruck craft.

A number of other posters lament his deficiencies in this area, and not a week goes by where several posters don't call for Tom Campbell to be picked, both to shore up our weakness around the stoppage and provide back up for Roma. I believe you might have been one of those posters a couple of times.

Best on ground tonight? I'll concede he was good, especially as in that old fashioned follower type role he excels at.

He is one of my favorites, but I believe there is a gaping hole in his game that must be addressed. His lack of ruck craft probably cost him a spot in the AA team last year.

Read it again, BM. I'm used to you failing to grasp all the nuances of many of the posts on here.

BTW, in your long and no doubt distinguished playing career, did you play as a ruckman? Even if you didn't, I'd be interested to get your assessment of his rucking skills. Not his general football skills, which are top notch, just his ruck craft in isolation. Cheers.

[St Dave]

Speaking of the youth, I'm a big fan of Nas as he is one of our very few players with the talent to make things happen. He is arguably the most skillful player on our list.

My observations of him over the past season and a half is that he's not a defender's bootlace, yet because Corey said so they've played him there exclusively there over the last 34 games.

He lacks the strength and defensive craft to be effective there, and yes he does provide us with much needed rebound, but despite the modern trend of playing attacking, rebounding football, you still have to be able to defend as an individual. Could we stick him in the midfield, or on a wing, where he could use his dash and excellent foot skills to their greatest effect?

Another who seems to be beyond criticism, despite being part of our problem is Roma. Great around the ground, collecting marks and possessions like an extra midfielder, but a liability as a ruckman.

Yes, before BM reminds me how useless a stat the hitouts are, I'm talking about general ruck craft, at which he is one of the worst in the comp.

As a former ruckman myself (not at the elite level but in high grade metro and country leagues for a long time), I always take extra interest in the ruck contests.

The ruckman's job at a stoppage doesn't end with the hitout. You need to use your size to block your opponent's paths, and make it as difficult to get the clearance as is fairly possible. Throw that weight around. Roma is completely useless at that part and I believe part of our problem at stoppages.

In addition, is there any danger that when he does win the rucking contest, he palms the ball to one of our quicker and more skilfull mids instead of grabbing it and launching an up and under mongrel punt to nowhere? You can tell he has rugby in his background. He would've been useful in a lineout, but it is a useless tactic in the AFL. There. Rant complete. Season over. Any thoughts on my critique of our two stars?

I am coming around to agreeing with this assessment (and posted as much in another thread before seeing this post), while he is clearly one of our best players, I didn't think he makes us a better team. He gets a lot of disposals and gets the ball moving forward, but it is rarely effective. 8 clearances but 0 goal assists and only 4 score involvements (which is any touch in the chain before a score) from his 31 possessions.