Four possessions

[saintkev]

Mitch Owens only had four possessions in 85 minutes being on the ground. Membrey the same amount of possessions for 84 minutes.

[silverhalo]

Owens is a real worry but no doubting his ability - not sure what's going on there?? Tim Membrey has been awesome for this club, we got him for nothing and he has exceeded all expectations but I fear the end is near - has dropped off very quickly, almost seems like the game has passed him by.

[Scollop]

Our second half of football was the worst we've played all year. And I'm including the Dogs game

Half the team was woeful in the last quarter. We only had 7 insignificant inside 50 entries and kicked 1 point.

Adelaide had 15 entries and kicked 4.1

I don't think you should isolate individuals and point the finger at our forwards.

[B.M]

I’m surprised they got 4

Must’ve been when I was making a coffee?!

Mitch is a shell of the player he was last year, devoid of confidence and looks slow

[Scollop]

Really disappointing effort after beating the top team the week prior

Ross Lyon talked all week about standards and culture. I think some of our players drank their own bathwater.

Hopefully we don't embarrass ourselves against West Coast next week

[CURLY]

Mitch has got to heavy it looks like.

[The_Dud]

Maybe Mitch needs to do as Pou did and spend a few weeks in the 2s to freshen up

[kosifantutti]

Really disappointing effort after beating the top team the week prior

Ross Lyon talked all week about standards and culture. I think some of our players drank their own bathwater.

Hopefully we don't embarrass ourselves against West Coast next week

One of those possessions cost me tickets to the function for the Essendon game.
Enjoy the night.

[SydneySainter]

Really disappointing effort after beating the top team the week prior

Ross Lyon talked all week about standards and culture. I think some of our players drank their own bathwater.

Hopefully we don't embarrass ourselves against West Coast next week

I actually don’t think that was the case.

It was to be expected. Teams in our position will often follow-up a good win with a disappointing loss.

We’re just not a good wet weather team at this stage.

[spert]

Really disappointing effort after beating the top team the week prior

Ross Lyon talked all week about standards and culture. I think some of our players drank their own bathwater.

Hopefully we don't embarrass ourselves against West Coast next week

I actually don’t think that was the case.

It was to be expected. Teams in our position will often follow-up a good win with a disappointing loss.

We’re just not a good wet weather team at this stage.

No goals in a half of football at AFL level is much worse than disappointing, and in a team to have had only a handful of players who put in hard all game is very concerning. Don't blame the weather. Coach and players need backsides kicked.

[skeptic]

Not that the forwards get a pass… but they all stunk it up on Saturday and they weren’t helped by the fact that we simply didn’t get the volume/supply there after halftime.

RE Mitch… tough reality for him is that he’s identified as a damaging player and will be getting higher calibre opponents now. Only way through that is to be better

[St Dave]

Yeah, tough to get touches in our forward line at the moment.

The rain didn't help but he was struggling to hold on to marks and when he moved up on to the ball he fumbled a lot. It felt like he was maybe the worst on the field for getting his hands on it and then losing it before making an effective disposal.

[repta]

He played a large amount of time in the middle. Had zero effect. Looked like Bambi out there

He needs a break and go at Sandy. It should be part of all the youngsters development. Wilson is the same.

It is a tough game and the difference between bad and good. Good and great is often just mental.
They need to develop their confidence. Get exposure learn. Go back and put into practice.
A game where they dominate and get 30 in the VFL is worth 5 games in the AFL of less than 10 possessions. Hands on the ball.

Shoinmakers will be next that will slide.

[Scollop]

He played a large amount of time in the middle. Had zero effect. Looked like Bambi out there

No he didn't.

There's a big difference between asked to fill in as a ruckman...and playing as a pure midfielder.

He competed in 16 ruck contests. He attended 4 centre bounces as our ruckman. He got zero centre clearances. He got 2 stoppage clearances.

I'd love to see him in the centre at the start of the game this week alongside Rowan in the ruck and Steele and Clark beside him.

Owens was targeted by recruiters at other clubs because he excelled as a big bodied midfielder as an 18 year old. Why aren't we allowing him to develop his midfield craft?

Starting him in the centre and trusting him to do the job will give him all the confidence he needs.

We're not playing finals, so bloody well mix things up. Try something new ffs!!

[Yorkeys]

Irony?

[repta]

Big body 18 year olds rarely are able to compete with AFL midfielder.
I believe he will get there and could be our answer. He will need a few more presesons to get there full time.

He isn't being competitive enough around the ground. He is losing way too many contests. How many 1 on 1 contests has he won recently?

Needs time and space to develop.

[1971]

Can Owens cover the ground from contest to contest to be a midfielder do you think?

[B.M]

No

His aerobic capacity is ordinary and limits his ability to play on ball.

His stoppage work would be ok, given his power, and toughness but ability to spread and defend would be a huge question mark

That and he’s been pigeonholed by Ross, who is one of the great pigeonholers of all time. He’s ended careers because of it!!!

[The_Dud]

I’m not sure ‘aerobic fitness’ should be a valid excuse for an AFL footballer not reaching their potential.

How many fitness staff are down at the club?

It’s a worry.

[nostalgicsaint]

I’m not sure ‘aerobic fitness’ should be a valid excuse for an AFL footballer not reaching their potential.

How many fitness staff are down at the club?

It’s a worry.

Depends on where they are in their development and what the plan was for this year.

Without injury and given Owens success as a forward last year it was reasonable for them to continue to build his strength. What I'm interested to see is what they do over this preseason- I'd be surprised if it wasn't all about explosiveness.

Then next preseason build the aerobic base.

[SaintDippa]

Owens was, I'd suggest, one of about 10 who had shockers in the driving rain. Has plenty of credits in the bank and will get 20 with a couple of goals this week. Same for Henry, Membrey, Higgo, Butler and Wood who were equally missing. Don't agree on targetting Mitch on a bad one, has been a positive 2024.