I'm starting to think Fog might get a fine at best. Binns won't play.
Yep, a real line ball for Fog. His focus was the aggott and that's what he hit with his fist then sliding off the ball, up the arm and into the throat. In his favour is that Fyfe got up and played on unhindered.
Maybe Walsh for E Hollands? If not quite ready, perhaps Binns. Could even be Pitto in!
There is footage from up the ground taken from a phone that shows the ball deflect off Aish's upper arm. In any case, as you said a couple of their 6 frees resulting in goals from the top of the square (the Kemp one I recall) were flat out wrong. We gave away a couple of silly ones trying to take on the tackler deep in defence so they were there. They could not have played any better and we pretty much stayed with them all day. Did we steal the win? Probably. Swings and roundabouts.
I don't think we 'stole' it. When push came to shove at the death knell, the more disciplined side won. In the final analysis, both sides were very disciplined, just one a whisker more than the other... or... one just a whisker less at a critical stage.
I find it disingenuous and simply wrong to see our win labelled as a 'steal', or 'controversial' or 'ridiculous'...
Yes, Freo did compress us and play extremely well. However, we did have more inside 50s (narrowly) and 5 more shots on goal, and Freo did get six goals from frees (most there but a couple were not).
Nothing controversial or wrong with our last two goals. Undisciplined actions from a couple of Freo players gave the umpires no alternative other than awarding the two frees resulting in the last goal. All players know that abusing an umpire, and vehemently questioning a decision will get you nowhere, or worse. As Longmuir admitted in his media conference, we are a well drilled side and you cannot give us any chance.
Yes, Freo seemed the better side, narrowly, for most of the game... but we would not go away - character.
Strong four qtr effort. Love that. Welcome back, Weiters... brought his authority to the backline, and rapt to see him flying the flag when needed. J Carroll coming along nicely. To those on here who suggested Marchbank should have returned via the Magoos - you were right. Lij silenced his doubters. Now to back it up. Hewett - the quiet achiever. Terrific team effort against a willing opponent.
As an aside, typical Clarkson coached side. Anyone else notice the number of spoils that 'accidently' made fist with head contact? H & Ollie particular victims. Then there were the knees in tight contests...
Great changes. Not surprised both Young and Kemp got the flick, as I mentioned previously, they have been adequate, but not excellent. I feel for Kempy, he's nearly there - but he's gotta stop trying to take the spekky in defense. It's like we're not entirely sure where to put him. His quality will shine soon enough. The lack of authority in Young's game is of concern - stopper, spoiler, safe... we need more than that, but as a fill-in - great. I would have been surprised if Fantasia was dropped, and if Motlop was fit I think he would have been, but his smarts and leadership contribute plenty - but he needs to do more.
When I write 'adequately' in reference to Young, it's actually a compliment, of sorts. To perform adequately in a very good defence, is doing your job. 'Impressively,' for moi, is another step. Weiters does his job impressively, as does Saad, McGovern and Newman (in our defence). Kemp and Boyd are also doing an adequate job, and we all want them to be better.
As with most of us, if Young was to recapture and even improve upon his form of 2022, I'd be rapt. And I hope he does. But we can only judge him on what he is producing right now and we can't help but compare now to his form of 2022... when he was impressive.
I don't get any knocks on TDK... coming along nicely.
Still concerned with Hollands... yes, fantastic at 'pressure acts', first rate, but still seems to fumble with his offensive game. Yep, just a kid, too light and is learning, and maybe what he is doing at present is exactly what the coaches want from him, but I'd like to see him develop being dangerous with aggott in hand.
And I'm not in the pumping up Young group. Yep, doing a job, and doing it adequately. Does look better than last year but is that just feint praise? (Threw that in for you, Ye Rat O' the River - sorry folks, its an 'in joke' between us). What One of the things that Young lacks is authority, which Weiters has in spades (yeah, yeah I know comparisons are unfair on Young... but the bottom line is that Weiters brings a great deal to our defense, and with him there, our defense is at its best which is what we want - our best).
- sorry folks, its an 'in joke' between us). What One of the things that Young lacks is authority, which Weiters has in spades (yeah, yeah I know comparisons are unfair on Young... but the bottom line is that Weiters brings a great deal to our defense, and with him there, our defense is at its best which is what we want - our best).