(1) Absolutely no run out of the backline whatsoever - they're all too busy looking for sideways kicks so they don't have to make a big choice, and when they run out of ideas, it's a dump kick to Charlie/Harry/Tom on the wing. So easy to defend against and turnover. The inside 50's said it all last night ( 38 - 64 !). We had far more of the ball, but far less of the play......
Answer : need Saad and McGovern badly.
(2) Not only are our small forwards not getting the ball, they are physically useless - get bumped off the ball far too easily, whether it be in one-on-ones or marking contests. I have lost count of the number of simple marks defending half-backs have taken against us this year because of lack of competition. Matt Owies tries, but will never be a true marking option. Starting half-forward line for most centre bounces last night was Durdin, Owies, Fantasia, with the three big guys all standing within 15m of each other near the goal square. How does that work?
Answer : get a third mobile tall in there - I would suggest Brodie Kemp (has to be a better use of him than sending him down to the twos). Need Martin back badly, but can't expect much out of him for another 3-4 weeks. Start Charlie at 50 for some of the centre bounces to get a bigger body in there.
(3) Match Committee - WTF? Carroll and Kemp get dropped so Durdin and Fantasia get a game, and Kennedy is sent to the Sub bench? They say it about 'team balance', but Carroll or Kemp having a crack is far more balanced than two small forwards who have zero impact on the game.
Answer : pick the best 22 we can muster and go from there.
This is starting to turn into a frustrating year. We could easily lose the next 3-4 and be back in the chasing pack.
Have you watched him in the 2's? My impression from the broadcast last week was that he ran out of puff. Maybe needs to build his tank. His footy smarts and skills make it look like he has time to size things up. Loads of potential but areas needing attention I expect.
Rankine started a bit like that as well. The really gifted players often shine in the junior ranks based on their supreme skills, and because of that they haven't really needed to buckle down and develop their aerobic capacity. The big question is whether or not he has the drive to address his fitness.
Don't mind replacing Fantasia, but Moir is still a fair way off. He will be given plenty of time to develop before being paraded out a la Binns. With one or two exceptions, we are right into development and ensuring young players have served a comprehensive apprenticeship.
I know it's early days, but Moir has a bit of Izak Rankine about him.... we can only hope!
Agree on Hewett - the reason Walsh got so many clearances from the centre bounce (apart from Crippa of course) was the Rolls-Royce service he received from Hewett feeding the ball out.
Game in a nutshell for me - we had 19 tackles in the first half, and were basically playing basketball with them. Ended up on 52 tackles - not a huge increment I know, but it was the way we tackled, with big intent - like when Himmelberg got nailed by our own Harry, ending in a simple goal to Charlie, the effect on the whole GWS team was clear from that point on.
In the first half, the Orange boys were hand- and foot-passing with unpressured precision, but in the second half, you could see the extra heat made them rush what they were doing, and the turnovers started coming.
As has been said many time, when we are the hunters. we can beat anyone.
Hate to say it, but can't see how we can win this. We struggle with fast-running sides, and GWS have that in buckets.
The one glint of optimism is Harry and Charlie with no Sam Taylor. But then again, I thought they would kick big bags against Freo and Adelaide for similar reasons......
Binns running power is outstanding he is perfect runner for transition play like Cottrell. He finds plenty of the ball through pure work rate. But what impresses me more is that work rate he also adds tackles and clearances to his game. 25 touches, 4 tackles 3 clearances from the young fella is fantastic for a wingman.
I've watched plenty of Binns in the past 12 months. Great runner and ball user. He didn't make VFL team of the year for nothing......
Personnel. Yes, we have injuries but we had injuries in games and our best missing when we were flying last year and found a way to win, and win well. If there is a mitigation it would be our forward line, a 2 star reliance. Too many small forwards just not delivering. Specifically, Fantasia & small Durds. And let's not get started on our glaring need for a third taller forward. Despite the injuries I hope our selection this week is not conservative... a shake-up is needed. Fingers crossed there are a few shining lights in today's Magoos. And those who suggest TDK might be a worthwhile experiment in defense... I agree.
We really need a mobile third marking option in the forward line, because banging it long to McKay and Curnow remains ultra predictable, and good teams can dry up our scoring very easily. Martin kind of covered that last year, but Owies and the other smalls are not quite up to it or strong enough overhead. I mean someone like a Fritsch, Hayward, Henry, Zac Bailey.
Maybe once we a full compliment of defenders available, we should try Brodie Kemp there?
I'd be shocked if we let the same thing happen again but you never know. Ben Keys had a day out, that won't happen again. They do have fwd line that can prove troublesome. If it was at the G we'd be a certainty.
Last year was in front of 40,000+ baying Crows fans at the Adelaide Oval for the first ever Gather game. I'd like to think the shoe is on the other foot this time.......
