That's how it's umpired, paying the Elliott frees is fair enough but Harry got nothing for the same holding treatment down the other end and I think that's what's irking a few fans .
Glad you mentioned this. The illegal tactics used on H and Charles, in particular, are, to be blunt, horrendous. And the blocking of Crippa is something I hope the club brings to the attention of the AFL. Pronto.
I'd pause getting stuck into Walshy. Yes, he stuffed up... big time. BUT, over 120 minutes of that game you'll find that many failures over the duration, across the board, got us into that critical moment in the first place.
We expect perfection from such a high achieving individual. How many times did he make a significant contribution to us scoring, or preventing an opposition score. There were too many 'moments' in that game where we failed, or other individuals just weren't up to task. Too much left to too few. Take out Fantasia & Durdin and put Chugga in the starting 22 and that error from Walsh may very well have not been so significant.
As I mentioned after the game, we played with a liability of only about 15 blokes on the field at any one time. Martin is not suited to being on the last line of defence - coaching error. Durdin and Fantasia should not (and shouldn't have been for some weeks) in the starting 22 - MC error. As for Chugga being the emergency... just fckn stupid.
I lived in a house of serious domestic violence for 22 years. I would love to tell people what I experienced but some might not want to hear the reality of what takes place. How it has a long term effect on children. I am happy to tell the story if people want to hear it first hand. How it was resolved after a further 25 years later.
My heart goes out to you, Green Stick. Having worked in this area, and experienced it first hand as well, and although it sounds like an exaggeration... it's something of a holocaust what goes on behind closed doors in too many family homes. Violence and abuse (physical, psychological & sexual) are far more prevalent that many folk may realise.
Further to what the Spotted One noted about mental illness, I'd add drugs, alcohol and other destructive addictions. Not to mention the role that fundamental religions play in all manner of abuses as well. And contrary to what many folks believe, these abuses sweep across all socio-economic groups, not confined to lower socio-economic groups.
And bear in mind that what is reported is but the tip of the iceberg. Non-reporting and fear of reporting is a pandemic.
I confess to being absolutely baffled when it comes to 'holding the man,' 'dropping the ball,' 'incorrect disposal' and 'holding the ball' unless blatantly obvious. Totally confused. It used to be pretty clear cut, but now it seems there are tolerable grey areas for all these which only creates further confusion in an already difficult to adjudicate game. But with these tolerated grey areas you end up with too much individual umpire interpretation. Some times you can watch one game, then another, and swear there were different rules for each! Result? Inconsistency... the continual complaint from supporters.
Just one example: There was a time where if you took possession of the aggot and tackled, and the ball was dislodged - automatic free kick against... regardless.
The AFL needs, on Monday mornings, to explain contentious frees and non-frees to educate us so we can better understand how the game is adjudicated.
Cameron- 4 marks 2 contested Cox- 3 Marks- 1 contested De Koning- 5 marks - 1 contested Pittonet-1 mark 1 contested
I suspect all were getting their hands to the ball at different stages but were spoiling each other in most of the contests.
Yep, Pitto does need to take those marks around the ground, but no blame for the loss could be put on the shoulders of our rucks. Likewise, with the exception of Williams, our defence did well until continued pressure and too many inside 50s from Rottingwood.
I also didn't see much wrong with our midfield, apart from being a little loose at times (Walsh) and going backwards too often (Cerra).
Rottingwood came well prepared to counter any and all of our strengths. They were mentally up for the challenge and hunted us really well. Whereas, we looked a little confused at times with a concerning lack of connection around the ground and especially between midfield and forwards. Insufficient confidence?
Williams is not a deep defender. Panics. Much better further up the ground. We were very, very lucky there weren't more free kicks against him as he did 'hang on' to opponents too much. Weiters, Boyd, Gov, Newey, Saad, Cincotta, Cow... are far more reliable in deep defence.
I've banged on before about a 'hunting' mentality. When we have this, we are much, much better. Finessing, is not our thing. We do better when the attitude/focus is simple. We seem to be thinking too much. Too complex trying to implement 'layers?'
A pretty good effort considering we were down three players for most of the evening - small Durds, Fantasia & Williams were liabilities. And Chugga being the sub was silly.
I thought the backline, considering the number of Rottingwood forward entries and Williams gifting them goals, did really well.
Again with a fifteen minute lapse in concentration in the 2nd qtr - in hindsight, that's when we lost too much. We were 'hunted' and wilted.
Presently, we're where we belong on the ladder, but just a fleas eyelash from top 4, especially with better small forward talent - Motlop, Martin & Fogarty.
I wonder if George H was a bit crook with the flu, not his usual standard? And not enough from Cunners.
Pleasantly surprised. Excellent changes. Not our usual conservative approach. We want our players to be bold, good to see MC doing likewise... a good message to some that you have to earn games with consistent form.
Ollie needed to return to the Magoos and regain touch... perhaps, also, try him in different roles. Young is fortunate Rottingwood has Cox.
Carroll and Binns need Magoo time. Cerra and Cunners, good upgrades. Bring your defensive effort, Cunners... not a cameo.
Kemp is a little unfortunate but, if we're honest, his form has been patchy. Ticker? Great, but needs to work on consistency and decision making. Cincotta excellent replacement.
Fantasia or Durdin to be the sub, I would guess.
Upside for us with those dropped - a better looking Magoos!
Except when we rise the pressure rating to 200, rather than 150/160, then we have no issue. Then we are good defensively and we kick goals in a hurry. A case of switching on more. After the real bake the players got last week watch how much better we are defensively this week.
Nup, we're favourites. $1.77 to $2.05.
The season thus far indicates we raise this pressure rating in fits and starts - score heavily, or get scored heavily against, depending on this pressure. Our win/loss quarter ration is about 50/50. Again, inconsistency raises its head.
I wonder if we'll start favourites again!! Doubt it.
Plenty of articles in today's media about our issues. In a nutshell: defensively ordinary, and dropping the aggot on the heads of H and Charles and expecting them to work miracles... ignoring other leading forwards.
That's two games of the last three where we lost in a similar manner. That's a glaring issue. Maybe so many close wins prior papered over some cracks?
At half time my most dominant thought was just how wasteful we were. And how perplexing (to be kind) umpiring was sucking the wind out of our sails. Jason D (and others) summed up the umpiring rather nicely.
As Principal LODS noted, as did this little black duck, Vossy was most unimpressed with our lack of discipline. He refused to individualize as it was team discipline (defence), or the lack thereof, that he focussed on. The Pussycats were 'allowed' to be clinically efficient in front of goal (as were the Croweaters and GWS).
We're sixth on the ladder with an ordinary %. Good feedback. About where we belong. But we all know we're better than that... or are we? Perhaps after so many years in the wilderness we're (and players?) just happy to be in the eight? Not sure Vossy shares that contentment.
Some thoughts on individuals/specifics. Baffled as to why a strong-bodied, hard, quick and close checking Cincotta is being left out of our defence. Williams brings dash and some impressive cameos, but his defensive work is below parr. Young is way too one-dimensional and lacks intensity. Delivery into the forward line is ordinary. Sixteen times (or thereabouts) we dumped the aggot on Charles' head - defenders love that. When we looked for other options we were more productive (efficient?), as an example when E Hollands (who often made very good position) was utilized, it bothered the defence and we hit the scoreboard... just not often enough ...utilizing other forward options. Lazy stuff to put the aggot on Charles' head and expect him to produce miracles. When we were, all too seldom, delivering the pill in front of a leading Charles or H, or Chugga, or Owies, or Elija or...., it often had a better outcome. Small Durds just doesn't do enough.
Thank the gods for Crippa, Pitto, Walsh, Weiters, Acres, Chugga and H.
