I am sad for the missed opportunity but happy with the season recovery. If I had some say in how the board at the club operates I would demand Cook calls Voss into the office. I would have him ask what do you need from the board, coaching staff, medics, players, recruiting etc. You have the club in your hands. You tell us what you want and need for the next 2 seasons and I will see you get it.
Your job is to review all the players efforts and performances. We will review everything else and strive to be more unified at every level of the club and get the long term sustained results other clubs have achieved. We can’t expect a good result next season based on this season. We need to eliminate losses that repeat for 2, 3 or 4 games in a row. That is not a result of a true successful club. This is the foundation we have created. Now we build on it to be better. Not just next season, but every season to come. That is when multiple flags happen. Take a rest for ow, but the plan for the future is ready to begin soon. “If you fail to plan, you actually plan to fail”. Start on the new plan and get to work.
Cerra and Acres are two examples of players I thought were good at best, but lazy too often in the past. The roll up the sleeves and do the hard work was not in their DNA, rather than look fancy when they feel like it and let other players do the real work. I apologise for any original comments about my expectations with these players when they played for other clubs. They have leadership written all over their paperwork now. Sure they have quiet moments but they have got us out of trouble more often than not. Just like Saad. Find us a couple of fast by foot, ball carriers one in the middle of the ground and one more rebounding defender and a couple of potential small forwards with evasive abilities and we are well on the way to being a super threat. A special-k type ruck might be a good future project if there is something in the system or available to mature in the next few seasons. They take time to develop. So a junior project is a perfect start for the future.
I would like us to keep TDK as a part time ruck that can swing forward as a target or be an extra tall defender. That damaging utility that is hard to find. He just needs to keep working on getting bigger and stronger and keeping his feet. He is one that has the tools but chooses when to do what needs to be done. When he is hot, he looks like the real deal. Maybe it is a maturity thing. Maybe Voss can teach him how to be consistent.
I heard the interview with Voss. Made some comments that can’t be argued. Especially the fact that Brisbane have been in finals for a few years and working towards a flag opportunity. These opportunities take time. I hope as supporters we don’t assume a potential flag next season. If might take time to get to the ultimate opportunity. GWS is a good example. They had a chance on the big stage and lost. This season they fell short in a preliminary final by 1 point. Sydney had an ultimate opportunity and failed. Then to be eliminated in the first final. Melbourne going out in straight sets 2 years in a row. It takes minimal injuries and everything falling in place at the right moment. For now any players with potential surgeries should do what needs to be done. Take a break, and then plan how to change and improve before next season. While the club looks at better development of the youth and what needs to come to the club with other players.
There really isn't a gap. This is already a premiership capable side... Our best players are in their prime. Another year for our young players like Hollands and Motlop Injured players like Williams and Silvagni thereabouts and available Plenty of competition for spots and versatility to throw players around when needed. Some good solid finals experience behind us, when just about all players stood up at one stage or another. Get that top 4 spot next year, and don't have to travel. Home and hosed
No gap then. We must have the equal best squad. How did we get beaten up in 3 quarters of football. Sure e did well to limit the damage. However we might have only limited the damage. Same squad and the same result at the MCG in my opinion. We need a couple of skilled small forwards. Another mid with genuine speed. Another speedster defender and a ruck with strength. We are not closer to a flag before we address these issues. We either develop the stock we have or find a few new guys that have physical capabilities. We looked far weaker than our opponent tonight. They look physically bigger in body mass. Just an observation. As an average over most positions.
There isn't a gap, we were completely buggered and banged up after a very long run. Any side would look good then. If we finished 6th, hence got a much softer run through we'd be playing next week. Sydney and Melbourne were always going to be brutal, contested games. Not so much the other way. Last week for GWS, v Port, was near bruise free in the context of a final.
So if we had to play GWS in or the Saints it would have ended any different. We lost against GWS if I remember. It wasn’t about the run in. Eventually you lose to a better squad. Pick 6 players from the Brisbane squad you would swap for our squad. If the result is Nill, then we lost by being too tired or just by bad luck. We did well to get the result we finished with.
Yes of course they are, they finished second. We scraped in after capitulating halfway thru the season. And have done damn well, our first quarter was a (wonderful) aberration but was never really sustainable at a ground we haven’t won at for 10? Years.
We did damn well. Should be proud. I am. Learning experience that will hold us in good stead for the future!!
That is almost 100% true wise one. However you don’t win a flag by ground advantage or past records. I am most certainly proud of our end result. I am just saying we need to work on so many things next season. If we don’t then we may just be similar to sides that fight to be in the top 8. We got there through miraculous pressure and effort. That is taxing. We need more class and speed. Plus a genuine ruck. On a good day we wouldn’t have caught Brisbane sleeping at the wheel. Don’t get me wrong. We didn’t get spanked. We should have. Look at the US open result. Two great players. One got completely smashed in the final in straight sets. We did well and need to build to a better result next season. A few players need to be moved on. I think we finally have the coach to get us a result.
MBB. Has a point. We played almost one great quarter, then scored 4 goals in 3 quarters. We might have tried hard but we’re smashed every position on the park. We were lucky it was a close result. We could have lost by 6 or more goals. They are by far a better unit than we are.
Good ladder result. Obviously need to work on body strength. Inject some speed by foot, and class by disposal. Much work for Voss, but something to show that you can only work with the stock you have. We went far further with a squad that would never beat Brisbane. If we didn’t start as we did it would have been a humiliation. We have some needs and Voss needs to see where he can find what he needs. Great result for the season, but not a flag winning unit just yet. Keep shopping for better stock and develop some of the youth. Well done for the seasons result. Now is time to build on a better 2024.
No matter what side is selected, I hope we bring our best pressure game on. Our best pressure game bringing on the heat has beaten Melbourne twice, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, and Sydney. When all sides were in form and had just as many or few outs as we have had. I hope we bring enough hungry efforts and desperation to the contest. That will get us over the line. A genuine team effort. I feel we won’t win this for a fairy tale story. I hope the boys prove I should have never had a doubt.
We should appeal. Worst result should be down graded to one week.
I wonder if it is worth it. Even a result of a week still leaves us a little vulnerable against the Demons. Maybe we bite the bullet and learn to survive without him. Bring Jack in for Harry and consider Kennedy or Hollands for Martin. I am wondering if Jack could take the place of Marchbank. I think under pressure Marchy is a slow thinker. I also wonder if Motlop should get a start up forward and consider Dow as a sub. Just some thoughts I guess the coach needs to consider with selections.
Kennedy and Silvagni make sense to be in the side if possible. Both have great work ethics and defensive abilities along with goal kicking skill. Great win. If we didn’t have a few of those what f@#k the moments at point blank range, it would not have been a nail biting close result. We must take the good with the good/bad. Enjoy the win and move to the next contest. We haven’t been in this situation for so long that we need to embrace the glory of victory. I hope Cripps ribs are good. He looked like they are bothering him. Woohoo for now. Woooohooooo.
Give TDK a quarter up forward and Stick Harry in the ruck. Harry looks to have lost his confidence. That goal he missed from point blank range is not a kick of a player with belief in his skills.
Petracca is a strong contested Mid, one of the best and very suitable for those conditions, agree on the Cameron sub out.....was a mistake as Cox who had rucked well was knackered.
I think LP took my comment as load up with fast small players. Gawn taking control is the best ruck in the league that you play no matter what the conditions. Not forgetting he is one of the fittest players in terms of endurance. Even though he is huge in size. Petracca is one of the most electric players and a size that can play against tall, small, fast, or strong players. He has to play. Mind you he didn’t do much in the first half. Oliver was almost non existent in the first half. Melbourne fed their talls with poor delivery in the first 3 quarters. Melbourne struggled to have crumbing players pick up the spoils. Melbourne under high pressure struggle. Every side does. They just fail to rebound as well as some sides do. Collingwood showed this tonight. Just as we did when we played them both when the heat is on. They both drive hard in the last quarter but if you establish a decent lead before the last quarter, you are a chance to win. Petracca can only do so much. Same goes for Gawn. My comment was based on a first half of football. A trend. I wouldn’t want us to fully load up with tall marking targets that fail once the ball comes to ground. We still need hard bodies in the middle. This appears where the game is won. At the stoppages which is one of our strengths. Faster running types to carry the ball on the rebound might help us win. Defence, middle of the ground and forward. Don’t bet Charlie will kick a bag of 5 goals, and Harry doing the same. They will bring the ball to ground often and then starts the sh@t fight for the ball. The same goes in our defensive 50m. We can’t load up with the tallest line up we have. Unless there is some leg speed and ability to clear the ball forward. Collingwood are genuine and have a balanced squad. They are the side to beat. Them and Brisbane which we haven’t won against recently or probably long term. We have beaten Collingwood with tough pressure footy. We have to beat Sydney next, which is not a choice thing. It just has to happen no matter what. To potentially see Collingwood in a grand final on the final stage. Oops, I just took off the lid.
Coll vs Melbourne showing you need quick contested players not an overly tall lineup that flounder in the wet. Playing too many talls isn't the smart way to go imo.
Smaller forwards and better running players looks the goods in the game tonight. Especially being wet.
Had a good chance to listen to Voss in the press. Spoke very well. Didn’t give too much away as to what was the plan and who is playing and what role for which players. What about the weather, keeping mid players that perform well for the Swans quiet. Voss has a simple solution. You have a system and how to play any side. It doesn’t change much. You have a role so stick to it and do your job. You will lose momentum from time to time. Absorb the pressure and wrestle the momentum back in our favour. Stick to a simple plan and do your job. It doesn’t matter too much about who is selected and in what positions. Do what has worked best in the last 10 weeks and odds are it is a plan that can get the job done no matter who is on the field.
He addressed questions about targeting Cripps and Charlie and stopping their gun players. It isn’t about one or two players. You can’t stop an entire list with too much focus on individuals. Stick to the plan. Wrestle back ever contest possible. Back your confidence and self belief. Enjoy the hype. Embrace the feeling of excitement and have fun. Just remember once the siren goes, to get to your designated task as soon as possible and perform your role. You know what the winning formula looks like and what losing looks like. Do what it was to win and get you into finals. His experience in past finals can only go so far as the game has evolved and changed. This is your opportunity and it sits in your hands. He will back you and trust you will deliver.
He may have made me too confident but he is different to what he was like at the Lions. He is more relaxed and more confident since we almost completely bottomed out 10 weeks ago. He has that cheeky smile answering questions where he believes in this squad. Not that serious look in a coaches face looking stressed and not knowing what to do next.
Even his response as to how Acres is and is it wise to play him if he isn’t 100% ready. Voss said he had his fitness test and passed with flying colours. His is ready to go and eagerly ready for his opportunity to deliver. You would think a coach in this elimination finals situation to be reserved and a little nervous. Has he brought some mongrel into the players mindset? That last game looked like we rotated players to the bench to rest and not go into this final with injuries. It did not look like an all need to win the game at any cost.
Commentator experts still talk about our lack of finals experience and how this could be a disadvantage in this next game against a hungry Swans group that failed last season in the most important game of the year. What about how hungry this group might be to get a taste of a first finals kill in many years.
If we lost this game we would result overall at 7th. Not a disaster. Not great either. If we win it will be at least top 4 as a final result. Voss might get a very good pass for the season or at least resurrection of a potential fail to still get a pass for the entire season. Now we just have to win. There is no other result to look at. The players now need to back the coach in all the way in every contest. Rain, hail or Blizzard it has to be win. At any cost.
