As painful as it was, I just watched the Fluffy Ducks and Go Dees games again. Similar errors/worrries in each game: * Failed/limp tackles. * After a fast start and opponents make changes to address our start, we do not make changes. * Ordinary mid/forward connection. * With the exception of Owies, so little from small forwards. * Not getting enough from Charles' abilities beyond FF. * Cruelled by injuries to key personnel. ...and so on.
To beat GCS: (IMHO) * Drop non-hackers/contributors - Durdin, Fantasia, O Hollands. * Reward consistent good form from players in the Magoos, specifically - Binns, Cowan. Binns must shake his head and wonder what is up, especially when he sees how little the above three are providing. Commit and invest in the kid with consistent games. * Tackling: Too many blokes failing to commit to the tackle of an opponent. Too timid. Between the lugholes. The failure of some to commit the body to the tackle is embarrassing. Poor intent. * Safe. To beat GCS we need boldness... run, carry. Can't be terrified to make a mistake against this mob. * Coaching: FFS do something when the opposition is countering well our plan. Imagination. We've got blokes who have taken the field in the past two weeks who are quick, but this ability is not being utilized. Cincotta is one of the quickest blokes at the club, having him as a lockdown defender only is a waste. Fear/safe coaching. He and Boyd need more license to take the game on... Charles also, the bloke is uncanny, let him into the midfield at times. Develop more blokes who can run through the midfield - Cowan is another bloke who can be be given moments there. Okay, Williams didn't make it as a midfielder, but persisting with him as a high forward and going through the midfield at times is worth trying. Expand the dimensions of our midfield, keep the GCSs guessing. * Run with: Chugga seems to be our only run with and does a good job unless his opponent is quick... then he's too slow. Cincotta? Cowan? Williams? Let's play more blokes to their strengths. *Above the shoulders: Where's the boldness, run, hunting, hunger for the contest, intense tackling pressure, confidence, mongrel??? * Changes: IN: Binns, Cowan, Motlop, Saad. Out: Durdin, Fantasia, O Hollands, Carroll. (If Weiters doesn't come up, Young in). Give Jack M more time to get his calves 100% right.
If you keep doing what you've always done you'll keep getting what you've always got. Throw out the stubbornness and initiate flexibility. Learn that lesson from Fluffy Ducks/John Longmire.
Willi won by 5 pts... we did hit the front in the final qtr but just couldn't hang on. Entertaining game with some positives for our AFL listed boys. Liam McMahon 4 gls. Binns, Cowan and Young very good. Mirkov dominated the rucks with 44 hit outs. Liked Billy Wilsons game also. 13.10 12.11 Very ordinary free kick to give Willi the game.
For me our main problem is headspace, in the 2nd quarter the Swans up the pressure and our fumbles and hesitation set in, which means we lose time and space and it becomes a feedback loop.
I didn't have an issue with the team and selection other than I think Fantasia has been given too many chances already, when he gets the chop he won't have grounds to complain.
I thought we matched up pretty well against Sydney, and I think the 1st Qtr showed that, afterwards our problems were caused by panic and fumbling. Partly it might be an issue of too many lightweights not willing to wear contact, but perhaps they are being coached that way.
Of our smalls only Owies is prepared to head into heavy traffic, Durdin and Fantasia hardly make contact hunting the footy, although Durdin does chase and tackle he's not as fast as I had hoped. But to carry all three of Fantasia, Owies and Durdin we need them all channelling Papley and Boyd and be willing to get inside and do some of the dirt moving, otherwise we end up down a man in contests all over the deck.
On the umpires, the only thing I say is two massive clangers again, BigH should have been given a 50m, not making excuses for his miss but he should have been on the goal line, and Boyd's penalty for grabbing the footy was ludicrous when a player is basically trying to kick it out of his hands. It is not footy to be kicking it off the ground, it needs to be a focus of the AFL officials to put an end to it. That incident is a main reason I do not want to see prior opportunity removed, it's not football, if fans want to go see that sort of game go and watch soccer instead! I'd be happy to ban kicking off the ground altogether!
Succinct stuff, Spotted One.
Overall: above the shoulders -- confidence, hunting, hard tackling, intent, resilience -- vanished when challenged.
And we've only one small forward, Owies (as you rightly pointed out). If there is one trait you want in a small forward, who get very limited opportunities, it's opportunism. Owies has that, in spades. Durdin and Fantasia? Nuh.
I like what I heard from Voss, he knows what the problems are and wasnt offering excuses.....the Swans stepped up the pressure and we couldnt go with them and if your midfield is being overwhelmed then its hard for your defense to stem the flow especially on a one kick to the goal square ground like the SCG. I would probably like to see a bit more innovative thinking when we are being swamped like in the 3rd quarter, its fine leaving all the pieces where they are when the game is close and backing your players in to win the day but when the opposition are all over you its time to make some serious changes and move the magnets like Collingwood under McRae do well to get back into games.
Good stuff, EB1.
Game day innovation remains an issue for us, and Vossy was right onto it and offered not one excuse.
Really liked Vossy's media conference. No excuses. Nailed the reasons - connection and lack of pro-activeness. He slammed shut the door on injuries as an excuse. Good.
I've banged on about being the hunters -- a mindset -- and that was low, except for the backline... most of them go hard and strong. The rest tried hard; lots of effort but confident, mongrel intensity was just not there... the kind of intensity needed to intimidate the opposition. The Bluebagger spirit evaporated last night. It wasn't us out there.
I felt for the backline... little defensive intensity from most of the mids. Midfield/forward line connection - non-existent... get your acts together relevant coaches - you are failing to instill ruthless intensity at the contest into your charges. As for the game-day strategic coach - obviously went home at qtr time once the Fluffy Ducks countered his strategies.
Easily broken tackles, dropped marks, looking tired... how can that be with not even half the season played? When that uncompromising determination is missing between the lugholes, you look slow, tired, inconsistent and lacking spirit.
Disappointed? Yep. Giving up on going deep into September? Not even a little bit. 100% confidence in Vossy... and Sammy. Perhaps some other coaches are letting down Vossy and the players. These coaches received some pretty damning feedback from the Fluffy Ducks. Leadership?
If anyone thinks another a journey out to Ed's place will do the trick. Nuh. These issues go much deeper. And it aint the players.
Coaches, footy dept and MC need a rocket ...and an audit of the game plan. Nothing about us has looked convincing and authoritative this year. Moments of brilliance ...when the opposition relax a little, or haven't gotten going yet.
Game plan broken as it has been from the start - even though some saw it from a mile away. Now lost four of six with two rucks and three small forwards.... time for a change knucklehead coaches at CFC? L:et's see if you can swallow your pride and make meaningful and impactful changes for the better.
Ahem - More RUN
The Fluffy Ducks have done us a favour - exposed the papered over cracks with great aplomb. In fact they've exposed them not as cracks but chasms. Apart from the Kangabies game, none of our wins have been convincing.
And if they think another pow wow out at Ed's place will fix this... tell 'em they're dreaming.
I put this more on coaches/footy dept than the players.
Same old, same old. Start like a million bucks, then once the opposition wake up and hunt us... go to pieces. Can't sustain. Between the ears. Just not a ruthless side, mentally.
And how often, also, does this happen - deliver a soft qtr inviting the opposition in and giving them confidence. Tackle pressure from us, nil - not hunting the opposition or aggot. Trying to win without physical application.
Fantasia, Durdin & Marchbank... tourists. FFS, replace one of them with Carroll.
Biden and Trump make any of our former and current PMs look like geniuses.
As Principal LODS pointed out, as soon as one of our leaders is on the nose, we give them the flick. No so in the US system... as much as most thinking Yanks might think neither is any good, they're stuck with them. Even if one of them is a proven crook and is a candidate, that party and its supporters make excuses and stick by them. What a farce.
Far be it from me to stick up for Fantasia, but its games like this one which is the reason we picked him up. A senior body, with AFL experience, with the smarts to turn a game quickly against quality opposition. If he ever wants to justify his position, its tonight under the above (finals like) conditions.
If we were outside of the top 8, then 100% you play the kid.....but thats not where we are as a team right now.
Tend to agree. He went back to the Magoos and regained some touch in the midfield. But this would have to be his last chance. Perhaps the smaller ground will help him... goodness knows he needs all the help he can get, going by his senior form to date!
No of course not, Robbie Flower was a champion. Only time will tell how good a footballer Binnsie becomes. Merely making the point that lighter footballers can make the grade, if they are good enough. Someone has mentioned David Glascott (71kg). Mathew Lappin (77kg) known as "Skinny" also comes to mind. Young versions of these guys would be handy to day! :
cheers Ab
Just to be a smarty pants, I got what you meant, City of Churches. What about Michael Tuck? Way back, Ragsy Gould. Twiggy Dunn. Current day... King twins, bean poles. When his calves aren't playing up, Jack Martin goes alright. David Rhys-Jones!
So, as you pointed out, skinny/slightly built blokes can still do alright. If you're slight, you need a few tricks and core strength is really important. I don't see Binnsy being lightly built as being an issue, just needs to build strength. O Hollands is slight and gets pushed out of contests too easily, but makes up for it with work rate and tenacity... when he develops better awareness and disposal under pressure, he'll be a ripper.
One of the unique features of our game is that just about any physique can make it... except for really heavy, slow fellas.
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