Sewell is light year ahead of MacLean and a freakin' galaxy ahead of the next two names.
I've seen Sewell drag the Hawks over the line in big games when the other "names" haven't had good days, he doesn't take a backward step and has high 'hurt factor'. Kicks a reasonable amount of goals for a midfielder, but his attitude has always impressed me - team orientated and prepared to get his hands dirty.
If he truly is on the outer at Hawthorn I'd be calling his manager right now and I'd be dangling the VC his way as well IMO. If we could get some of that attitude to rub off on gliders like Gibbs etc (I know, that would be a miracle) we would have to be better for it.
I want to rebuild via the draft but believe that getting somebody like Sewell in would be beneficial because he has the kind of qualities that our list lacks, plus he comes from a good footballing culture. I would bet that Sewell goes far far harder at every aspect of footy, be it prep, training and match day than all on our list bar one C. Judd.
So I am all for selective acquisitive, but no crap trucks, no trading because we can and no "because he was available" cr@p. It has to be measured and for reason.
Needed to be 100 in front, a nice 30 from Haddin would have been handy. We simply didn't make enough. Again, one bloke makes runs, one or two middling efforts and a lot of basically nothing.
Would be a major pisser to go 3-zip but it appears to be heading that way. We needed to win the toss and put some real pressure on.
Well how about being FG fair dinkum and aiming to win one in say 5-7 years by building systematically as opposed to floating along in la la land trying to pinch one, but in reality being light years away form being a contender.
You know the 5 year plan that Collo always trumpted but in reality didn't exist (and the club wasn't patient enough to be bothered anyway).
Identify the players of use now, the future or those who can bring the others along. F the rest off.
I will give an example - one of yours Brother Elwood - Collins. Why that bloke was retained for another year, clogging up the list and contributing squat at a senior level (and hardly anything at Preston as he has been injured again) is mystifying. Yes he gad a contract. So pay him out and get a KID in.
Writing is on the wall but the club, and has been for at least 6 weeks, but our clueless coach can't see it.
The gameplan is obselete, even if we could enact it.
Its like a broken FG record - for 10 years we are too weak physically and we have too many small players, but hey, if the opposition can chuck the ball away every time why even bothering to tackle... I think the asset in brute strength is breaking tackles, not laying them, and holding your feet (core strength).
Our lack on on-field leadership is galling.
We need to cull 10-15 players because we haven't made calls for about 3 years and have persisted for to long with spuds like Warnock. Who gave that useless hack a 3 year contract???Other blokes have become too comfortable. Bryce Gibbs - as disappointing a player as I have ever seen at Carlton. in the 70's we had a term for blokes like him - a glider. A bloke happy to run around and get the odd kick and get paid, without bothering to work up a sweat or get dirty. Closely followed by one C. Yarran. How about actually contributing something Chris?
Mick needs a boot in the bum from the board. Blokes need to be played in their correct positions, dropped if out of form, and given work to rectify problems.
Why is Walker kicking out? Is Malthouse seriously so stupid? Stuff like this is just happening too much. Does Malthouse even know the players?
Thought Judd was head and shoulders our best, McLean at least tried, Watson and Bootsma (second half ok) but for the umpteenth time this year - midfield was smashed. Rebuilding has to start there, it is our biggest problem.
Rowe stunk last week - got into position to mark and dropped about 15 I reckon. As a result our forward line was ineffective. Staggered he gets a run this week.
Disappointed for what Robbo brings, but he has played poorly this year and looks to be lost... zero composure with the ball. I don't know if he is playing where he should be either - forward with stints in the guts IMO. I still reckon Mick should put another year into him and play him as a defensive forward/changing mid..
McInnes should be in our starting 22 each week. Can't understand why Graham wasn't named... season is over, why not reward a kid for decent form when others have packed up for the year.
I have been impressed with what K has been doing after the tap in recent games... I thought his efforts at ground level against Freo, whilst not effective, at least showed intent in tackling and providing a big body.
He hasn't been doing this deck level work since his knee, so wondering if he is only just getting confident with it again.
Somebody said that our midfield is either all taggers or all out unaccountable attack. I reckon that's it in a nutshell.
Until we can find a balance - or blokes that can/will do both (more ideal) we will go backwards relative to the other sides.
Something I cannot fathom is why our blokes will not run hard to create options for the blokes further up the ground. The amount of times the defenders had the ball and kicked to contested situations because nobody presented was infuriating.
I know he is largely forgotten but that third tall defender role - either White or McInnes or Laidler would have been so handy for our defensive structure last night. I reckon that was a costly omission,
100%. Our midfield is that of a bottom 8 side. Small, slow, low skill. Low "hurt factor". Can't get it, or get it AND stop the other bloke.
Can't play Cachia, Carrots and Curnow in the same side. 3 taggers is like playing without half a midfield. Too defensive because the big names don't have a defensive side.
Robinson has had a dog of year - can't buy a kick.
Give Bell or even Graham a go.. and tell 'em to do they do best - hunt the ball. Force the other mob to be accountable by causing scoreboard hurt.
Mundy, Fyfe, Crowley, Barlow at 190 + cm and similar weight...and they run both ways. That's why we were crushed.
Without condoning his effort or otherwise, the MC asking Gibbs to play on a bloke Mayne's size was asking too much. I realise that McInnes and Duigan were unavailable, but what was wrong with picking Laidler as a third defensive option. At different stages Armfield was sitting at CHB... unbelievable.
Ditto one of the three amigos should have been dropped for Menzel and Temay should have been running round, not Carazzo on one leg and half fit.
Our MC have burned us this year. Zero common sense and foresight.
