I think we went in with our best balanced team. That was until we saw the weather forecast. In the end, Young was not needed and we needed an extra small. Wet conditions, marking is more difficult, ball spend more time on the ground, you need more smalls to adapt.
I think the weather exposed our game plan.
I think it exposed our forwards as not good enough.
I think the poor performers from last week were the same this week. Young, Byrne, gov, Kemp.
We missed Hayward.
We missed Haynes. Derkson was not up to same level. We got exposed when Harry Dean went off.
Nobody told Frankie it was raining. Clone him.
Yep pretty much agree with most of that. Before I give my two cents worth, I just want to say what a year we have had. Weeks 1-9 were just so demoralised personally for me. Never felt so distant from the club from a supporters point of view this year as I have since I started following them as a 6 year old. The second half of the season even though I did not get to many games for one reason or another I felt my old self showing my colours and being proud to be a blues supporter. Instead of people bagging me people were saying how good we had become, 2nd only to Freemantle in wins and form for the second half of the year. I was so excited and proud to be a bagger.
Getting to the game I think we handled the conditions poorly and made poor decisions, trying to play dry weather football. Trying to pinpoint passes, and not taking marks on the chest played in Geelong's hands; Byrne come to mind a couple of times. They handled the conditions so much better than us. There were other options when we switched to the middle but did not take them, instead kicking to a two on one situation far too many times causing turnovers which Geelong took full advantage of.
Dean did not look right coming back on after his face knock. Was accidentally kicked by one of our own players I think. Forward line was non existent, with Gov and Kemp kicking only one goal between them. We missed Haywood and Haynes and a whole lot more.
My only issue is, does Fraser have a plan B, because Plan A did not work last night. Onto 2027 and a great year for the baggers. I hope it is not a repeat of 2024.
Those types forward don't have to be that fast, just read it well, and, of course, have the ability to play forward. Read it well and it makes up quite a bit for pace.
Nah, he has a Queen Mary turning circle. Dont trust his kicking either, mugs to the backline as the old saying goes. Mirroring Crashes comments, we need a "premiership" KPF and ruckman. As brave as Pitto is, he isn't "the one" and neither is Harry IMO.
hmm. I think we one of each last year. Cant recall who but I'm sure we did!!
Highest score in 16 years and 16 individual goal kickers which ties the AFL/VFL record for goal kickers. Spewing I did not go. Cant wait to watch the replay. Go Bluesssssssssssssssssssssssssss..............
I am guessing that there were issues/differences of opinion between Vossy and at least some of the players. Something has definitely changed, we play with so much more belief and authority. It’s remarkable and refreshing.
Mentally I think they are so much more on point. I have only seen a few games this season and for one reason or another what I noticed was that you could see there heads drop if something didn't go to plan. You could feel it at the ground. Now watching them there like bulls at a gate wanting to gang tackle and applying immense pressure on the opposition. So maybe the fresh voice along with a couple of tweaks to the game plan the players have responded. The players keep harping on about how they have been trying to play this way all year and now its working. Don't they say that football is 90% above the shoulders?
I listened to MMM just before half time. BT and Montagna both basically saying Geelong was cruising - in fact at half time BT said gee not a great game for Cats, Blues are being stubborn. We had just kicked 4 to 2 i believe. Then they said youd expect Geelong to go on with it here 🤪 like commentate without bias. Sick of listening to such poor commentating
That's why I always listen to the ABC. Tired of the BS that the other stations go on about. And best of all no ads.
Ison is a smart footballer. Several times he had a quick tap rather than a gather and then be tackled.
I would really like to see him and Moir in the side together who plays with similar vision and flair. Those 2 working together could yield some magic similar to the krakour brothers from back in the day.
Yes agree. My concern is that Moir, as talented as he is, may not have the desire and hunger that is required to make a AFL footballer. Could he of been so talented as a young player that he never really had to work as hard for the football as others because of his talent and this is now catching up with him at this level. If his desire was as good as his football talent would he be playing more senior football? Don't know? Comments anyone?
Listening to the ABC broadcast and they said that Carlton kept their shape and composer and did not allow Geelong the space that they like. I have not seen the game yet so would like a rundown of what they did well and how the game plan has changed or what is been executed better under Josh since he took over?
In a word.....pressure.
Players were running contest to contest. Didn't allow Geelong time to breathe.
Geelong were doing the normal 15m chip kicks to free players, the second they took the mark, there was a bloke there. Normally, they'd be trailing and casually coming to the mark. We didn't give them any time or space. As a result, they made more mistakes than they may have otherwise....some under very little pressure, but because we were constantly up in their face, they expected it and were rushed.
Cowan playing on Jezza Cameron all game was something nobody was expecting, while Jezza still kicked 3-4, Cowan won plenty of contests and allowed us to free up Weitering a bit more.
But overall, it was simply pressure.
Thanks Krud. That's the impression I got from listening to the broadcast.
Listening to the ABC broadcast and they said that Carlton kept their shape and composer and did not allow Geelong the space that they like. I have not seen the game yet so would like a rundown of what they did well and how the game plan has changed or what is been executed better under Josh since he took over?
Did not go, wish I had of now. The feeling at the ground would of been unreal. I imagine like the win against Melbourne in the 2nd semi to get into the PF in 2023. Patrick Cripps you are a legend. Go blues.
I was not at the game so have not seen any of his shots. Harry has his own anxiety with kicking for goals. He is much better from a distance when he can kick through the ball. Since he started kicking round the corner from close distance he seems to of lost confidence in his kicking. It does my head in when I see a player kicking around the corner from close range. When I was a kid the norm was a torp from any distance or angle. One that stands out is twiggy dunn in the GF I think kicking a torp from 50 and it going straight over the umpires head. If anyone can find any stats on his conversion rate say from 0 - 30 and 30 - 50 it would make interesting reading I would say.
I was surprised to see that Harry did not use his usual 'around the corner' technique when kicking for goal from set shots. In some cases the kicks were from the left hand side of the goals so that was understandable but there was one (or two) where he kicked a straight-forward drop punt from position/s where he would have usually kicked 'around the corner'. They were quite straight kicks that didn't miss by much but the fact that he didn't go 'around the corner' suggested that he might have been acting under instructions to not do so.
Thanks RR. As I said was not at the game and with recent history of his kick round the corner close in maybe the club have said enough is enough. About time if so!!!!
I was not at the game so have not seen any of his shots. Harry has his own anxiety with kicking for goals. He is much better from a distance when he can kick through the ball. Since he started kicking round the corner from close distance he seems to of lost confidence in his kicking. It does my head in when I see a player kicking around the corner from close range. When I was a kid the norm was a torp from any distance or angle. One that stands out is twiggy dunn in the GF I think kicking a torp from 50 and it going straight over the umpires head. If anyone can find any stats on his conversion rate say from 0 - 30 and 30 - 50 it would make interesting reading I would say.
Not sure about his conversion rate wrt distance, but overall he kicked 238.251.
