We could list the ills of this game and club and break the server.
A standout marker for the collective failure is the continued selection of Ed Curnow. I don't know the fellow, and have no interest in picking on him as a person. Nevertheless he is 33. His disposal has never been at AFL standard, and appears to offer little in the way of direction to younger players. He is undersized and stays on the deck. His standout act on the field is the high hack kick.
So why is Ed Curnow playing? There is absolutely no valid reason for his selection. I thought 5 years ago that if he was still playing for us at league level then we were going nowhere. Yet here we are. It sets poor expectations of everyone. Having a go and the brother of a star player reeks of favouritism, poor standards and a general absence of accountability at the club.
Can't play Kennedy, Cera and Hewitt in the same team together. Our midfield becomes monotone, lacking the breakaway to spread and win clearances. Great for winning contested ball. Not so good for the kick mark style that we attempt, often with poor results. Hence, why Docherty and Saad have to push up to provide run, further exposing the backline if possession is lost. Weitering has to play deeper, preventing his long kicking being deployed.
So with a plodding midfield, ball movement slows, with hurried and high forward entries.
Voss has a massive challenge, for without some more pace through the middle we can't compete against the top sides. But Martin is always injured, as is Cunningham and Dow, O'Brien have both been a bust.
Watching Carlton is just a numb experience now. The young son was even asking Siri after the game if he could see a Carlton win...
My grumpiness is not with the younger players that will make mistakes. Its the dismal lack of leadership by the senior players that is killing us. Ed Curnow could have sealed the game but again (again and again) hacked his kick. Adding another lousy stat to another dismal day replete with turnovers and missed opportunities. Murphy played well but still second guesses himself and kicks it high and slow. He is not going to change, we have to accept the limitations of our senior cohort as league players. Too many turnovers and halting, static play that is indicative of a side that has been turned over and lacks much at the top.
Weitering was our best, along with Cripps. Jones was very good, and Walsh stood out as one of the hardest runners I have seen. But it is deeply worrying when he has been in our top 3 for the first four games.
