People talking about 2nd year blues are just guessing. We'll know soon enough.
But every year i say the same thing when evaluating our chances. Some kids won't come on as expected, or even go backwards. Some older players will decline in output, some may even fall of a performance cliff and/or retire early. Some gun players will get injured.
Happens to everyone, every year. Whether thats Jagga and Dean, or Byrne and Ison.....or whoever. This year O'Keeffe definitely fits that bill.
Skull has the added burden of being set for a new role and one that may not entirely suit his skill set.
You shouldn’t take Cripps and Walsh’s performances in isolation.
Their best performances are when the support cast is firing.
You may debate which is the cause and which is the effect and, to a certain extent, it’s a feedback loop. However, my observations are that Cripps and Walsh are riding on the wave of support from their teammates.
I have to reiterate this because it's obvious and yet ignored.
The current good form of Cripps and Walsh is a direct consequence of the players around them making an effort. Instead of standing back waiting to benefit from what Cripps and Walsh do, the players around them are now rolling up their sleeves and helping out more which gets Cripps and Walsh to the end of games in much better condition. That, along with confidence in execution, is the real reason for the current 4-Qtr efforts, not some invisible change of game plan.
We are playing the exact same style that we did from Rnd 0, the difference is we are now making less mistakes at it and sharing the load. Our better players aren't hitting the wall at the end of the game, and the lapses are diminished. It's the same game plan the Lions play, and even with the Lions you can see how it can go horrible wrong when it's left to few.
While I wouldn't say that we had players standing back, I think that the improved form and effort of the support cast in Hewett, Acres, Cerra, Aisworth, Hayward, and now Cottrell, has taken pressure off Cripps and Walsh. If Cripps or Walsh is quiet, others are filling the void but that support is also enabling Cripps and Walsh, as well as Jagga Smith, to accumulate possessions and distribute the pill effectively.
Cottrell's ability to get to contest after contest and affect the outcomes of those contests is elite. I don't think that he'll ever by a high possession player but his work rate, endurance and ability to snag a goal or two is invaluable ... and then there's his gob iron
I don't that there's any question about Billy Wilson's ability to have an impact at AFL level now, and I think that he has probably consigned Adam Saad to depth player status. Billy's chase and run down tackle with 30 seconds to go warmed the cockles of my heart. That's the effort and desperation that wins finals.
Harry Dean's ability to hold down a KPD spot, even in the absence of Weiters, has probably exceeded my fairly high expectations. You know that he's not going to lose many contests, even against the best key forwards. Then there's his willingness to fly the flag for his teammates. I wonder how Toby Greene felt when he was ragdolled by an 18 year old.
Harry's equally inexperienced fellow KPD in Wade Derksen has also exceeded my expectations and has shown that he's more than capable at AFL level. His lack of experience shows at times but his ability to intercept and spoil is right up there. Some folk have concerns about his lack of height but he's on a par with Dean and Weiters. It would seem inevitable that Weiters will replace Derksen but the latter will be stiff to miss out. Maybe he should get a shot as a forward
I was on board with Thry's prediction that Ainsworth would the best of our trade-ins but I think that Hayward has just shaded him now, and Florent is not far behind. The ability, aggression and attitude that those three have added to the team is really starting to pay dividends.
Brodie Kemp's ability to win the ball inside 50 was a real bright spot but his kicking for goal is reminiscent of Levi Casboult at his worst. His field kicking is good but his technique is all over the shop when he lines up for goal. The "experts" will tell you that kicking for goal is the one aspect of the game that has never improved and Kemp is living proof. I'm reminded of a Nathan Burke anecdote. He thought that having his AFLW players just concentrate on the goals might help so he had the behind posts removed for training. It made no difference at all to their accuracy. Anyway, a goal kicking coach for Kemp is a must.
Lods suggested that it might be time for Jack Ison to refresh with a run in the Magoos. I'm not to sure about that. While he may not be getting much of the pill, he is tackling and his tackles stick. I'm more concerned about Byrner, but he is also contributing to our forward pressure. Like Kemp, he needs to work on his goal kicking.
I wasn't confident going into the game, particularly without Weiters, but it was a good win even if our poor kicking for goal reduced the margin.
All players suffer it to some degree, it's a consequence of increased scrutiny.
Picking Daicos as an exception doesn't work as his worst year statistically was his 2nd season, so he isn't one of the handful of exceptions. Nick Daicos career to date on FinalSiren
But my comment is more about the stupid things fans blame on the coach. (Actually, they are right to blame a coach, just that they blame the wrong coach, it's the opposition coach who is at fault!)
Crippa's first season was a write off but he was Rising Star runner up in his second season. He didn't really suffer from second year blues until his seventh season. The Bont's second year blues hasn't happened yet.
Dean and Smith, by their performances and importance to our team, have made themselves the objects of as much scrutiny now as they will get next season or throughout their careers.
Some players may well experience a physical and/or emotional speedbump in their second season but the idea of a universal second year blues malady has no basis in fact.
An interesting observation from one of the commentators last night was along the lines of the GWS defenders being under more when we bombed high kicks inside 50.
Apart from taking marks inside 50, we were able to bring the ball to ground where good crumbing and manic defensive efforts created scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn't capitalise on that and missed far too many simle shots at goal.
Vossy was the one who brought Hewett back into the side. Vossy was the one who played Dean and Jagga from day 1. Vossy was the one who brought in Wilson. Vossy was the one who played Harry as 2nd ruck.
Vossy was the one who did 99% of what Fraser is getting credit for.
I've got no issue with Fraser and what he is doing....and what he did previously with the bullants etc. But lets there is a lot of attempting to rewrite history going on. When Fraser took over, we were ranked with the easiest (or 2nd easiest) draw coming up through the middle part of the season. He has been good since he come on board, but right place and right time play a huge part in that.
There's also the integration of our VFL and AFL squads that Jordan Russell gave Vossy credit for in his interview last week.
Then there's the fact that the coach, whether it's Vossy or Fraser, doesn't select the team himself but is one voice, admittedly a loud one, on the match committee.
There's no doubt that Fraser is doing a great job but, as he and others freely admit, it's on the back of the foundations Vossy and the other members of the coaching panel built.
I hope that Fraser sticks to his guns and continues to rule himself out of the top job. Another Teague Train debacle could be be terminal for players, supporters and the club.
Tony Modra is fighting for life after his cattle truck hit a tree. Been airlifted to hospital but is not in a good way with life threatening injuries. Thoughts and prayers are with Mods and his family.
It sounds like he's in with a chance now. Let's hope so!
I thought Matty Cottrell played quite well in the Magoos; he kicked a couple of nice goals and he's back to his running machine best. With Ollie Hollands and Matt Carroll out of the team, Cotters' ability to cover the ground to get back in defence and transition the ball from defence fills a need.
Don't think any supporters pro Voss or anti Voss buy the idea that he genuinely resigned. It was a negotiated exit and another Carlton sacking designed for less mess than usual to generate better optics for the outside world. The players let Voss down, there is no magic in Frasers board of magnets or messaging Imho. The same players Voss defended all season were the same ones who didn't produce for him when it mattered and when it's your top players it's only going to end one way. Why are they playing better now? maybe extend their careers, save their careers, push their asking price up for other clubs or fear the newbie enthusiastic kids will expose their lack of effort? Wright, Priestley and Davies wouldnt be my idea of a supportive senior management. I was and am no fan of Voss the coach but he should have been let go last season in a clean manner and not made to be part of and suffer the treacherous masquerade and waste of time that went on this season.
Way off the mark EB.
Vossy learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed and, after discussions with his manager, decided that he would get in first and resign. There wasn't a mutual decision or negotiated exit and the club had to scramble to get its ducks lined up before the official announcement.
Its almost like the coaching/playing group are standing as one in voicing their opinion that perhaps he was hard done by. Maybe the powers that be at the club should start to take note of this. Puts the incoming coach in a poor position from day 1. Similar to Malthouse after Ratten.
Particularly if it's an out of work former coach and there's a taint of collusion.
A transition to Josh Fraser would most likely be seamless ... but that is unlikely at this stage, An assistant coach from another club, Adrian Hickmott for example, would probably be accepted wih open arms.
While Champion Data's analysis confirms that Fraser and the players are correct in acknowledging Vossy's role in laying the foundations for our winning streak, the ongoing voicing of that acknowledgement could become a distraction. Perhaps it is time to rule a line under the Voss era. The best way to do that may be for the club to give Vossy the credit that's due and move on. Of course, that could draw more attention to the club's amateurish handling of Vossy's resignation.
I know Florent has become a whipping boy for some fans, but he keeps doing the right things at the right moment.
More than once Florent was the one intercepting the CheatsFC attempts to go through the corridor, he left his direct opponent and took the risk for the team and it paid off. Furthermore, in the first half when much of the team appeared to be on holiday he seemed to be making an effort, effective or not, and it kept us in the game.
I can't say the umpiring made much difference either way, but it was contributing the low quality game. Sometimes having all those umpires just seems to make things murkier!
Apart from the dubious centre ball up frees Essendon got, I agree that the poor umpiring didn't really favour either side. I don't really think that the umpires are at fault. It's more about how and what they're asked to adjudicate ... particularly paying frees and 50m penalties for inconsequential actions.
Florent arrived with a spurious claim about turnovers and he does occasionally miss his targets ... but that's true for all players charged with aggressively transitioning from defence. As I mentioned previously, having experienced, reliable defenders like Florent, Haynes and Newey in the back half gives the youngster confidence to take the game on, and that's why Derksen, Dean and Cowan led the team in intercepts.
Some of our play and decision-making was as poor as anything I saw earlier in the season. On the other hand, we had some brilliant passages of play and individual efforts.
The development of the youngsters is continuing to gain momentum, although Jack Ison had a quiet game. It was good to see the seasoned campaigners like Acres, Hewett, Haynes, Newey and Harry show the way, not to mention the Skipper.
The umpiring was hard to follow, particularly the ruck contest frees. I completely understand the perplexed look on Pitto’s face when he’s penalised; I can’t explain the decisions, even with the benefit of replays. RR suggested that the umpire who tosses the ball up shouldn’t be deciding ruck frees. Apart from not having a clear view of the contest, their attention would be better directed to avoiding backing into players.
Essendon is well off the pace but their lowly finishes have enabled them to pick up some decent young players. Ben McKay looks far more accomplished as a key forward and I think that he and Caddy will trouble more than a few defences.
And that brings me to Dean and Derksen. I was concerned about going in with two inexperienced key defenders but they were fine. Having Haynes, Newey and Florent to organise the defence is a big help.
Then there’s Billy Wilson. Any doubts about his ability to have an impact at AFL level must be put to bed now. He may not have Saad’s acceleration but he’s got some toe, his decision-making and ball use are good, and he can shut down an opponent.
I think that we’re ready to have a week off and refresh for the second half of the season.
