(04-02-2017, 08:21 AM)shawny link Wrote:I must have watched a different game.

Was impressed with the endeavor and heart today. Melbourne took till 20 mins into the last to put the game in the bag. Many on here predicted this mob will definitely play finals and made a good outfit look poor last week.

I know it's difficult to be positive when you have a loss but we must remember we had SOJ, C Curnow, Marchbank, SPS, mcCredie and Pickett all in today and curnow aside thought the rest were very serviceable. SOJ is the veteran of this list with 10games!!!

Hard to win with 6 players under 10 games.

Add in Weitering, plowman and cripps as more young players yet to notch 50 games and that's a very young team today.

While I'm disappointed with some of the costly errors from senior players and to lose yet again but I saw enough today to say we are tracking ahead of where I thought we would be.

I'm happy with the kids progress.

A bit of perspective needed folks.

(04-02-2017, 09:12 AM)kruddler link Wrote:Been preaching that all pre-season.

Reckon all in all, we did ok. We ran out of legs late, but its to be expected with the kids we have.

A few blokes need a rest. Curnowfides needs to recharge his batteries a bit and boost the confidence.
I'd give Pickett and SPS at least another week to get better used to the speed of it, then i'd send them back to get a confidence boost as well.
Macreadie looks to be coping ok so far.

Long term view required

(04-02-2017, 09:40 AM)Raydan link Wrote:Very lopsided slant on performances today. Murphy runs his guts out and gets battered and gets crucified for a few turnovers, yet Pickett does one or two good things and he did OK? Give me a break, the reason that Murph and Gibbs are turning the ball over is fatigue and the young kids playing with them don't know how to make space. I saw Simmo on the back flank searching for a kicking target and all Pickett had to do was run to the boundary and he could put the ball out in front, yet he stood in the centre square. Over a quarter of the team have not played 10 games yet, that is why we lost not Murphy, Gibbs and Curnow.

With that behind me, I thought we played well today. We looked like an AFL team. Ball was switched, targets were hit, a definite defensive structure that only broke down a few times. Tackles were laid and our players stood up for each other. Loved Weitering coming in after Lewis slugged Cripps, closely followed by Wright and Silvagni. That's what build team spirit, you walk a bit taller knowing that you have mates that have your back.

White and Dennis are both on borrowed time, we just need someone to stand up and take their place from the VFL. We don't have a small defender on the list, Cam Poulson this is how you get a game, you ask to go to a back pocket, learn the game, use pace shot down the small forwards that we have struggled with for too long.

An improvement this week blue boys and a piss weak start

(04-02-2017, 08:36 AM)shawny link Wrote:While not many will give him credit thought Rowe was terrific today.

Beat 2 flogs in 2 consecutive weeks.

(04-02-2017, 09:51 AM)Rational_Expectations link Wrote:I'm a bit surprised at the negative sentiment of some posters. I thought the effort was terrific. Was also proud of the efforts of senior players like Murphy and Thomas. Plenty of positives from younger players like Macreadie and SPS. My main disappointment was Casboult, though I think C Curnow's form will probably mean that if anyone makes way for Mackay, it will be him.