Post Game Commiserations AFL 2020 Rd 15: Carlton vs GWS

[Baggers]

Unfortunately, that's all part of progress of from zero to top side. We unfortunately have to go through alot of $hit during various stages of improvement. Same in any sport. Takes alot of work and doesn't happen overnight, even more so this year when you can't train with your full team, and not train much anyway with shortened breaks between games.  This year really favored the hardened, experienced team, who have they game style set in stone.

Agree. I'm sure we're close, but the next step requires that injection of newness... not a lot, but just enough to 'freshen' the message, hence changes in the coaching box. And most importantly, get assistants in who come from ruthless success / winning. Blokes who know the sacrifices, blokes who can recognize who will hurt to win.

Although I totally agreed with Mick McGuane's challenging article, I cannot see us retiring Tractor, Simmo, Edwardo or even Murphy all at once. Hey, pretend you don't know Simmo's age... and then watch his contribution match day - it's still there. Our most dangerous forwards over the past two weeks in big games have included Edwardo.

I'd be more inclined to trade away the 'experiments' that haven't worked. Cuningham is one, Moore is another. Cuningham would have currency but he just doesn't fit our need for consistency. Other clubs would welcome a 'burst' bloke on the outside who can break lines but then vanish for a while - that's a luxury we cannot afford. Tractor is the big one... and only the club knows if his body can handle a vigorous pre season then another season - I think not, ruck coaching - yep.

We're gong into a draft period with new cats at the helm. As we know I was not and am not a big wrap for SOS, no rose coloured glasses just because he was a champion player - hey, in a tv interview he claimed we would have taken Dow even if we had first pick. Plus we missed every big name we went after except for Martin who literally fell into our laps.

We've 3 games to go and I really hope we DO NOT play kids for the sake of it, positions must be earned. PLUS I really hope we DO NOT gift out of form experienced players. Macreadie, Philp and O'Brien have been knocking at the door.

I also like the suggestions from some here to be a little bold with experimentation, not enough to unsettle the side, though. Giving Jones a lash up forward would be worth trying along with Casboult down back as his forward work for more than a month now has been cr@p and he seemed to relish his time down back. Just thoughts.