Post Match. Pies down to Eagles. All comments please.

[Peponi]

Quite simply, we’re West Coast’s bitches. We should have gone out tonight firing to avenge the GF narrow loss. Instead, we looked timid in the stoppages and our midfield was SMASHED. It also doesn’t help to miss easy chances.

[Peponi]

If I read another fan write that the umpires cost us the game, I’m going to lose my shit.

[PyreneesPie]

[think positive]

[PyreneesPie]

Maybe the mids that are around the loose ball just need to have more of a defensive mind set than an attacking one - to stop the skilled and pacy mids of the opposition getting there first?
I recall several occasions this evening where the speedy, spreading Weagles mids seem to win it on the outside, more so than grabbing it out of the initial ruck play.
Maybe we can call up Swanny and ask him how he managed to get it out of the centre so often!!

[Magpietothemax]

[Magpietothemax]

DP

[PyreneesPie]

[PyreneesPie]

Apologies .. double post.

[PyreneesPie]

MTTM, had to look up "vituperation" on Google!!! Good word

[think positive]

[Jezza]

The Eagles deserved the win. There's no disputing that and it's evident they have the wood over us and trouble us the most out of any side (outside of the Hawks).

The hype around the midfield needs to stop. We have a good group of players in the middle but the ongoing criticism of them not running both ways has legitimacy. When they're on fire, they're one of the best group of mids going around but the question is whether they can lift during times of adversity.

I think what killed us was three things. Firstly, we were dominated in the centre clearances in the second quarter when the Eagles kicked six goals in the quarter and we couldn't seem to find an answer to curtail it. Secondly, the Eagles defensive structures choked our forward line structures so opportunities felt limited and difficult and the passage into the forward 50 lacked fluidity. Lastly, the Eagles dominate us aerially which is something they did last year and we haven't been able to find an answer in countering.

The smooth transition of ball in hand from last week didn't work this week. I think Magpietothemax is right to point out that we're trying to emulate the Eagles game style but we've yet to master it. It worked well against the Tigers, but it was ineffective this week. In the long run, I suspect we'll stick to that sort of game plan as we shift away from Richmond's tackling pressure game style and relying on the ball to hit the ground which can be effective but was countered by the Eagles game plan and is too taxing on the players.

With respect to the positives, Adams was our best midfielder of the night. Had a very good return game and took the game on at every opportunity. De Goey was considered quiet but still kicked 3 goals. One of these days, he's going to dominate and destroy a team.

1-2 isn't ideal, but we were in the same position this time last year so plenty of time to rectify things. The Eagles are the benchmark of the competition going forward. I think the hype around Geelong is overstated at this stage, but admittedly they haven't put a foot wrong so far this season.

Time to get back on track this Friday night against the Dogs.

[Raw Hammer]

We’ve lost 3 of our last 4 games, all against top caliber teams.

[Magpietothemax]

To Jezza
I thought we did OK aerially. I thought actually that we clearly prepared big time for the aerial contest, but neglected the aspect of ground ball contest. They smashed us at ground level for the contested ball. We need to analyse that aspect of the game, and how it happened.

[Jezza]

Bucks' full press conference hasn't been uploaded yet so can't post a full transcript, so here's a summary of what he said.