Post Match. Pies tie again. All comments.

[neil]

Anyone else notice how much like Noble Richards looks?
Harrison is going to be a gun

[piffdog]

Shame to miss the other two points and the additional injuries carry a bit more weight (again…).
Thought Harrison and Richards absolutely held their own and I feel for Sullivan. He’ll potentially feel he cost us the game , but we had our chances to well and truly put it to bed as others have stated.
It’s funny how often a boring as batshit team like Freo (remember Saints game in Adelaide for gather round last year also) put you to sleep watching until they know they’re likely to lose and then they throw caution to the wind.

[shawthing]

The more I mull over this match the more angry I get.

Okay, let's say straight off that all we needed to do was kick one more goal in the last and we'd have won the game. We fell into the same trap Hawthorn did in the last against Port. We should have won the game, BUT, we were down to two on the bench for the entire last quarter, and we'd already been decimated by injuries before the game. The fact we were in with a real winning chance was full credit to the players' efforts. Fly is 100% right there. Yes we missed some easy shots. All that is true.

BUT.... we still got robbed on national TV. And not just by the bald maggot <snip>. No it was the earlier failure to act on the review when Q clearly touched the ball. Seven showed the ARC footage that clearly showed the ball was touched, but "nothing to see here."

No I'm angry and pissed at the AFL this morning. And if they get their wish to hand the flag to their pet Swans, then I'll wring somebody's neck!

[shawthing]

[slangman]

[stoliboy]

The AFL have put out a statement but can’t seem to find it. There are a few articles posting excerpts from the statement.

This one from the AFL website: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1136678/league-ticks-off-controversial-pies-umpiring-call/amp

In a statement on Saturday, the AFL said "time-wasting" was correctly paid against Sullivan for handing the ball to another player rather than the umpire.

The league confirmed time-wasting free kicks had been paid four times previously this season.

[DT]

I was angry about the second half performance against Hawthorn but not the performance last week or last night. With no injuries we win both of those matches comfortably.

Harrison just looks like he belongs. He is getting better each week. Quick, great pressure and has good skills and game awareness.
Richards - I love clean players - wonder whether one of the issues with Macrae is that he isn't as clean and can fumble a bit?
Hopefully McInnes and Howe can return next week. And I suspect Mihocek may only miss one week. Cox was already banged up before last night so a rest will do him good.

The real worry is the lack of any viable back up Ruckman and the abysmal form of AJ and Kreuger.

[Pies2016]

F W I W, the Dockers were without two of their best 22 players - Michael Frederick and Brennan Cox. All things equal, I’d enjoy any opportunity to play against them again this season.

[derkd]

[stoliboy]

Tony Shaw: Matthew Nicholls’ free kick was ‘over the top officiating’
https://www.3aw.com.au/tony-shaw-matthew-nicholls-free-kick-was-over-the-top-officiating/

[Gerry Cooper]

Firstly anyone who thought Freo on their home deck before their home crowd would be an easy kill had rocks in their head.

Yes that umpiring decision was stupidly officious but I think that's all it was. That dimwit had a brain fart is all. Did it cost us the game? It didnt help but we were still 14 points up after that goal with ample time to win it.

I thought we did damn well actually. Five day break, 6 or 7 rookie players, in game injuries, a top class opposition on their home deck in WA. That for most teams is a recipe for a massacre but we almost stole the four points. We ran out of legs at the end and looked sluggish early, and as some have pointed went defensive way too early with predictable results. Note to Fly: "The best form of defence is attack".

I was really happy with the teams performance overall. The only bummer maybe was Schultz who looked mentally unprepared for the pressure of playing against his old team. I think Freo moved into his head earlier in the week after their statements about him and stayed there all game. That said his miss in the last could have sealed it and with his kicking skills he should have nailed it. But then so should have Mihocek, Hill and Sullivan in the second quarter. That's how it goes. Bad kicking loses matches as always. That's what beat us in the end, not the umpires.

Cameron was great all game in the ruck and around the ground. His marking pressure was superb. Lipinski was excellent, and is showing this year what he is capable of when fit. Pendles battled hard (with injury) as did Sidebottom. However in high speed, high pressure games Sidebottom gets exposed for speed of movement and mind at times. In easier games we cover for him but games like this its not possible. If we didnt have injuries maybe he might have been rested, I dont know.

All the kids did really well, though Allen hasn't found the pace of senior football yet I thought. Dean looks like he is a natural lock in defence. He even looks like a typical defender hehe. Harrison, Richards, and Sullivan all did excellently though Sullivan needs to work on his finishing. With a little presence of mind he might have had two goals to his name. Parker looks like he might have something but need to see more of him developing I guess.

IQ has lifted significantly and that might be his best game this year (Also he admitted he didnt touch that ball - he's a smart footballer though trying that hehe). Noble was top class as was Darcy Moore. Same with Billy who looked like he enjoyed his move on the ball and forward I thought and showed he is a more viable forward pinch hitter at times. We missed Oleg who has been playing more a lock down role this year and that allowed Freo to play through Sidebottom more. Longmuir is a smart coach and would have advised his players to do that.

ND and JD both had good games I thought, Nick was a little off but I suspect like everyone else he is a bit fatigued from our schedule. Brodie was massive in that third quarter, his attack on the ball was awesome. Bobby was always dangerous when he got near the ball too. McCreery was still a little off. not surprising he has been average at best all year. I think moving him onto the ball is a good move. He needs to give us more and on the ball is the place to do it.

Im happy we got the two points and I think both sides can hold their heads high after that 100% tussle. We seem to enjoy playing them as they do us and the game was played in a pretty good spirit mostly. Next week is going to be a real challenge and it might be hard for us to be sharp and ready for the contest next week. Our young players are playing well but will have ordinary performances sometimes - we have to expect that and not go crazy on them when it happens. Im still confident we can win next week as the Dogs aren't as good as Freo or even Adelaide. They will be looking for the kill but Im hoping our wounded Magpies can do the job again.

[stoliboy]

Caroline Wilson and Leigh Matthews weigh in on the controversial Matthew Nicholls free kick
https://www.3aw.com.au/caroline-wilson-and-leigh-matthews-weigh-in-on-the-controversial-matthew-nicholls-free-kick/

[Pete 70]

I’m still bitter and twisted. There is so much shit against us they let go. Let’s do the counter factual. No free. Ball up. Possibly they kick a goal but statistically unlikely given how that has gone for them during the game, so the ball bobbles around 30 seconds pass, point. Anyone really thinking they win from this point. **** me some kid from Coburg will get a run with us this week. We have 17 injuries. And we own them. Game over - and then up steps the muppet. I seriously thiink we can go back to back if we can jag top 4, and I love the kids coming through.

[Piesnchess]

FACT, if we can get to point of being 25 points up, late in match, with massive injuries, 17 players out, with six kids playing ten games between them, in the side, IMAGINE how far in front we wouldhave been with JDG, elliott, WHE, Howe in the team, we would have been 45 points up , maybe 55, even, on Freos home deck too. Dockers VERY lucky to draw that one, only with a little help from their friends, the yellow maggot. Yeh we finish top 4, look out !

[MagpiesTheGreat]

Kids playing well.
So many injuries.
*&^%$# umpires.
Freo at home, been in good form.

Not bad to return home with 2 points.