OK, let's think about some positives

[DaVe86]

I agree Mick had a lousy night coaching, I agree selection was wrong, and I agree there was plenty to dislike about last nights game.

But ultimately, for all we did wrong, we still should've won the game.


More scoring shots, plus we had them on toast in the 3rd quarter. We had more inside 50's as well. If we had kicked those goals, we'd all be forgetting about all the other problems. A loss emphasises the negatives.



What was good???


- Presti is still the best - Totally shut down Riewoldt whilst he was on. In fact, the defence as a whole was fantastic. TO hole the best side in the comp to 10 goals is a job well done. Harry and Max were good as well.


- Luke Ball finds form - Kicking a bit better, 11 contested possessions. 10 kicks and 18 handballs is a good ratio for him as well. SHowed a bit of heart. Had an impact in the clearances which was vitally important.


- Dale Thomas is in good form - Not a massive night for Dale, but he had a say. He is coming on nicely this year.


- Travis Cloke took some contested marks - His still not there, but ultimately had 17 possessions and 9 marks. SO it was a par game for Clokey. Ultimately, he should not be our sole tall forward. If you put another tall up there, then he can have freedom to roam where he is at his best. Jack has offered nothing, so we have to find someone to go forward and compete. Leigh Brown and Fraser did not.


- Wellingham continues his good start - Not his best game either, but 26 disposals was a good return. His good in close.



- Dawes, Buckley, Reid and Nathan Brown played ok in the VFL - I think Dawes should come in. He has some form. Was not sensational today, but was competitive. Against Hawthorn, he'll get a lousy opponent. Buckley should offer pace. He was very good today in the 2nd half. Kicking is good, decision making still patchy but improving. I still hold out hope for Reid and Brown, although I think both may still be forwards.





Next week, my changes:

In: Buckley, Dawes, Shaw
Out: Lockyer, Fraser, McCarthy


Potential drop 1 of Beams or Sidebottom as well. We need more footspeed against the Hawks. Potentiall bring in Reid or Brown as backup for the big Hawk talls.

[John Wren]

[stui magpie]

[think positive]

[AN_Inkling]

[Hiss]

Yep start the sackings and that might motivate a few of these MIA types who we are to reliant on.

[roar]

[AN_Inkling]

Beams should never be dropped? Why not?
How did he play last night, in your eyes? I thought he was our worst, or certainly in our worst three. Only had 10 disposals, did little defensively, and didn't win the hard ball.

[roar]

^ I did think he was poor last night but certainly not in our worst 3. And although I was being a little facetious, I really cannot see Beams being dropped simply because he is one of our better players.

[Benno]

[sq3]

The only real positive is that MM has a fixed tenure contract and will be gone soon.

[42]

lack of polish? because we had no marking forward we were pushed wide into low% shots, hence our abysmal conversion.

but we were smashed in the middle after half time. wasn't just about the kicking for goal.

i agreewith Dave except macaffer doesnt warrant another week either and i thought fraser was one of the better players on thenight. one of the few winning in the air.

lockyer had a dirty nihgt but i reeckon tooves, macaffer and mccarthy out.

possibly, if wanting t send a msg, drop swan. will send a shudder down the club, and give him thye kick in the ass he needs

[swoop42]

Not sure if anyone else has raised it but am I the only one who thinks last nights match was just about as unappealing as football gets?

Yeah it was tough, tight and tense but boy was it butt ugly to watch.

Can't stand watching a game when all the 36 players on the field end up regularly in the one half of the field.

It just isn't football at it's finest for me.

The first positive for the night was we were able to match St.kilda for the first half whilst Riewoldt was still on the ground.

That's an improvement on last season.

The other positive was the ongoing good form of Wellingham and Thomas, the outstanding form of O'Brien, the return to form of Ball and the encouraging yet flawed(goal kicking) form of Cloke.

The first negative was the thinking that L.Brown or Fraser will ever be capable of making an impact as forwards on anything near a consistent level. Don't send part timers in do to a genuine forwards work.

The other negative not surprisingly was the inaccurate goal kicking during the third that probably cost us the game.

However by far the biggest negative was that despite the poor goal kicking we faded so badly in the last despite the saints being without there best player in the second half, there best defender having to sit out 20 minutes and there best midfielder suffering a big knock to the head.

Really poor kicking or not under those circumstances we should have won regardless.

We had a golden opportunity and we buggered it up.

Disappointing but encouraging with a lot of room for improvement is how I'd sum up our performance.

[Dave The Man]

Reckon it was Ball's Best Game this year

[DaVe86]

on Beams and Sidebottom.

I don't think we can in against the Hawks with Ball, O'Bree, Sidebottom, Beams, Pendlebury, McCarthy and Lockyer.

Just not enough footspeed there.

The Doggies usually beat the Hawks through footspeed. That's why I'd like to see Buckley in there.

Round 1 it proved a good decision to play Wellingham over Beams. He only had 10 disposals last night, and Sidebottom missed 2 crucial goals.

Agree both have been good...but I still think O'Bree is important to us and Ball had a good game.




I'd say out: Lockyer

In: Beams for Buckley and SHaw.

More run off half back that way


Then Dawes in for Fraser. Use Leigh Brown backup ruck, Hawks only have 1 ruck anyway.

Geelong proved big talls are Geelong's weakness. Dawes may not be better than Josh, but atleast he is a permanent forward. Josh is only a part-timer and is out of form.