Post Match. Pies lose to Bulldogs - All comments please.

[derkd]

Thought I may avoid posting reviews until 24 hours later this season as opposed to an hour later when the frustration or euphoria is at it's zenith. So here goes:

1. Fasolo: emblematic game from Alex. From boiled lollies to chocolates within seconds continued last night. Struggles to convert in pivotal moments but seemed to be our most dangerous option up forward last night. Must NOT get injured!

4. Grundy: dominated against listless and non-existent Ruck competition last night. Thought he had more than 12 possessions from the naked eye, however his follow up ground ball work was invaluable. Needs to go forward more and exploit his opposing Ruck and kick 1 goal a game.

6. Goldsack: had the better of that "cheat" Stringer whom sought cheapies over the top all night. Needs more possessions and impact.

7. Treloar: only 4 score involvements out of 33 possessions despite a productive game. Lower the shank kicks Adam and you'll be exceptional.

9. White: Gets a bad wrap from the footy community, but hey he is "Jesse White" and he played a good Jesse White game. 18 possessions 8 marks, 1 goal, 1 important miss before half time after great mark.

10. Pendlebury: "Dependlebury" the elite and enough said.

11. Blair: An "abomination" and single-handedly came up with 6 ways to avoid capitalising on goal scoring opportunities. 6 other ways to "clanger up" to the Bulldogs advantage. Plus perpetuating what all is wrong with Pies injury and match committee selection by securing another AFL match against what is "fair and justified". Stamp his papers please!

13. Adams: great first half and inspirational gutsy play. Like Treloar he has to mitigate those 3 "Taylor Adams" dud kicks per week and hit targets.

16. Mayne: 13 disposals, 1 goal, 2 misses and 5 tackles. Like White he played a "Chris Mayne" game, and wouldn't expect much more as this is what he was recruited.

18. Varcoe: frustrating watching this guy sometimes. With his pace and skills he should do more and his "falling over" in the goal square late in game which let slip a certain goal was symptomatic of his night. No doubt our tribunal woes shall continue Monday

20. Reid: can't help feel he was wasted in a "lock down" role with Cloke despite taking the honours. Struggled when the ball hit the ground and his marking strength was somewhat missing alst night.

21. Phillips: excellent first up game albeit his 2nd half dropped off a tad. Frees Sidebottom to go forward.

22. Sidebottom: excellent game and great to see two things, namely: no dinky left foot kicks to the feet of forwards and him spending more time inside 50 hence the 2 goals. He has all the talent and nous to kick 40 if "allowed to" by Bucks

25. Crisp: a bit vanilla was how I would some up Jacks game. Think a shut down role on Dustin Martin would be just what he needs next week.

30. Moore: we all know Darcy is still a work in progress however his kicking errors in the last quarter and inability to mark last night were frustrating

31. Ramsay: He has a lot of fans on Nick's but despite 25 possessions last night, he seems to be reflective of where we are at as a club. Great endeavour but littered with poor skills, no left side and unintelligent (yes Jack you can rush a point: learn the rules son). Not in my best 22.

32. Hoskin-Elliott: 22 possessions, excellent skills and pace and seems to avoid "crab-like, lateral" intent by running direct to our goals. A delight to watch and hope injuries don't curtail this talent.

37. Maynard: a non-descript performance with his obligatory "goal giving away clanger" that hurts the team and us fans every time! See i like the kids...always gives a real go and i think we need to stick with him...Berg does not look ready again for seniors until we have a player ready and deserving of his spot in the side he deserves his spot.

38. Howe: exceptional performance and how we cry out for 2 of him! Has to be the best "pound for pound" mark of all time.

40. Smith: unfortunately had a mare last night after encouraging J.L.T series. Hunter led him a merry dance and his usual kicking and poise was lacking.

41. Schade: they say first impressions last and despite being an upgrade on Nathan Brown, he did get the jitters when the ball hit the ground and seemed to have a dose of the "Goldsack butter-fingers" on key occasions.

46. Mason: unfortunately he in the forward line was a complete disaster. Key dropped marks created coast to coast rebound goals to the Bulldogs on three occasions. His tap work in Ruck was excellent but can't help but feel in modern day footy, he is an anachronism and maybe Dekka should hold off on that "long-term" contract extension.

Coach:

Nathan's brand of "contested footy" was no doubt exhibited all night last night, however the following annoyed me:

1. Do we ever have 2-3 players "over the top" for those cheap goals. I mean seriously did and does this "ever happen"?

2. Does Nathan have a plan B when necessary that can arrest these 5 goal blitzes from continually happening?

3. Did any player move positions at all last night?? Beveridge swung Murphy, Johannisen, Bont and others around the park. Surely a Reid, Howe or Treloar resting forward was worth a shot at some stage.


NEXT WEEK:

In:

* Kirby: c'mon Nathan throw your conservative selection out the window and pick this X factor player ahead of Blair. Kicked 3 yesterday in Reserves game and 9 in 2 Reserves matches last year. Is this guy on the seniors list?...would want to see more then one good game then a VFL practice match before bring him in...would smack of desperation

* Broomhead: bugger match conditioning. We need his class and goal nous

* Elliott: apparently trained well and this week and looking like a chance.

* Aish: Should be over the flu


OUT:

* Blair: no further explanation needed
* Mason: let White go second Ruck
* Varcoe: even OJ's lawyers couldn't get a Pies player off. - felt like the Sidey incident last year...was stupid and undisciplined...achieved nothing but to get himself a few weeks off.
* Mayne: last man in first man out as they say (tad unlucky)



Knowing Bucks though he'll make 1 change being Varcoe out and Aish in!!

[HAL]

What would happen if you did?

[jackcass]

Hawks are garbage. They replaced two goal kicking champions of the club with two ball slaughtering, pointing kicking accumulators. Hodge will improve them and they will challenge for the eight with their reputation and calm winning some games they should lose. But at some point their old players are going to look quite old; burgoyne, gibson. They are a Cyril injury away from some real pain.

Agree, even when at their best a few years ago they were largely carried by a few absolute champions. They still rely too heavily on the individual brilliance of too few. Doubt they've done enough to regenerate their list and while Mitchell and JO'M might be very good players over their careers, it's too little, too late.

[What'sinaname]

Hawks are garbage. They replaced two goal kicking champions of the club with two ball slaughtering, pointing kicking accumulators. Hodge will improve them and they will challenge for the eight with their reputation and calm winning some games they should lose. But at some point their old players are going to look quite old; burgoyne, gibson. They are a Cyril injury away from some real pain.

Agree, even when at their best a few years ago they were largely carried by a few absolute champions. They still rely too heavily on the individual brilliance of too few. Doubt they've done enough to regenerate their list and while Mitchell and JO'M might be very good players over their careers, it's too little, too late.

Let's write off Hawthorn after we beat them. We've had 3 changes in Prime Minster since we last beat them.

[jackcass]

Haven't had a chance to watch the game yet but thought we'd struggle after seeing selection. When I saw the Doggies side I would have preferred to see Dunn play instead of Cox, Reid swung forward, Broomhead in as well instead of either Blair or Mayne.

Ultimately though when you convert at around 20% in the 1st when they go at better than 80%, when you concede 12 goals 8 from turnovers, you're always going to struggle to beat good sides.

[Mossi]

Premierships are won by teams that create new styles, perhaps having a midfield that runs 10-15 deep is the new style!

GO PIES

Your on to something here, looks like it's the path we are treading. Buckley even mentioned 18 mid-fielders

Have an opinion, but honestly, I don't want a lot of poster's on this site in the trenches next to me when we get down to it because, the team didn't give up last night, but a lot on Nick's apparently already have.

GO PIES

Disappointing but it's part of Nicks. A loss is a loss to some it doesn't matter how we played, dynamics of the game, how good the opposition was ..... each to their own.

[Donny]

He also got caught red handed with the ball... so the 100% efficiency idk

DISPOSAL efficiency.

Yes I understood that, but when the cold light of day is put out there.... it sorta makes a mockery of that stat. Seriously.

Seriously seriously ? DE is about your kicks and handpasses finding their target. Giving away a free doesn't change that.

[think positive]

1 goal 5 to 5 goals 1 that is why we lost
The sack Buckley mob refuse to see it
Its is not the game plan it is not the coach it was poor kicking at goal

Having said that Cox and Blair were awful so was Crisp
Dunn used to be a forward how about he replaces Cox at least he can do something when the ball is on the ground and has defensive skills

THIS ! BAD KICKING FOR GOAL IS BAD FOOTBALL, simple, it was 100 years ago, and it still applies, we went inside fifty far more than doggies, but coughed it up or missed soda snags, vital goals, we have gotta be more accurate, miss far too many at vital times.

We all know that, so who is the kicking / skills coach

[Piesnchess]

1 goal 5 to 5 goals 1 that is why we lost
The sack Buckley mob refuse to see it
Its is not the game plan it is not the coach it was poor kicking at goal

Having said that Cox and Blair were awful so was Crisp
Dunn used to be a forward how about he replaces Cox at least he can do something when the ball is on the ground and has defensive skills

THIS ! BAD KICKING FOR GOAL IS BAD FOOTBALL, simple, it was 100 years ago, and it still applies, we went inside fifty far more than doggies, but coughed it up or missed soda snags, vital goals, we have gotta be more accurate, miss far too many at vital times.

We all know that, so who is the kicking / skills coach

I dunno, but I wish it was peter McKenna.

[mooretreloar]

No doubt some of our poor skill execution on Friday night was self inflicted. However, some of the poor skill execution and what seemed like poor skill execution was brought about by the Dogs pressure acts and team defence.

If you watch the game closely their pressure acts were first class, such as excellent manning of the mark, great tackling and harassment of the player with the ball and bumping our player as they kicked or handballed.

A number of times we looked like we were going to mark inside 50, but the Dogs team defence was exemplary. Smothers, spoils and leaving their opponent to help their teammate, made our skills look worse than they were. Looking at that game closely there were about a dozen times this team defence saved them from us scoring.

No doubt our skills have to improve if we want to beat the top sides and this will come with continually exposing our young list to the pressure the Dogs and other top sides bring.

I think you will find our skills will be just fine against inferior opposition to the Dogs. If we butcher the ball again on Thursday night against inferior opposition, then I will be very concerned, as this is the only way Richmond have a chance of beating us.

The other thing that will help our skills are personnel changes, with the likes of Wells, Elliot and Broomhead being excellent ball users.

[kymbo5@yahoo.com.au]

I'm more optimistic than I have been for quite some time. Remember the bookies had the bulldogs at very short odds, suggesting we were in for a smashing. That did not happen. We were extremely competitive against the best team in the comp. We can't be unhappy with that.

I actually think our team just needs a bit of tweaking, to improve us by 5-10% and that will have us beating most sides without doubt. Currently the absence of De Goey, Wells and Greenwood has reduced our midfield depth and forced us to play Sidey in the middle for lengthy spells. He has shown that when he's playing around our goals, the goals will come. I reckon that our forward line will function significantly better when we have both Sidey and Elliott playing as traditional forward pockets. Obviously it's going to be crucial that we get the structure right playing Moore, Cox, White and Grundy. With Grundy our first ruck, it's clear that Cox and White need to spend time on the bench so at any one time we only have 2 key forwards. That's why I think we'll persevere with Cox, because, if nothing else, he is emerging as a very good tap ruckman.

As others have noted, we also have to improve our shape and structure, so as to avoid letting teams run the ball the length of the ground scoring easy goals without any pressure. To be honest, I'm not sure how we stop that, but I've got confidence that Bucks, Sanderson and Burns will identify our mistakes and teach our team how to tighten up defensively. So all in all, though I'm still disappointed we missed a fabulous chance to begin the season with a win, I'm optimistic we are heading in the right direction and already look better than last year. Having said that, the Tigers game is a must win. Go Pies!

PS. For those clamoring for us to play Kirby on the back of his 3 goal hall in a VFL practice game, the word is the club is working to significantly improve his fitness, so he can do all the defensive running necessary to prevent those easy opposition goals we are all so concerned about. So let the kid get on with playing good footy in the VFL, and when he's physically ready, as with young Daics, he'll get a game and be equipped to have an immediate impact at senior level.

Another rational, well articulated post from you Rudeboy. No panic, just straightforward analysis that makes sense. Whatever you are on, can you share it aound other members of this board.

[Born to Pie]

I'm more optimistic than I have been for quite some time. Remember the bookies had the bulldogs at very short odds, suggesting we were in for a smashing.

I actually think our team just needs a bit of tweaking, to improve us by 5-10% and that will have us beating most sides without doubt. Currently the absence of De Goey, Wells and Greenwood has reduced our midfield depth. I reckon that our forward line will function significantly better when we have both Sidey and Elliott playing as traditional forward pockets.

I've got confidence that Bucks, Sanderson and Burns will identify our mistakes and teach our team how to tighten up defensively. So all in all, though I'm still disappointed we missed a fabulous chance to begin the season with a win, I'm optimistic we are heading in the right direction Go Pies!

Another rational, well articulated post from you Rudeboy. No panic, just straightforward analysis that makes sense. Whatever you are on, can you share it aound other members of this board.

"LIKE" from me.

[Mugwump]

I'm more optimistic than I have been for quite some time. Remember the bookies had the bulldogs at very short odds, suggesting we were in for a smashing.

I actually think our team just needs a bit of tweaking, to improve us by 5-10% and that will have us beating most sides without doubt. Currently the absence of De Goey, Wells and Greenwood has reduced our midfield depth. I reckon that our forward line will function significantly better when we have both Sidey and Elliott playing as traditional forward pockets.

I've got confidence that Bucks, Sanderson and Burns will identify our mistakes and teach our team how to tighten up defensively. So all in all, though I'm still disappointed we missed a fabulous chance to begin the season with a win, I'm optimistic we are heading in the right direction Go Pies!

Another rational, well articulated post from you Rudeboy. No panic, just straightforward analysis that makes sense. Whatever you are on, can you share it aound other members of this board.

"LIKE" from me.

Yeah, I like it a lot too, but speaking as a Buckley diehard, I am still concerned that we leak those easy slingshot goals but never seem to get any ourselves. It has been happening way too long, and it's beginning to look like it is a flawed tactical strategy somewhere, rather than perosnnnel deficiency.

Other than that, I'm genuinely excited about how far we can go, as this list has some serious power. Three of the best players on our list were missing last night, and there were times when we looked awesome. Given a bit of a reprieve from the injury gods, I think it is going to be a good ride, 2017.

[Cam]

Let's write off Hawthorn after we beat them. We've had 3 changes in Prime Minster since we last beat them.

Not bad, I thought it might have been 5 changes in PM since we beat them.

[thompsoc]

no it is Guillard, Rudd, Abbott and Mr Habourside Mansion