Autopsy 2024 Rd 5 Blundering Blues give game away to Crows

[AlecDuncan]

Brilliant goal-kicking beats average goal-kicking. End of story.

Injuries didn't help.

 

[The Great Ian]

3 hammies, poor skills, lots of fumbling. Suggests a week of poor preparation.

 

[T2B_]

Surely, just surely we have enough of the D word to bring someone in for Ollie? I love the kid but he's seriously in struggle street right now. He might run all day but he can't make an impact, and isn't even going hard like he used to. Which suggests he's hurting and not doing well against the seasoned AFL bodies.

 

[BlueAbroad]

 

[Arr0w]

Crows shot the lights out, last time a team did that was 2 years ago

I thought we mostly controlled the stoppages and even when they got first hands on the pill, we generally forced them back

Early in the game we pressed really high, but on turnover, they worked harder forward to create extra numbers

We tweaked our positioning, but then gave them to much space for easy uncontested possessions

When we had ball in hand, their pressure forced us to kick long for shallow entries, when the better option was the extra outlet handball or a shorter hit up before a forward entry

The game came down to a number of moments, which they were harder and cleaner for longer

Think we are, where we should be considered a number of factors, but over the next 8 weeks, comes a true assessment of where we sit compared to the competition and or if we can maintain the form of the back end of last year

 

[DEliades]

I never felt like we got on top all night but we shouldn’t be losing that from 16 points up. That contest in the pocket when kemp thought it was going OOF was the changing point. 2 goals in 2 minutes after that

 

[Gethelred]

It’s his knees. I also reckon they are both aware of their strengths and weaknesses. It’s the best forward combo in the league and it’s only going to get better.

If his knees aren't up to allowing him to chase - or even really leap or get any burst acceleration, which he's struggled with a bit this year - why is he playing?

 

[JJBagger]

If his knees aren't up to allowing him to chase - or even really leap or get any burst acceleration, which he's struggled with a bit this year - why is he playing?

It's the sharp turning. He's obviously cogniscent of the risk of doing that with his injury history. He's done it since he's started playing again, it's nothing new

 

[Gethelred]

It's the sharp turning. He's obviously cogniscent of the risk of doing that with his injury history. He's done it since he's started playing again, it's nothing new

And it's lazy. He's playing lazy footy. He's twice as fast when there's potentially a goal available than he is when his opponent has the ball. I'll give him a pass if and only if I find out he's been carrying an injury over the last 5 weeks, because he's wrestling instead of doing what he's best at and leaping at the ball, going hard straight line at the ball carrier on the lead.

He can create a goal out of nothing. He has about the best hands in the comp. He is (most of the time) an excellent set shot kick and a long one. But he's working half as hard as Harry is at the moment, and that's not really on.

 

[InsufficientIntent]

Picking Pitto against a fast running side that embarrased us last year playing fast footy

Picking Pitto at all*

 

[PumpyChowdown]

We're not really dominating games, are we? Really need to pull our collective fingers out if we're serious about going deep into September.

 

[JJBagger]

We're not really dominating games, are we? Really need to pull our collective fingers out if we're serious about going deep into September.

It's round 5.... If we're doing that in round 20, then maybe. We need to aim to be peaking at the right time again this year

 

[The Fantom]

When Keays kicked the first goal I knew we were in for a tough day.

Owies is a conundrum, kicks goals but fails during key moments.

I’m counting 8 best 22 unavailable next week and that’s excluding Doc and JSOS.

 

[GoBlues!]

Why does Harry chase, lead up, do the 1 and 2% stuff, but Charlie doesn't have to tackle or play a man when he doesn't mark the ball?

Why does Harry kick 2 goals in the the first 5 mins then FA for the rest of the game, while Charlie is double teamed, scragged and still kicks 4 goals.

Harry has improved his kicking technique but 0 goals last week and 2 goals yesterday is not enough. As a key forward I’d prefer he kick more goals consistently tbh.

 

[Gethelred]

Why does Harry kick 2 goals in the the first 5 mins then FA for the rest of the game, while Charlie is double teamed, scragged and still kicks 4 goals.

Harry has improved his kicking technique but 0 goals last week and 2 goals yesterday is not enough. As a key forward I’d prefer he kick more goals consistently tbh.

There's a distinct difference between a player that chases and works hard and only manages to kick two goals - limited, but the effort's there - and a player who has it in them to be great but chooses not to chase. 'Wanting more goals from your forwards' does not equal 'Player x appears to be putting in more effort than player Y'.

These are different criticisms. AFL is a team game; simply allowing a player - no matter how much X factor they possess - to not do the team thing is not good footy.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Crows shot the lights out, last time a team did that was 2 years ago

I thought we mostly controlled the stoppages and even when they got first hands on the pill, we generally forced them back

Early in the game we pressed really high, but on turnover, they worked harder forward to create extra numbers

We tweaked our positioning, but then gave them to much space for easy uncontested possessions

When we had ball in hand, their pressure forced us to kick long for shallow entries, when the better option was the extra outlet handball or a shorter hit up before a forward entry

The game came down to a number of moments, which they were harder and cleaner for longer

Think we are, where we should be considered a number of factors, but over the next 8 weeks, comes a true assessment of where we sit compared to the competition and or if we can maintain the form of the back end of last year

Our defensive transition was really poor - their shots at goal were often from deep entries due to our lack of pressure defending.

Yes they kicked straight, but it’s not luck that they did.

 

[SOS Rules]

Flatter than a pancake this morning. Our cloke of invincibility has been pierced. I was enjoying the ride on the crest of the wave. Now I've been dumped.

I guess that's footy. We robbed Freo last week whilst most of the stats this week would suggest we should have won and being 16 points up well into the last quarter we should have.

We just contrived to do things all game that kept them in it and they were clinical when they got their chance. Too much space afforded to them all over the ground. As per usual our entries into fifty bar a few kicks from Chugga, Boydy and E Hollands were the usual hope and a prayer stuff. I'd love to attend a forwards strategy meeting. We have the tall forwards capable of getting separation on their opponent but they don't seem to want to do this consistently. Our pressure on their defence without ball in hand was sub par.

The reference to Benny Hill moments is so apt. Some comical things in the last five minutes really cost us.

Fantastic return by Sam Wow. Our clearance work was much better but the disposal thereafter was questionable. Harry and Charlie's goal kicking was off. We just seemed a bit off all game. Now some further injuries. All of this happened and we only lose by two pints. Upside is we can play a lot better but it will be a challenge with personnel missing.

Gonna be an interesting five weeks or so ahead. We've all just gotta be up for it.

 

[haveago]

That really SUCKED!

Just when Owies had nearly won me over..........

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Why does Harry chase, lead up, do the 1 and 2% stuff, but Charlie doesn't have to tackle or play a man when he doesn't mark the ball?

Been a concern of mine for nearly 2 years now with Charlie.

The big bags, Coleman medal etc have glossed over the area’s we really need him to improve in to be a complete player and make our forward line so much more functional.

 

[Gethelred]

Been a concern of mine for nearly 2 years now with Charlie.

The big bags, Coleman medal etc have glossed over the area’s we really need him to improve in to be a complete player and make our forward line so much more functional.

When/if he retires, I want us to get Hawkins as someone involved with forward line coaching. Not because he's a gun, but because he had to change his game dramatically halfway through his career because he couldn't move. Groin issues meant he couldn't bend over, couldn't beat his man in a wrestle where he once could beat three on one; it meant he couldn't burst off in a lead or burn off his defender through repeat efforts. He went from a leviathan to an also ran.

So, he became unselfish. He became an excellent field kick, and a strong presence in a pack to knock the ball in the right direction for the smalls. He started laying tackles and earning goals through workrate rather than athletic prowess.

That's what we need Charlie to do, Charlie and Harry both. Harry at least seems to have taken such to heart; he does on occasion miss a tackle he could've gotten, but that's because he's a lummox rather than he wasn't trying. Charlie needs to have a serious conversation with someone who asks him whether he wants to be remembered as a mercurial talent who didn't do what he needed to to become a team player or as the linchpin of a premiership side.

 

[GoBlues!]

There's a distinct difference between a player that chases and works hard and only manages to kick two goals - limited, but the effort's there - and a player who has it in them to be great but chooses not to chase. 'Wanting more goals from your forwards' does not equal 'Player x appears to be putting in more effort than player Y'.

These are different criticisms. AFL is a team game; simply allowing a player - no matter how much X factor they possess - to not do the team thing is not good footy.

Agree they are different criticisms about the function and purpose of forward line group.

We have a forward line with Harry and Charlie lauded as the best key forward combo - then a group of role players like Fogarty, Durdin, Cottrell, Fantasia, rotating mids who bring forward pressure but don’t kick many if any goals.

Criticising Charlie for not putting defensive effort in and just focussing on kicking goals is fine.

But if Harry and the rest of the group do wonderfully well in applying pressure but don’t kick enough goals then they are failing to do what’s expected of a forward line group/team.

Separate criticisms both valid imo.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

When/if he retires, I want us to get Hawkins as someone involved with forward line coaching. Not because he's a gun, but because he had to change his game dramatically halfway through his career because he couldn't move. Groin issues meant he couldn't bend over, couldn't beat his man in a wrestle where he once could beat three on one; it meant he couldn't burst off in a lead or burn off his defender through repeat efforts. He went from a leviathan to an also ran.

So, he became unselfish. He became an excellent field kick, and a strong presence in a pack to knock the ball in the right direction for the smalls. He started laying tackles and earning goals through workrate rather than athletic prowess.

That's what we need Charlie to do, Charlie and Harry both. Harry at least seems to have taken such to heart; he does on occasion miss a tackle he could've gotten, but that's because he's a lummox rather than he wasn't trying. Charlie needs to have a serious conversation with someone who asks him whether he wants to be remembered as a mercurial talent who didn't do what he needed to to become a team player or as the linchpin of a premiership side.

Dramatically improved his set shot accuracy as well with improved technique & routine etc, wouldn’t go astray at our club also…… might teach them about timing and to caress the kick instead of trying to kick the cover of it !!

 

[Gethelred]

Agree they are different criticisms about the function and purpose of forward line group.

We have a forward line with Harry and Charlie lauded as the best key forward combo - then a group of role players like Fogarty, Durdin, Cottrell, Fantasia, rotating mids who bring forward pressure but don’t kick many if any goals.

The problem there is that we got 8 goals from non-tall forwards; one from Pitto, Acres, Raz, Durdin, Owies, Cripps, Hollands, Cottrell. Of all the games to make that criticism, this is a poor one to demonstrate it. And because it's a poor game to make that criticism...

Criticising Charlie for not putting defensive effort in and just focussing on kicking goals is fine.

But if Harry and the rest of the group do wonderfully well in applying pressure but don’t kick enough goals then they are failing to do what’s expected of a forward line group/team.

Separate criticisms both valid imo.

... this fails to stick.

Part of the reason we lost yesterday - not the entirety, but a part - was our inability to retain the footy within our offensive half (1) and within our forward 50 (2). A key reason why we couldn't do that - obviously - is because Fog was out; he's the monster in there, and we needed our forward 50 pressure to go up a notch as a consequence. With him out, it becomes an across the board effort to compensate, and with Charlie not chasing or trying to tackle - letting himself wander off looking disinterested, akin to early career Jack Riewoldt - it gives them a buffer to accomplish a safe kick from D50.

More goals would be lovely, I agree. But of all the things to say are more important, this is a decidedly odd one for me.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

That really SUCKED!

Just when Owies had nearly won me over..........

Owies had a shocker. But this was a goal:

 

[carlton_99]

Owies had a shocker. But this was a goal:

View attachment 1959015

It was - but the goal umpire guessed it was touched and ARC are never going to overrule them unless there is a 3m gap between ball and hand.