Autopsy AFL 2017 - R5 - What have you liked, learnt or hated?

[Carnage]

Liked:
Undefeated crows

Learnt:
Geelong is going to be a huge challenge.
Selwood imposing himself on that game was sensational.

Hated:
After years of crows dominating minor season I'm just waiting for the inevitable choke come finals time (or rd23 in last years case)

We've waited nearly 20yrs.
Time to deliver.

 

[PhatBoy]

It's a combination of things: their own incompetence, of course; a little bit of bad luck (in St.Kilda's case); and being denied the best draft picks by the likes of Gold Coast and GWS... I still think it stinks that clubs that have been with us since the beginning of the competition are being overtaken by the newcomers who've gotten multiple leg-ups from the AFL.

Sorry but Melbourne had their chance well before the Suns and Giants came along and have still had 'the best of the rest' yet have been unable to outperform most of the other clubs that were down there with them.
The saints were silly enough to bottom out and start again after being up the top when they knew it would be tougher - it's not as though the AFL rocked up on draft day and said 'oh by the way boys, these two sides will be getting a leg up so you miss out' and they had to just deal with it on the day.

 

[Jarman3]

It's a combination of things: their own incompetence, of course; a little bit of bad luck (in St.Kilda's case); and being denied the best draft picks by the likes of Gold Coast and GWS... I still think it stinks that clubs that have been with us since the beginning of the competition are being overtaken by the newcomers who've gotten multiple leg-ups from the AFL.

They've gone without a premiership for decades prior to GWS and GC coming in, you can't really peg the blame for that failure on the new clubs. What sort of leg-up could the AFL give them, anyway? Bonus draft picks? The whole reason behind their failure is because they haven't drafted / developed well, so even with that kind of assistance they'd probably have squandered it anyway.

St Kilda and Melbourne have been picking their players from the same drafts as Hawthorn who won 3 in a row. The Bulldogs (and Geelong a decade before them) were in a similar position, but they dragged themselves out of it and won a flag by getting their recruiting, development and coaching right. St Kilda and Melbourne can do the same.

And it's not like the AFL's assistance to the new clubs has been a recipe for success - yeah, GWS are looking strong, but the Suns are mid-table at best. The real issue for me is more around the ongoing boost that the expansion teams get from the academies rather than the initial draft concessions that they were given. But again, look at the state of the Queensland teams vs GWS - having an academy only helps so far.

 

[coniglio_number1]

In terms of locking teams out of the drafts.

2011 draft: yes we locked out teams but how else do you put players in a team in a state with no strong local league to draw from and without creating Brisbane bears MK2

2012 draft: we have outside of picks you get for ladder position we have Aiden corr

2013 draft: no gifts this draft that affected other teams. Kelly we obtained in a trade deal with Melbourne who got Tyson, Salem, hunt and omac from the picks. Lobb was a second round selection so every team had a shot at him.

2014 draft: only have finlayson left and I don't think the rest of the comp cares

2015 draft: academy produces our first first rounders after 5 years, outrage leads to change in drafting rules

2016 draft: academy again produces first rounders, outrage leads to further drafting rules changes leading to direct removal of 3 first round prospects

2017 draft: zero first round academy prospects along with 1000 point penalty due to Whitfield case. Will likely lead to "normalised" draft process for GWS outside of trading

 

[asanque]

Liked: Winning a game (its been a tough opening to the season)

Learnt: Crows are pretty bloody good. Lost Talia in opening minutes and still smashed Suns.

Hated: Abysmal umpiring throughout most of this round (particularly Lions v Dogs, Cats v Saints, GWS v Swans and Hawks v WCE)

 

[madhawksfan]

Liked:

Winning in such an emphatic manner.

Also liked that despite the fact we apparently have no good youth, our young players had a huge impact.

Hated:

Umpiring.

Learnt:

Swans aren't challenging for a flag even if they get their full squad back.

Eagles MCG hoodoo is real

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Learnt that the Crows need to find out why their players are dropping like flies with hammy injuries. Seems like another 1 or 2 players every week and it's probably only one of the few things that can derail their season.

Didn't the Bombers have a big run of hammy injuries in 2012?

 

[Great8]

Didn't the Bombers have a big run of hammy injuries in 2012?

Only after we stopped taking our vitamins

Rocket did mention in his presser after the game that the Crows looked very physically well developed

 

[Carnage]

Only after we stopped taking our vitamins

Rocket did mention in his presser after the game that the Crows looked very physically well developed

When the captain would be close to the strongest bloke in their gym I bet they'd be some pre-season friendly competition for all to improve.

I remember the 2007/2009 Geelong teams used to make everyone look small.
Same with the Lions 3peat beasts.

 

[ItsOver9000]

The game has really changed since the Dunstalls and Locketts of the world managed to keep up five goals per game.

There was no better site that seeing the wingman screaming down the wing and having Dunstall, Ablett, or lockett coming out of the goalsquare. The sound the crowd made was unbelievable. Really do miss that these days

 

[marcus1232]

Liked - Seb Ross quietly going about becoming a really good footballer

Learned - Jack Steven and Seb Ross are screaming for help in the middle, Jack Steele and Blake Acres are coming along nicely. But Dunstan seems to have stagnated.

Hated - Gresham dropping that mark in the final quarter. As an AFL standard player you just have to take those. Go up the other end within 10 seconds and dangerfield goals killed the spirit of the saints.

 

[hk89]

Says the Melbourne fan who's team struggles to draw a decent crowd. How many did Melbourne get against Fremantle last week?

Less than we got, and they had prime spot on Saturday 1:45, while we had the shit-for-families 4:40 Sunday afternoon slot. I'll forgive their fans for not turning up though if they can cheer their team to a win tonight.

 

[Carnage]

Less than we got, and they had prime spot on Saturday 1:45, while we had the shit-for-families 4:40 Sunday afternoon slot. I'll forgive their fans for not turning up though if they can cheer their team to a win tonight.

1.45 Saturday is the worst time of the weekend.

Everyone is playing local footy.

 

[hk89]

1.45 Saturday is the worst time of the weekend.

I think fans hate 4:40 on a Sunday more. There were only 6 games played at that time last year in Melbourne , all at Docklands, and they averaged only 25k, which is 5k lower than the Docklands average. There was only 2 1:45 games, so not a great sample size, but they were a bit higher at 28.5k average.

 

[Sttew]

Must admit I'm quite looking forward to Crows playing Geelong as I want to see if we've finally learned some lessons from our encounters last year or if we just serve up the same old.

Will probably go 1:1 with home teams winning

 

[Sttew]

Hawthorn have over 71k members and only 28k made it to the G on a sunny Sunday afternoon. With four premierships since 2008, I've learnt their supporters are pathetic.

There is still a no pet policy at the MCG

 

[bungalow_bill]

Mother of God. Most teams that would be 6 of your best 10 players, GWS its just a few handy ins on the pine.

Downside is some more will leave for more opportunity / more money

 

[Sttew]

Like:
1. Selwood
2. Dangerwood were/was not uber-dominant this week

Learnt:
1. Write Hawks off at your peril
2. The 4th quarter is the premiership quarter....at least for Geelong

Hated:
1. Seeing North lose another game by the slenderest of margins

 

[Tyrone Time]

Liked - Robbo getting whacked

Learnt - Robbo victim blames

Hatred - That we didn't trade Cyril Rioli as he's moving to the Tiwi Islands and we are going to get nothing for him.

 

[Rotayjay]

Learnt: Melbourne aren't really that good

 

[demondavey]

Liked - Leaving early and getting a train virtually commuter free.
Learnt - I won't go to the football again this year.
Hated - Melbourne

 

[demondavey]

Learnt: Melbourne aren't really that good

Melbourne are bottom 4. You watch. Bottom 4 will be Melbourne, Carlton, Brisbane, Essendon.

 

[telsor]

Melbourne are bottom 4. You watch. Bottom 4 will be Melbourne, Carlton, Brisbane, Essendon.

Tanking* already?


* Of course, tanking is not meant in any sense that the AFL would recognise.

 

[demondavey]

Tanking* already?


* Of course, tanking is not meant in any sense that the AFL would recognise.

Mate we aren't tanking, we are just a bad side!

 

[Sedat!]

Learned - Jack Steven and Seb Ross are screaming for help in the middle, Jack Steele and Blake Acres are coming along nicely. But Dunstan seems to have stagnated.

Hindsight post but Petracca and Bontempelli would have complimented what you already have in the midfield - Petracca the Dusty bull type and Bont the Pendlebury great vision and ball use type.