Review AFL NAB Challenge 1 autopsy - Gold Coast defeats Geelong by 8 points

[Tackle_happy]

Wow ... the people on here getting "worried" already really need a reality check.

One NAB game - check.
Heat and Humidity (closer to what Suns train in more often) - check.
Big men coming back from serious injury (Simpson) and time out of game (Clark) - check.
Players (Blicavs) playing in new positions - check.
Talls usually take a few weeks to get back in the swing of things (the ball speed/opposition/pressure just change from training to competitive game play) - check.
Fumbling and errant execution of skills on display - check.

There is absolutely nothing to take away from this game other than the 26 who played, played their first semi competitive game of the year and I will go out on a limb and say they probably enjoyed it (aside from heat/humidity).

How about those calling for heads wait until NAB 3 or the Season proper.

 

[you pick one]

Is that what we're throwing in when we sell Dawson?

Why? It's a darn good set of knives!

Well I sure hope it's not what the surgeons have left inside the poor bugger.

 

[tragiccat]

Wow ... the people on here getting "worried" already really need a reality check.

One NAB game - check.
Heat and Humidity (closer to what Suns train in more often) - check.
Big men coming back from serious injury (Simpson) and time out of game (Clark) - check.
Players (Blicavs) playing in new positions - check.
Talls usually take a few weeks to get back in the swing of things (the ball speed/opposition/pressure just change from training to competitive game play) - check.
Fumbling and errant execution of skills on display - check.

There is absolutely nothing to take away from this game other than the 26 who played, played their first semi competitive game of the year and I will go out on a limb and say they probably enjoyed it (aside from heat/humidity).

How about those calling for heads wait until NAB 3 or the Season proper.

No improvement in lack of ruck dominance - check
No improvement at centre clearances or at stoppages - check

 

[ChookNorris]

What other possible ruckman was available ?

Why did we have to play 2 ruckman and 2 pinch hitters (Clark, Blitz)?

 

[you pick one]

No improvement in lack of ruck dominance - check
No improvement at centre clearances or at stoppages - check

+Nothing new in the game plan -check
Nothing new coming out of defence and same old same old overuse of the pill going into attack-check

 

[Teriyakicat]

OK so due to circumstances beyond my control I missed the whole game. Although those circumstances did involve eating fresh baked bread and drinking homebrew so it wasn't all bad.

Looking forward to watching the full match replay. Tried the highlights on AFL.com.au but they should have been labelled highlights for Gold Coast.

Judging by the reactions of some on this thread, I'm guessing that based on first preseason games they're going to be penciling in Collingwood for the flag and Cats and Hawks to fight it out for the wooden spoon.

But in the 'highlights' I heard the commentators mention our clearance woes rearing their ugly head again. To be fair our midfield seems to be where a lot of the younger inexperienced players were - Selwood, Johnson, and GHS will be handy inclusions. Still, it's an early concern and will be interesting to see if it's a trend that continues in NAB 2.

Other concern without watching the game was despite the small final margin the scoring shots ended up 29-18 in their favour. 19 behinds suggests the final margin could have been much bigger.

Still, I made the prediction before the game that we likely wouldn't win, and it came true. Playing for the first time under a new coach always seems to bring out the best for players and no exception from Gold Coast. I'm sure I'll have some more thoughts after actually watching the game whether you want to hear them or not... I've managed to write this much without even watching it!

Lol- you still on that home brew??
You mentioned the difference between the two teams in scoring shots- that's a point that I meant to mention and has been touched in by others but yes- the margin could've been a fair old walloping had the GC capitalised on more of their chances. They missed some easy set shots. The Cats applied good pressure in the backline and it was scrambly at times, so GC's inaccuracy wasn't all from set shots. Unfortunately, at other times, GC players waltzed through the witches hats, looking like they had all the time in the world.

As for the highlights- when you watch the game, you'll see why the highlights package contained mostly GC passages of play

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Why did we have to play 2 ruckman and 2 pinch hitters (Clark, Blitz)?

Maybe because it's the first hit-out of the preseason in 33 degree heat and 70% humidity with a no.1 ruckman who had serious fitness problems

Anyways, don't remember ever seeing Clark at a center bounce not Blicavs either until the last qtr when the other two were stuffed, so I'm not sure you'd even consider they them 'pinch hitters' nor were they in the side for that role. What's the issue with seeing what the Irishman has in an environment that the result isn't overly important and no other viable options available?

 

[Teriyakicat]

Why did we have to play 2 ruckman and 2 pinch hitters (Clark, Blitz)?

I would say 1. No guarantee Simpson would make it through a game
2. Clark not ready for ruck- needs to stay forward till he gets confidence back.
3. No confidence in Lucey surviving a full game in tropical conditions
4. Blitz was insurance against 1, 3 falling over.

 

[catempire]

I can't have heat and humidity as an excuse. Both sides played in the same conditions. Gold Coast is not a tropical region of Australia so any advantage they had in the conditions was marginal.

 

[Tackle_happy]

No improvement in lack of ruck dominance - check
No improvement at centre clearances or at stoppages - check

In one pre-season game ...

 

[Pivo]

Lily Allen's "Smile" file.

No injuries is the obvious one, especially in trying conditions.

Motlop's game was terrific. After a poorish start (that kick from the fullback line, ugh) he really started to look like the 2013 Motlop in the second half. His creativity and head's up play was very good. The team first mentality for Lang's couple of goals was great to see and his goal from outside 50 late was a good sign to his fitness base.

Lang was the best of the kids from my (clearly biased) viewpoint. I love his desire to get involved but it is the little things that makes me smile. His know-how on where to run, to drop into holes to be a dangerous option and his vision (that switch across the ground in the third was a super bit of play for a kid in his second season). When Christensen left I earmarked Lang as the guy to slip into his role. After yesterday I still think he is the right option and will grow into that position with experience.

Gregson was busy and looks promising, Gore loves laying tackles and didn't look lost and Cockatoo showed glimpses of what he'll be able to do in time. On very early exposure the 2014 draftees look handy.

Clark's first half gave us in insight to what would happen to the Tin-man if he was left out in the elements for a few years but his second half was a bit better than I was expecting. Along with Walker (and hopefully Vardy later on) we appear to have some foils for Hawkins now which should be beneficial.

I thought Kolodjashnij was solid enough down back and hopefully he'll play all the NAB games and Guthrie again showed why many like him through the midfield (I love how he sometimes "bullet times" through traffic and finds a good release).

C+C Music Factory's "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm" file.

Clearances. Just looked like more of the same yesterday. Lucey getting a lesson isn't a big deal but Simpson (despite getting some credit for a few of his second efforts) looked outclassed. Yes, the conditions were trying but Smith had also been laid low in recent times with an ACL in 2013 and ankle issues last year. It isn't all the ruckmen though, I might be fairly naive in the ways of AFL but I still don't get why mids, when the tide is running against them, don't try and get on the goalside shoulder of their opponent to at least block or slow their man's way forward.

It is the first match where the result meant nothing but I was hoping to see something different in that area of our gameplan.

Getting out of defence also raised eyebrows but I'm prepared to put this down to first game of the year. Credit GC's pressure in their forward line but we made some bad choices back there and coughed the ball up a bit. If it continues then we might be in for a long year but I'll wait to see what we do in the next few matches. It was painful though.

Murdoch. Seems unfair to ping one guy in a nothing game but he wasn't great and with him closing in on 50 senior matches under his belt I expect a bit more from him. He'll no doubt open up the on-going debate about runners in the AFL. My view, being quick is great and all...as long as you can put it to use by breaking lines, running down opponents or getting on the end of the chain and burning off defenders to kick a goal. Murdoch doesn't seem to do much of any of these things often enough. Sam Blease take note as I suspect you'll get a chance next game.


Overall there were some good signs from a few guys, there were some worries with the overall gameplan and a couple of blokes but in conditions that weren't typical for footy in the first "competitive" hit-out of the year I'm not too fussed (but there are some things that have been stored away for future reference).

 

[Tackle_happy]

I can't have heat and humidity as an excuse. Both sides played in the same conditions. Gold Coast is not a tropical region of Australia so any advantage they had in the conditions was marginal.

Gold Coast gets more heat/humidity than we do down here. It's no excuse - it would just give them a slight edge in this sort of game as they would be used to it (albeit to a lesser extent than what Townsville can produce).

 

[catempire]

Gold Coast gets more heat/humidity than we do down here. It's no excuse - it would just give them a slight edge in this sort of game as they would be used to it (albeit to a lesser extent than what Townsville can produce).

Very slight. Playing better football was a FAR greater factor. I just don't think the conditions were worth mentioning in terms of the difference between the sides.

 

[bulletproof]

The fitness of Hawkins and Motlop is a major boost. They are match winners. I have been known to be negative but the fact is you are going to be a top 8 side when you have players like Hawkins, Selwood, Taylor, Motlop and Duncan in their prime footballing years. I think a solid top 8 season is the base case (injuries permitting). Whether we push higher might depend on clark, Stanley and improvement from Caddy, Guthrie and Blicavs.

 

[Tackle_happy]

Very slight. Playing better football was a FAR greater factor. I just don't think the conditions were worth mentioning in terms of the difference between the sides.

Yes and no. Heat/Humidity training is being touted as being much better for overall performance than Altitude for example. So if you take that into account and that it is hotter in QLD through the pre-season (aside from the odd day here or there) then those benefits will come both with acclimatisation to conditions that are similar and that 1% increased performance (depending).

Conjecture perhaps ... but from my days of footy at a relatively high level coupled with my time living in PNG when I was younger - I believe there is benefit when it comes to playing in similar conditions and at the very least how comfortable you feel in it.

 

[catempire]

Yes and no. Heat/Humidity training is being touted as being much better for overall performance than Altitude for example. So if you take that into account and that it is hotter in QLD through the pre-season (aside from the odd day here or there) then those benefits will come both with acclimatisation to conditions that are similar and that 1% increased performance (depending).

Conjecture perhaps ... but from my days of footy at a relatively high level coupled with my time living in PNG when I was younger - I believe there is benefit when it comes to playing in similar conditions and at the very least how comfortable you feel in it.

If I could be bothered I'd go to the BOM and demonstrate how it's not a material factor.

I'll just leave it at saying I don't think it is.

 

[mac_cat]

The fitness of Hawkins and Motlop is a major boost. They are match winners. I have been known to be negative but the fact is you are going to be a top 8 side when you have players like Hawkins, Selwood, Taylor, Motlop and Duncan in their prime footballing years. I think a solid top 8 season is the base case (injuries permitting). Whether we push higher might depend on clark, Stanley and improvement from Caddy, Guthrie and Blicavs.

One of the most disappointing players yesterday for me was Caddy. He's one of those middle-tier players that really needs to step up a level this year, like Duncan and Motlop have in previous years. Unlike Guthrie, who looked like he's really improved in the off-season, Caddy didnt seem to be involved as much as hoped, and his disposal wasn't anything special.

Of course it's only the first game of the pre-season, so no final judgements can be made yet. But Caddy will be the one I'm keeping an eye on, and expecting more from.

 

[WaxiesDargle]

Getting out of defence also raised eyebrows but I'm prepared to put this down to first game of the year. Credit GC's pressure in their forward line but we made some bad choices back there and coughed the ball up a bit. If it continues then we might be in for a long year but I'll wait to see what we do in the next few matches. It was painful though.

I thought we struggled a bit with this as well. Certainly not panicking at this stage but it seems the opposition are to be able to get the ball out of defense a lot easier than us. I think we tried to move the ball out of defense quickly (which we need to) but on occasions tried to move it too quickly. Harry played on at one point and hand balled to Motlop in the back pocket flat footed and put him straight under pressure. Motlops kick was stupid but he was unnessarily under the pump. I don't mind the long kick down the middle but unless it's Hawkins marking it we don't really have another tall marking option (Simpson can't take contested marks). Hopefully Clark & Stanley up the ground can provide that get out of jail kick out of 50.
I feel as though we have lacked a bit of speed, creativity and good ball use out of defensive 50 the last couple of seasons so I'm hoping this is something that can improve in 2015. We can sometimes get caught out coming out of the back 50 by resorting to long bombing and over possessing.
But in saying that it was a scrappy NAB game so I'm not going to read too much into it.

 

[bulletproof]

One of the most disappointing players yesterday for me was Caddy. He's one of those middle-tier players that really needs to step up a level this year, like Duncan and Motlop have in previous years. Unlike Guthrie, who looked like he's really improved in the off-season, Caddy didnt seem to be involved as much as hoped, and his disposal wasn't anything special.

Of course it's only the first game of the pre-season, so no final judgements can be made yet. But Caddy will be the one I'm keeping an eye on, and expecting more from.

I wouldn't be too worried about Caddy. I think he is the type of player who relies on intensity and a real bash and crash game to get himself going. He just might have been a bit off yesterday.

He is not a natural footballer like say Duncan who just picks up where he left off. Caddy needs work and grinds through his gears. He will be ready for Round 1.

 

[catempire]

did you even listen to Tom Lonergan speak about the conditions? As soon as he came off the field for a breather
He mentioned how slippery it made the ball and how he was hoping it would eventually cool down.

Where as Gold Coast got to play in nice dry mild conditions, hey Bobby?

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Where as Gold Coast got to play in nice dry mild conditions, hey Bobby?

They'd be much more accustomed to it after the summer we've had up here and training in those type of conditions day in and day out. The same as a wet, cold day at Kardinia park would probably advantage us.

 

[WaxiesDargle]

One of the most disappointing players yesterday for me was Caddy. He's one of those middle-tier players that really needs to step up a level this year, like Duncan and Motlop have in previous years. Unlike Guthrie, who looked like he's really improved in the off-season, Caddy didnt seem to be involved as much as hoped, and his disposal wasn't anything special.

Of course it's only the first game of the pre-season, so no final judgements can be made yet. But Caddy will be the one I'm keeping an eye on, and expecting more from.

I'd expect Caddy to see more midfield time during the proper season. None of our key midfield brigade had a heap of the ball (except maybe Bartel) and that's probably down to the heavy rotations and the nature of the NAB challenge games. Plenty of guys went through the middle to spread the workload so I wouldn't say Caddy was disappointing given the nature of the game. He had 16 touches and did a bit of inside grunt work but I wouldn't really expect too much from any of the boys this early in the season.

 

[kicksome]

i think caddy plays for september

 

[WaxiesDargle]

Thurlow is a beautiful kick, he's one we will be missing early in the year but get him back there and we can get some good run and carry generated. I can't see how we improve if we do not play at least two of those younger in the defence because judging yesterday's game, Rivers would only slow us down even more.
As you say, it's the get out of jail kick to the wings which we are lacking. Suns used Lynch for this perfectly and he was probably the difference in the game when we were attacking in the final minutes.
But it is game one and some guys like Kersten, Simpson and Clark have not played for a very long time and all three have been on modified training programs so they will only get better with each passing game.

Yeah agree, Thurlow was definitely a big blow. He's the perfect player to have down there. Defensively he's sound and like you said, he's a beautiful kick and can generate plenty of run and carry. He seems to know when to push forward as well and link up through the middle. Hopefully he's not too far off.
This is the reason I'm also not opposed to Smedts as a HBF. He has the ability to generate some run off half back but I think he can struggle a bit with the defensive side of it and can lose his opponent at times. I think he did alright yesterday and looked as though he was focused on shutting down his opponent. Hopefully the attacking aspect will come once he's more comfortable down there.

 

[catempire]

only an idiot would say the Suns are not acclimatized to those kind of conditions because honestly mate, if you have ever been upto Brisbane at this time of the year, you would get my drift.
They train full time in sticky, hot weather whereas Victoria is a much different kind of heat.

Resorting to insults again Bobby? Shall I expect another PM apologising again?