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AFLW 2024 - Round 4 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
We see what we want to see.It is & every team can play a great game.
Stepping up when it’s necessary is what makes a good team.
We can play very well, doesn’t mean we are good.
St Kilda beat us, Sydney & Geelong - that doesn’t make them top 4 - but they did beat 2/4 prelim teams.
1. No, if we were we would have stayed thereWe see what we want to see.
Look at it unemotionally - facts are we were 2nd in the H&A ladder for some time at one point 2 games clear.
Are we going to ignore how/why we got there?
Was it because we had an easy draw? Hardly…
Speaking to the Geelong game shows our high bar - it was also our tipping point when injuries took hold of us.
I’m not saying everything is perfect.
But it’s ridiculous to look at the last couple of months and say “ that’s what we are” & ignore the previous 4 months.
I ask you two Qs;
1. Were we good enough to be 2nd on the ladder at R20?
2. What was the reason for the dramatic drop off?
The facts are;1. No, if we were we would have stayed there
2. Game style, tactics & personnel. How we fell apart after Q1 against GWS I have NFI - but I don’t think anyone fully understands it.
I do know our midfield structure & style has been an issue for a long time, we move the ball poorly (combination of style/structure & player performance) & our small forwards are too.
It’s looking unlikely we can get him without giving something valuable away.I think Houston makes us better, but if we miss out, I'm not concerned, we just have more currency to bring in talent at any level
Interesting off season no matter how it plays out, but like always, team growth comes from within
Bringing back "names" at the expense of role players doing a good job has been a common issue. It played a factor in finals last year and again from the GWS game this year and culminated in the EF. It's easy to say in hindsight because some guys come in and do well. Will be interesting if change of High Performance Manager impacts in this space.clearly availability of personnel was the biggest change
That something of value is likely a F1 as the main componentIt’s looking unlikely we can get him without giving something valuable away.
Do we invest in the now at the cost of our future?
Austin & Co about to play their GF.
We see what we want to see.
Look at it unemotionally - facts are we were 2nd in the H&A ladder for some time at one point 2 games clear.
Are we going to ignore how/why we got there?
Was it because we had an easy draw? Hardly…
Speaking to the Geelong game shows our high bar - it was also our tipping point when injuries took hold of us.
I’m not saying everything is perfect.
But it’s ridiculous to look at the last couple of months and say “ that’s what we are” & ignore the previous 4 months.
I ask you two Qs;
1. Were we good enough to be 2nd on the ladder at R20?
2. What was the reason for the dramatic drop off?
Some individuals from which some of that internal growth will hopefully emanate in 2025:I think Houston makes us better, but if we miss out, I'm not concerned, we just have more currency to bring in talent at any level
Interesting off season no matter how it plays out, but like always, team growth comes from within
I'm curious about the dynamic of guys returning from injury. Did HP clear them when they were not ready, or did HP say bring back via VFL and match committee said it they are cleared they can play seniors? Or were they on the same page?The head of fitness has been moved on. The strategy of "pushing them until you lose a few" was not one that was suited to our list, particularly this year.
Some individuals from which some of that internal growth will hopefully emanate in 2025:
Moir: Really hope he makes a giant leap over pre-season fitness-wise, and is available to play Round 1. Changes our mix significantly.
Boyd: Needs to be embraced as the designated receiver/kicker exiting D50. Play through him and the rewards will come, have to get him the ball more. I also think we just need to back him in generally, hit a rough patch of form last year but the talent is there.
Lord: Just looks a really good player, I think he will improve our midfield mix overall.
Kemp: Looked lively up forward and appeared to have very much bought in to the defensive requirements of a modern forward (Charlie Curnow I'm looking in your direction). Not certain he gets a game forward if we go with Moir, but I think he can have a good year as a tall option.
Cowan: Tracking very nicely but might take another leap into one of our better players next year.
Side note: people will scoff at this but I would think long and hard about one of Curnow or McKay going back, the whole 'twin towers' thing is way over-hyped for mine and I think it hurts us with how focused we are on getting the ball to them (defenders know exactly where to position themselves every time). Both guys would be guns behind the ball I feel, Curnow's kicking would be a huge weapon and I also think it would just be good for his development overall: playing in defence can be humbling at times and that might be a good thing for Charlie and truly complete him as a player.
The main worry for mine is the small forward brigade, really hard to find much there that improves us. I know Motlop's year was a complete write-off due to injury but I feel people are just assuming he'll be good next year when I'm not sure he has the body of work to back that up... Has good goal sense but overall seems slow and somewhat unsuited to modern football, to my eye.
Also hoping Young can have a good year after showing signs of life late on.
So we need twin tower defenders but not twin tower forwards? Why? To combat a team with twin tower forwards perhaps?Side note: people will scoff at this but I would think long and hard about one of Curnow or McKay going back, the whole 'twin towers' thing is way over-hyped for mine and I think it hurts us with how focused we are on getting the ball to them (defenders know exactly where to position themselves every time). Both guys would be guns behind the ball I feel, Curnow's kicking would be a huge weapon and I also think it would just be good for his development overall: playing in defence can be humbling at times and that might be a good thing for Charlie and truly complete him as a player.
One to lock down and the other to be more an interceptorSo we need twin tower defenders but not twin tower forwards? Why? To combat a team with twin tower forwards perhaps?
team selection every week (picking blokes who are fit and match hardened) and general game style way more relevant to our success than modest changes to the list....We need an injection of speed, agility, skill and more skill all over the ground. Next few trade periods are crucial, so let hope we have some luck. Lions have extremely lucky with father and son concessions 4 1st rounders a champion midfield over 2 seasons. They’ll be a super team for the next 5 years as their talent matures together.
You could use this to describe Geelong, Sydney and Brisbane but gee they give themselves a real chance each yearIs one flag then returning to mediocrity preferable to ten years of finals, but struggling to get the job done?
a good mini-bombshell is quite possible apparently, there’s often mixed fallout with bombs, of courseAnything else you can add would be appreciated.
Good bombshell? Bad bombshell?
Been floated on here, or new ground?
add in Round 0, an extra home game for both Sydney teams and both Adelaide teams (gather round) and a draw where Sydney plays its toughest games earlier in the season at the SCG and suddenly- the ladder lies.We were the 8th best team. We were going well, and fell away.
The ladder never lies.