Game Day Crows v Bombers - What’s Old is Crap Again

[Jack is Back]

After the Poort Pear game I had zero confidence against the Suns let alone the Bombers. Why did we go from dominating the match in the first half (but kicking like crap at goal) to be incapable of getting the ball into our F50 and letting them score the last 9 goals?

Everytime I think of tonight’s match I think of Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. I hope we win because it feels a lot better than losing but it would not surprise me if we are thumped. I think we are more likely to fall off the cliff rather than magically finding form and becoming a top four contender.

I will however be there cheering the boys along. Why do some posters spend so much time providing their insight on Bigfooty but can’t be bothered going to the match or even watching the telecast? Different folks ...........

 

[hey shorty]

Should win but then with the Jekyll and Hyde nature of our side who knows.

Lynch in is a huge inclusion, and I hope to see a similar midfield mix to what we saw last week.

 

[Betts are off]

Does anyone else get the feeling that we are on the doorstep of Wayne Milera finally becoming the full time midfielder we've all wanted him to be? It just seems like he is building his confidence back upto last year again now, and the coaches have made the decision to play him in the middle no matter what.

The Perfect storm!

If that doesn't get people excited then nothing will!

 

[Scorpus]

I think we would perform just as well tonight with significantly more youth in the team

 

[hey shorty]

I think we would perform just as well tonight with significantly more youth in the team

You say that, but the reality is if one guy wasn't in this side everyone would be happier.

And that's basically what it's come down to. We have no Jacobs, no Douglas, no Otten..... we just have Mackay and people can't stand it. I agree, he's not in our best lineup anymore, he's a solid SANFL footballer at best. But let's not pretend everyone wants a bunch of kids in the side..... We just want that one guy out.

I'd have left Stengle in, I'd have brought Jones back last week instead of Knight and MAYBE given Talia the week off for Butts because he deserves a game on performance alone.

Such is life, I don't see why people get so angry about things.

 

[Scorpus]

And that's basically what it's come down to. We have no Jacobs, no Douglas, no Otten..... we just have Mackay and people can't stand it. I agree, he's not in our best lineup anymore, he's a solid SANFL footballer at best. But let's not pretend everyone wants a bunch of kids in the side..... We just want that one guy out.

I think we'd perform roughly the same with Jenkins, Hartigan, Knight, Atkins and Mackay all sitting on the sidelines to be honest. You could even extend that to Walker and Betts, maybe a Smith or Laird too.

I'd have rather seen a refreshed side to get excited about, rather than a recycled and failed team once again

 

[hey shorty]

I don't doubt that, but let's not pretend for one moment 95% of people just want one guy out.

If we did that this week and lost tonight, those same people would smash the club for losing another home game.

 

[Betts are off]

I think we'd perform roughly the same with Jenkins, Hartigan, Knight, Atkins and Mackay all sitting on the sidelines to be honest. You could even extend that to Walker and Betts, maybe a Smith or Laird too.

I'd have rather seen a refreshed side to get excited about, rather than a recycled and failed team once again

I think you need to take Hartigan out of your list of primary drop candidates. He and Talia don't always perform (KPD never do), but more often then not they form a very difficult tandem to score against. And always allow our 3rd tall an opportunity to look like a star!

First Lever, then Doedee, then Keath, its quite clear that our system is set up to make the 3rd tall look like an AA. None of those guys look anywhere near as damaging or impactful when you take Hartigan or Talia out of the team, and for that reason alone, Hartigan has intrinsic value to our defensive system.

And this is coming from me, who was calling for us never to play Hartigan again before week 1!

 

[Scorpus]

I think you need to take Hartigan out of your list of primary drop candidates. He and Talia don't always perform (KPD never do), but more often then not they form a very difficult tandem to score against. And always allow our 3rd tall an opportunity to look like a star!

First Lever, then Doedee, then Keath, its quite clear that our system is set up to make the 3rd tall look like an AA. None of those guys look anywhere near as damaging or impactful when you take Hartigan or Talia out of the team, and for that reason alone, Hartigan has intrinsic value to our defensive system.

And this is coming from me, who was calling for us never to play Hartigan again before week 1!

I'm not necessarily saying these guys are bad players. They're just highly replaceable. Their output could be replaced with another AFL standard player and we'd probably be in a neutral position

 

[Bazz_27]

I think we'd perform roughly the same with Jenkins, Hartigan, Knight, Atkins and Mackay all sitting on the sidelines to be honest. You could even extend that to Walker and Betts, maybe a Smith or Laird too.

I'd have rather seen a refreshed side to get excited about, rather than a recycled and failed team once again

Stop day drinking Scorpus

 

[marty36]

I think we would perform just as well tonight with significantly more youth in the team

I guess we will have to take your word for that as there is no way of knowing if we would or wouldn't

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Betts are off]

I'm not necessarily saying these guys are bad players. They're just highly replaceable. Their output could be replaced with another AFL standard player and we'd probably be in a neutral position

No I get that, I was just pointing out that I don't feel like Hartigan belonged on that list. I think if you took him out and replaced him with a younger player it would very much impact our defensive structure.

The others, i'm with you!

 

[Scorpus]

Stop day drinking Scorpus

Both have underperformed this year.

 

[hey shorty]

Both have underperformed this year.

Laird in particular must have worn down a lot of credits, then again others have been given a fair few more chances.

 

[hey shorty]

Another thing worth mentioning tonight, is that ROB has a real chance to assert himself in ruck.

Playing against dear old Smacko, he's bigger, stronger, fitter.....and an actual ruckman. If he can't give our mids first look tonight he never will.

Question then becomes, what can we do with it.

 

[Betts are off]

Another thing worth mentioning tonight, is that ROB has a real chance to assert himself in ruck.

Playing against dear old Smacko, he's bigger, stronger, fitter.....and an actual ruckman. If he can't give our mids first look tonight he never will.

Question then becomes, what can we do with it.

I think this can’t be stressed enough. Against the Cats we were in it until they moved Blicavs into the ruck, and negated ROB’s influence. Against Port Lycett played well enough even on 1 leg to cause problems. And even last week Witts was a problem and we lost the center clearances.

ROB hasn’t played poorly, but he’s probably lost in the times we went missing.

He dominates tonight and our midfield looks completely different

 

[Scorpus]

I think McKernan will play exclusively as a ruck stopper. His aim will be to stop ROB from tackling mids and putting in repeat efforts around the ground. ROB is most effective when he has an unopposed ability to clear the ball or repeat tackle

 

[Crows I Am]

Another thing worth mentioning tonight, is that ROB has a real chance to assert himself in ruck.

Playing against dear old Smacko, he's bigger, stronger, fitter.....and an actual ruckman. If he can't give our mids first look tonight he never will.

Question then becomes, what can we do with it.

Who do the Bombers use for a backup? ROB will dominate the ruck tonight the same way he did against the Tigers

 

[hey shorty]

Who do the Bombers use for a backup? ROB will dominate the ruck tonight the same way he did against the Tigers

It'll be Hartley and Hooker I'd say, probably Brown at times too.

It should be a huge advantage for us, but that's asking a lot from a guy with less than 20 games in him.

 

[AmericanCrow]

Friday night, packed house, national stage, finals positioning in the offing

This is a MUST win—period

I expect nothing less then a W

Bring us home a winner those attending

 

[dude316]

Friday night, packed house, national stage, finals positioning in the offing

This is a MUST win—period

Unfortunately, those are the exact ingredients which nearly guarantees a loss for us.

 

[Betts are off]

It'll be Hartley and Hooker I'd say, probably Brown at times too.

It should be a huge advantage for us, but that's asking a lot from a guy with less than 20 games in him.

I don't think so, he's already proven it to himself and his teammates that he belongs at the level. Games like this are tailor made for him!

 

[ftmch]

Dons @ $2.96 is bloody good value imo

 

[feenix67]

If we can't beat a depleted Essendon at home with finals on the line, we may as well pack it in.

But...


They have the game to beat us if they get enough of the ball. This game is all about whether we have a midfield worth caring about. Lose this and we may as well put the whole lot of them on the trade table.

Bombers by 9 points

 

[AmericanCrow]

Unfortunately, those are the exact ingredients which nearly guarantees a loss for us.

Only last couple years, before that it was an automatic W