AFL Autopsy R20: Smashed by the Saints, and the season is cooked.

[DallasCrane316]

A lot of folks say we don't have the cattle. I disagree with this. I think we have so many players who are down in form and confidence. Persisting with the current game plan and structures further erodes this. It seems Scott is losing the players - they look like they don’t believe. It’s a worry because I don’t see how we improve on current output with this system in place.

Just like Woosha lost the players? And Rutten??

At some point, the focus needs to be on our players and how mentally weak they are.

The moment expectations were placed on them, they absolutely have crumbled.

 

[windyhill]

I was right near the scarf thrower, my mate said he should’ve tied it in knots to get more distance! ( not many left in the end !)

 

[windyhill]

You know things look proper grim when a burnout like Cupido is questioning players on responsibility.



View attachment 2061826

Nice one Cupes !

 

[Cold Sober]

Enough is enough by nuff nuffs, Hirdy for coach, get it done.
It's become an embarrassment to barrack for our mob.

 

[div12ressie]

Enough is enough by nuff nuffs, Hirdy for coach, get it done.
It's become an embarrassment to barrack for our mob.

straight facts

 

[Duckworth]

I was right near the scarf thrower, my mate said he should’ve tied it in knots to get more distance! ( not many left in the end !)

I thought that the distance he got on it was impressive.

 

[brutus76]

At least in the top up year of 2016 you could tell they were trying and gave 100% effort it was just a massive difference in ability

We DO NOT KNOW HOW TO WIN - you need leaders at all levels to show them HOW TO

 

[jdstorm]

Just like Woosha lost the players? And Rutten??

At some point, the focus needs to be on our players and how mentally weak they are.

The moment expectations were placed on them, they absolutely have crumbled.

If anything to me the issue is that the expectation of effort above all else has been lifted off the playing group.

The coaching group need to be consistent in their messaging and follow through with it even if it’s not easy.

At the start of the season the big expectations were

1. Must play with effort and physicality
2. The best Players will be picked in their best position and if that your preferred position you need to earn it at another spot or play VFL despite being too talented for VFL
3. Players will be fully healthy and fit.

Over the course of the season there were double standards applied to all of these expectations to the point that the coaching staff taught the playing group that the only expectation was to be popular and look decent in Mach sim vs a mediocre to bad VFL side.

Then we’ll we know what’s happened

 

[Phone]

Enough is enough by nuff nuffs, Hirdy for coach, get it done.
It's become an embarrassment to barrack for our mob.

hiring the coach at the helm when 34 players got doping bans is certainly one way to address this

 

[windyhill]

I thought that the distance he got on it was impressive.

Agreed, fair effort.

 

[dank420_]

Go on

He’s full of shit

 

[Thebisc]

Enough is enough by nuff nuffs, Hirdy for coach, get it done.
It's become an embarrassment to barrack for our mob.

Satire? Let’s get Sheeds in the box whilst we’re at it hey!

 

[Ess2025]

If anything to me the issue is that the expectation of effort above all else has been lifted off the playing group.

The coaching group need to be consistent in their messaging and follow through with it even if it’s not easy.

At the start of the season the big expectations were

1. Must play with effort and physicality
2. The best Players will be picked in their best position and if that your preferred position you need to earn it at another spot or play VFL despite being too talented for VFL
3. Players will be fully healthy and fit.

Over the course of the season there were double standards applied to all of these expectations to the point that the coaching staff taught the playing group that the only expectation was to be popular and look decent in Mach sim vs a mediocre to bad VFL side.

Then we’ll we know what’s happened

The problem with double standards is the message that it sends to the players. If you’re continually playing guys who clearly need to go back to the 2s while not rewarding those in the 2s for good form can only disillusion and alienate other team members.

 

[Cold Sober]

Satire? Let’s get Sheeds in the box whilst we’re at it hey!

Good to see I'm not the only person who drinks.

 

[Valve Bounce]

Interesting how Brad went to great lengths on how DYSON took his omission . He didn’t elaborate why we had 9 goals kicked against us . Brad ! Dyson was the MAN who could have stopped that rot . Brad ! You tore the heart out of our TEAM Brad ! You are NOT going to experience finals footie this year . Brad ! You lost the plot !

Regards , Valve

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Sorry to intrude and never post on oppo boards.....for obvious reasons.

Reading this thread is sooo similar to reading the Saints thread after a bad loss and this was a very bad loss for your club.

On Saints thread we have all said the following just like you guys are doing;
Sack the coach,
Forward entries are shit
Forwards not leading up
Leadership is shit.
Older players aren't up to it
On ballers play bruise free footy they're shit.
Our recruiting is shit etc

As a Saints supporter we have learnt things are never as good as them seem nor as bad as they seem.

You are a better side than you have shown against us but like us, sadly not top 6.

Difficult decision time at end of the year for your coaches regarding a few loyal soldiers...


On SM-S916B using BigFooty.com mobile app

yeah nah.

When we only beat West Coast by 6 points in round 8 the alarm bells were ringing. Everyone just chose to suck on copium and give Essendon excuses, like we always do. "West Coast are actually good in Perth" lol gagf.

Then we go onto to have a single good quarter against North in Round 10. For 3/4 qtrs, we were getting pansted in the contest by a group of absolutle mugs.

Then we barely beat a VFL Richmond List by 12 points.

Ever since we have been a ticking time bomb.

We are indeed a very shit team; we have just had a very favorable draw that covered it up. Our % has been absolutely dog water the entire year, which tells you the real story.

 

[Bombermania]

Has anyone got any audio on what Rama said?

If so please post. If it’s true, my word we have some deep seated issues at the footy club and we have far too many precious players who have no idea what’s required to win.

I've been trying to find something but so far found nothing.

 

[ant555]

Nothing you can add that we don't already know. The season, playing group and possibly club are beyond ****ed. I rashly posted at the halfway mark that this season was an improvement on last, almost on queue we haven't fired a shot since. It is almost an exact replication of last season and, most worryingly, it highlights that none of our known issues were addressed.

Problem 1: Recruiting. Our list is just woeful, unbalanced and non-competitive. We 'celebrate' trade week but yet again we do not have the list to compete. No small forwards, not a single one. No speed, really really really dumb footballers (I have maintained that we have had the dumbest football IQ in the league for last 20 years) and lack of speed across the board. Our midfield is a collection of the 'same' player - which means that if they don't match up well it is all over. Wasting a #1 pick on a half back turnover merchant probably sums in up. Most would trust Ant's judgement.. and the review is scathing. How many other teams sit and say that a top 10 midfielder needs 3 years in the VFL to be 'AFL Ready'?? To be a good club you need those young midfielders coming in and making an impact from season 1. Lack of ruck depth is alarming, Draper has never shown that he can actually be a dominant ruckman and we refuse to do anything about it. We are using a key forward as a winger and there are more holes than a dart board in our structures.

Problem 2: Selection. Scott is a stubborn bastard. Check his reviews from Norf and they gave us the good oil. Guy legit does not know how to identify a good team, change that team and adapt to conditions. Players out of position.. moving Martin back, forward and all abouts. Using 2 giraffes as wingers (looks good when they kick 1-2 goals.. but we are meant to ignore that we have ZERO defensive pressure on transition??). The non-selection of Hobbs is baffling.. the fact that Bryan can't even get a look in.. the ping pong selection of Heppell over Hind. The persistance with Perkins.. and Wright.. who are just out of form is crippling. I would add Langers in that bunch too.. either injury or confidence but looks lost right now. Picking a team of giants for games in the wet.. the list just goes on and on. Scott has limited ability to put a winning team on the table on Thursdays.

Problem 3: Leadership. McGrath as VC is all you need. Chronic lack of standards, onfield direction and players have lacked accountability for 20 years. Not sure how you change it but deep cultural issues. Tail wags the dog 100%.

Problem 4: Coaching/Game Plan. Said this consistently but it holds true. Game plan is still fuzzy.. as others have said.. what is our 'go to' style.. what are we trying to achieve. What do we want to be known for? the 'edge' was a short lived pipe dream.. there is no defensive toughness in this group.. and how do you apply manic pressure if you are playing talls everywhere?? It makes no sense. Players are still confused about defensive strategies.. our skills are lacking and we struggle to score. We just make the game looks so damn hard.

Problem 5: Fitness/Conditioning. We just suffer the same injuries all the time, constantly miss key players, and we are not fit enough. We drop off in games, drop off in seasons and just do not look fit or strong. We get muscled off the ball too easily. 20 years and multiple 'clean outs' and we still can't produce a competitive football team. Last time we actually looked match fit was Hird years. Last time this club looked like an actual AFL club is Hird years. Our recruits seem to take years, if ever, to actually 'fill out' and develop. How many years can we lament the 'boys against men' feel to our games?

There are plenty of others but that is my top 5 and they have been the same for a long time. There is no fix.. you need to clear out the junk and just bulk recruit. Trade Draper, Perkins, Parish, Shiel to grab some pick depth.. play Roberts, Tsatis, Hobbs, Bryan, Davey x 2 and just give them a month to see what they can do. Try to salvage something from yet another car crash season. The lack of effort against the Saints was deplorable.

Just on game plan. It will always be fuzzy if the cattle on the field are average . Average players play average football.
I think they want to play attacking football which is why Martin was sent to half back and why they drafted Roberts and Lual along with El-Hawi.
I doubt the game plan becomes clear until there is more changeover personnel wise or some of the current players develop more .

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Such a limp dick performance.

 

[Shanghaistu]

The problem with double standards is the message that it sends to the players. If you’re continually playing guys who clearly need to go back to the 2s while not rewarding those in the 2s for good form can only disillusion and alienate other team members

Along with about 80,000 + fans / members

 

[ash_1050]

A lot of overreaction here. We're putting much needed games into the younger guys and getting the cohesion together.

I expected us to finish 7th-10th this year and we're on track for that.

Next year is the year we need to win a final, not now.

 

[rumply]

A lot of overreaction here. We're putting much needed games into the younger guys and getting the cohesion together.

I expected us to finish 7th-10th this year and we're on track for that.

Next year is the year we need to win a final, not now.

errr....

 

[Squeaky]

A lot of overreaction here. We're putting much needed games into the younger guys and getting the cohesion together.

I expected us to finish 7th-10th this year and we're on track for that.

Next year is the year we need to win a final, not now.

Yeah but nah.
3 debutants in the last 2 seasons!
Games for Heppell, Laverde, (who has been solid most of the year tbf) Kelly, Goldy and Wright when unwarranted on form says otherwise to me.

 

[ash_1050]

errr....

2​	Draper, Sam	69​	25yr 10mth	28 Sep 1998	205cm​	105kg​	South Adelaide	Forward Ruck
14​	Ridley, Jordan	94​	25yr 9mth	20 Oct 1998	195cm​	94kg​	Oakleigh Chargers	Defender
28​	Duursma, Xavier	87​	24yr	7 Jul 2000	186cm​	82kg​	Gippsland Power	Midfield
6​	Caldwell, Jye	74​	23yr 10mth	28 Sep 2000	183cm​	83kg​	Bendigo Pioneers	Midfield Forward
23​	Jones, Harrison	48​	23yr 5mth	25 Feb 2001	196cm​	88kg​	Calder Cannons	Forward
37​	Martin, Nicholas	63​	23yr 3mth	3 Apr 2001	192cm​	86kg​	Colts	Defender Midfield
22​	Durham, Sam	67​	23yr	9 Jul 2001	185cm​	84kg​	Richmond	Midfield
13​	Cox, Nikolas	51​	22yr 6mth	15 Jan 2002	200cm​	94kg​	Northern Knights	Defender Midfield
16​	Perkins, Archie	78​	22yr 4mth	26 Mar 2002	188cm​	85kg​	Sandringham Dragons	Midfield Forward
47​	Menzie, Jye R	34​	21yr 9mth	28 Oct 2002	180cm​	84kg​	South Adelaide	Forward
8​	Hobbs, Ben	44​	20yr 10mth	16 Sep 2003	183cm​	80kg​	GWV Rebels	Midfield Forward
30​	Caddy, Nate	6​	19yr	14 Jul 2005	193cm​	88kg​	Northern Knights	Forward

That's your premiership window team right there. Most of them have had problems with injury, but most of them are getting game time as much as possible. Once they've got ~100 odd games under the belt we'll look a different outfit.

 

[rumply]

2​	Draper, Sam	69​	25yr 10mth	28 Sep 1998	205cm​	105kg​	South Adelaide	Forward Ruck
14​	Ridley, Jordan	94​	25yr 9mth	20 Oct 1998	195cm​	94kg​	Oakleigh Chargers	Defender
28​	Duursma, Xavier	87​	24yr	7 Jul 2000	186cm​	82kg​	Gippsland Power	Midfield
6​	Caldwell, Jye	74​	23yr 10mth	28 Sep 2000	183cm​	83kg​	Bendigo Pioneers	Midfield Forward
23​	Jones, Harrison	48​	23yr 5mth	25 Feb 2001	196cm​	88kg​	Calder Cannons	Forward
37​	Martin, Nicholas	63​	23yr 3mth	3 Apr 2001	192cm​	86kg​	Colts	Defender Midfield
22​	Durham, Sam	67​	23yr	9 Jul 2001	185cm​	84kg​	Richmond	Midfield
13​	Cox, Nikolas	51​	22yr 6mth	15 Jan 2002	200cm​	94kg​	Northern Knights	Defender Midfield
16​	Perkins, Archie	78​	22yr 4mth	26 Mar 2002	188cm​	85kg​	Sandringham Dragons	Midfield Forward
47​	Menzie, Jye R	34​	21yr 9mth	28 Oct 2002	180cm​	84kg​	South Adelaide	Forward
8​	Hobbs, Ben	44​	20yr 10mth	16 Sep 2003	183cm​	80kg​	GWV Rebels	Midfield Forward
30​	Caddy, Nate	6​	19yr	14 Jul 2005	193cm​	88kg​	Northern Knights	Forward

That's your premiership window team right there. Most of them have had problems with injury, but most of them are getting game time as much as possible. Once they've got ~100 odd games under the belt we'll look a different outfit.

As was posted, 3 debutants in 2 years is the issue. The club was (& probably still is) deluded enough to think it was on the cusp of something & just needed to tinker at the edges & it would all come together.