- Aug 9, 2019
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6 goals from centre square clearances surely means ROB and the mids did OK.
Review R22: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. Footscray
- Thread starter jamesclean
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jenny61_99
Premium Platinum
We all know what happened. Nicks changed the attacking style of play from last year to try to shore up our poor defensive efforts. We’d lost a lot of close games last year and they were working on a definite weakness. However, in so doing, he buggered us up until it was too late to fix. Since those first four weeks though, we’ve won 8, drawn 1 and lost 8. We were only blown away in two of those 17 matches against Hawthorn who are on fire and Sydney the ladder leaders. We’ve won by 2, 57, 30, 99, 16, 32, 2 and 39 - including 3 games away. We’ve lost by 3, 4, 27, 8, 42, 11, 66, and 5 - including 4 home games. We’ve beaten Carlton, Essendon, Port, GWS and WB, and lost by 3 to Essendon, drew with Brisbane and then lost to them by 11, lost by 4 to Collingwood, - all were either in the 8 or vying for a position. We aren’t that far off it.
I’ve been saying all year, we are there and there abouts. And it is very clear, we’ve got the structure of a very nice footy team in place. Our forward line will be as elite as Port’s midfield (if they aren’t already). Our defenders are a work in progress but will be better for the massive learning curve they’ve had this year. Our midfield has some real gems developing now (Soligo, Taylor, Rankine, Dawson and Crouch with a smattering of Curtin and Rachele). What would be ideal, is to bring in an experienced big body mid.
I don’t think Nicks is the one to take us forward, but he has been extended so we will be lumped with him for a while yet. But I’m telling you this, if he can turn the corner, like our team has done, and he starts winning games with them next year, I’ll be cheering him on just as loudly as our lads.
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Good:
ROB - arguably best on ground. Destroyed English. Not only did ROB win the hitout battle 59-15, he actually laced out a beautiful pass inside 50, took a couple of strong marks, had something like 20 hitouts to advantage, and just did everything you’d want him to do.
Rankine’s first half - electric reminder of what he can do when in the right role
Fogarty - is building into one of the best key forwards in the comp
Keays - understands his role, and performs it admirably.
Thilthorpe - I’m still frightened that he’s made of glass, but is building nicely
Curtin not getting subbed off and getting some reward at the end
Laird being removed (hopefully permanently) from the centre bounce rotation
Crouch - underrated game. Was huge when it mattered.
Sholl - absolutely racked it up and I thought made good decisions, playing within his capabilities.
Keane - much improved performance and in particular I loved his kick-in work, which the likes of Laird, Worrell and Murray were comparably shithouse at.
Bad:
That unbelievably ridiculous umpiring decision where Fog was called for holding the ball when he handballed it in front of himself. Piss off maggot.
Probably balanced out by the equally ridiculous non-free paid against Fog when he flew for the ball and took out a dogs opponent, allowing Keays to mark and goal.
The “play-on” decision when Fog caught an opponent cold.
There was a lot of “bad” involving Fogarty and umps today!
Ugly:
Sam Darcy’s kicking for goal
The results this weekend resulting in Port being in the box seat for the double chance
Bonus good:
We can still ruin Port’s double chance hopes
ROB - arguably best on ground. Destroyed English. Not only did ROB win the hitout battle 59-15, he actually laced out a beautiful pass inside 50, took a couple of strong marks, had something like 20 hitouts to advantage, and just did everything you’d want him to do.
Rankine’s first half - electric reminder of what he can do when in the right role
Fogarty - is building into one of the best key forwards in the comp
Keays - understands his role, and performs it admirably.
Thilthorpe - I’m still frightened that he’s made of glass, but is building nicely
Curtin not getting subbed off and getting some reward at the end
Laird being removed (hopefully permanently) from the centre bounce rotation
Crouch - underrated game. Was huge when it mattered.
Sholl - absolutely racked it up and I thought made good decisions, playing within his capabilities.
Keane - much improved performance and in particular I loved his kick-in work, which the likes of Laird, Worrell and Murray were comparably shithouse at.
Bad:
That unbelievably ridiculous umpiring decision where Fog was called for holding the ball when he handballed it in front of himself. Piss off maggot.
Probably balanced out by the equally ridiculous non-free paid against Fog when he flew for the ball and took out a dogs opponent, allowing Keays to mark and goal.
The “play-on” decision when Fog caught an opponent cold.
There was a lot of “bad” involving Fogarty and umps today!
Ugly:
Sam Darcy’s kicking for goal
The results this weekend resulting in Port being in the box seat for the double chance
Bonus good:
We can still ruin Port’s double chance hopes
FR0GGY
From a cartel villa in Tuscany
Bad: that Max couldn’t get his first goal when he was so close to having a set shot.
jenny61_99
Premium Platinum
Oh yes they did. He was a whipping boy in here on the regular.
Last edited:
jenny61_99
Premium Platinum
I was being facetious… he’s a runner… he’s got the body of a D Mac and Van Berlo before him. He’ll never bulk up much.
Samcro24
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Probably the best effort of the season. Fogarty superb. Maybe the first showdown was a better effort.
If only we played like this earlier in the season. First 4 rounds, Draper dance, Rankine running too far (no he didn't), draw vs Brisbane, that god awful loss to Richmond.
Next 2 weeks vs 2nd Port and 1st Swans on the ladder. Despite that I think they will be hard fought games. Don't care about the result as long as we fight it out, any win is a bonus.
Next year, not sure, will see when the time arrives.
If only we played like this earlier in the season. First 4 rounds, Draper dance, Rankine running too far (no he didn't), draw vs Brisbane, that god awful loss to Richmond.
Next 2 weeks vs 2nd Port and 1st Swans on the ladder. Despite that I think they will be hard fought games. Don't care about the result as long as we fight it out, any win is a bonus.
Next year, not sure, will see when the time arrives.
Punchy Bassett
Brownlow Medallist
People aren't seriously going down the Nicks didn't have the players at the start of the year path.....
It’s surprising how much better Nicks coaches when we have our best players on the park.
It is a total joy watching Rankine and Dawson.
- Aug 9, 2019
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Rooch upset Bevo with his 1st question at his presser 
- Aug 30, 2021
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We weren’t poor defensively last year, we had the 9th best defence. He ****ed up with a massive overreaction and we didn’t lose close games due to poor defensive efforts that required a change in gameplan, you practise closing out games, you don’t change your whole gameplan!
As for the improved performance, you realise that’s basically 50-50 and we’d still piss out on finals?
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
Wouldn't be the first thing you've made up
- Aug 30, 2021
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They didn’t play the first 4 weeks?
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
The upside is barely competitive, but the shills love to act like its top level
We had our best side for the year.Finally Rankine, TT and Dawson played together.
- Aug 30, 2021
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And aren’t they all back!!!
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
If you only ever turn up after a win, things are pretty good
Southerntakeover
Too Sweet
They rock up one in every three weeks
One thing’s for sure, we clearly need to move past him
Hoping that Pedlar builds his tank enough in pre-season to be able to match Murphy’s running, whilst being more dynamic offensively
Otherwise grab Joe Richards from the Pies
Kane McGoodwin
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What did he ask?Rooch upset Bevo with his 1st question at his presser
Only Thilthorpe would have made a difference to the game plan Nicks was trying to play (although clearly an unknown how much he had improved but he has looked very good since returning).
Agree, that’s more realistic. 10 plus disposals doesn’t contend for the Rising Star as a mid though - not anywhere near it.
- Aug 9, 2019
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Full post-match, R22: Bulldogs
Watch Western Bulldogs’s press conference after round 22’s match against Adelaide
www.afl.com.au
