Review Rd 1 Review - !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? (Freo Beat Adelaide by a Point - Praise be to ChapGod)

[s_wd6]

Acres struggles to pin point a kick and just boots it forward in a loopy kick. That doesn't appear to be a part of our new game plan and there are others that can play that role better. Needs to go. Would play Aish there instead every day of the week.

I actually thought he had some beautiful pin point kicks into the middle in the first half. Dropped off a lot in the second half like most our players

 

[Scham]

Erasmus is the perfect replacement for Banfield and the role he played yesterday. He'd hunt, tackle and pressure like there's no tomorrow and can kick at goal. He can also go into the midfield for short stints if needed.

 

[dont bowl there]

Erasmus is the perfect replacement for Banfield and the role he played yesterday. He'd hunt, tackle and pressure like there's no tomorrow and can kick at goal. He can also go into the midfield for short stints if needed.

It's just so obvious isn't it, which makes me think it will never happen.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Erasmus is the perfect replacement for Banfield and the role he played yesterday. He'd hunt, tackle and pressure like there's no tomorrow and can kick at goal. He can also go into the midfield for short stints if needed.

I'm a fan of JL but his approach to the elite young talent does shit me. Erasmus sounds like he's done everything right, he's dominating for Peel as well in the practice matches and is clearly close. There is clearly some kind of 'give guys who have been around longer first crack approach', regardless of the obvious talent disparity. It's blindingly obvious Banfield is depth at best and that's all he'll ever be, regardless of how good a bloke he is.

You just know that Erasmus is going to have play for Peel next week before getting a look in (after not playing on the weekend), then the Derby will be too big an occasion to debut in or something.

It's frustrating

 

[CapitalA]

The Chapman spoil should've been a free to him for blatant front on contact

The goal square is lawless territory, anything goes.

 

[Dale147]

Game summary

 

[wayToGo_]

I reckon we will debut Erasmus next week. Home debut v St Kilda is a great opportunity for someone who the coaches have already said is so close to making the 22. Don't think they'll disadvantage because he didn't play at Peel - had enough form from intraclubs etc from what I have heard.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I'm intrigued by this sudden notion that we're shallow in the midfield. I don't recall any comments suggesting it prior to the game, but its being thrown around everywhere since. We dominated the first half, did we not? Then got beaten for a quarter and then held our own in the last didn't we? Did we select less midfielders than Adelaide?

Can someone help me understand where, why or how this needing depth in the midfield came about please?

Running out of legs in third would have contributed to it.

Other than Switta, none of forward picked, and none of our backs can run through the midfield except Walters, who Longmuir does not use there.

We badly need two or three forwards who can push through there for 15-20 mins a game to take the pressure of the mids.
This is one of the reasons, players like Erasmus are so important.

 

[arsesmart]

Nah, I think we all overreacted based on that third quarter which was diabolical and arguably our worst quarter since JL has been coach.

The other three quarters we controlled and mostly dominated (especially the first half). If our goal kicking was even close to AFL average we would have won that game comfortably and possibly broken Adelaide so they didn't get that 6 goal surge in the 3rd.

Lots of people commented on our midfield depth being a problem but even missing our best ruck and best mid we won the clearance battle against a midfield with Keays, Crouch, Sloane and Dawson who are all proven AFL mids (two all Australians plus Keays and Dawson were 2nd and 3rd in their respective clubs b&f last year). Although they were missing Laird which kinds of cancels out us missing Fyfe. I think people are disrespecting the fact that Adelaide have an above average midfield - it is the best of their three lines imo. I thought it was a good test and trust we'll iron out the rusty bits that are understandable with Brodie needing time to learn to play with Brayshaw, Serong etc. I was expecting a few cameos from guys like Switta and Tucker that maybe we'll see next week? Lack of depth... nah.

Our back line probably wasn't as polished as many of us expected. Fumbling and dropped marks causing unnecessary pressure on ourselves but a lot of Adelaide's goals were long shots or out wide so most of the time we were solid defensively. It was Round 1 with new rules designed to make it easier for attackers and harder for defenders. Different players stepped up at different times like Clark early, Logue in the 3rd, Young and Chapman at the end. I'd expect them to review and be better as a unit next week.

I thought our forward line structure and movement was better than last year but the terrible accuracy in front of goal and fumbling the ball a lot isn't good enough for professional footy. Having said that, Lobb, Switta and Schultz were all critical to us winning the game. Schultz may be limited athletically but we need more guys like him that just put absolutely everything out on the field each game.

Our wingers and half forwards need to get better than they were yesterday in both directions. I'm a big supporter of Henry but he needs to work harder defensively for 4 quarters - after two sub par performance in a row I'd have no problem if they put him back to Peel. Although I'm not sure Aish, O'Driscoll or others are ready to step in yet so maybe he gets one more week.

You can add to our inaccuracy in the first half, Adelaide's freakish accuracy early...right up to halfway into the third (at one stage in the third it was 8.10 to 8.2).

Adelaide came out with a lot more energy in Q3 and we seemed a step behind and reactive. We did a lot of running (which obviously we didn't capitalise on), with those tweaks to the gameplan and I think the hot day in round 1 might of played a factor in that somewhat.

As far as Henry goes, I'd still have the caveat we don't know what his role are required running patterns were. I think he can develop well at AFL level

 

[CapitalA]

It was actually more the ruck in the 3rd we got killed. Darcy will be back soon so I wouldn’t worry too much.

The only midfield we lost was Cerra who was going at 80% last year anyway and Brodie is a lot harder at it. If anything our midfield will be better than last year when Fyfe is back.

Yeah Meek was cooked by the 3rd quarter.

 

[s_wd6]

You can add to our inaccuracy in the first half, Adelaide's freakish accuracy early...right up to halfway into the third (at one stage in the third it was 8.10 to 8.2).

Adelaide came out with a lot more energy in Q3 and we seemed a step behind and reactive. We did a lot of running (which obviously we didn't capitalise on), with those tweaks to the gameplan and I think the hot day in round 1 might of played a factor in that somewhat.

As far as Henry goes, I'd still have the caveat we don't know what his role are required running patterns were. I think he can develop well at AFL level

Speaking about accuracy, crows kicked 1.5 to our 3.4 in the last quarter. They decided to start missing when it mattered most.

 

[CapitalA]

Erasmus is the perfect replacement for Banfield and the role he played yesterday. He'd hunt, tackle and pressure like there's no tomorrow and can kick at goal. He can also go into the midfield for short stints if needed.

I think the issue is he has never played against men, only trained pre-season with freo squad.

 

[wayToGo_]

I think the issue is he has never played against men, only trained pre-season with freo squad.

Had Brayshaw when he debuted? I think there is limited risk given we could play him exclusively forward in his first game.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

I'm a fan of JL but his approach to the elite young talent does sh*t me. Erasmus sounds like he's done everything right, he's dominating for Peel as well in the practice matches and is clearly close. There is clearly some kind of 'give guys who have been around longer first crack approach', regardless of the obvious talent disparity. It's blindingly obvious Banfield is depth at best and that's all he'll ever be, regardless of how good a bloke he is.

You just know that Erasmus is going to have play for Peel next week before getting a look in (after not playing on the weekend), then the Derby will be too big an occasion to debut in or something.

It's frustrating

Serong was very obviously AFL calibre as well and didn’t get a gig until Round 4 of his debut season, with JL electing whatever hardworking journeyman over him at the time. Very similar vibes with Erasmus. These guys are part of our long term plans and the earlier they start their AFL journey the better off we’ll be, it’s annoying.

 

[arsesmart]

Speaking about accuracy, crows kicked 1.5 to our 3.4 in the last quarter. They decided to start missing when it mattered most.

Imagine if that was their first half accuracy. They'd never have got back in the game.

But it probably shows some of the psychology. The third quarter was full tilt, nothing to lose stuff. In the last, it was suddenly theirs to lose.

 

[theGav56]

Walters uses the ball too well to be wasted deep inside fifty, he also uses it too well to not be heavily tagged if he plays a high half forward role. If I'm an opposition coach I'm writing every Walters kick between wing and the 50 as a mark and set shot against. There isn't anyone else besides Henry and Mundy who come close to that. You can tag Henry too.

Have you watched the "last 2 minutes" video? Walters falling over, again, took him out of a critical contest and allowed the Crows to mount another attack.

Not questioning the good stuff he does, but it's a worry.

 

[dont bowl there]

I think the issue is he has never played against men, only trained pre-season with freo squad.

If only we played some meaningless preseason games to give him a run.

 

[arsesmart]

Have you watched the "last 2 minutes" video? Walters falling over, again, took him out of a critical contest and allowed the Crows to mount another attack.

Not questioning the good stuff he does, but it's a worry.

TBF, he didn't just fall over. As you say, he was in a contest and against a bigger player.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

On replay, I think anyone thinking Treacy was "garbage" is being pretty harsh or has way too high an expectation for a 2nd KPF.

Treacy should have kicked two goals, apart from that, he lost maybe one contest the whole game (due to a questionable free kick) but otherwise halved every aerial contest. He did his job.

The game we got from him on the weekend is just about what we are going to get every week for the next 4+ years

 

[Taylor]

Yeah Meek was cooked by the 3rd quarter.

He was, and Rory O'Brien was cooked halfway through the 4th leading to us getting back on top.

That contest defined the game.

 

[Alfonz]

Have you watched the "last 2 minutes" video? Walters falling over, again, took him out of a critical contest and allowed the Crows to mount another attack.

Not questioning the good stuff he does, but it's a worry.

Yes, but that is the sort of thing which happens when we play so many short people and they get manned up by bigger opponents. It was a hacked kick and could have easily gone to Treacy, but the more short people we play (especially when they don't leap like Cameron/Bolton/Ryan/McCarthy), the greater the chance that we are on the wrong end of marking contest mismatches. It has happened continuously for years. And if we bring in more mid-sized players and it still goes to Walters, if we had Sturt, Erasmus, etc. spread across the field, then Doedee might have been on them and Walters might have fared better against a smaller opponent.

The squad has Fyfe, Aish, Sturt, Erasmus, Walker, O'Driscoll, Johnson on the sidelines. We need to be bringing in as many of these as we can and shuffling the team (e.g. find a place for Walker) to make it work. Not just to replace the likes of Banfield, but to also reduce the midget count to Serong plus 2 others. I had thought that would be Walters and Henry, but after yesterday it would be Schultz and Switta.

 

[Scham]

Running out of legs in third would have contributed to it.

Other than Switta, none of forward picked, and none of our backs can run through the midfield except Walters, who Longmuir does not use there.

We badly need two or three forwards who can push through there for 15-20 mins a game to take the pressure of the mids.
This is one of the reasons, players like Erasmus are so important.

Did we run out of legs though? We finished the game strong, so I don't think we did.
We had 11 players in the team that can, and have played midfield. If JL needed Walters or others in the midfield to win the game, he would've used them. Brodie also apparently spent large amounts of the second half on the bench.

I don't think it's as big of an issue that some are making out. I think one of the commentators must've mentioned that we lack midfield depth, and it's been hooked onto by a number of posters. I agree that our quality drops off quite quickly (it's the same for most teams) but that's been the case for many years and so we, on here have known that. But unlike said commentator we know that we've got Erasmus and Johnson coming through who look quality, even Sturt perhaps. Plus the added prospect of at least 1 of our mobile defenders being totally competent in the midfield. NOD may be able to add something. Some think Crowden is more than capable. Western? Warner?

 

[Scham]

Have you watched the "last 2 minutes" video? Walters falling over, again, took him out of a critical contest and allowed the Crows to mount another attack.

Not questioning the good stuff he does, but it's a worry.

Both he and Freddy went to ground far too easily on too many occasions.

 

[wayToGo_]

Both he and Freddy went to ground far too easily on too many occasions.

Think Freddy was more the fumbles. He should not be seen over the next week without a football in his hands.

 

[Dockeroo]

Serong was very obviously AFL calibre as well and didn’t get a gig until Round 4 of his debut season, with JL electing whatever hardworking journeyman over him at the time. Very similar vibes with Erasmus. These guys are part of our long term plans and the earlier they start their AFL journey the better off we’ll be, it’s annoying.

Agree with this. Have been saying for ages that Jlo is too conservative with the kids. Farcical that a Nab rising star winner in Serong couldnt get a game for Jlo until R4 in 2020 ahead of players like Banfield and Crowden. It wasn’t like we were winning every game from rounds 1-3 either - we were the arguably the worst side in the league at that point.