Autopsy Rd 20, 2014 - Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide Crows

[JDogg]

Gee I thought Merrett was poor today, surely he isnt deserving of a spot, he almost got reported again in that last quarter, clothes lining that small Adelaide forward. His timing is off, his form is very poor, time for a rest and bring Luey or Cutler in. I'd actually entertain a trade for Merrett, I just dont know if any other clubs would bite.

 

[John_Proctor]

I'm more positive now than 12 months ago. Our draw last year meant we should have won 10 games. This year our draw was harder so I expected us to win less than 10 games.

If you'd said 6 wins in a season with a hard draw, rich, leuenberger, staker, Moloney combining for a total of like 5 games. Brown retiring mid season, redden missing the last 6 weeks I'd take it hands down.

Throw in all the games we've got into the kids (and the fact none of
The last two years draft picks appear to be duds), and the emergence of Martin, bewick, crisp as 'in the rotation' players in the last 3-7 weeks and this year is full of positives.

 

[Betty Noir]

While they're very good players, the additions or Rich and Redden aren't going to change a 100+ point loss. My disappointment today stemmed from the fact no-one else was able to put their hands up. Lester and Beams, although they weren't playing today, should be entrenched as best 22 players going through the midfield, especially in the absence of Rich and Reddo. As good a first year player as he is, Aish shouldn't be asked to man-up a Dangerfield. He's battling away and doing a great job, but it shouldn't be up to a first year recruit. Our midfield depth isn't where it should be, regardless of our rebuilding situation.

That is not sound reasoning. While it's a bit tricky to measure, I could almost guarantee that their inclusion would assist the team.

 

[Dylan12]

if you think this is the last 100 point belting before our next flag, your dreaming.

Any 100 point belting is unacceptable and I'd certainly hope we don't have another one for many, many years.

Prior to the 2014 season, as a merged club, we'd only had one in 17 years, a 139 point loss to the Saints in 2005.

We've now obviously had two more than is ever acceptable since the start of the season, together with another three losses between 79 and 87 points, in a trend that is almost becoming acceptable at the club.

 

[patfullfankezz]

And one of those 100+ point losses was to PORT of all clubs!!!!!!!!

 

[jackess]

And one of those 100+ point losses was to PORT of all clubs!!!!!!!!

With 100 point losses to both SA clubs I won't be able to return to Adelaide for many years.

 

[Milux]

I left my wallet at home and wore my work shoes instead of my Gabba shoes

They do say bad things come in 3's. Hope you made it home ok.

 

[Milux]

With 100 point losses to both SA clubs I won't be able to return to Adelaide for many years.

Hopefully Mayes and Aish feel the same way

 

[patfullfankezz]

They do say bad things come in 3's. Hope you made it home ok.

Thankfully I was with my parents, so my Daddy drove me home. Got to give him his birthday present too - if you're ever at the Queen St Mall head across the road to the Noosa Chocolate Factory - big $90 slabs of Rocky Road that they will cut up for you (I only got $30 for the old man lol).

With 100 point losses to both SA clubs I won't be able to return to Adelaide for many years.

I have to, otherwise I don't get to see my baby sister

Like I said though, at least we don't live there. Those morons who had the audacity to beat us today do. Down with SA! Pillage their villages and steal their players!

 

[Tassie4ever]

For the second time this year, many leaving well before time.

Pretty obviously, many in our team packed it in- the opposition was just too hard, too big, too good.

Points to our small men who toiled where other [bigger] teammates were afraid to tread- Zorko, Green, Taylor. And while beaten clearly, toss in Martin as well as one of the few who didn't chuck it in.

Our Number 11, while a very good player, will never reach the exalted heights of the truly elite while he can't manage a modest tag.


Re Merrett: I am very rapidly arriving at the conclusion that he has shot the bolt, unfortunately. Looks to have lost it all- timing, kicking, you name it, he ain't got it.

Our back 6 or 8 or whatever were just woeful. Woeful. Might be curtains for Moose.

 

[PTizzle]

Any 100 point belting is unacceptable and I'd certainly hope we don't have another one for many, many years.

Prior to the 2014 season, as a merged club, we'd only had one in 17 years, a 139 point loss to the Saints in 2005.

We've now obviously had two more than is ever acceptable since the start of the season, together with another three losses between 79 and 87 points, in a trend that is almost becoming acceptable at the club.

I still don't get how it's 'acceptable'. What are they meant to do about it exactly? Any methods of preventing a loss like today's are pure speculation. If you think Leppa and the playing group are accepting of a loss like this I'm not really sure what to say. Nobody likes it, but it's something that has happened and we have to cop. You can speculate about reasons behind it but little else.

100 seems pretty arbitrary too. When we lost by 98, 91, 67 and 65 in 2012 was that a 'trend'? 81 and 75 in 2010?

It's never acceptable and the onus is on the playing group to respond. I fail to see how anything the club or players have said contradicts that.

 

[AFLQLD]

A few things that today brought home to me:

- Justin Clarke is a pretty important part of our defensive structure now. We really seemed to fall into a hole with him gone in the second half. He still has a lot to learn but he is the right body to be playing at the back and he has the right attitude and smarts to develop for a few more years yet.

- Jack Crisp might have earned a contract because while he is yet to really find his place, he looks like he might and is well worth persevering with. His height in the middle is a big asset. Some great stuff today but he needs to make a continual impact from here on in.

- Josh Green is so valuable to this team now. His ability to make things happen in the forward 50 is going to be critical as the team develops. There were three or four occasions when a different bounce of the ball might have given him a few more goals. The day will come soon when he will bag six or seven goals because of that ability to create up forward.

- Pearce Hanley will be a better player for games like these. He is slowly learning that there are times he needs to grab control of the game and make things happen. It is the next step he needs to take. I think he will.

- We missed Jack Redden today more than any other game since his injury. His tackling and positional nous would have helped a lot in the midfield today. Redden is under-rated by plenty but he just adds a solid reliability that we missed more today than the past few games.

- Robbo looked a bit lost with the speed of the game and his positional play and second guessed himself a few times, taking a cautious approach so as not to be caught out. It showed he is thinking about those things now. Gradually he will find the right balance between his natural gung-ho attitude and playing his role. It was a learning for him today.

- Stefan Martin is so valuable as an extra running midfielder that I would hate to lose that next year. He battled on in the ruck on a tough day but still contributed around the field.

- Tom Rockliff is comfortably in the top ten of midfielders now. He is relentless and given what he was up against today his effort was incredible. I don't believe we are seeing the best of him yet either. He is the biggest contributor in the team when we are near the bottom of the ladder. When things begin to turn and we head up the ladder, he is going to be putting together efforts like today but for far greater reward. I reckon on a winning day Rockliff's effort would have led to three or four goals and three or four goal assists. He just needs the other pieces of the team puzzle to fall into place and he will be part of that smaller group of three or four absolute elite players in the comp.

 

[Hollow Knight]

"Acceptable" is such a Boolean term in the way it's used here.

The implication seems to be that (whether you be supporter/player/coach) if you aren't spitting fire and invective afterwards that you think a loss like today is AOK.

The suggestion that anyone involved with the club is okay with being beaten by 100+ points is just patently ridiculous.

 

[little graham]

Sorry!

 

[Ironmonger]

Losing sucks.

But here's the thing: I'm not convinced we played all that much worse across four quarters this week than in the first three quarters last week. Particularly when you consider what a young team we picked.

I've felt all season and still feel that we are, for better or worse, in the first stage of a long process of development.

I suspect we'll need to get used to bad losses, even more so than we already are. Maybe up until the end of next season.

 

[Cockliff38]

That is not sound reasoning. While it's a bit tricky to measure, I could almost guarantee that their inclusion would assist the team.

Of course they would assist the team but it doesn't disguise a thrashing. We need more players contributing, especially through the guts. The addition of Rich and Redden doesn't soundly erase 100 points

 

[Dylan12]

It's never acceptable and the onus is on the playing group to respond. I fail to see how anything the club or players have said contradicts that.

Acceptable is allowing these big losses to occur time and time again and showing some bloody heart and fighting until the end..

In 2011, our statistically worse year with only four wins and eighteen losses and a year I took as much pride than many others for the manner the boys always fought games until the very end and didn't meekly surrender as we've done this year. Our biggest losses over 10 goals were 78, 65 and 61 respectively.

I'm not disagreeing with you re: 2012. Despite winning 10 games, I thought it was a highly dissatisfying season and yes, trends appeared that when we lost, we really lost very quickly conceding games early in the piece save for the miracle on grass match.

 

[carnthemlions]

I still don't get how it's 'acceptable'. What are they meant to do about it exactly? Any methods of preventing a loss like today's are pure speculation. If you think Leppa and the playing group are accepting of a loss like this I'm not really sure what to say. Nobody likes it, but it's something that has happened and we have to cop. You can speculate about reasons behind it but little else.

100 seems pretty arbitrary too. When we lost by 98, 91, 67 and 65 in 2012 was that a 'trend'? 81 and 75 in 2010?

It's never acceptable and the onus is on the playing group to respond. I fail to see how anything the club or players have said contradicts that.

Who had the worst loss today- us or Collingwood?

 

[Skoob]

Sorry!

Don't do it again.

 

[AFLQLD]

I have said this before but may as well say it again:

There will be more losses like this.
Then there will be less.
Then there will be few.
Then there will be none.

It is a stage in a journey. Not the most pleasant stage, but every loss like this is part of the process of learning and developing that takes us on the journey. In two or three years we might all look back and be glad that we were supporting the Brisbane Lions through this tough period. By then, this loss will be in the rear view mirror and we will be on our way up. The way up is the best part if the journey, but to enjoy that part we have to get through this part.

 

[Ruse]

I'm not sure leppitsch is a better coach than voss.

 

[Ruse]

Who had the worst loss today- us or Collingwood?

Us

 

[Haso]

I'm not sure leppitsch is a better coach than voss.

Was that ever claimed?

 

[Dylan12]

Coach Leppitsch hardly offered anything to get excited about...

 

[PTizzle]

Acceptable is allowing these big losses to occur time and time again and showing some bloody heart and fighting until the end..

In 2011, our statistically worse year with only four wins and eighteen losses and a year I took as much pride than many others for the manner the boys always fought games until the very end and didn't meekly surrender as we've done this year. Our biggest losses over 10 goals were 78, 65 and 61 respectively.

I'm not disagreeing with you re: 2012. Despite winning 10 games, I thought it was a highly dissatisfying season and yes, trends appeared that when we lost, we really lost very quickly conceding games early in the piece save for the miracle on grass match.

I get where you're coming from. I still strongly disagree that any of the players wouldn't be working their arses off trying to get us in the best position today, I don't think acceptable is the correct word. They wouldn't find that performance acceptable and the lack of heart and fight can be attributed to a lot of things, I think. I can't imagine any athlete getting to the elite level without being a competitive beast.

Days like today are incredibly frustrating, especially after a decent little run of games before it. But I'm not convinced we could have changed much to stop it and even if we hypothetically could have, now that the game is over it's all speculation. As sad as it is to admit I'm not sure any combination of fit players we put out there could have altered the scoreline much against that Adelaide outfit we saw today.

But I appreciate the response as I do feel like I understand your mindset a bit more now. It's how we respond from here that will say more to me.