AFL Autopsy RND 19: Loss to the Pies

[The Prosecutor]

it's a really astonishing decision from Ham. He can't have thought he could impact the mark. Maybe he thought Moore might go into the corridor and wanted to possibly be a factor on his kick? That doesn't make any sense either. Yeah he has to wear that.

I'm really interested in the Anonymous Essendon Player #1 who blocked the space into Elliott's lead which ended up impacting how Langford approached the kick from Bianco, just as a general "was it the right thing to do? did it have an impact on the result?" thought bubble. Ham just clearly ****ed up so that's no fun to think about

That would be BZT.

My interpretation was that once BZT saw it was going to the pocket right on the boundary line, that the biggest danger would be the ball then being centred to his man that was beelining to 20m out straight in front and backed in Kelly to neutralise the contest with the boundary right there.

 

[eth-dog]

He also noted the chances of a score from a kick-in was 1 in 35 or something, but to use a term I learned from the NHL advanced stats, there has to be a Score Effects impact here. That is, yeah ok usually it is 1 in 35. But when the kick-in is happening with less than a minute on the clock and the team is going all out on attack, what are the odds then? In NHL it's well know that a team that is behind going into the last period ends up having more offence, because they're going all out and the other team isn't. Same theory likely applies here. He says it can never be allowed to happen, but it's happened before (Hawkins 2012 the example burnt into my mind). As always from King, he's almost about to say interesting stuff but then he falls into the same old boring talk.

Ash McGrath in his 200th vs Geelong

 

[justlookingaround]

i'm going to actively never think of this game ever again

 

[fishardansin]

Reading a lot of sour grapes in this thread. FFS. Here are some facts:


1. The 1st quarter saw us winning clearances 12-6. We had 11 inside 50s but 0 disposals inside 50. This was us stuffing around with the ball. Our bad disposals meant that our boys were under more pressure when they had the ball and all of their forward forays were fast breaks, which are hard for any team to defend, let alone Essendon.

2. We fixed up that disposal forward of center and COMPLETELY DOMINATED. If you ignored what was on the scoreboard as a result of the 1st quarter we made them look worse than the 2nd rate. We are clearly head and shoulders above them generally speaking.

3. This season was over 2 months ago. Our boys didn't have anything on the line in this game. That did make a difference towards the end. It also made a difference this week and last week with some globetrotter footy out there. When were completely dominating, our players looked like they were enjoying themselves, rather than being ruthless. The extra handball and some show boaty moves.

4. We burnt 4 easy set shots at goal. 2 of those came with 12 min to go in the last and would have broken them and most likely led to an even bigger win.

5. That last transfer that led to Elliot's shot on goal happened like that because our boys did not set up for the miss. Bizarre choice.


Point 2 says we're a good young side, with a lot more in the wings. I really like where this team is heading. We were killing them in the air and in the midfield. The only thing going for Collingwood was some of the ball transfer, which was excellent at different stages of the game, and our errors.

Points 1, 3, 4, and 5 are all fixable. A big ball of meh because I have faith that we'll fix those for when it matters.

We have an excellent young group who need to stop faffing about. I am sure that will be sorted.

 

[Phone]

Ash McGrath in his 200th vs Geelong

Yeah that example as well. And we managed to block the corridor unlike those two teams! I think one of them isn't directly from a kick-in, but it's basically from the top of the goal square after a free-kick. When teams go hell for leather, look out. Of course, if even something minor goes wrong...The Pies had 4 kicks including the goal and all of them were absolutely perfect.

 

[Legend Lucas]

Why was Merrett and Caldwell standing next to Jones while he was having that kick at goal instead of setting up for a behind?? My under 10s are trained not to do that! Rutten is on the bench and a runner to sort that crap out? How can it happen

 

[eth-dog]

Why was Merrett and Caldwell standing next to Jones while he was having that kick at goal instead of setting up for a behind?? My under 10s are trained not to do that! Rutten is on the bench and a runner to sort that crap out? How can it happen

Runners are only allowed out when a goal is kicked dude

 

[windyhill]

i'm going to actively never think of this game ever again

Yep. Walked in from the game, turn on t.v, straight to recorded shows, delete.

 

[citizen-erased]

Call me crazy but that wasnt the worse close loss (think rohan on Gleeson).

 

[Phone]

Why was Merrett and Caldwell standing next to Jones while he was having that kick at goal instead of setting up for a behind?? My under 10s are trained not to do that! Rutten is on the bench and a runner to sort that crap out? How can it happen

They were set-up when play resumed. They were in the corridor and Pendlebury didn't go near them because they were in the spots they needed to be in. It had no impact. Their spot was not supposed to be "be next to Ham in case he stuffs up".

 

[JT_the_Man]

It was certainly a rollercoaster of emotions for the first game I've managed to get to this year.

 

[eth-dog]

It was certainly a rollercoaster of emotions for the first game I've managed to get to this year.

Same here mate

 

[yodellinhank]

Runners are only allowed out when a goal is kicked dude

Bloody Jones.

 

[andleanback]

Watching the replay we absolutely dominated the 3rd qtr we shoudlve been up by more at 3qt

 

[bacon buster]

I can only assume people focusing on Heppell kicking it to a 2 on 1 have not watched a game of modern football before today

it happens. all the time. Shiel did it near the end, kicking it to no-one. Merrett did it in the first quarter, kicking it straight to Moore. Unfortunately we have a holding the ball rule and a "kick must be 15 meters" rule, so sometimes you need to pump it down the ground as that's the least worst option. it's no big deal whatsoever.

you can add McGrath to that as well, he loves a dump kick to noone. they were all terrible kicks.

but the Heppell one was the worst, because he had other options. and the state of the game.

when it's nut crunch time, our best players do not use the ball well, or make good decisions. that's why we lose the big moments in close games. that's why our close game record is so poor.

i don't think it's skill based, i think it's coaching and training for it. the poor habits we've built up cannot pass to the new wave of talent we have now, or we are doomed to remain mired in mediocrity

people may say this is a melt, but it's not. the loss means nothing insofar as we will likely finish 13-14 instead of 11-12. who cares. we need to start training the right behaviours NOW. if we are good enough to be in front, or be in a close game, we should learn how to win them.

 

[thaibomber]

A suggestion For all those feeling down after the loss: go and watch Hurleys highlights on AFL.com. Taking marks like the old days, does the heart good. stewarts highlights are a great desert.

 

[srobbo]

I thought Langford was really poor in last. Had three occasions to go body on body in a marking contest and just didn’t have the same commitment that Guelfi did when he copped the hit to take the one hander.

Yep Langers was poor in the last qtr. Twice beaten cold one on one by Quaynor & the last pathetic attempt to spoil on Elliott summed it up. Hoping he was under the weather.

 

[srobbo]

Keep almost choking to bottom 4 sides Collingwood, I'm sure that will hold up a treat in September.

Pretenders.

Although I do hope they hold onto 4th, Cats and Dees would be licking their lips.

Hmmm….not sure about that. Beat Dees convincingly QBD, & narrowly lost to cats earlier in season. I don’t think anyone can take a side lightly that’s won 9 on end.

 

[bacon buster]

All the Heppell criticism on his disposal, this is why I envisage he is being kept around next year. For leadership. He showed next to none on that last play, helping set up the defensse etc.

he wasn't on the ground at the time.

 

[yodellinhank]

he wasn't on the ground at the time.

Went missing when needed the most.

 

[Zephyr Effekt]

We are so bad defensively...

Coast to coast in 10 seconds in a close game...

Especially after stopping them from doing it for 2½ quarter's.

 

[srobbo]

You could see it a mile away.

Really poor game by Hind today. Didn't provide enough run. Gave up 2 goals due to poor tackling efforts.

Can’t be lost in the review. His commitment to the ball in both those goals was laid bare for all to see. Just unacceptable efforts by Nick.

 

[bacon buster]

Ham had a terrible game. next to useless. and he ****ed up that assignment at the end - he should have just stayed with Bianco. but our players look like Brown's cows as Jones misses that shot. there is 0 structure setup, which is on the whole team.

i agree with King, the players were ready to celebrate with Jones, when they should have been setting up just in case.

 

[EnolaGay]

Can’t be lost in the review. His commitment to the ball in both those goals was laid bare for all to see. Just unacceptable efforts by Nick.

The Josh Daicos weak performance and lack of chase was awful - left it for Merrett to try and run him down.

 

[bacon buster]

Went missing when needed the most.

bit hard to control the last play of the game if you aren't actually on the ground