AFL Autopsy RND 3: Done by the Dees

[ghostdog]

We dug deep at quarter time and really fought back strongly I thought. And in spite of the negativity, that was on the back of hard running by Ham, Martin kept running, Caldwell (who is going to be a hell of a mid) as well as a tough game from Durham. Cuts played well too.

I've been an advocate for McGrath going back but he really stepped up and helped drag us back into the game during the middle two quarters especially. Looked like he had the dual defence/offence role on Petracca. And Shiel rose to the occasion with probably the best game I've seen from him for us. His CB work in the 3rd and 4th was brilliant. Peter Wright is turning into a key friggin forward or something. In all, I'm not unhappy tonight. The effort is there. We're going to put it together.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

How many of those touches were effective or advanced our cause?

13 of them.

 

[eth-dog]

What.

What did Petracca do when McGrath was on him?

 

[JayJ20]

What.

McGrath was good. Kept Petracca quiet when he was on him and applied himself around contests.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Ham is getting whipping boy treatment in here tonight. Wasn’t that bad.

 

[Punter88]

Is it me or our players seem to lack confidence? last year we played with such freedom, new coach new style no expecttions nothing to lose
now eveyone seems scared, timid, indecisive.

 

[Call Me Cake]

He is fine to have any opinion he likes.

But if he says he is going to renounce the football club if Heppell is picked next week, I am happy to facilitate that if that's his position

As much as I'd like to renounce this heartbreaking club if I could, it'd take a slap from Will Smith to forget it

Heppell should renounce his spot on the other hand

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Didn't really think much of the intent or spirit, especially in the first half. You'd think we'd come out red hot to make up for 2 dismal weeks but it just wasn't there. Go back and watch games where we legitimately have looked on and it's a juxtaposition compared to tonights performance. IMO we worked our way up to a middling performance and not much more. Thankfully Melbourne weren't really that good tonight, nor accurate.

Our better entries were when we looked laterally. Too often we just plonked it on May's noggin, which included many of our senior players. How many times do we try the same old play? Definition of insanity is....

Tex had limited impact but has great intent and was unlucky to not finish with 2 goals. Wright fantastic, Durham was good too, Cutler continues on his merry way and Shiel was on fire for a lot of that game. But some serious talks need to be had about Hep, Redman, Hind etc. Just not good enough.

 

[Petrify]

There was a lot of positives. Our half backline (Redman/Heppell/Hind) cost us the game with awful disposal and decision making. They are all senior players or leaders & need a rocket up their ass.

 

[TheGrizz]

For all the McGrath haters out.

Please remember he had Petracca on a leash until 3QT when Truck released the tag to try win the clearances and Petracca got back into it.

Everyone has slammed Truck for not being willing to tag, well Pidgeon did a fantastic job and won some crucial clearances in the 3rd quarter. Very strong effort.

 

[Albertross]

Disappointed but not shattered. The Cats game was a debacle, at least we've been comparative in the last 2 games.

No doubt we've got some dead wood, but keep ir in perspective ffs. We will get better with more experience into the younger guys.

Phillips was good, dare I say it, better than Draper. Stringer starting to get into it. Wright is nowhere near as bad as some suggest, just need to move the ball with more precision.

Skill errors and turnovers killed us tonight, not intent. GO DONS!!!

 

[CBombers17]

Without naming names we carrying a bottom 4 or 5 that aren't able to compete at the level - plus a few more that can but for whatever reasons aren't. That said overall happy with a strong effort by the players and some pleasing signs for the likes of Wright, Wanganeen and Caldwell.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

Too many times early there was no system with our mids. Just throw it on the boot and cross your fingers. Melb mids work together much better. We looked so much better latter when Shiel got involved in a link of 2 or 3 handballs and we got proper clearances. Clearances that gave our forwards a chance. Phillips got involved around the ground. Draper isn't atm for some reason. Lost all confidence apart from winning taps. Happy to run with 2 rucks for a while though. Gave them a bit of a fright at least.

 

[thaibomber]

Philipps took Drapers spot tonight I reckon.... two disposals for the game is not even close to good enuf.

 

[foj1]

I was enthused by the bombers effort.
durham, Martin, Caldwell, tex all show something
heppell and ham playing is bewildering to me
i have been a big fan of red man but he is devoid of confidence
i thought we looked better with Phillips and Draper playing
i can’t wear rutten at all.
why is it ok to tag Petra a with McGrath this week but not put him on Neale last week
another unpopular opinion is we are a more balanced midfield without Zac merrett
i reckon his contract is a millstone around our neck
we were one less undersized mid and able to play a defensive minded mid and looked better for it
in a heartbeat you would lose Zac merrett for a Josh dunkley

5

Josh Dunkley

Age

28

Ht

191cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

7.0

3star

HB

13.7

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

type midfielder
i thought the boys had a real dip tonight and I enjoyed watching their efforts

 

[JayJ20]

Caldwell, Parish, McGrath, Shiel, Durham, Martin and Wright were good. Stewart and Phillips too.

Our problem tonight was our ball movement, particularly from defence. Redman, Hind and Heppell the main culprits. Draper also needs a good talking to.

 

[Punter88]

What was wrong with perkins tonight?

 

[Jamurp]

Andrew McGrath

1

Andrew Mcgrath

Age

26

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

1.2

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

219.0

4star

.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Also, I find it odd the people slamming McGrath when they have been crying out for a “tagger” all week. He did his job. Ffs

No one is criticising his defensive role, his composure and ball use however was woeful and has been a theme of his career.

 

[GoDons76!]

Don't post much but Iread alot, can't understand why 2m Peter cops it, leading the goal kicking. Have been saying it for years need a bull midfielder pure and simple sell the farm for one!
Heppell is finished, game has passed him , need to play 2 ruckman from now on no ifs bits or maybes!

 

[bombreys]

Also, I find it odd the people slamming McGrath when they have been crying out for a “tagger” all week. He did his job. Ffs

Was good on Petracca for sure - but he did butcher the ball by foot tonight.

 

[scythe]

This was probably the most frustrating loss out of the three, simply because it was there to be won. But instead of cracking in and digging for another layer of intensity, it was nothing but slow play and dumb mistake after dumb mistake after dumb mistake the whole last quarter.

I’ll take some cold comfort in the fact that the latter was the only way the reigning premiers could take it out.

Heppell and Redman need a big hair-pulling from Truck.

 

[foj1]

He is fine to have any opinion he likes.

But if he says he is going to renounce the football club if Heppell is picked next week, I am happy to facilitate that if that's his position

Geez
footy is an emotional game
sometimes I reckon you just let the ball go through to the keeper
but you got a tough job
go bombers

 

[Goat Hird]

I thought McGrath had an amazing game. Had a job on Petracca and had 19 touches himself.

Let's hope other clubs rate him just as much. Be lucky to get a 2nd for him.

 

[Kyptastic]

What was wrong with perkins tonight?

I suspect that Melbourne put a fair bit of work into him. Came into it in the fourth quarter, did some nice things.