Autopsy Round 1, 2024: Geelong v St.Kilda *COLLARD, WILSON DEBUT*

[Ephemeral Hope]

Anyone remember we told windy to play vfl and play pure mid. He bashed down the door getting 30 touches and clearances a plenty. Tell pou to do that and find his role as a full mid

 

[Ads734]

We’d want to improve a lot from last night. To me we probably bank two against WCE, Richmond, Essendon, Dogs maybe games on last night then a few 50/50s and we get 8 wins. To start beating better sides we need to get better quickly. A few have gone backwards on last year if that’s an indicator of where we are at.

Reality is we are always going to be in games due to our defence. Playing at GMHBA is a -25 points to begin with. I think we’ll be ok Gringo. Remember it’s RTB

 

[Dard Ball Get]

Go read the rule book , seriously

Ok

 

[Ducky Tie]

I don't know how much we can read into our system based on last night. Against Geelong at Kardinia is pretty much a vortex. The ground is so skinny and they know how to play it so well. Ross came with a plan for how to mitigate against that and it was almost enough.

I suspect we'll play pretty differently once we're on wider grounds where we can control the game a bit more.

 

[gringo2011]

Had a dinner so just finishing the second half now.

Very average coaching having Sharman down back. He goes down forward and kicks a goal instantly. Strange move from Ross.

Henry will play some very good football for us. His touch is so good.

Very rusty in skills and decision making, but we have a fantastic core. Can’t wait to see Dow get a go through the middle.

As others have said, swap Pou and Owens.

Bonner will make a very good trio with Nas and Sincs.

Wilson will be a star.

Lastly, some deeply embarrassing dummy spits in here - harden up you lot.

We look a star mid away from being a serious threat. Looks like we have a depth issue already too. Crouch, Jones, Ross all restricted or out of form and Wood looks average. Henry looks an absolute winner, he's got real energy and goes back in for second and third efforts. Looks like what we hoped Jones would be.

Wilson looked nowhere near it in the first half but the second half he really caught up with the pace of the game and looked like he'll be a beast 22 player for the rest of the season.

 

[gringo2011]

Ok

If Danger hadn't tried to grab his face he wouldn't have dropped lower and been able to take the ball instead of tapping it on.

 

[littlecreatures]

We look a star mid away from being a serious threat. Looks like we have a depth issue already too. Crouch, Jones, Ross all restricted or out of form and Wood looks average. Henry looks an absolute winner, he's got real energy and goes back in for second and third efforts. Looks like what we hoped Jones would be.

Wilson looked nowhere near it in the first half but the second half he really caught up with the pace of the game and looked like he'll be a beast 22 player for the rest of the season.

Definitely a depth issue, which isn’t a surprise given consolidation across the list, but IMO we’re much more vulnerable when depth is tested across the guts rather than either end of the ground. Reality is we’ll hit draft again before even looking at FA, so expect growing pains for at least another season or two


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[gringo2011]

Pretty sure that's the textbook definition of non-improvement.

You can improve and not go up the ladder to be fair.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Well that clears it up , if its on social media it must be right

If what's on social media?

 

[CaptainRisky]

If what's on social media?

Opps sorry mate , it wasn't meant for you

 

[Dard Ball Get]

Opps sorry mate , it wasn't meant for you

Bit early to be this fried old son, even for you

 

[CaptainRisky]

Ok

Ok thanks for clearing that up, glad to see you believe evrything you read on Twitter

Bit early to be this fried old son, even for you

Ok George

 

[Browny2Carlisle]

This is the issue with the situation.

It’s a fine line but it doesn’t help that we seem to be using them incorrectly. Having Owens forward and playing an undercooked crouch out there struggling in the middle doesn’t help. Or having a small forward as a sub.
The decision making on game day is a bit odd.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Probably the quality of mids they had though.

But it also goes to our boys remaining flat footed. Thet can't even play the odds because it's always gonna lose.

 

[Cairnsman]

Go watch his presser love.

Yep caught that but failing to connect his claim the side picked itself which suggests he had options but the players who were ultimately picked had done the work and were flint hard...

... with picking a balanced side especially for R1 is suggesting he wasn’t forced to pick underdone experienced players to offset the number of inexperienced players.

Probably could have used Jones and maybe got it wrong at the selection table.

 

[TheJackal]

If Danger hadn't tried to grab his face he wouldn't have dropped lower and been able to take the ball instead of tapping it on.

I thought we were protecting the head at all costs this year? The more I watch it the less Danger is anywhere near the ball, his fist to the head isn't where the ball was and his knee to the back is intentional. I understand why a free was given thanks to a stupid rule. If the AFL had any guts, Danger should be cited, I'm sure SPP or a similar (somewhat perceived) dirty player would cop a please explain...

 

[NoisyMinor]

You can improve and not go up the ladder to be fair.

Addressed later in the conversation.

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

You can improve and not go up the ladder to be fair.

It’s unfortunate that the other clubs are also aiming to improve each offseason. We might improve 10% but if everyone else improves 15% we fall behind

 

[StFly]

It’s a fine line but it doesn’t help that we seem to be using them incorrectly. Having Owens forward and playing an undercooked crouch out there struggling in the middle doesn’t help. Or having a small forward as a sub.
The decision making on game day is a bit odd.

So me as coach having gone into that match with the team on paper and announcements and such, Collard starts so he can get into the flow of the game, Higgins is either the sub or you shift Ross there as those are the players that impact immediately as they are known quantities in a relatively unknown area for most of the young guys.

This is under assumption that Pou is mid and Owens is forward cause these are the decisions you've made, then again I am scragging Membrey late to help out the D50 as King was up, Sharman is a dangerous forward. Membrey had done his thing forward also, he is just surer in D50 than either of the other two.

TBH though, it's the cattery, I'm giving Crouch an extra week, bringing in Campbell for the ol Sandy "you see that ball you punch it to the F50" ruck chop out, so Ro can float around and have a break. It's not like you're going to be running wide and using massive rotations after all, and would have brought in Moose but yeah too many young peoples with not much experience. This then gives you multiple big guys to maybe kick at if you find yourself in D50 soiling your shorts late.

That's just me though. I mean you know your mids will be able to run most of the game, same with your flankers, so makes sense to introduce the second ruck and swarm forward since 2 kicks to attacking position.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Okay, as frustrating as Higgins was last night (didn’t take his moments), think it’s been overblown. 9 score involvements and has just come off a career best season at 36 goals in a tough position and malnourished forward line.

Steele was impressive but unfortunately limited support and we looked pedestrian in the middle. Need to rotate Chito and Henry through the middle, and thought RTB could’ve been more proactive in this space. Jones for foot speed, at least as a sub, could be worth considering.

Membrey and King were very impressive. Think King will learn from torching Lancey Boi, minutes on the park together will help.

Marshall probably our best and can see why he’s in the leadership group. Really led from the front with courage to stay in the contest despite the team not being at their best.

Cordy was solid, but Hawkins is looking less and less mobile as years go on.

Bonner was impressive in a game where it was very difficult getting out of a compressed D50 (needle in a haystack).

Henry will definitely add spark this year, but needs more time in the guts. He’s exactly what we need.


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Jones is really the perfect sub option. Plays 30 mins of high impact or can fill in at forward, mid or HB if there's an injury. They missed a trick.

 

[gringo2011]

Definitely a depth issue, which isn’t a surprise given consolidation across the list, but IMO we’re much more vulnerable when depth is tested across the guts rather than either end of the ground. Reality is we’ll hit draft again before even looking at FA, so expect growing pains for at least another season or two


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We really need a high end one. North have a surplus so should look at a trade for someone like Tom Powell who might struggle when their high pick gun young mids come on.

 

[Diehard Saint]

We look a star mid away from being a serious threat. Looks like we have a depth issue already too. Crouch, Jones, Ross all restricted or out of form and Wood looks average. Henry looks an absolute winner, he's got real energy and goes back in for second and third efforts. Looks like what we hoped Jones would be.

Wilson looked nowhere near it in the first half but the second half he really caught up with the pace of the game and looked like he'll be a beast 22 player for the rest of the season.

When’s Clark back?

 

[Diehard Saint]

I thought we were protecting the head at all costs this year? The more I watch it the less Danger is anywhere near the ball, his fist to the head isn't where the ball was and his knee to the back is intentional. I understand why a free was given thanks to a stupid rule. If the AFL had any guts, Danger should be cited, I'm sure SPP or a similar (somewhat perceived) dirty player would cop a please explain...

Danger was late to the ball. Stocker was already on the ground.

 

[SteeleSaints]

I know people want to highlight collard getting burnt. But you also need to accept that physically he had no impact and that’s likely what the outcome would have been if we also brought in Hugo.

Geelong are a seasoned veteran side. It’s like trying to play against your brother who is 5-6 years older. Eventually they just use their size and strength and they did it to us on the inside all night when we made ground on them.

Stop trying to defend the undefendable!

Last night was lost at the selection table and with extremely poor and short sighted match day coaching. I am a big RTB fan, but our midfield were completely pantsed last night and he did ZIP to change it. Crouch shouldnt have played (not fit) and if Windhagers hand was suspect neither should have he.

Ross subbed rather than Crouch was the worst sub selection I have seen RTB make ever! Ross wasnt getting a touch through the middle then why not move him to Byrne's wing or HBF. At least he could still run unlike Crouch. Playing players with such limiting injuries just sets them up for failure and RTB has a long history of that.

Whats the go with Jones is he still not ready to play. Garcia is a hard at it inside quick midfielder. Collard will be a player but bringing a skinny kid in for his first game in Geelong against their monster defenders was again another dumb decision.

Apart from Dangerfield and Atkins, Geelongs midfield were made up of kids also in Bruhn, Clarke & Holmes. The lads tried hard but were never given a chance to win through really poor selections and match day coaching. RTB talked about being frustrated in the box - well so was I watching his lack of problem solving with our midfield!

 

[gringo2011]

When’s Clark back?

It would be interesting to see Clark play pure inside mid.