Autopsy Round 3, 2021: Essendon v St.Kilda *STEELE 100TH* *CLARK 50TH* *CROUCH DEBUT*

[MrFoster]

If we are in that doomsday scenario where we are 1/5-6 losses

Letting Billings walk if we got a first round compensation surely has to be a discussion.

Already have the most important players Steele and Membrey signed up... Billings is ok, but probably not on free agency money.. for example, I see Butler, Higgins as better players and they would be on a lot less money.. even Lonie kicks similar number goals as a half forward.

 

[phantom13]

Frankly I think last year was the aberration. Hubs, short quarters and the new rules mean last years form really doesn’t count for much this year.

 

[MrFoster]

A few things - having attended the last 2 matches:

1. We look so slow and disinterested. I even saw Steele give up on a chase that led to an Essendon goal in Q1 yesterday. What is going on? Either a virus has gone through the joint or the players have lost all spirit? Why? Have they cracked it about the 7% pay cut?

2. We are constantly outnumbered at the contest. When we go forward it is crowded and when the oppo go forward it is so open. It seems that we are still trying to play a forward half game (ie lock it in the fwd half) and also to move the ball from defence with a slingshot style.

However, the game has changed this year. The forward press just congests our fwd line and leaves our defensive half horribly exposed now that teams can transition the ball easier (due to rule changes). That's why teams are holding position more - when we try to slingshot from defence we just run in to oppo or kick it back to them. This makes guys like Hill look horrible.

Therefore, our best chance to score is from centre clearance and we can't buy one at the moment.

TLDR - it seems that Ratts wants all players to be multi-positional and swarm all over the ground whereas in 2021 the teams playing well are holding their positions more to counteract fast ball movement.

Exactly, even last year our ball transition was horrible half the time because of the long bomb game plan. Luckily with Ryder’s dominance in centre bounces, we were able to get a lot of quick entries and score from those..

So definitely stop this swarm, press game plan.. each player play their role..

Key forwards, small forwards, wing, inside mids, key backs, running small backs.. they all have their specific role.. don’t switch around and ask them to play a role they’re not good at.. it’s like a seasoned chef all of a sudden to become a waiter.. That’s how ridiculous is seeing Crouch play in the forward line, maybe they are just trying to ease him in, but don’t think it helped when we’re getting slaughtered in the middle and our only other inside mid is in the forward line chasing butts.

 

[borderbarry]

Disappointed with all the players. I thought Coffield was coming along nicely, but he had a shocker.

 

[borderbarry]

When does Paddy returrrn? Carlisle did well in the ruck ccontests on the few occasions he was in there. Our coach needs coaching.

 

[malevu]

Were you complaining that we brought in Hill and Jones last year after we beat the Dogs in a final? No one was because their inclusions made us a better side.

2 crap games doesnt mean we re-write history and declare everything we have done is a failure or that we must rebuild again. The players were have traded in have been good acquisitions that have made us a better side overall. We just need to work out why that connection that was there last year has disappeared over the last fortnight.

It was there against GWS - even in the wet, the ball movement, our intent in the midfield, the pressure and the way we set up our forward line looked very good but what we have dished up the past 2 weeks has been a complete 180 from that game.

Agree totally. Assessment of our future should never be done solely after a bad loss or after a good win. Using that criteria yesterday then Richmond and Port are out of it this year. In reality we all know they might still play off in the GF.

Our full list is good enough to play finals but something is glaringly missing. I just think we've not adjusted to the new rules and the players seem lost.

With a tough draw this year, no Gresh and lingering doubts over Marshall and Ryder it's going to be a long year if we can't turn things around. It's up to Ratts and co. to reboot our season. It's no easy ask.

 

[RBW_007]

They should be made to sit down and watch the game from start to finish. Every piss poor effort should be highlighted and discussed. It will probably take 10 hours which would be a worthy punishment.

 

[Yawkey way]

If we are in that doomsday scenario where we are 1/5-6 losses

Letting Billings walk if we got a first round compensation surely has to be a discussion.

What is king worth ?

 

[prophetic1]

• Didnt Richmond, just before they got their sh*t together, go through a phase like this against expectation? I seem to remember thinking oh yeah the Tiges aren't going to get it together like people think ..had some big losses then they started their ascent. Has Ratts got the HARDWICK toughness...he 'seems' to be such a lovely bloke but he rolls with the losses pretty well...but thats probably just my perception...what else can he really do! I know he has to demand a a higher value of hardness at the ball and for each other. That seems to be distinctly lacking.
  
  

 

[Yawkey way]

Out: Battle Sinclair Hill Lonie McKernan Gresham
In: Allison Webster Bytel Dunstan Kent Marshall

fu** it let’s try something different, at least these blokes will try.

McKenzie Carlisle Wilkie
Coffield Howard Webster
Ross Clark Billings
Allison Membrey Kent
Butler King Higgins
Marshall Steele Bytel

Jones Dunstan Crouch Wood



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Sinclair because you drop him every week ?

 

[malevu]

We have given up a lot of draft picks to get players. Sides like Port, Bulldogs and Sydney seem to nail drafting while we pay to get access to GOPs. It's a danger chasing recycled players. You know what you are getting but you also give up the access to the potential stars.

Sydney is the obvious example.

 

[MrFoster]

Agree totally. Assessment of our future should never be done solely after a bad loss or after a good win. Using that criteria yesterday then Richmond and Port are out of it this year. In reality we all know they might still play off in the GF.

Our full list is good enough to play finals but something is glaringly missing. I just think we've not adjusted to the new rules and the players seem lost.

With a tough draw this year, no Gresh and lingering doubts over Marshall and Ryder it's going to be a long year if we can't turn things around. It's up to Ratts and co. to reboot our season. It's no easy ask.

Pity we lost Gresham, but since he has mainly played in the midfield and is currently a helicopter punt merchant whenever he gets the ball, think we can cover his loss.. for example Bytel is a better inside mid without question.. this is because Gresham doesn’t have the strength/power and nous in congestion to withstand pressure/tackle and then dish out a clean handball to a free player/runner.. Only Steele, Crouch, Bytel and Dunstan can.. yet, only Steele played in the midfield yesterday.. think Rats is getting ahead of himself there.. keep it simple, inside mids get the ball then absorbs the tackle pressure/draws the man, then feed to outside runners who can kick with little pressure.. that’s where Hill comes in, now when Hill gets the ball, our forward line and midfield are all crowded, plus he probably got a rushed kick/handball, panicking and making mistake is the final result.. Fix the midfield/game plan and see the difference.

 

[George]

 

[gringo2011]

At the peak of our 2009/10 powers we had these heart and soul players:
Lenny, Roo, BJ, Monty, Fisher, Dal, Milne, Schneider

Now we have:
Steele, Howard, Membrey, umm, ahh, hmmm

Jason Blake and Shinner too.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Jason Blake and Shinner too.

Agree with that. Updated!

 

[scotteydog]

Unforgivable:

Round 4 Team:

B. Kent Howard Wilkie

H.B. Jones Joyce Webster

C. Billings Bytel Coffield

H.F. Butler Highmore Higgins

F. Battle King Membrey

Foll. Marshall Steele Crouch

Inter. Clark, Connolly, Dunstan, Ross

Outs: Carlisle, Gresham, Hill, Lonie, McKenzie, McKernan, Sinclair, Wood

 

[gringo2011]

And realistically it has been there since round one. I still think results have hidden the rot that has occurred at the Saints. No-one cares. They are damaged goods like Melbourne. Any side that bottoms out deserves to be like us. You might as well just give up for 20 years to overcome the damage. We should just become the Hobart Saints and punish the Islanders for getting uppity. That will fix them.

 

[Plugger35]

At the peak of our 2009/10 powers we had these heart and soul players:
Lenny, Roo, BJ, Monty, Fisher, Dal, Milne, Schneider, Dempster, Blake

Now we have:
Steele, Howard, Membrey, umm, ahh, hmmm

And Steele, Howard and Membrey are all imports from other clubs.

That team we had during 2009/10 was mostly players we had drafted ourselves and brought through together, our current team is mostly imports from other clubs and you get the sense that some of them like Hill are just there for the money and it shows in their performances on the field.

 

[leph]

Unforgivable:

Round 4 Team:

B. Kent Howard Wilkie

H.B. Jones Joyce Webster

C. Billings Bytel Coffield

H.F. Butler Highmore Higgins

F. Battle King Membrey

Foll. Marshall Steele Crouch

Inter. Clark, Connolly, Dunstan, Ross

Outs: Carlisle, Gresham, Hill, Lonie, McKenzie, McKernan, Sinclair, Wood

Oh my god this team would get pumped by 150

 

[Ducky Tie]

He was far from alone but that was woeful from Seb Ross. Up to 3/4 time, he had 10 disposals and zero tackles. Why we have gone back to him as a permanent midfielder these past two weeks is beyond me. Hunter Clark

11

Hunter Clark

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.3

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.9

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.0

1star

plays one of his better games as an inside mid in round one and has barely been seen in there since. Last year our main centre bounce set up was Steele, Gresham and Jones. Ross has somehow leapfrogged them all bar Steele with 25 centre bounce starts yesterday. Four for Clark and all once it was already game over. Makes no sense to me. Ross actually had a good game on the wing in round one I thought. Even Crouch only went to 17 centre bounces yesterday. He’s been brought over to be a midfield who specialises in clearance and contested ball I would’ve thought. 11 centre bounces for Jones who has seemingly been overtaken by Ross too. This is not an anti Seb post. He has a role to play but he even said himself that he’d be playing wing and half back this year. The midfield mix is a mess.

 

[George]

And realistically it has been there since round one. I still think results have hidden the rot that has occurred at the Saints. No-one cares. They are damaged goods like Melbourne. Any side that bottoms out deserves to be like us. You might as well just give up for 20 years to overcome the damage. We should just become the Hobart Saints and punish the Islanders for getting uppity. That will fix them.

Not an overreaction at all

 

[George]

At the peak of our 2009/10 powers we had these heart and soul players:
Lenny, Roo, BJ, Monty, Fisher, Dal, Milne, Schneider, Dempster, Blake

Now we have:
Steele, Howard, Membrey, umm, ahh, hmmm

Clark Coffield Gresham Wilkie Butler Higgins Paton King

 

[gringo2011]

Not an overreaction at all

I know they were punished enough having convicts dumped on them.

 

[StPiper]

Ross & Sinclair did more K’s than any other players however the team collectively ran 10 k’s less than the Bombers. That’s indefensible.

Sydney also covered a lot less ground than Richmond, but they had 70 more kicks.

We ran 10km less and had 60 less kicks. Lazy, lazy football.

 

[plugger66]

Unforgivable:

Round 4 Team:

B. Kent Howard Wilkie

H.B. Jones Joyce Webster

C. Billings Bytel Coffield

H.F. Butler Highmore Higgins

F. Battle King Membrey

Foll. Marshall Steele Crouch

Inter. Clark, Connolly, Dunstan, Ross

Outs: Carlisle, Gresham, Hill, Lonie, McKenzie, McKernan, Sinclair, Wood

Carlisle? Did he play to well. Some of those ins are terrible and as bad as some of the outs are they are better than the ins. It would send a message. The message would be the saints are tanking already