Autopsy Round 4, 2023: Positives and Negatives vs Melbourne

[timeforanother22]

I am not sure Kelly had the game people are crediting him with? He turned it over so many times! Missed getable goals! We are paying him big dollars as a premier mid, he needs to be a lot cleaner than he is.

Happy with the effort. Umpiring was ridiculous, how many centre bounces recalled? watched Elani closely, whoever said she doesn’t make decisions is on the money.

Thought Gaff was good, Hunt also, TB better than he has been. BW just needs to stick with it, hopefully he will get there. Thought Waterman tried hard.

 

[Astro7]

Darling - still makes poor decisions and needs to nail those easy set goals. Reminds me of a glitching Max Headroom at times. He's too smart by half?
Okay, he just had an off-day!...some days he's on and wins the game for us, other days he's just Max!

Generally it went as expected, but great to see the endeavour at the coalface all day.
Culley, as I suspected, was a little overhyped coming into the game, but it was his first big one back.
Ginbey will just grow steadily into the beast we know he will be.
Long+Hunt, such great pick ups.
Ledwards = Cool Hand Luke, has polish.
West+Clark no surprises today...
Hewett on a steep learning curve, getting needed game time, will build...

No real need for melts, better get used to it, this is pretty much our new team for awhile, lot of people wanted to see the youth play, well here we are, enjoy..
As long as they keep developing, along with that game plan thingy, take ownership and pride in the jumper and build into the core new team - will enjoy watching the progress, knowing there's a bonus at the end of the season; more good draft picks...

 

[Altum Volantes]

I think Darling is copping it a bit here - he spent loads of time up the ground as back up ruckman and often found himself trying to clear the ball from packs in general play. Would have covered a lot of ground today. He’s doing that stuff so Oscar Allen

12

Oscar Allen

Age

25

Ht

196cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.1

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.2

4star

doesn’t have to.

 

[Convocation]

Genuinely struggle to read some of these threads when we are a premiership threat team. Reading them when we we are in the position we are now, a team developing, a team working on a new game plan etc is…….
I think I’m out. Too many posts of people writing opinions and thoughts (as fact sometimes) that shouldn’t.
Adios for a while fellow bigfooty posters

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Thought Big Boy Bailey competed well.

Biggest negative was the inside 50s. Holy shit they were bad. Did all the hard work then handed the ball back on a platter for them to counterattack.

But overall we are so much better than last year. It's such a shame we'll still be bottom 4. But all the signs of improvement are there.

 

[Godfather32]

I think Darling is copping it a bit here - he spent loads of time up the ground as back up ruckman and often found himself trying to clear the ball from packs in general play. Would have covered a lot of ground today. He’s doing that stuff so Oscar Allen doesn’t have to.

A senior KPF should be nailing fairly easy set shots for goal.

 

[Reminiscence]

-I am extremely concerned the LEdwards, Culleys, Houghs, and Clarks just won't make it. The guys on the list for 3ish years worry me.

The idea that L Edwards won't make it I disagree. Played fat side of the wing majority of the game and worked really hard both offensively and defensively.
When he had the ball, made good decisions with strong composure. Won a clearance or two when he was put in the guts, but mostly hung off the contest.

He also lost just about his entire second year to OP - would of played a lot more games if healthy.

Hough's in his second year as well, was under the pump all game but I thought he wasn't terrible.

Clark was poor, Culley struggled.

 

[RedWeddingGuest]

Positives - Effort was still there, Oscar, Kelly (kicking aside), Gaff played hard but should be playing hard on the wing, most of the younger guys showed glimpes, Edwards was good early.

Negative - Senior guys shitting the bed cost us momentum several times throughout the game. Darling missing fairly easy shots on goal hurt.

Wish Simpson would give Clark and West a decent run in the guts for several games in a row. They probably aren't up to AFL level long term but we've done them no favours playing them on the wing and HFF.

“Kelly (kicking aside)” I know you’re looking for positives, but TK’s game – looked at as a whole – ain’t one. His disposal was scheissenhausen. Look, Simmo had to play the cards he was dealt. He blooded some kids, gave bit-part players a chance and did the best he could with what he had. Yep, the Dees are a top team, but we made more unforced errors than are acceptable (even with our B team out there).

Leaving the kids out of the discussion, we still had too many under achievers today. People keep dumping on me for saying it, but I reckon we can do without JJ – and West too. They’re never gonna get there, so giving them games is sacrificing opportunities for others who might. TB, JD, SH and AG also under achieved. I know, I know… we need senior players to mentor the kids and show on field leadership. I also know we can’t drop them yet. But they ain’t aging gracefully. SH is (or should be) the best of them, but he is genuinely stuck In whatever our previous game plan was supposed to be. He doesn’t seem able to adjust or improvise.

Lads, it’s going to be a long season.

And don’t anybody accuse me of a “melt”. Explain why I’m wrong, but lay off the playground taunts. Okay?


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[RookiePick]

Pretty much said most things during the game.

Youngsters showing promise and getting experience under their belts.

Seniors disappointing to not keep us closer on the scoreboard when we had our legs under us.

Plenty of heart on display again. Hopefully the group doesn't lose it through the season as we won't win many, especially not in the next month.

Green shoots. Let's take it in and enjoy what we can.

 

[THE A5]

+Kelly and Gaff were the best of our midfield
Allen is a star
Waterman is holding the spot bit of ruck, bit of forward... Oh crap soon you will be needed at CHB.
Hunt seems to be the injection of flare and pace we were sorely missing since Jettas departure.

-I am extremely concerned the LEdwards, Culleys, Houghs, and Clarks just won't make it. The guys on the list for 3ish years worry me.
We still don't look fit enough.
Goal kicking again. Looking at you Darling.
Waaay to many simple skill errors.

+/-We looked better in patches throughout the game but still outscored 2-1 basically every quarter.

Melbourne are good outfit but they didn't light the world on fire either.

Like it or not these are the darkest on-field days of the club. Worse than the Judge era, worse than the spoon of 2010.

Culley and Hough are on their second and both are 19. First game of the year in a pressure cooker sorta game too. Ledwards was in a similar boat but actually showed a bit in patches. Feel like this post is more of a melt than anything

 

[THE A5]

I am not sure Kelly had the game people are crediting him with? He turned it over so many times! Missed getable goals! We are paying him big dollars as a premier mid, he needs to be a lot cleaner than he is.

Happy with the effort. Umpiring was ridiculous, how many centre bounces recalled? watched Elani closely, whoever said she doesn’t make decisions is on the money.

Thought Gaff was good, Hunt also, TB better than he has been. BW just needs to stick with it, hopefully he will get there. Thought Waterman tried hard.

It wasn’t his greatest performance but it was good. He had a flurry of it in the first and turned it over but after than he was much improved.

 

[Boohemian]

Today the club took on the best the competition has to offer with a young and inexperienced squad and for the better part held them for a half before dropping away.

Next year it will be three quarters.

The year after that, four quarters.

And the year after that the club will no longer be described anymore as in a rebuild.


Everything is on schedule. This is how development goes.

This is wonderfully optimistic, and precisely what we need around here.

 

[RedWeddingGuest]

Genuinely struggle to read some of these threads when we are a premiership threat team. Reading them when we we are in the position we are now, a team developing, a team working on a new game plan etc is…….
I think I’m out. Too many posts of people writing opinions and thoughts (as fact sometimes) that shouldn’t.
Adios for a while fellow bigfooty posters

Don’t be that guy. Who determines whose opinions and thoughts are worthy of appearing on this (or any other) forum? You? If you disagree with a post, just say so and explain why. No need to pick up your marbles and go home.

Is it going to be a long, hard year? You bet. So are the next couple, I reckon.


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[THE A5]

Hunt had a mixed bag game, had a couple of turnovers but overall he has carried his form from the last couple weeks. When our ball movement is on he is at the forefront of it and I’m loving how much of a threat he is forward of centre. As much as it pains me to watch Gaff in the guts, Hunts probably the biggest beneficiary of it

 

[Chief Brody]

Get used to this result unfortunately. Hang in there

 

[thebutterflyeffect]

POSITIVES:

Performance and effort from the team
TK has been great three weeks in a row.

NEGATIVES

Just heard Simmo at the press conference saying we are heading home in between our 2 Adelaide matches because we travel too much.

I believe that the constant plane travel does affect longevity of careers and we should be looking to take opportunities like this to avoid plane travel.

Also don't like the mentality of we travel too much regardless if it's true or not.

 

[xInfected_Virus]

Positives +

• Kelly pretty much carried our midfield and was our best. Found the ball and used it decently although some entries were bad.
• Team kept up there in the early stages of the match even winning the I50 count at one point.
• Pressure was good at times.
• Glad to see the players working hard in the first half.
• Hunt showed what he can do if played as an attacking player. What were the Dees thinking making him into a lockdown defender.
• SPS was good with his pressure and used the ball well.
• JJ continued to provide rebound in a team getting smashed.
• Rotham looked good on the limited time he was on.
• Allen worked hard and kicked three hard goals with lack of supply. Great for the team's future.
• Gaff much better defensively and worked hard. Still lacks penetration and depth with his kicks though. I think he maybe better as an accountable inside mid since he's too slow to play wing these days.
• BW did well to compete against Grundy and was decent around the ground.
• L.Edwards clean with ball in hand and ran hard both ways. Great especially being out with OP for a while.
• Ginbey an average game for him but is a great learning lesson seeing Oliver and Viney in action. Great for the long term.
• Waterman competed well and worked hard.
• Noah Long was great up forward with his pressure, tackling, position and ball use. Nice he kicked that goal. Soo glad to have him.
• Still in contention for H.Reid

Meh =

= Barrass looked lost in the first term but improved in the second half.
= Hewitt tried but will get better soon.
= Darling although he didn't do well with those misses but still tried hard and took their best defender allowing Allen to be free more.
= Duggan was ok but didn't impact much.
= Hurn was also ok but he looked like he's stuck in 2018/19's gameplan.
= Yeo although rusty was good as an undersized key defender. Used the ball well despite turning it over later on.

Negatives -

• Team fell away in the second half which was to be expected against an experienced quality side.
• Skill errors were horrible at regular intervals.
• Still prone to getting killed on the turnover and not having enough leg speed to stop the counterattack.
• Selection errors. Would've preferred Petch over West and XON over Clark for extra pace and class. I did not like the selected team when I first saw Clark and West in them. West is NOT a natural small forward and Clark is NOT a natural wingman or a forward.

- West and Clark are both WAFL players, neither of them have the pace or class needed for the next level.

• Culley looks like someone who's still rusty with his game but he will get better.
• Some inside 50 entries were dogshit. Once they got the ball out, then they were near certain to score.
• Cole just looks lost but to be fair, he's still building after missing all of last year.
• Still have issues with opposition KPFs scoring, well to be fair, the club's KPD stocks are injured or not ready but it was still an issue for the first three weeks. We need a genuine lockdown tall defender like Schoey did.

Final thoughts.

Honestly I'm not disappointed that we lost. The club and our young players did well against an experienced quality midfield who haven't had a bad injury run. I'm ok that we lost since we need to finish bottom 4 for a good pick in this years draft which is said to be a strong draft (Yep I'm happy with a bottom 4 finish). Long term is the way to go and this loss will make the team better in the long run as the young players who will be in the next premiership side will know what do from learning from an experienced side. We seriously need a genuine lockdown KPD since oppo's KPFs always have a field day against us.

We are in a better position to win another flag in a few years than Freo since the club is ahead in our rebuild and we are expected to finish bottom four this year which strengthens our chances of getting quality talent at the top of this strong draft and Freo's trading has been disastrous such as overpaying for Hogan and Lobb and losing them for mostly peanuts and they don't even have a first round pick this year. They overachieved last year which gives them the illusion of contending. It feels like they're trying to sneak in their first flag with all the trades that they're doing and good players leaving for little or middleish picks which will lead them to years of mediocrity.

Even if the team has all of it's best 22 fit and firing, then we would've been a 8th - 10th side based on what I've seen. Those injury crisis is a blessing in disguise since the club can fast track the rebuild and finish on the bottom part of the ladder.

 

[RedWeddingGuest]

It wasn’t his greatest performance but it was good. He had a flurry of it in the first and turned it over but after than he was much improved.

Nah. Sorry. Very little icing and a very small cake. He cost us a lot (like Jackson cost the purple people). He’s gotta do a hell of a lot better.


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[Eastern Rangers]

Today the club took on the best the competition has to offer with a young and inexperienced squad and for the better part held them for a half before dropping away.

Next year it will be three quarters.

The year after that, four quarters.

And the year after that the club will no longer be described anymore as in a rebuild.


Everything is on schedule. This is how development goes.

This. Expecting synergy with the players who haven't played much football together in anger to compete against Melbourne is asking a lot.

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Altum Volantes]

A senior KPF should be nailing fairly easy set shots for goal.

Oh I agree with that….but he wasn’t exactly alone there.

I was more disappointed with Hunt and Kelly missing absolute sitters on the run tbh.

 

[bzparkes]

Nah. Sorry. Very little icing and a very small cake. He cost us a lot (like Jackson cost the purple people). He’s gotta do a hell of a lot better.


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He's been BoG 2 out of 3 weeks now.

Also been our best mid since he came across.

Not sure he can realistically do much more, considering the supporting cast around him.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

“Kelly (kicking aside)” I know you’re looking for positives, but TK’s game – looked at as a whole – ain’t one. His disposal was scheissenhausen. Look, Simmo had to play the cards he was dealt. He blooded some kids, gave bit-part players a chance and did the best he could with what he had. Yep, the Dees are a top team, but we made more unforced errors than are acceptable (even with our B team out there).

Leaving the kids out of the discussion, we still had too many under achievers today. People keep dumping on me for saying it, but I reckon we can do without JJ – and West too. They’re never gonna get there, so giving them games is sacrificing opportunities for others who might. TB, JD, SH and AG also under achieved. I know, I know… we need senior players to mentor the kids and show on field leadership. I also know we can’t drop them yet. But they ain’t aging gracefully. SH is (or should be) the best of them, but he is genuinely stuck In whatever our previous game plan was supposed to be. He doesn’t seem able to adjust or improvise.

Lads, it’s going to be a long season.

And don’t anybody accuse me of a “melt”. Explain why I’m wrong, but lay off the playground taunts. Okay?


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Won't accuse you of being a melt, will accuse you of just being an alias account for a previous poster. Something in the realm of banned poster bored in the offseason.

That aside, addressing the content of your post:

West won't ever get there. I agree with this. I like watching him give a **** but he's a good honest trier complete depth option at best. However "giving them (I'm not even bothering to address JJ not being best 22) games is sacrificing opportunities for others who might".

Burgiel. Barnett. Dewar. Trew. Winder. O'Neill. Petch. Bazzo (not remotely match fit). Those were the options. Those were who West (or Clark, or JJ if we must) kept out of the side.

Which of those guys is not immediately in the same boat if we pick one of them over, say, West. Or Clark? Play Trew over West and the exact same comment can be made. Petch is the only one that would move me for a better team balance, and when the 22nd player selected is a talking point out of a loss to the Premiership favourites, I reckon that's just clutching at straws.

And as for 'tell me why I'm wrong'. Well let's look at the veteran comments. "Yes we can't drop all the veterans but they're not good anymore". Yes. Hence why we're bottom four and in a full blown rebuild. You're not wrong, just equally a very good chance to win the award for the most stating the obvious post of all time. Very hard to be wrong when you're not actually taking a side or making a point. "I'm not saying we can do anything about this thing but this thing was bad. Tell me I'm wrong". Indeed.

We added just under 1000 games to the injury list this week and made seven changes. Gaff played his best game of the season against the odds tonight. Barrass kept he flood gates vaguely intact. Going on about the veterans weren't good tonight - some were some weren't. But ultimately....ok? And? What's the actionable element of that? What's the meat on the bones to be discussed there?

We all know it's going to be a long season. Firing up a sock puppet account to whinge and/or troll about it won't speed it up.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Nah. Sorry. Very little icing and a very small cake. He cost us a lot (like Jackson cost the purple people). He’s gotta do a hell of a lot better.


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He's fourth in the AFLCA so far, and willing to bet his 36 touch two goal performance gets the odd vote thrown in again in Round 4.

Gee.

 

[THE A5]

Nah. Sorry. Very little icing and a very small cake. He cost us a lot (like Jackson cost the purple people). He’s gotta do a hell of a lot better.


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Was talking about his game today and not his career in blue and gold.

He’s been bust but if we are in the same position again, it’s one of those things I’d love to see the club do again. Unlike Freo with Jackson we won a flag and we were going all out.

While TK has underperformed it also hasn’t helped him that most of our midfield has missed alot of games while he’s been here

 

[chaddy22]

I am not sure Kelly had the game people are crediting him with? He turned it over so many times! Missed getable goals! We are paying him big dollars as a premier mid, he needs to be a lot cleaner than he is.

Happy with the effort. Umpiring was ridiculous, how many centre bounces recalled? watched Elani closely, whoever said she doesn’t make decisions is on the money.

Thought Gaff was good, Hunt also, TB better than he has been. BW just needs to stick with it, hopefully he will get there. Thought Waterman tried hard.

Give Kelly a break you could say that about every eagles player today .He is trying to carry a midfield of nobodys.