Serious questions about our forward line

[winty]

In my opinion Varcoe was better than Stokes. Worst game I've seen from a GF (and premiership) player ever pretty much. Falling over, free kicks given away, fumbling etc. Wojak would have been much better.

Hindsight is 20/20 though, isn't it.

Couldn't agree more.

Stokes 7 touches
Hodge 26 touches, 9 marks, 1 Norm Smith medal. 'Nuff said.

We desperately needed a crumber to stand up today. How many times did we bomb it to Mooney, only for a Hawk to spoil, and a defender front and centre to clear the ball? I don't think I saw one occasion where we had a guy crumbing a pack in the forwardline. If there was one, it must've been when I was heading to the fridge to grab another can.

 

[OldStyle2007]

Can't believe they picked Stokes

Have it on very good authority that the club knew he had OP and still picked him. They should have had Gamble in the side

Mates club selections have cost us a Premiership

 

[Catsace]

In the movie 'The Mission' a saying by i think Jeremy Irons, playing the priest....he said 'If might is right....then God has no place in this world'.

Whatever it is with the Hawks, they just always win. 10 flags in 48 seasons, and we went 23-2, and go home with nothing. Emptyness, we could not have played a better season, but we were simply let down by inept goalkicking. Can't help thinking if Otto had goaled, we would have been almost 2 goals up, and with a run on. We never got the lead our forward forays should have resulted in, and we were over-run by Hawthorn, and their simple 'thing' they just have over us.

It is a curse, maybe Bruns did the wrong thing in even being hit by Matthew's elbow, as since that day, Hawthorn have won 29 of 41 games. Might seems to be right, unsociable is right.....bottoming out is right.

I am gutted, the players will be too. But one thing i think can be shown, Geelong would have won had we converted. 10.8 at half time instead of 6.12....scoreboard pressure. Our game style still provided plenty of chances. Hawthorn made the most of their few, we butchered almost all of ours.

We have to simply go back, play another season, maybe do it Lions style, drop a few games here and there......go in 16-6 or something, and peak in September. (And avoid Hawthorn...gee i hope they have the mother of all premiership hangovers.)

It's no fun having a 23-2 season, yet only win a Mclelland.

 

[Catsace]

In my opinion Varcoe was better than Stokes. Worst game I've seen from a GF (and premiership) player ever pretty much. Falling over, free kicks given away, fumbling etc. Wojak would have been much better.

Hindsight is 20/20 though, isn't it.

That's it.....and in all fairness, there was not a lot to go on in terms of issues we had as the side had won 42 of 44.

Just happened to save the worst conversion of the season for the most important day.

 

[Established 1859]

Saved my first post for a rather wretched time. One positive to keep in mind is to think of how much worse we would all feel if we were still searching for our first premiership in 45 years today. Think back to how deleriously happy we all were this time last year. To the victor go the spoils. Congratulations hawks, you were the better team. Enjoy it. At least I now know what it feels like for you! What a challenge to our team to rebound next year.

 

[Doggies_2008]

Nothing against Geelong, but it was like watching Doggies v Geelong last week, just couldnt get the goals. Maybe time to bring in Hawkins? Or draft a key forward?

You guys surprised that wojo didnt get selected??

 

[Big_Tazz]

Put it this way... Stokes flukey run of awesome form was all because of the players around him, and now that is exposed, de-list him, or trade him off, he cant improve...
Varcoe can only improve, i dont know who he thinks he is when he tried to sell a dummy in that last quarter, but he needs to learn how to win the ball...

Lonergan, was ok at the start but as expected dropped off totally....

Bomber will know what to do, our time isnt up yet, as soon as we lost, i thought of Hawkins and Gamble, and there time is now!

Our forward line needs a MASSIVE re-shuffle...

 

[OldStyle2007]

Put it this way... Stokes flukey run of awesome form was all because of the players around him, and now that is exposed, de-list him, or trade him off, he cant improve...
Varcoe can only improve, i dont know who he thinks he is when he tried to sell a dummy in that last quarter, but he needs to learn how to win the ball...

Lonergan, was ok at the start but as expected dropped off totally....

Bomber will know what to do, our time isnt up yet, as soon as we lost, i thought of Hawkins and Gamble, and there time is now!

Our forward line needs a MASSIVE re-shuffle...

Exactly - as of now you would think the starting line up for next season has Gamble and Hawkins starting on the ground.

You know the feeling when you know they are going to make a mistake on selecting a player like Stokes and the worst unfolds in front of your eyes?? I feel like the man pointing to the Grassy Noll

 

[thejester]

I don't think we had any there - all were up the ground chasing kicks.

 

[g-thing]

Today has raised some very serious questions about our forward line. I think it's time for Moons to go and, as I said in a previous post a few days ago, Lonergan should've been replaced by Vegas. Whilst it was great to see him in the team (football romantics), the hard decision should've been made and Vegas should've been in (better mark and kick) and Varcoe should not have been in for Wojo.

Big kick in the arse for the selectors today! I can just imagine Wojo's dad saying cop that!

I'll say - selectors very much to blame!!!!!

Let's pick Stokesy - only has ostoesis pubis - so let's pick him anyway - did nought - 7 possessions!!!!!

Let's pick Kelly - not right - so let's pick him- 10 possessions!!!

Let's pick Chappie - he's injured but let's pick him anyway - got a bit of it but mostly sent in up and unders into the goal square - rubbish really

Let's pick Blakey - poor Blakey the most unlucky player in the whole world missing out last year boo hoo - take your chances this year mate - 4 possessions!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's pick Varcoe - was he going to get more than his average 11 possessions per game this year? - no lived up to his usual poor output - give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You pick a shit team and you sow as you reap!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gamble and Byrnsie in (and maybe Wojo) and some injured chumps out and let's see how it would have turned out!!!!!!!!

 

[FTW_]

Notice how Harry Taylor played in the forward line for a little while at the start of the 4th quarter? I really think we should develop him as a forward.

Today I think we should have been more selfish. Instead of trying to give the ball to a player in a 'better position' (which usually ended up being worse) we should have just had a shot at goal.

Let's pick Blakey - poor Blakey the most unlucky player in the whole world missing out last year boo hoo - take your chances this year mate - 4 possessions!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we should have picked a ruck who has only played a hand full of games, and no finals?

 

[Barabbas]

Notice how Harry Taylor played in the forward line for a little while at the start of the 4th quarter? I really think we should develop him as a forward.

Today I think we should have been more selfish. Instead of trying to give the ball to a player in a 'better position' (which usually ended up being worse) we should have just had a shot at goal.

That's a good point. Moons is stuggling. When Egan is back that could be a good option.

 

[Inferno]

Gamble and Byrnsie in (and maybe Wojo) and some injured chumps out and let's see how it would have turned out!!!!!!!!

I can't believe I'm saying this but Byrnes would have been more effective than Stokes or Varcoe. At least he would actually take shots at goal and not give off passes to teammates in worse positions.

 

[CF]

Our forward line has always functioned by our half forwards taking their opponents up the field to give our talls and smalls a chance to win the ball. Hawthorns backmen stayed back the whole game meaning that everytime we kicked it into our forward line they could double or triple team us. In fact they kind of used the tactic we use in our back line and it proved a winner. On top of that Mooney and stokes and Varcoe had shocker games. The Coaches will need to rethink our structure and gameplan because the other teams have caught on to us. Clarkson even said himself that he used Geelong as a model of success.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

crack open the frothies boys cos they'll drown our sorrows. i feel like shit.

I don't think I can even do that.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Nothing against Geelong, but it was like watching Doggies v Geelong last week, just couldnt get the goals. Maybe time to bring in Hawkins? Or draft a key forward?

You guys surprised that wojo didnt get selected??

Hawk will play next year.

He should start training this week.

His time is now if he wants it to be.

 

[OldStyle2007]

I can't believe I'm saying this but Byrnes would have been more effective than Stokes or Varcoe. At least he would actually take shots at goal and not give off passes to teammates in worse positions.

I would have had Byrnes in front of Stokes with his injury. Still can't believe Stokes played

Varcoe deserved his game after being the difference in the Prelim

Gamble should have been in the side. Can't believe they kept picking the injured, smaller, slower Stokes in his place

 

[StokesyBaby!]

Crumbing Forward

I know its probaly not the best time to talk about it, but today made me realise the importance of crumbing forwards. Even if your big blokes aren't taking marks your crumbers are always good for a few goals i.e Hawthorn today

At Geelong we have no noted crumber as Varcoe is hopeless and Stokes (i love him) but was also hopeless today.

Thoughts on if we need to draft or trade for a noted crumbing forward to go with our big blokes or if anyone knows of forward crumbers in the draft

Thoughts???

 

[OldStyle2007]

Re: Crumbing Forward

I know its probaly not the best time to talk about it, but today made me realise the importance of crumbing forwards. Even if your big blokes aren't taking marks your crumbers are always good for a few goals i.e Hawthorn today

At Geelong we have no noted crumber as Varcoe is hopeless and Stokes (i love him) but was also hopeless today.

Thoughts on if we need to draft or trade for a noted crumbing forward to go with our big blokes or if anyone knows of forward crumbers in the draft

Thoughts???

I suspect it's a coaching thing that's been missed. The crumbers were just not there and the defenders have been at the fall of the ball in recent matches

 

[themuddy#3]

ok. Now that we have established that varcoe cant play the hard way, can we please delist him? He offers sfa. Why do people think he can play? Cause he is black, therefor a good goalsneak? He is a passenger and stokes is just as bad.

 

[themuddy#3]

ok. Now that we have established that varcoe cant play the hard way, can we please delist him? He offers sfa. Why do people think he can play? Cause he is black, therefor a good goalsneak? He is a passenger and stokes is just as bad.

 

[Big_Tazz]

Exactly - as of now you would think the starting line up for next season has Gamble and Hawkins starting on the ground.

You know the feeling when you know they are going to make a mistake on selecting a player like Stokes and the worst unfolds in front of your eyes?? I feel like the man pointing to the Grassy Noll

ok. Now that we have established that varcoe cant play the hard way, can we please delist him? He offers sfa. Why do people think he can play? Cause he is black, therefor a good goalsneak? He is a passenger and stokes is just as bad.

That was the worst part, seeing stokes play shithouse, and then telling yourself he will improve, when u know the wrong decision was made.... The thing with Varcoe is, if he improves, would he be good enough to win enough posessions? You look at Rioli in his first year, and he does it with ease.... Varcoe was given the number 5 for a reason.... and i have not seen anything to suggest that it was the right move....

 

[turbo0010]

Varcoe is a hack, never ever has he played a good game, he was falling over his own shaddow against the dogs and he was crap today. yet people looked at stats and said he was good against the dogs, he was bad.

Stokes has had a good year, did play terrible today, but we need hawkins, to hit some packs and gamble as well.

trade kelly, hes a great tackler etc, but he's the worst midfielder, prismall and davenport need to get their chance on a regular basis.

in the end hawthorn played better

 

[OldStyle2007]

That was the worst part, seeing stokes play shithouse, and then telling yourself he will improve, when u know the wrong decision was made.... The thing with Varcoe is, if he improves, would he be good enough to win enough posessions? You look at Rioli in his first year, and he does it with ease.... Varcoe was given the number 5 for a reason.... and i have not seen anything to suggest that it was the right move....

Look, Varcoe was a big factor in us getting to the GF. Let's not forget that. He played really well in the PF and earned his spot

Stokes didn't, they had ample replacements in Wojo or Gamble and they didn't take them

Playing unfit Stokes and Chappy in forward line was a big mistake

 

[The Governor]

ok. Now that we have established that varcoe cant play the hard way, can we please delist him? He offers sfa. Why do people think he can play? Cause he is black, therefor a good goalsneak? He is a passenger and stokes is just as bad.

After today's shocking day at the office, our foot disposal into the forward line and our poor conversion at goal costs us back to back flags!! Our costly turnovers in our forward zone cost us dearly!!

Hawthorn outplayed us when we turned the ball over in our forward line (poor foot and hand disposal and kicking points instead of goals).

Our forward line structure may need to be reassessed.

Stevie J got too many kicks around half back and centre wing region.

Cam Mooney suffered the Barry Stoneham and Barry Hall ips in front of goal.

Matthew Stokes was more interested in playing the man instead of focussing on the football.

Tom Lonergan is a poor replacement for N.Ablett. The Tomahawk should have been picked ahead of him.

Our forward line needs to be reassessed for next year. There is no doubt about it. TOm Hawkins would need to come into the side for Lonergan, whilst a Barry Hall could be a handy player at the Cattery for next year.

If Barry Hall is coming out of contract, I think he would be ideal acquisition at the Cattery to allow him to fast track the development of Tom Hawkins. Hence, the pressure will be off Stevie J and Cam Mooney.

THE GOVERNOR