Autopsy The good, the bad and the oh dear v St Kilda

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My quick thoughts:

Until we get speed across the ground, we will struggle in the current AFL environment, as we obviously have.

I like Wilson, wish he was on our list.

Chom plays on instinct but for me shows very little defensive nouse. Still prefer him forward but don’t really care where he plays this year as long as he gets through.

Thought Hardeman was ok, although wasn’t involved a heap. Think we have to put time into him and get the exposure games up.

Stevo was not great, Shiels has been poor every game he has played.

Sheez and Powell are highly skilled players, but their lack of foot speed is not great in this midfield. Pendles needed speed around him to make sure he wasn’t a liability, it is the same here.






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We didn't win a quarter. Thanks Xavier!!!
My fault. I started the game day thread. We know Gasometer used to blow us up with his game day threads, we banned danj and a few others. Twinkletoes is the Luke McDonald of GD Tread starters but I'm the Aidan Corr equivalent. I need a ban effective immediately.
 
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he needed to be booted to pull his head out of his arse, plus he’s still not that good.
Omg the game where he just ran out of bounds without any pressure lol
 
It was a better performance today, but a poor second quarter cost us any chance. We are still too porous through the middle and gave away too many uncontested marks, but thanks to the Saints slow gameplan they didn't really punish us like a few other teams have done in recent weeks.

  • Wardlaw was amazing today, that was one of the best performances I've seen from a North player for some time, his willingness to make a second, third and fourth effort is something I hope his teammates will follow.
  • I know Archer ran out the game, but he looked a little propy, I hope his injury isn't too serious and he can get a strong run of games going because despite that one error he was very good today.
  • Xerri has his moments and works hard but he is frustrating to watch, coming into this game he was 3rd in AFL for hitouts, but I think he is probably 17th or 18th for hitouts to advantage. The amount of hitouts that either land at his feet or go directly to an opponent are mindblowing, his clearance and tackling numbers are greater than Goldstein's ever were, but that is because Goldie was an elite tap ruckmen who was excellent at finding a teammate, whereas Xerri couldn't find a teammate if everyone in the middle was wearing Royal Blue and White. I think he is a liability and the primary major reason our midfield is struggling.
  • Sheezel spent most of the game in the middle and looked good, but uncharacteristically for him, he did miss a few targets, but overall, with his performance and Wardlaw's we did look better in the middle than past weeks.
  • I think it may be time to move McKercher out of the backline and on to a wing, he has speed, is creative and is a beautiful kick, I'd like to see him in a more attacking role and where he can be more dangerous.
  • Pink only played a quarter in the forward line, but I thought he did pretty well and offered more of a contest than Sellers and CCJ in early rounds. It may not be his natural position, but he could be worth persisting with for a 4/5 weeks.

100% agree with the Xerri observation. He would be terrible to rove too.


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Did anyone else find it "convenient" that we received 3 free kicks in the last 20 seconds of the game!? It was almost as if it was scripted. 2 of them were for literally exactly the same things that were called "play on" in the 1st half.
Not only that, there were some delays before the whistle went as well. Almost like the ump got a message in his ear-piece advising him to even up the frees. I mean, if I was a tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, that is what I'd be thinking.
 
My fault. I started the game day thread. We know Gasometer used to blow us up with his game day threads, we banned Dan and a few others. Twinkletoes is the Luke McDonald of GD Tread starters but I'm the Aidan Corr equivalent. I need a ban effective immediately.


All the sooks of the world that said midnight past 5 seconds can gagf

Frank Costanza Seinfeld GIF by MOODMAN
 
There were at least three occasions today where we had the momentum swinging our way, yet gave it away conceding stupid free kicks and 50 metre penalties, I don't know if this is because of youthful exuberance, youngsters not fully understanding the rules or general frustration, perhaps a bit of all three, but it has been commonplace for a few years now and is so disheartening as a supporter to watch all our hard work being shot down but one stupid act, and it surely must be every bit a disheartening and frustration for the players.
 
We fought it out. That’s a positive. We could have easily capitulated again.

Good:
Wardlaw
Corr
Kerch
Arch
Chom
Sheez
Xerri

Bad:
Sleevo
Durz
Tucker
Simpkin
Shiels

Meh:
The rest.
 

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I have to confess I went to the local cinema while the game was on as I couldn’t submit myself to another anxiety-inducing episode. On the bright side, I won $117 betting we’d get within 39 points. Phew. When I returned home, I played back some of the first and fourth quarters. I can confirm we showed signs today. The team are obviously hurting, evidenced by GR’s photos.
 
And then for paul to rob Pablo when Chom shits the bed in front of goal.

He won 1v1s today that any other defender would have pissed their pants and given away frees
I agree. Choms set shot kicking isn't good. He's shown a lot more in the backline than he ever did last year up forward. Just let him settle in one position.
 
This experiment of playing outside flankers (Fisher, McKercher, Scott, to a lesser extent Sheez) as defenders needs to end. We're slowly getting there with the inclusion of Hardeman and Archer but we can only afford maybe one down there
Arch, Hardeman, Goater and Bergman seems like the right mix of shut down and attack.
 
Saints fans who booed Jy can get in the bin. Graceless.

They have a charity with headquarters at their home ground named after a StKilda player who killed himself due to the impact of concussion. I'd like to see the sh1tstains who booed Jy today dragged in front of the Frawley family to explain themselves.
 
Just a few more observations as I watch the replay:

- McDonald hasn’t played that well since 2020. He was in control, shut down his direct opponent, knew when to peel off and intercept and lead well. We haven’t seen it for 3 or so years. And it’s the difference between him being the worst captain in the league, to being decent-good one.

- Corr played very well. He made a few mistakes but owned king and attacked the contest well.

- Arch played a great game. I really hope we get to see some continuity as he makes our back 6 so much more capable with his intensity.

- Sheezel had a down game for his standards. Ross put a lot of time into shutting down LDU and him. He was still productive and 25 possessions, but it was noticeable how much physicality they were trying to apply to him. He also got torched on the wings a few times with his medium-pace speed. I’m wondering whether he can be a centre square specialist and then play either HF or HB in open play…

Xerri and Wardlaw’s pressure acts and second/third attempts kept us in it in the guts. Our other mids had a pretty mediocre day, which in the end is encouraging. If the mids can start gelling as a group for once this year, it will mean the growing backline can get more protection and our forwards might actually see the footy.

Even though the result was disappointing, it was just good to see some competitive footy again from us.
 
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Positives:
  • Wardlaw swoon.
  • McKercher growing each week.
  • First quarter midfield. Sheez clearly the future.
  • Defence better than normal (sadly Charlie looks integral down back)
  • Archer unpolished but shows mongrel
  • Xerri rough as heck but a genuine presence
  • Simpkin getting his eye in
  • One of Corr's best games
  • Pink looked surprisingly composed down front, dare we dream he can make Nick's life a little easier.
  • Drury threatening to exit the spud zone.
  • Woeful DE aside Tucker's form has improved a little
  • Rubbish oppo but we got a glimpse of the future which was nice.


Negatives:-
  • We have a coaching team that will play an inexperienced tall for a sub and will give Stephenson another chance. That is terrifying.
  • Remember when Zuhaar was a game breaking forward instead of a c grader thinking he's ready for the big time? I hope he improves because we could use the draft pick.
  • The misses by Curtis and Nick - unforgivable. We were two goals down if we got those.
  • We played the against the single worst team performance we will see this year and they barely got out of second gear to beat us easily. The minute any team needs to score they just have to bomb it long, it's that simple. Our pressure is deplorable and our skills are abysmal. It is almost a given that we will not win a game this year.
  • It's looking like improvement will only come from our younger players having another couple of preseasons. Five years is way too long, seven or eight is going to be some of the hardest yards this club and it's supporters has ever endured.
 

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