Review Vent/Autopsy Thread. Here for all your post match needs.

[Anja_Nees]

It's pretty hard to keep it cool after witnessing crap like that. That said, we need to keep the focus on the big picture. There is a temptation to call for all of our senior players to be dropped and to pack the side with youth. If you think that tonight was bad just wait until a few more kids with 0-10 games experience find their way into the side. Melbourne have tried that for the last five years. We were not competitive at all but it can get worse.

We have plenty of kids at the moment. We need to shore up with experience to stop the rot. A loss to Melbourne or GWS will break our backs. Get Sherman in. Smith isn't there yet so drop him out. Rethink the three rucks but don't drop Minson - we get smashed when he's not in the middle.

If Morris and Williams were available Shaggy would be out. Until they're back though we should keep him. Cross appears to be on borrowed time. If, however, we pack our midfield with kids now we'll suffer even more.

Thoughts on today - Dahlhaus is a gun, Boyd never stops trying, Grant at least has a go. At the other end Wood's decision making is hopeless, Jones can't keep his feet when the ball hits the deck, Cooney can only do cameos.

 

[lindsay_bulldogs]

There was no good players tonight. No one actually won there position. Sticking up for the players is just ludicrous. Bordering insane. Fitness seems a real big issue at the moment because the amount of players running over to the bench asking to come off was ridiculous.

In games like these it really stands out the players who cannot win there own ball.

On the positive side I was really happy with the performance of our kids Like JJ, Pierce, Campbell, Hill, Sherman, and Vez.

For what its worth I back Macca and want the players to look hard in the mirror.

 

[StringyDog]

Is it the gameplan or do we just have dumb forwards that get sucked out too far as instead of Jones going up 3 on 1 it was either Jones or Cordy going up 3 on 1.

Smith's kicking is terrible (worse than Cross terrible)

Roughead needs a spell and lets see him dominate some games developing as a ruckman at VFL rather than play as a part forward part defender spare parts which he is not, if you need another tall defender bring a defender in the side don't use a ruckman.

Our Half backline of Addison Hargrave Wood is hopeless atm - clanger city

Over next 12 months need to look to phase out Gia, Cross and Hargrave

How is Jones supposed to develop when he can't even use his strength of contested marking as he has 3 opponents just blocking him out.

 

[Igloo]

Cross got a 2 year deal at the end of last year, didn't he?

 

[TMoney22]

Markovic, Picken and Murphy were all very good and held Reiwoldt, Dal Santo and Milne. How the **** can we lose by so much when those players dont have a big influence. StKilda have a lot of players that are simply crap but we made them look a million $ tonight. Says a lot about us. Lenny Hayes is a gun, he'll get as much contested possessions as Boyd yet his delivery is still perfect.

Grant was absolutely terrible, i watched him closely tonight and he actually doesn't even want the ball. He stood around CHF for most of the game and didnt move. He offers nothing, no leads, doesn't spread from a contest and hardly goes into a contest unless he has to. And constantly stands 20m from from the player with the ball instead of running back to create a lead. He doesn't play tall and he is shit at playing small, so there is no reason why he should be in the team. Just play another midfielder instead.

Higgins....gees i'm still not sure if he even played tonight.

Playing Cordy and Roughy with Minson doesn't work. And for those of you saying to bring in Campbell, THAT WONT WORK EITHER. They are ruckman, not forwards. They should only rest in the forward line. We had 3 ruckman and one should have been dropping back into defense just as McEvoy did. We need forward players in to help Jones, not ruckman in the forward line. Panos or Hill must be in the team.

Wood hasn't been good enough. He did ok in the 2nd half but the game was over. Overrated.

I just dont understand how Grant, Higgins and Wood can continue to get games over Vespremi. Vespremi hasn't played a bad game for us yet. I know he only played 2 games last year but he showed more in those 2 games than Grant, Higgins, Wood combined for all of this year. He could play in all their spots and provide speed and enthusiasm.

Thumbs up to Dal, Picken, Marko and Murphy

 

[Snake Livermore]

Oh man, that was bad.

Gameplan
All pre-season, weren't we practising slowing things down once we took posession if there was nothing on, and going side-ways rather than bombing to no-one? I think the idea being that even if you allow the opposition to get back, you get enough of your blokes forward to prevent 1 on 3 contests, and have a chance to lock it in once it hits the ground.

Well, either this gameplan doesn't stand up under AFL regular season pressure, or the players are cracking under the pressure and not following the gameplan (going back to the run and gun blaze away approach from the Eade years). I suspect the latter, and the guys who are not following the gameplan should be the ones that are dropped.

Cattle
Would be easier to stomach this loss if we were blooding a lot more new players. The unfortunate reality is the manpower isn't that much different to last year, but the results are a lot worse so far. I think we need 2 more youngsters in the team each week. It may make us temporarily worse, but at least we get some benefit from the games, rather than eking out slow retirements for Hargrave, Gia, Cross etc

 

[mysainters]

Hope you don't mind the intrusion, just my opinion on watching.

I think there has been a significant change to your gameplan, not talking just a slight tinker, but wholesale changes.

It will take time, saw it first hand in 2007 when Ross first came on board.

You actually have a good blend of youth and experience, just need the senior players to buy in. If they don't, you may see a Dal Santo like dropping for the penny to drop.

Lots of your young guys have an 'almost' about them, they will click soon enough, but you just need your leaders to show them the way.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

The only players that can hold their head up:

Dahlhaus (Along with Griffen, is probably our most important player)
Minson (ruck work was pretty solid, worked hard around the ground)
Markovic (gave his all, is just out of his weight class)
Lake (wasn't too bad, the tap to the face was barely news worthy)
Roughy (I thought was pretty solid throughout, looks like he's building confidence)
Grant (Sadly was ignored by team mates most of the day, but tackled and showed intensity, much improved, needs to continue in this vein)

Griff & Coons, pretty well held.

That's about it, the rest barring a few which you can excuse Smith, Cordy & Libba, were TERRIBLE!!!

They looked tired, started tired and played tired. Zero intensity, zero game plan, zero structure, zero efficiency. The players need to cop it & while I back Macca, very few changes if any were made in the second half, besides Roughy pushing back... somewhat bemusing.

Wood has to go back to Willy, he was very impressive at times last year, but hasn't shown anything yet to even justify selection. Gia barely raised a sweat tonight. I have never seen him so lacklustre in effort, he showed NO energy, is he sick or injured? Higgins, what do you say... did a few good things tonight, wasn't the worst, but is as intense as a sloth! What is wrong with him? How come this hasn't been addressed, he moves like he's going for a jog in the park.

Jones, I'm not being overly critical as I like the kid and see he desires the ball, but he was being pushed under the ball too easily tonight. That said the disposal too him was absolutely horrendous! The way he is being played and double teamed, he's going to be damaged goods before he even gets the chance to become a player.

Pfewwww

 

[NBates]

Thought Minson was one of our better players tonight.
Maybe we could borrow some forwards off Brisbane as they don't seem to be using them.

Minson beat his opponent with the hit outs in the centre. Wots he supposed to do with the 3 d*#@heads he taps down to. Cross was one of them. Telling him where to tap the ball & then pissing off in the opposite direction!!!

Minson & Dalhaus are the only ones who can hold their heads up.

Split the team up into the younger & older.

Only a few of the younger ones are going to make footballers. As for the older ones, forget it. No leaders there. These older guys are the ones that should be accountable. Where's the grunt? Too busy writing for the Age, auditioning for "Before the Game" etc etc

OK, so the last paragraph's just a nasty vent - I deserve it after tonight.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

Grant was absolutely terrible, i watched him closely tonight and he actually doesn't even want the ball. He stood around CHF for most of the game and didnt move. He offers nothing, no leads, doesn't spread from a contest and hardly goes into a contest unless he has to. And constantly stands 20m from from the player with the ball instead of running back to create a lead. He doesn't play tall and he is shit at playing small, so there is no reason why he should be in the team. Just play another midfielder instead.

I also was watching Grant, he was constantly avoided by his team mates. Made plenty of leads into space throughout the night. Looked pretty disheartened towards the end of the evening. Hopefully this is addressed.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

One thing I forgot to mention was, I thought it was a mistake from the opening minute to have Bob on The Tip Rat. He may well be the best matchup, but TTR plays deep, which in turn keeps Bob deep depriving us of almost all our creative drive from half back. Poor decision in my book.

 

[Jdoggy]

Hmm... well
I've always loved Shaggy, report seems tho that he stoodout in a bad way tonight, unfortunate, great performer in our better team. Also have great aspirations for Wood but he too seems to have played badly by what I've read.
Shiz, randomly without considerin we was versin the saints, just mid-week watched final minutes of our prelim loss back in 2009 and absolutely miss Harbrow...
Of Course Ain't the best thing lookin at the past, but Wood n Harbrow woulda worked great as running defs, shaggy morris mid defs, Lake n Williams key pos defs and maybe marko off the bench... but now such a vision has gone down the drain and its all come to Shizenhouse.
And just from listenin, seems we just need an absolute re-construction/configuration/vamp of our forward line cause it was quite unacceptable.
Hope for Griff n Coon to get back into form where they can command things, Could do with Sherman run.

 

[SonOfScray]

OverallGrant was poor, but he was in our best tonight on the back of 2 quarters of very good work in close and effective disposal. 2 quarters more than most. His work rate and intensity at the contest has come a long way.

Tracking in the right direction at least. He gets a reprieve from me for tonight.

 

[cammo78]

The apologists, as usual, are out in force again. Just happy to have a club.

This football club is bereft of leadership.

Gia. Goodbye.

Whoever think Higgins played a good game fair had their head up their arse all night because he is a disgrace. Downhill skier of the highest order.

Hargrave was woeful.

Lake's earnt a two-week holiday.

Markovic is NOT UP TO IT.

Cross is gone.

And our best player, not just tonight, but since his debut, has a grand total of FOURTEEN games under his belt.

And as someone else said...they still get clapped off just for showing up.

Just bewildering and unacceptable.

 

[SonOfScray]

Higgins needs to go forward, play him out of the square. Similar to how we used Robbins, Garlick and Hudson at times in their careers. It is the only place he will be of any real value.

He might get a lot of ball loose across half back but he isn't giving us much there in reality. Anyone can rack them up as a loose man, he is an expensive option there.

 

[TMoney22]

I also was watching Grant, he was constantly avoided by his team mates. Made plenty of leads into space throughout the night. Looked pretty disheartened towards the end of the evening. Hopefully this is addressed.

OverallGrant was poor, but he was in our best tonight on the back of 2 quarters of very good work in close and effective disposal. 2 quarters more than most. His work rate and intensity at the contest has come a long way.

Tracking in the right direction at least. He gets a reprieve from me for tonight.

Dear J.Grant

Well done son! You have successfully lowered everyones expectations and now when you lay a tackle and look like to have some intensity you have played a good game.


FTS

 

[StringyDog]

Dear J.Grant

Well done son! You have successfully lowered everyones expectations and now when you lay a tackle and look like to have some intensity you have played a good game.

FTS

Not a good game, but not a bad game when you compare it to the shit about 15 other players dished out.

 

[ReservoirDog]

Was also at the game last night, we got smashed all over. We will end up with 2 top 6 picks at the end of the year. Haven't seen a Doggies match as bad as that for 10 years. We will have to make the hard call on a few guys at the end of the year but we are still in for 2 -3 years of pain. I can't see Jones as the answer in the forward line, I just don't see it in him. Maybe he can play back and be serviceable. Lake, Cross, Gia, Hargrave are all on borrowed time.

 

[TMoney22]

Not a good game, but not a bad game when you compare it to the shit about 15 other players dished out.

Yes that is true

 

[SonOfScray]

Not a good game, but not a bad game when you compare it to the shit about 15 other players dished out.

Exactly. Getting treated harshly compared to some of our untouchables like Higgo and Boyd who just continue to stink it up.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

I was at the game, and was shocked at how bad they were. The turnovers killed us They would start a chain of handballs and then hand the ball straight to a Saint.

I didn't expect to win tonight, and I expected us to be bottom 4 this year, but wow this is going to be a long year.

I won't even bother singling out any players, because honestly they were all bad, except to say that Gia, wow he has dropped off the pace, he was one of the smartest players around and now, he is useless, can't run, can't mark, lazy and insipid performance.

The umpiring was crap, when are the umpires going to wake up to the St Kilda football club, who just look for free kicks constantly.

 

[boydsno1]

Speaking of umps has jones or any of our talls who go forward had a free for holding. The amount of times Jones or the resting rucks for us get held onto before the ball reaches the marking contest makes me want to pull my hair out. Jones in particular. Seems to be getting no help at all from the umps while other sides get a free run. Some of st nicks frees tonight were. Joke.

 

[TMoney22]

Exactly. Getting treated harshly compared to some of our untouchables like Higgo and Boyd who just continue to stink it up.

Grant stunk it up all last season too, 4 weeks at Willi for him. While Boyd's disposal is no good he does his job every week. Goes in hard and gets the ball. Higgo, your right, no excuses.

The umpiring was crap, when are the umpires going to wake up to the St Kilda football club, who just look for free kicks constantly.

I'm sick of playing StKilda and getting done by the umpires. It seems to happen every time.

 

[aussierulesrules]

The umpiring tonight was some of the worst I've probably ever seen. Mostly in our favour. Just some serious WTF's? Balanced out our game in round one against Port, though, when we were on the ass end of it and it almost certainly cost us that game.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

The umpiring tonight was some of the worst I've probably ever seen. Mostly in our favour. Just some serious WTF's? Balanced out our game in round one against Port, though, when we were on the ass end of it and it almost certainly cost us that game.

So how does this tripe help us