Post game thread

[NMWBloods]

Well, the simple fact of the matter is, and the writing has been on the wall for a while but people have refused to acknowledge it, we are just a very ordinary, middle table side. Every now and again we will produce a good game or a few, as mid-table sides do, but we will never be a top-flight team.

I wonder what the apologists will come out with this week...?

"It's only round 4 give them time"
"They can only get better"
"It was the umpire's fault"

All of these things are crap. I think it unlikely we will see a massive improvement in our team over time and that's what we need to see to be a genuine contender.

Skills don't increase markedly for guys this age and they are generally rather ordinary, and as some of the younger guys improve (some will and some won't) our better players will gradually decline as they get older and more injury ridden.

We will be lucky to win more than one game in the next four. At best we'll be running 50% by rd 8. Things will only get worse without Williams and Ball in the side - the only two guys who seem capable of really taking hold and giving us drive from the midfield.

I fail to see how we can win games when we can't kick goals. We kicked 4 goals in the second half today, to go with our 6 goals in the first three quarters last week. Currently we are averaging just over 12 goals per game, which is woeful. Only 9 games out of 32 this year have been won when the winning side kicks only 12 goals or less.

[mpr104]

Originally posted by gazza
williams and ball will be out for some time.
why punish spriggs,at least he tried harder than a lot of others.
waiting to see who performed in the magoos,saddington must be chance and doyle if fit to cover for ball.
other likely recalls for fosdike,mcveigh and possibly moore.

Yes I thought Spriggs had a crack and did some decent things, N Davis also gave us some drive from the center. The guys are definitely trying but their skills are not good enough and the gameplan leaves alot to be desired.

[ugg]

My official excuse: LRT wasn't playing.

There's only so much a coach can do with a team with average foot skills.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
Forgot Ball, was thinking midfield. Where is the Pelican? Might as well slot LRT in the ruck, at least he may lead White away from the ball. Spriggs was OK, but only just. He does not create anything - another 'athlete' with ordinary skills. Get the midfiled of the future in there and 4 or 5 weeks to work together and see how they go.

We might as well piss off Maxfiled while we're at it. Did some good things today but is not the future. Sleep in next Saturday Mr Moore, game starts at 7pm.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by ugg
My official excuse: LRT wasn't playing.

There's only so much a coach can do with a team with average foot skills.

We have not won a game this year that LRT has not played. Not so sure if he would have lifted the skill level off the boot though.

[SXP]

Good points here NMWBloods. You point it to a misery, which is our midfiled.
Footyhead should probably give you a hug now

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
OUT: Williams, Bevan, Spriggs.

IN: Fosdike, McVeigh, Schmidt.

Williams - he's got a similar injury to the one that Riewoldt suffered, and will be out a similar period of time (6 to 8 weeks). I expect him back in the last half of June.

Ball - he did a hammy in the last quarter. I have no idea how serious it was. He may play next week, but if it's a hammy, it's likely he'll be out about two weeks. Just our luck when we have Melbourne and West Coast in those two weeks.

I don't know who I would drop other than these compulsories. A few midfielders need to be scrutinised. Maybe Bevan and Spriggs, although I saw both make good efforts.

Who to bring in? I would bring in players who can kick it long, and plenty of them. Even if we do kick it to a contest, it's far better to kick it to a contest than to handball to a contest. At least if you kick to a contest and a Swan marks the ball, the player doesn't have to rush his disposal.

We have one thing in our favour - we can drop underperforming midfielders because we have others pushing for selection.

One more thing - our last six games:
W (West Coast final), L (St Kilda final), W (Hawthorn), L (Kangaroos), W (Brisbane), L (Adelaide). Maybe next three weeks - W (Melbourne), L (West Coast), W (Bombers)?

[mpr104]

Originally posted by SXP
Godd points here NMWBloods. You point it to our misery, which is midfiled.
Footyhead will probably give you a hug now

Yes, but many times Kennelly and Barry confuse everyone and themselves coming out of defence - I know that is their running style but turnovers are what kill us.
Also the lack of defensive pressure up forward is appalling - we never seem to have anyone crumbing and snapping goals. If the ball isnt marked it just comes straight back out far too easily.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by gazza

why punish spriggs,at least he tried harder than a lot of others.

It is not Auskick, it is the AFL. Try all he might he is not the answer. He should be well satisfied knowing he is the highest paid player in the Canberra league. I'd rather a gamewinner in the middle giving 75% than a trier busting his gut like a blue arsed fly not getting anything much done.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by mpr104

Also the lack of defensive pressure up forward is appalling - we never seem to have anyone crumbing and snapping goals. If the ball isnt marked it just comes straight back out far too easily.

I made the same point in another thread just a few minutes ago. Absolutely spot on IMO. No defensive pressure in attacking 50 at all.

[mpr104]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
It is not Auskick, it is the AFL. Try all he might he is not the answer. He should be well satisfied knowing he is the highest paid player in the Canberra league. I'd rather a gamewinner in the middle giving 75% than a trier busting his gut like a blue arsed fly not getting anything much done.

He had plenty of company today - Bevan's disposal hasnt improved much since 2003, although you cant doubt his courage.

[swans_premiers]

We are NOT middle of the table..look at the facts.

http://www.allthestats.com/stat/alltime.php?yrfm=2003&yrto=2005

[Foreign Legion]

Dunno how Jarred Moore has been going in the 2's but he looked good pre-season - bring him in for the period Willo is out - see what he can do.

I think LRT has a hammy as well if my memory serves me correctly.

Did Schaubs play in the 2's?

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by Foreign Legion

I think LRT has a hammy as well if my memory serves me correctly.

It will be fine next week, matter of fact I thinks it's better already...

[ugg]

Originally posted by Foreign Legion
Dunno how Jarred Moore has been going in the 2's but he looked good pre-season - bring him in for the period Willo is out - see what he can do.

Don't expect Moore to come straight into the midfield. He needs a lot of fitness/endurance work. He'll start off in the forward line as many in the currrent midfield have done.