2025 VFL Games.

**dejavoodoo44** · 5 July 2025, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by liz

I don’t think it’s ever possible to feel confident about a win with this team. We’ve lost to everyone this far (usually convincingly) except last year’s two grand finalists. Go figure.

i also recall a game out at BISP two or three years ago where we were thrashed by the bottom team. Can’t recall if that was the Bullants. To be fair, I think we lost three players by half time, including everyone with any height. IIRC, Barry O’Connor was moved into our forward line, and provided almost all of the team’s highlights that afternoon.

Yes, I think it was the Bullants. And I'm pretty sure that we lost almost all of our talls, mainly before the game, plus one or two more, early in the game.

**ugg** · 5 July 2025, 01:27 PM

Commentator mentioned on the stream that Bullants have won 5 games in the last 3 seasons and 2 have been against the Swans. There’s a chance that may become 3 out of 6

Dattoli is the only dangerous forward for us. Lots of long bombs to F50 being intercepted by them

**liz** · 5 July 2025, 02:22 PM

None of the commentators have picked up on the brothers playing, one of each side. I think I heard Riak mention once that he was the youngest of lots of siblings so my curiousity was piqued by an Andrew playing for the Bullants. I've just done some sleuthing and discovered that, yes, Deng Andrew is noted as being the brother of Gold Coast's Mac - and thus the brother of Riak.

Bit of a better second quarter from the Swans than the first, but they still showed an irritating tendency towards casual disposals when not under pressure. And the Bullants' pressure across their half-forward line was very good towards the end of that second quarter, causing over-possession and errors from the Swans.

**Sandridge** · 5 July 2025, 02:51 PM

Have only just started watching so probably shouldn't comment but the Bullants have just kicked 3 goals in quick succession and we've been inept.

Make it 4 goals in succession and we're now losing. Our players look completely disinterested,

**UUaswan** · 5 July 2025, 03:14 PM

No emergencies held back is that normal ?

**UUaswan** · 5 July 2025, 03:52 PM

8.18 i think more skills training for this squad

**Bay View** · 5 July 2025, 04:07 PM

Where’s Bice? Injured?

**dejavoodoo44** · 5 July 2025, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by Bay View

Where’s Bice? Injured?

Both Bice and Mitchell got injured in training. One of them was a calf injury, the other one a toe. I forget which was which

**Dow** · 5 July 2025, 04:41 PM

That was just .... down right embarrassing they haven't won a game in over a year! and we let them overrun us. Right now, the club has major problems (I know injuries are a big part of it BUT)

**liz** · 5 July 2025, 05:05 PM

That was comically awful. I reckon that, after building a solid lead in the second quarter they figured they’d just cruise to a win. So running, applying pressure and tackling were beneath them. The Bullants’ pressure on us was really strong for this level. But when you’re having it applied and not coping, surely the first thing you try to do is apply it back at them.

And when we finally got the game going our way in the final quarter, the lack of concentration, composure and skill in the forward half of the ground was down right awful. Dropped marks. Missed targets. Lazy frees given away. Rushed snaps. Poor decisions. Woeful set shots.

**Roadrunner** · 5 July 2025, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by liz

That was comically awful. I reckon that, after building a solid lead in the second quarter they figured they’d just cruise to a win. So running, applying pressure and tackling were beneath them. The Bullants’ pressure on us was really strong for this level. But when you’re having it applied and not coping, surely the first thing you try to do is apply it back at them.

And when we finally got the game going our way in the final quarter, the lack of concentration, composure and skill in the forward half of the ground was down right awful. Dropped marks. Missed targets. Lazy frees given away. Rushed snaps. Poor decisions. Woeful set shots.

I haven’t watched the ressies this year but reading all the comments, it seems we’re pretty weak. What do you think needs to be done to improve them? We need a strong team in our reserves to keep competition among our first team fringe players and to then hav confidence when promoted to the seniors.

**bandwagon** · 5 July 2025, 06:59 PM

Comically awful is a very apt description. The Bullants have lost their past 21 matches, so of course we will lose to them.
In the second half we kicked 0.11 to their 7.1 - I have no idea how professional athletes can be so deficient in a core skill, hopefully the coaches are making this a priority.
And the lack of pressure for the first three quarters was abominable - we only laid 26 tackles to 3QT. At least we showed some desperation in the last, but then all our other skills let us down. Sigh.

On the bright side, Ladhams showed he is ready for a senior recall (I dont know why he wasnt preferred to McLean for tomorrow's match). Corey Warner tried hard all match and provided plenty of drive, and Snell played key position and did pretty well.

**BFG** · 5 July 2025, 07:09 PM

"In the ruck, Peter Ladhams was dominant, amassing 26 disposals, 26 hitouts and a game-high 11 clearances in a standout performance"

If we get beaten in the ruck tomorrow or if the lack of a genuine second ruck causes us to lose, I'll ......

Really can't understand senior selection policy

**liz** · 6 July 2025, 12:03 AM

Originally posted by BFG

"In the ruck, Peter Ladhams was dominant, amassing 26 disposals, 26 hitouts and a game-high 11 clearances in a standout performance"

If we get beaten in the ruck tomorrow or if the lack of a genuine second ruck causes us to lose, I'll ......

Really can't understand senior selection policy

I actually don't think Ladhams had a great game. He was very good early but got sloppy in the second half, getting his hands on the ball but not holding marks, and falling out of contests he should have won.

I don't think this loss had anything to do with talent. It was about work-rate and system and mental fortitude. Over the last few years it feels as though our VFL team has forgotten how to work hard. At times I've given them a pass mark because we haven't had the personnel, but still harboured a nagging feeling that they shouldn't be as bad as they've shown themselves to be. But any team with a starting centre bounce rotation of Florent, Warner, Cleary and Ladhams, a couple of decent forwards (Green, Dattoli) and enough height in defence (Andrew, Snell) should be able to account for all but the best stand-alone VFL teams, regardless of who else is in the team. But they won't if they just meander around the ground, accept the pressure from the opposition without applying their own, and have no system to move the ball.

**Thunder Shaker** · 7 July 2025, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by liz

I don't think this loss had anything to do with talent. It was about work-rate and system and mental fortitude.

Scoring zero goals 11 behinds to seven goals one in the second half has a fair bit to do with it. 11 scoring shots to eight usually produces a higher score. Not this time. Being outscored by 32 points in a half due to inaccuracy is inexcusable with more scoring shots.