GFC gameday thread

[giant]

Don't know I wasn't watching but if that was correct it means the Lions won the first 20 free kicks of the game

The count in our game was 19-5 at one point. And it felt like it. As fabulous as they are, I find it hard to love a team like the Cats that have turned getting those cheap frees into a cynical art form.

One of the crappiest/funniest things I've seen in a long time is Chris Scott howling over the free kick to McGlynn in the last qr - nws his team had received about a dozen equally soft throughout the game. He must have been a seriously one-eyed supporter as a kid...

[DK_]

Actually he was in there for most of the fourth quarter bounces. I sort of understood the thinking - he was our only player all day who looked like he could break a tackle and did seem creative enough.

Don't think he actually touched it mind you

I suspect he would have been in there to perform a blocking role more than anything - though he does seem to have developed a habit of ripping the ball off the opposition and handing it off.

[liz]

The count in our game was 19-5 at one point. And it felt like it. As fabulous as they are, I find it hard to love a team like the Cats that have turned getting those cheap frees into a cynical art form.

One of the crappiest/funniest things I've seen in a long time is Chris Scott howling over the free kick to McGlynn in the last qr - nws his team had received about a dozen equally soft throughout the game. He must have been a seriously one-eyed supporter as a kid...

Do you think either of the Scott brothers realise what prats they look with their continuous gestures of disbelief whenever their side gets a free paid against them? Or do they just not care?

[aardvark]

great to see Jesse remain in solid form and take on the game today

Yep...all 6 of his kicks were pure class!

[DK_]

3. Jesse continuing to step up; not just a flash in the pan.

I was worried about how he would stand up in a high pressure game, but he answered that well. I thought he was great. Some of the highlights:

Plenty of hard ball gets. He nearly ripped a Geelong player's arm off with the ball in the first qtr!

I think it was a McGlynn goal where Jesse pretty much held off the whole Geelong back 6 to give him time to get the shot off.

His big marks, good attacking runs, shrugging off of defenders and consistently good attacking options are brilliant.

But the area which he's really ramped up is his defensive pressure. I suspect he's been told that this is where Reid has the wood on him, because he's covered some massive distances at speed over the last couple of weeks to apply pressure and cut off attacks at the source.

If we get there, Jesse's renaissance will be one of the great stories of the year!

[Ludwig]

I was worried about how he would stand up in a high pressure game, but he answered that well. I thought he was great. Some of the highlights:

Plenty of hard ball gets. He nearly ripped a Geelong player's arm off with the ball in the first qtr!

I think it was a McGlynn goal where Jesse pretty much held off the whole Geelong back 6 to give him time to get the shot off.

His big marks, good attacking runs, shrugging off of defenders and consistently good attacking options are brilliant.

But the area which he's really ramped up is his defensive pressure. I suspect he's been told that this is where Reid has the wood on him, because he's covered some massive distances at speed over the last couple of weeks to apply pressure and cut off attacks at the source.

If we get there, Jesse's renaissance will be one of the great stories of the year!

I've been saying this for a while. Having given up on Jesse, I have been very impressed by his progress and think he has already surpassed Reid as CHF (although this is based on one having played with Tippett and the other not).

If Jesse can be our first choice CHF, that gives us the option of having a long term backline the includes youngsters AJ and Reid. What a huge plus this would be for many years to come. That's a lot to build a team around, especially when you have two top Ruckmen and a very good young midfield.

[mcs]

I've been saying this for a while. Having given up on Jesse, I have been very impressed by his progress and think he has already surpassed Reid as CHF (although this is based on one having played with Tippett and the other not).

If Jesse can be our first choice CHF, that gives us the option of having a long term backline the includes youngsters AJ and Reid. What a huge plus this would be for many years to come. That's a lot to build a team around, especially when you have two top Ruckmen and a very good young midfield.

I'm still not convinced by Jesse. No doubting his vast improvement this season, but he still isn't having the impact that he should be if he is to be our 'first choice CHF' - time will tell. At least it looks like it is starting to click though.

[Melbournehammer]

I'm still not convinced by Jesse. No doubting his vast improvement this season, but he still isn't having the impact that he should be if he is to be our 'first choice CHF' - time will tell. At least it looks like it is starting to click though.

It's ok to be not convinced. But it is difficult to see what else he could do. He is taking contested marks, laying bumps, shepherding, tackling and taking the game on.

Surely it's not his fault that the midfield and flankers are getting absolutely murdered ?

Tbh the defense and Hawkins had more to do with us not losing by 15 goals than anything else

[aardvark]

It's ok to be not convinced. But it is difficult to see what else he could do. He is taking contested marks, laying bumps, shepherding, tackling and taking the game on.

So our CHF has 6 kicks 2 contested marks 0 goals 0 points and he's doing a great job?

[stellation]

So our CHF has 6 kicks 2 contested marks 0 goals 0 points and he's doing a great job?

You didn't think he played well? I don't think he dominated at all, I don't think any of our players did, but I did think he did pretty well considering the run of general play through the game- there wasn't exactly a lot of opportunities to pick up more possessions from midfielders having time to deliver well.

I guess everyone comes in with their existing views on things, but I do think it's interesting you choose to focus on 6 kicks, he had 6 handballs too- again that's not dominating, but 12 touches sounds a little different. He had 4 tackles, too- also nothing great really but only 5 guys playing for us had more than that, and 3 of those 5 were playing lockdown roles. It's interesting because that's an area he's needed to work on. Tippet should have goaled early in the game (when he missed running into open goals) due to a Jesse pressure act in the middle of the ground, it's nice to see him so focused.

If you think that 12 touches and 2 contested marks against a very good side isn't playing okay, don't go take a look at Sam Reid's career averages.

[aardvark]

Stell I think Jesse is probably somewhere in the middle your opinion of him and my opinion of him. I thought his game was just ok for a wingman but poor for a KP forward.

[Primmy]

I'm still not convinced by Jesse. No doubting his vast improvement this season, but he still isn't having the impact that he should be if he is to be our 'first choice CHF' - time will tell. At least it looks like it is starting to click though.

I hold back on not being convinced. I learned my lesson when I wanted Macca dropped from the team (Uselesss!!) and LRT (frightened rabbit!) and I could go on, but its too embarrassing.

Some players are just not going to be as good as other players on the list, and Jesse does have his 'on' days. He is starting to recognise his own strength and how to use it. That has always been a big iffy for him. Happy to sit back and thumb my nose at Adelaide for a while yet, like another 8 years or so would be good.

[Triple B]

Yeah, Jesse is vastly improved in all the elements that we saw as deficiencies in his game before his run of form in the second half of the year.

I'm very much in the Sam over Jesse camp long term, but Jesse's form cannot be denied recently and he has covered Sam's loss pretty much given Sam wasn't anywhere near stellar form himself.

As for covering Jets and Goodes, that's another matter and is looking more and more likely to be costing us going back to back I'm afraid.

[Bloodthirsty]

Keep White with Tippett, replace Everitt with Reid. Easy.

[BillyRayCypress]

I hold back on not being convinced. I learned my lesson when I wanted Macca dropped from the team (Uselesss!!)

We should still get rid of him. I'd be doing a Schwass/Grant deal with GWS and swapping him for one of their young gun midfielders. I'm really sick of McVeigh this year. He is so egotistical both on and off the field.

The way he has been flapping his arms around like Harold the Helicopter this year and blowing up team mates. He has a full set of hair like his brother, it just can't be seen because of the massively swollen head.