Rd 9 vs Fremantle @SCG - Match Thread

[Blood Fever]

Horse said other players are carrying niggles that normally wouldn't play except we've got so many other injuries.

,
Buddy, Papley and maybe Heeney I reckon

[liz]

A few pluses

- Campbell. Good on Horse for mixing it up, and he looked good playing on the ball. I had a great view from behind the goals at the Randwick end on his goal. He was at the stoppage at half back, the next contest almost right away where four or five blokes went up for the fist, before Rowbottom fired out the handball to McInerney. Campbell got back to his feet and sprinted for 70m to crumb the ball off McLeans contest, and then run into goal. It was a stellar effort.

- Gulden. He really is remarkable. I think they tried to run Aish with him at times but it was pointless. He just went everywhere, and did everything. BOG along with Darcy.

- Chad, Blakey, Heeney in the second half, and McInerney all had a real dip.

As for the rest of the year, I hope Horse does some more of what he did today with Campbell. Let’s find out who can do what. I lack real confidence in Gould and Francis, as I think they lack the athleticism needed for modern footy and looked desperately lacking in movement at times today, but we might as well play them for a bit and find out. I’d be inclined to find a couple of games for McAndrew. And when Amartey is back and fit, straight back in.

There was another Campbell moment - second half, but my mind has blanked out a bit exactly when; we were kicking to the Randwick end so it must have been the third quarter - when he swooped on a ball at pace, picked it up clean as you like, and kept on with his run.

And I want to give a shout out to McDonald for his goal. He looked outnumbered and no chance of contesting at half-forward but managed to stop his Freo opponents marking. Then he ran hard forward to be the recipient of the very next kick (maybe the only good kick Bud had all day). Not sure if he was paid the mark or got a free - there were lots of bodies in the next pack - but it was an impressive few moments from Logan. Desperately hope that he's not badly injured, because watching him and Campbell improve week by week is the one thing that's been engaging me this season. (Their draft partner Errol is way beyond gradual, week-by-week improvement.)

I thought Francis was OK today. He could show the rest of the team a thing or two about taking a contested mark (mostly watch the ball, then move towards it - nothing overly complicated). He's not a key defender but could have a place in a defence that is more confident, better organised, and with some proper tall defenders.

[liz]

,
Buddy, Papley and maybe Heeney I reckon

I would say definitely Heeney. Though he had his most productive game of the season today (still a long way from vintage Heeney) and didn't seem to be wincing so often.

I really hope Bud is. I can accept him not being the player he was a few years ago, but it was hard to watch him barely move today.

Papley? Could be. I've not seen anything to suggest he's not moving well. His so-so form probably has as much to do with the overall functioning of the forward line at the moment.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Caleb Serong (33 disposals, eight clearances) led the way and maybe made the Freeo fans more than happy about their draft pick choice

ohh well

windows sometimes come and go

Brisbane has done everything in their power to give it a shake via their trades. So to the Cats and the Pies.

2023 will be an interesting season

[Ludwig]

I really hope Bud is. I can accept him not being the player he was a few years ago, but it was hard to watch him barely move today.

It breaks my heart to see Buddy playing this way. I don't see any shame in playing in the VFL where he could provide the on field leadership we so desperately need. Both our AFL and VFL sides would benefit. Buddy should take these last few months of his playing career to become a teacher of young footballers. It will do far more for his legacy than kicking a few more goals to move up the goal kicking ladder.

[Blood Fever]

It breaks my heart to see Buddy playing this way. I don't see any shame in playing in the VFL where he could provide the on field leadership we so desperately need. Both our AFL and VFL sides would benefit. Buddy should take these last few months of his playing career to become a teacher of young footballers. It will do far more for his legacy than kicking a few more goals to move up the goal kicking ladder.

Not going to happen. Would be seen as an indignity after such a career. Can do his mentoring on the training track. I'm assuming you're serious.

[Ludwig]

Not going to happen. Would be seen as an indignity after such a career. Can do his mentoring on the training track. I'm assuming you're serious.

I am 100% serious. The real indignity it to put such a legend on the ground only to embarrass himself and become an object of pity. It's not right.

[Blood Fever]

I am 100% serious. The real indignity it to put such a legend on the ground only to embarrass himself and become an object of pity. It's not right.

Longmire praised him in the press conference for his tackling and pressure.

[liz]

I am 100% serious. The real indignity it to put such a legend on the ground only to embarrass himself and become an object of pity. It's not right.

And he wouldn't be an "object of pity" (your words, not ones I agree with) not getting a kick with a VFL side completely incapable of kicking the ball forward with any purpose?

He's not keeping a young tall forward out of the side, with Amartey and possibly now McDonald injured. If he himself is injured, the ideal thing would be to give him a rest and hope he can get his body in better shape to play some better games towards the end of the season. But that doesn't seem feasible right now.

[i'm-uninformed2]

And I want to give a shout out to McDonald for his goal. He looked outnumbered and no chance of contesting at half-forward but managed to stop his Freo opponents marking. Then he ran hard forward to be the recipient of the very next kick (maybe the only good kick Bud had all day). Not sure if he was paid the mark or got a free - there were lots of bodies in the next pack - but it was an impressive few moments from Logan. Desperately hope that he's not badly injured, because watching him and Campbell improve week by week is the one thing that's been engaging me this season. (Their draft partner Errol is way beyond gradual, week-by-week improvement.)

Good call. I had a great view of that where I was seated. He ran 20-30m to make the first contest, knew he wouldn’t win it, got the fist in, tumbled to ground, then got up and ran hard forward. (And it was paid a mark). And his set shot was beautiful. He really is tracking so well.

[Blood Fever]

Good call. I had a great view of that where I was seated. He ran 20-30m to make the first contest, knew he wouldn’t win it, got the fist in, tumbled to ground, then got up and ran hard forward. (And it was paid a mark). And his set shot was beautiful. He really is tracking so well.

That was a great piece of play. Big loss when he went off. Good footy brain as well.

[mcs]

There was another Campbell moment - second half, but my mind has blanked out a bit exactly when; we were kicking to the Randwick end so it must have been the third quarter - when he swooped on a ball at pace, picked it up clean as you like, and kept on with his run.

And I want to give a shout out to McDonald for his goal. He looked outnumbered and no chance of contesting at half-forward but managed to stop his Freo opponents marking. Then he ran hard forward to be the recipient of the very next kick (maybe the only good kick Bud had all day). Not sure if he was paid the mark or got a free - there were lots of bodies in the next pack - but it was an impressive few moments from Logan. Desperately hope that he's not badly injured, because watching him and Campbell improve week by week is the one thing that's been engaging me this season. (Their draft partner Errol is way beyond gradual, week-by-week improvement.)

I thought Francis was OK today. He could show the rest of the team a thing or two about taking a contested mark (mostly watch the ball, then move towards it - nothing overly complicated). He's not a key defender but could have a place in a defence that is more confident, better organised, and with some proper tall defenders.

So happy with how Campbell is coming on. Saw a reasonable amount of their junior footy at a couple of points, and I think he has the potential to be up there with Gulden. That pair are going to give us a lot of joy over the years!

Thank goodness for the little wins of watching that draft group growing - otherwise it is feeling like a very long year indeed at the moment.

[Ludwig]

And he wouldn't be an "object of pity" (your words, not ones I agree with) not getting a kick with a VFL side completely incapable of kicking the ball forward with any purpose?

Maybe seeing Franklin in the forward line would give our VFL side some purpose. It's better than doing nothing.

And I really disapprove of Longmire protracting the farce that Franklin is actually doing something constructive for the team this year, when we can all see that's not the case. It's not just me saying that, or others on RWO, but plenty of footy jorurnos, even Caroline Wilson.

[joeykanga]

Caleb Serong (33 disposals, eight clearances) led the way and maybe made the Freeo fans more than happy about their draft pick choice

ohh well

windows sometimes come and go

Brisbane has done everything in their power to give it a shake via their trades. So to the Cats and the Pies.

2023 will be an interesting season

He's awful at kicking for goal. Are you comparing him to Gulden or Warner or still comparing him to Stephens.
Is that the point you're trying to make

[Blood Fever]

[QUOTE=Ludwig;866673]Maybe seeing Franklin in the forward line would give our VFL side some purpose. It's better than doing nothing.

And I really disapprove of Longmire protracting the farce that Franklin is actually doing something constructive for the team this year, when we can all see that's not the case. It's not just me saying that, or others on RWO, but plenty of footy jorurnos, even Caroline Wilson

Yes. The vultures would be gathering.