Rd 17 vs Richmond @ MCG - Match Thread

[crackedactor 01]

That 170 point win against WC was the most useless win of the season. What did it prove? Most of us thought they are starting to turn the corner, but we were wrong. I see another poor effort from Papley. It plays one in five good and ordinary the rest. I would like to see him dropped. Season gone so give some youngsters a go like HKK, Roberts, Corey Warner and McAndrew.

[Roadrunner]

So many excuses!

They are facts mate, not excuses. Another fact: we need to improve every aspect of our game, and this includes everyone including our coaches. The effort is there but it ain’t enough!

[ugg]

Can't seem to quote your post i'm-uninformed2, but in response to your question about Fox's roleFrom watching at the ground last week, he started on the bench, came on as a wingman (with McInerney forward) and finished as a forward (although not sure when that happened or who he swapped roles with)Yesterday from watching on TV, I believe he was reprising his role from last week, until Lloyd went off. Before Francis was subbed on, he was playing in defence, after the sub was made seemed to be back to the wing at times (saw him man up Martin at a few ball ups). However his heatmap shows that most of his disposals were in the defensive half.As for Lloyd's replacement I can't see it being Francis directly without dropping one of the other tall defenders. So it's either going to be Fox, or move someone like Campbell or McInerney back.

[AB Swannie]

agree on JL too many times this year hes been out coached. mention this a couple of times over the last mth. Selection a puzzle and have been for a while. Hickey has to be helped injuries and virtually no preseason. McLean and Amerty are fwds and not really up to rucking. Should play Big Mac and leave him in. Nann killed us particularly at cnetre bounces, If I remember rightly big mac played aghainst richhmond ealier and held his own. Need sto play and to make francis sub what are great HH move. We should not have picke dhim up at all Dons were happy to get rid of him We also sign too in mid season play one immediatley and then drop him and have not played the other we were crying out for defenders gi v ehim a go,

Ladhams played against Richmond in Round 5 not Stretch. We also had too many tall defenders last night so I’m not sure playing Arnold would’ve helped any.

[waswan]

Hickeys farewell, I rate Ladhams and we are miles better off next year bringing in McAndrew as required, over a broken Hickey.

He has done 3yrs and performed very well but the time has come.

[Blood Fever]

Like clockwork

Yes, the ones I'm referring to are very predictable.

[KTigers]

I thought last night the Richmond guys just wanted the ball more in the second half. That's the disappointing thing.
You can blame the coaches, the senior players for not setting enough of an example, the rest of the list for coasting
some of the time. It's hard to say, we don't know what is in their heads. Sometimes I think we lost of bit of that
"oomph" when JPK retired. He just played like a guy that was possibly prepared to die out there on the field.
And he was skilled. Parker is in the same category, but he is just one guy. Warner, Rowbottom are tough kids but they
are kids still. They can't drag a whole team along behind them the way JPK could some days. So much of the game
is mental. Our efforts wax and wane and that's why we are 6.5-and-9.5.

[Jimitron5000]

Disappointing result. The game changed when Lloyd went off, and wasn't helped by a curious choice of sub that left us with a lot of tall defenders playing on a small forward line. I suppose this resulted in McCartin forward and McDonald somewhere else. As a side note, McDonald looks much better without Franklin in the team.
Richmond looked like they enjoyed it more with the rain and their approach of keeping the ball alive and getting it forward at all opportunities didn't allow us to set up effectively behind the ball.
I reckon we would like playing at Docklands under the roof.

[Maltopia]

Late, high, intentional should get him 3 weeks minimum.

Nah, he hit a Swans player. Charge dismissed and 3 Brownlow votes.

[Roadrunner]

Nah, he hit a Swans player. Charge dismissed and 3 Brownlow votes.

He was very good but will get 2-3 weeks- otherwise we may as well pack up????
Wicks got 2……….

[rojo]

For all the criticisms above, most justifiable, we only lost due to a few mindblowingly dumb decisions/plays right near the end, made by one or two individuals. Parks did his best, but the weight was just too heavy.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Can't seem to quote your post i'm-uninformed2, but in response to your question about Fox's roleFrom watching at the ground last week, he started on the bench, came on as a wingman (with McInerney forward) and finished as a forward (although not sure when that happened or who he swapped roles with)Yesterday from watching on TV, I believe he was reprising his role from last week, until Lloyd went off. Before Francis was subbed on, he was playing in defence, after the sub was made seemed to be back to the wing at times (saw him man up Martin at a few ball ups). However his heatmap shows that most of his disposals were in the defensive half.As for Lloyd's replacement I can't see it being Francis directly without dropping one of the other tall defenders. So it's either going to be Fox, or move someone like Campbell or McInerney back.

Thanks so much.

I've personally liked McInerney's role more forward of the ball. It seems to have unlocked some better form in the past month, given he can be a good kick for goal too (hence my comment during the match that when he took a mark about 45m out in the run of play, I wanted him to go back and kick it, rather than give it off to Bud on the run) - though he went a bit quiet in the second half last night. I've never loved him playing in defence, as he seems to go into his shell.

I get Fox is the unlucky man out in our defensive mix at the moment - with Melican in good form, McCartin back and Rampe back, Harry on lockdown duties, and Blakey, Ollie and Lloyd the designated runners. I said a few weeks back before McCartin came back, I would have preferred him over Francis and believe he provides good run anyway, so hopefully he can slot into Lloyd's spot. He'll play it differently, but he has the tank to get on the move all day.

[rojo]

For all the criticisms above, most justifiable, we only lost due to a few mindblowingly dumb decisions/plays right near the end, made by one or two individuals. Parks did his best, but the weight was just too heavy.

[Maltopia]

For all the criticisms above, most justifiable, we only lost due to a few mindblowingly dumb decisions/plays right near the end, made by one or two individuals. Parks did his best, but the weight was just too heavy.

You can say that again. Oh wait, you did!

[MattW]

I thought last night the Richmond guys just wanted the ball more in the second half. That's the disappointing thing.
You can blame the coaches, the senior players for not setting enough of an example, the rest of the list for coasting
some of the time. It's hard to say, we don't know what is in their heads. Sometimes I think we lost of bit of that
"oomph" when JPK retired. He just played like a guy that was possibly prepared to die out there on the field.
And he was skilled. Parker is in the same category, but he is just one guy. Warner, Rowbottom are tough kids but they
are kids still. They can't drag a whole team along behind them the way JPK could some days. So much of the game
is mental. Our efforts wax and wane and that's why we are 6.5-and-9.5.

Great post. Agree. Sheldrick has that about him, but his influence was dented after his ankle injury last night.