Elimination Final: Blues v Swans Match Thread MCG

[Agent 86]

We are mid table for accuracy. Below us are Melbourne and Brisbane. Fagan and Goodwin obviously both hopeless.
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Tend to agree. Apart form the forgettable Geelong draw, have there been that many games we’ve blown?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Agh. How frustrating. Sums up our year in some ways - both never quite in it at times, then probably should have won a close one. Our goal kicking wasn’t great, but nor was some of our decision making forward of centre. The play involving Logan and Hayward will get attention, and fair enough, but there was another play when (I can’t remember who) had players streaming ahead of their Carlton defenders, but chose to go wide to Paps on the 50 at the 45 angle. It gave them time to flood back and man up. There were a few like that.

As for the debate re Longmire, boring. He threw the magnets around, it largely worked, and we opened up the play. Parker went from an ineffective presence in the first half to curbing their best defender and having multiple score involvements. We also nullified their two best players in Curnow and Cripps.

On the plus side, have to start with a shout out to my man Hayden McLean. He was just mighty. Amartey should seriously spend the off-season on Hayden’s tail to work on his fitness and how to stay involved in games. McLean’s marking was out of this world and if we won, would have been as responsible for it as anyone.

Tom McCartin really is a gem. He kicked Curnow’s butt and was generally stellar. Melican was very good too, and as an aside, I think Ben McKay can play, but watching tonight, dedicating $700K+ of our salary cap to a key defender doesn’t seem the priority to me.

Mills, Gulden, and Blakey were excellent, and I haven’t seen Campbell play so well in a big game as that. It bodes well for his continued improvement next year.

As for the two touched calls, I personally thought they were fair enough once the soft call had been made. My problem is with the concept of the soft call. If the goal umpire is unsure, say so and refer it.

I hope we fix our ruck contingency in the off season, and let both Isaac and Mills spend more time around the ball next year. Their big bodies make a mammoth difference. I’ll also be fascinated to see how we approach the trade period, and wouldn’t be surprised if we pull a left field move, potentially including trading out a player if it helps us fix one or two of our remaining structural issues.

[Daisi]

I missed the game too- but I've read the reddit and Bigfooty threads and it sounds like we were treated dubiously by the officials.

I expected that, so I'm not too upset I missed the game.

Good effort for us to get into the finals, but there was no way on earth the AFL was going to let Carlton lose tonight.

[troyjones2525]

Disappointing result but sort of expected... Carlton were always going to be difficult to beat at home.

We have a few glaring weaknesses we need to address in the off season and hopefully we can do that.

Like most teams, we need a lot to go right throughout the year to stand any chance and injuries are a huge part of it. We had a good run last year and look what happened!

Chad maybe listened to all the positive press last year and got ahead of himself? I hope that was the case, as I really hope what we got from him this year isn't a sign of things to come... hoping for a big bounce back!

And if anyone read the article this week about Heeney proving the doubters wrong, particularly Matthew Lloyd, well I guess it's Lloyd who's had the last laugh... Unfortunately Isaac had another below average performance in a big game... Hopefully he can make amends next year.

A somewhat strange season. Strong start, Disappointing middle, then big fightback to scrape into finals... bring on 2024! [emoji16]

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[caj23]

Tend to agree. Apart from and the forgettable Geelong draw, have there been that many games we’ve blown?

GWS and Port Adelaide as well

An extra 10 points and we have a home final

[gloveski]

Longmire is all class


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[Sandridge]

Yes, I will be barracking hard for the Dees.

Me too! Desperately want the the Dees to knock over Carlton.

I fear, however, that Melbourne might be ripe for the picking. Injuries and a possible suspension make them vulnerable, unfortunately.

[Captain]

Proud of the way we fought right back into it. Obviously disappointing to lose and shocking first half.

Lots of negative comments about the umpires, I didn’t feel we lost because of them. Was reasonably balanced. Couple of bad decisions but that happens every game.

Hickey had a good second half after a shocking first quarter. McLean excellent. Errol is a star.

Heeney though is frustrating me. I love him but we need more.

[gloveski]

Proud of the way we fought right back into it. Obviously disappointing to lose and shocking first half.

Lots of negative comments about the umpires, I didn’t feel we lost because of them. Was reasonably balanced. Couple of bad decisions but that happens every game.

Hickey had a good second half after a shocking first quarter. McLean excellent. Errol is a star.

Heeney though is frustrating me. I love him but we need more.

Well said pretty much sums up the game , add in frustration with Chad and you have nailed my feelings as well


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[liz]

Agh. How frustrating. Sums up our year in some ways - both never quite in it at times, then probably should have won a close one. Our goal kicking wasn’t great, but nor was some of our decision making forward of centre. The play involving Logan and Hayward will get attention, and fair enough, but there was another play when (I can’t remember who) had players streaming ahead of their Carlton defenders, but chose to go wide to Paps on the 50 at the 45 angle. It gave them time to flood back and man up. There were a few like that.

As for the debate re Longmire, boring. He threw the magnets around, it largely worked, and we opened up the play. Parker went from an ineffective presence in the first half to curbing their best defender and having multiple score involvements. We also nullified their two best players in Curnow and Cripps.

On the plus side, have to start with a shout out to my man Hayden McLean. He was just mighty. Amartey should seriously spend the off-season on Hayden’s tail to work on his fitness and how to stay involved in games. McLean’s marking was out of this world and if we won, would have been as responsible for it as anyone.

Tom McCartin really is a gem. He kicked Curnow’s butt and was generally stellar. Melican was very good too, and as an aside, I think Ben McKay can play, but watching tonight, dedicating $700K+ of our salary cap to a key defender doesn’t seem the priority to me.

Mills, Gulden, and Blakey were excellent, and I haven’t seen Campbell play so well in a big game as that. It bodes well for his continued improvement next year.

As for the two touched calls, I personally thought they were fair enough once the soft call had been made. My problem is with the concept of the soft call. If the goal umpire is unsure, say so and refer it.

I hope we fix our ruck contingency in the off season, and let both Isaac and Mills spend more time around the ball next year. Their big bodies make a mammoth difference. I’ll also be fascinated to see how we approach the trade period, and wouldn’t be surprised if we pull a left field move, potentially including trading out a player if it helps us fix one or two of our remaining structural issues.

You've saved me a lot of typing. I reckon you've nailed it. Except that I'd have Melican as more than "very good". If only we could have confidence in his body.

I think it might be time to make the "Jude Bolton" move with Parker. I was thinking this a few weeks ago, but tonight has reinforced that idea. I'm not sure he'll like the idea - everyone wants to be in the midfield - but John just needs to play him back tonight's second half to convince him how effective he can be. I don't think he's been an effective centre bounce player for a while now, but up forward his pressure and his marking power could be powerful weapons. He can still be a "break in case of emergency" option to throw on ball for times, but I reckon he could kick 30 goals as a nearly-permanent forward.

[MattW]

I missed the game but have read the entire thread.

Is watching the replay going to do my head in with the umpiring that seemed lopsided, particularly in the third quarter?

Watch it to make sure you see Gulden, McCartin, McLean and Blakey have played that game

[Hotpotato]

Why don’t the Swans close down the next (opposition) player that’s going to be the next (obvious) target to mark the ball instead of minding a large patch of grass .
Or is that really old school footy?

[Nico]

You can't blame the umpires for that. They got a run from them in the 3rd quarter but we got a run of frees in the last quarter. Our goal kicking in the first half pretty much left us at arms length from them. Chad Warner around the corner was not smart.

McLean and Gulden's last quarters nearly got us over the line. Unfortunately we went in with 3 under done players. Papley came good as the game went on but JMac was way short of a run. If he stuck that tackle on the boundary in the 3rd quarter we were away, but he didn't, and they got a goal and another straight after.
Papley went to the pocket instead having a shot and McDonald's poor pass, that should have gone over the back for us to run onto when we had them cold, were poor decisions under pressure.
A 10 minute lapse in the 3rd quarter probably lost us the match.

[Markwebbos]

You've saved me a lot of typing. I reckon you've nailed it. Except that I'd have Melican as more than "very good". If only we could have confidence in his body.

I think it might be time to make the "Jude Bolton" move with Parker. I was thinking this a few weeks ago, but tonight has reinforced that idea. I'm not sure he'll like the idea - everyone wants to be in the midfield - but John just needs to play him back tonight's second half to convince him how effective he can be. I don't think he's been an effective centre bounce player for a while now, but up forward his pressure and his marking power could be powerful weapons. He can still be a "break in case of emergency" option to throw on ball for times, but I reckon he could kick 30 goals as a nearly-permanent forward.

+1 on Jude Bolton markII

All the more reason we need to bolster our ball winners ... although giving Heeney more time on ball like tonight wouldn't be the worst idea

[Nico]

Great effort. Proud and disappointed for the boys ! Never gave up. But I think a lot of people did really well. Coaches change of tactics, players playing out of their skin, effort after effort.
It tells me that we are super close. Three players short.
If I had to pick on anyone, I will have to pick on Chad and Mcinerney, Chad is good to get possessions but his first attempt is to run into the opposition and fend off and I think he needs to change in mixing it up coz the opposition know.
Mcinerney does many things right but he is not the polished wingman as we would like. I think we still need a good wingman along with the midfielder, KPD and ruckman.

I thought JMac was playing the best footy of his career when he got injured. Was clearly short of a run and his decision making was off.

On Warner: he has been ok during the season but I have said a number of times he plays to his non preferred side and gets himself into trouble.

I thought Rowbottom had an ordinary game.