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A pleasing return to some form after a month-long coma - you can't expect them to get it all right straight away, but tonight was a massive step in the right direction. Cobwebs definitely blown off. Disappointed with the loss but comforted by the fact that we lost the game, Geelong didn't win it. Yeah we didn't get the 4 points but given what we're up against I think we get a tick tonight. They set out to play bold footy, they set out to win clearances and play harder footy and that's what happened. There'll be hard taskmasters and whipcrackers out in force here as per usual but sooner or later you've gotta appreciate some improvement, and let's face it - the boys played 100x better than anything in the last 5+ weeks and with more heart than pretty much any game this season.
A true night out for the whipping boys of CFC. The redemption of Bryce Gibbs was great, did an excellent shutdown role on Stevie J. Makes you wonder if the contract stuff was playing more heavily on his mind than anyone considered. Could just be coincidental. To be fair though, he was given a job tonight, he focused and he won that battle. Excellent clutch goal - the last month would have seen him miss that, easy money, Seeing him shut down Goodes every time, it baffles me why he's not given a job every game - he seems to excel when he has a focal point. Brock McLean taking his chances again and dominating, I hope more supporters start seeing what he can bring to the team rather than his deficiencies - every player has them. He's showing what he can do and I think if this form continues we have a spot for him on our list. Watson is growing leaps and bounds every game, again I hope supporters start seeing his potential - some of his one-on-one work when the ball was in dispute was excellent. Collins with another solid game - getting his first CFC goal is a monkey off his back and he will grow in confidence from here with each game. Bootsma much better than last week, a great spoiler and not afraid to crack in. A little lost at times as you'd expect a kid to be but hard at it and tougher than his build would ever suggest.
Duigan a great return, probably the best game he's played all season with the exception of his 4th quarter as sub which can hardly be included. Backline looking much more settled with him back and Hendo floating. Once Laidler returns things will be vastly tighter. Jamo sadly out of sorts, definitely a shadow of last year - hoping it's just confidence in his body and that he'll turn that corner soon. Simmo pretty dominant, kicked a goal I was sure he'd miss any other game this year. Little guy's tough as nails, really looked like he was gonna carry us home in the last quarter which should be Judd's job. Judd definitely out of sorts. He's not the only elite midfielder that gets tagged or hassled...champions find a way into the game. Desperately need a 'Captain's Game' from him real soon, not elite at this stage. Armfield great and AJ solid despite a few errors, he did some great stuff too. Hammer in a horrible, horrible form slump after a promising start to the year. Kreuzer making up numbers, Walker weird, Garlett improved around the ground but needs to find his feet soon or get given a week off to practice in front of the sticks.
Umpiring was absolutely disgusting and I'm actually surprised we got given as many as we did. Stevie J is a dog and Hunt should go for standing on Eddie's hand, but we all know the only bigger joke than the umps in the AFL is the MRP.
2.9 in the last is incredibly wasteful but look on the bright side - we never shut up shop, 11 scoring shots in the last is encouraging. If it had been 11.0, 8.3, hell even 6.5 we'd have proclaimed ourselves as fourth quarter specialists. Gotta get the shots on goal to be in with some sort of chance and we did...but blew it. As I said earlier, we can't expect them to get everything right first week out of a coma.
Geelong are shit. Premiership team and not nearly enough injuries to justify getting out of jail due to us kicking 400 behinds. At least we ARE decimated by injuries and have been in a horror slump.
A four quarter game for the most part, no real fade outs. Hard contested footy, good spread, some good 1%ers, youngsters stepping up, vast improvements to some of our whipping boys and dimmed stars...it's only up from here you'd hope. More players returning, more games into our kids to build depth - there's a lot to like tonight.
But yes, we lost. I think given the circumstances, we had a few wins tonight also.
6 day break going to the West isn't ideal, but with West Coast coming off a loss and a bye and redemption for the finals loss last year burning in the team's memory, anything is possible if they build upon that performance and bring that form next week.
We're on a knife's edge, but we're not quite licked yet. Renewed faith after tonight, hope the hunger continues, it's all we can ask for fairly as supporters - get in, have a crack for 4 quarters, stay in it. We led for large chunks tonight also. If we keep sustained efforts like that up and improve our conversion rate, the wins will come.
Blues get a pass from me tonight, I can actually sleep tonight and will wake up without being in a violent rage.
Last edited by Scotty12000 on Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:54 am, edited 5 times in total.
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