We need to pick a team every week that can apply pressure for longer and get behind the ball quick. That means fit running players in as many positions as possible. We can run it forward and chaos ball it with the best of them. I dont like this talk of Kemp as a third forward. I dont mind him foward. Just not a third forward.
The fact we had no real teal fwds forced us to play a way that we always wanted them to play. Outlet bombs were not an option and our groundball game was top notch. We looked not too unlike richmond in 2017 and the Pies when they were good. Lots of goals from the goalsquare. The oppo shat themselves in just about every situation.

The wind helped.

yeah, we've become to charlie-centric in the F50. looking for him at all costs has been killing us. espesh when he's unable to move up the ground or laterally with his ankle. his ankle has been cooked for a long time.

100%, I think sometimes we are too top heavy up forward and this is what keeps our mids bombing the ball in instead of lowering their eyes a bit more.
Hopefully we can continue this with both Harry and Charlie back in the team, or we just opt for one of them.
Hawks have been showing us all how to do it for a while now and we did too on the weekend.
We looked like a different team, 3 players to the contest all the time gang tackling, quick clearances and spread at every drop of the ball and dangerous and hard to rebound out of our F50.
There is something to like there.

Wasn't a few players out, it was 17 (9 first choice), and given that most on here had given up on the players, the coaches and the suits, and were tipping us for a massive loss in Perth, I think we're entitled to be a little excited about the team's resilience and the renewed possibilities.

Goals from 10m out and the amount of inside 50 tackles tells me we ran it all the way down with short passes, handballs and chaos knockons. Need a good fit team of running players to do that. Cant fit 3 talls and Kennedy into a forward line and expect that. I can only see one tall added to yesterdays forward line. Also need to drill into the team to play that same way and dont get lured into long kick.

hundred percent. i commented half a dozen times to the guys i was watching with. it's the first time since the htb rules that we've played that knock it on, keep the ball alive and surge forward at all costs style, that the league's elite teams are doing.

I know i annoy many people here with some of my wild shit about going small and even trading a big piece this summer. but that is why.

the days of ultra tall are over. smalls and ground pressure hunting the ball with intent is what wins games in '24.

- the dogs are the outlier here, bcos they 2 or 3 agile unicorns that are tall, but can rove their own crumbs and play below their knees. harry doesn't do that, and charlie with a bum ankle hasn't done that for a while.

kicking into green grass, not at players. that's all you need to tell them.

What an amazing sports fest to be had in Perth this weekend.

Wallabies
UFC
Carlton

The weather was so crap in Perth the races had to be called off after race 6.
But the sun shone for the Carlton game after a wet morning.
Blessed are the Blues.

I have some amazing photos from the game with the boys displaying the widest smiles in the land coming off the ground.

As expected, our season is still alive, and we play for Finals next game. Blues are worth the watch. S proud of them.

Boys were Hunting in packs but also spreading really well from stoppage, and forward entry looked controlled for most of the time.

Pittonet. Where have you been. Looked free of any injury and moved well, giving his mids plenty of supply plus 8 clearances.
Crippa Hewett and Walsh killed it in the middle.
Kemp and Kennedy were great targets.
Durdin playing like seeing Eddie Betts at CHF again. He's quick. Amazing game.
Young and Weitering our talls down back dominated the WCE KPFs.
Cincotta and Cowan gave us heaps of run from backline. Newman is such a great architect back there too.

Motlop looked OK in last 15 minutes of game, but prior to that looked like the slowest player out there. I'm not convinced he's in any form.
Lord Moir Binns got good exposure to the big league, and did themselves proud. Not quite ready to play Finals this year.
Williams looked like he copped a knee in the back with 2 mins left to 3/4 time. He should be right to play v Saints.
I will miss Durdin. His shoulder wont hold up for Finals. Durdin, Willams and Owies are perfect small brigade trio with Fogarty out for season.

Go Baggers.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The Blue boys did kick a lot of ball long and high into the forwardline but they mixed it up.

What worked well this week with the long bombs was we brought the ball to the ground and there were players around to pick up ground ball.

That's the key. Mix it up. Honour the lead. Ensure there are small forwards roving the packs. Numbers to the fall of the ball were aplenty yesterday.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I think we were lucky with the long, high bombs into the fwd line that the wind made them very difficult to mark and the Eagles dropped a lot anyway (all over the ground). we won't get away with this next Sunday.

It's less about height, and more about mobility. Plenty of sides succeed with multiple talls either forward or back. But they've got to be nimble. It's why we often look slow when we play SOS or TDK as a third tall. Or when we play Kennedy or Elijah up forward alongside our twin towers.

I reckon we could play Kemp as a 3rd tall, since he and Charlie and Harry are all quick. But we need to surround them with nippy types instead of plodders. We also need our talls to play with defensive intent. Something Charlie seems reluctant to do.

Yes AND 2.5 times more inside 50 marks

Of course, how could I not consider him….still imagine Heppell to be the man

Let’s hope now that when the cavalry are ready, we dont rush them back in.

Keeps on happening.

Regardless of names, we need guys who are working hard, running, putting their heads over the ball and doing team things.

Dont want names back that are selfish, and try and do flashy things for themselves.

I dont want any changes next week to be honest. Obviously is McKay or Curnow are ready, then of course we put them in. But I would drill into them that being flashy and selfish will not be tolerated.

Whilst i love Charlie, he has been trying to do flashy things, like playing on and trying to kick 60 metre goals, and when was the last time he layed a tackle and put pressure in the forward line ?

I saw his body language being bad this year, and giving up after he loses a contest. It’s not good enough.

It should be non negotiable to push pressure, and go in hard, no matter who you are.

No favourites.

agreed

Agreed.
The conditions certainly suited us and the long high bombs won't work so well at Marvel.

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There is no footy god

I'd be happy playing the same team next week too.
If only Durdin could be fit to play.

I like the mobility.
I like Kemp and Kennedy as the main forwards.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Ross will be better prepared this week. We will need to have another option forward as Wilke and Howard will have planned for Kemp and Kennedy. We need to change it up again. With Saints small forwards, throw McGovern up there as well this week.!!

One hundred percent . Ross is a party pooper from way back . Specialises in the field of broken dreams and there is nothing he would like more than shattering ours . Payback for Sayers reneging on a deal . So , be prepared coz the Saints are gonna scratch and bite like no tomorrow . Its gonna be a very PHYSICAL game so get ready and be prepared to fight fire with fire . Anyone who reckons Lyon is a mug is in fantasyland .

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All my dangerous friends