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Great last quarter which just shows how shit the first three were.
Why can we play like that but we don't? I realize it's a long game and running for 100 minutes is probably out of the question but we did it once in the first three quarters which resulted in a goal to Silvagni and then waited until the last before trying it again. Frustrating to watch on TV and after seeing the Collingwood game I imagine it must look worse at the ground.
I've said it three times since the Collingwood game but I believe the game plan needs to be tweaked to allow a player or two goalside of the opposition at both ends. When we are in attack and lose the footy in the midfield as happened three or four times in the second half, we are suckers for the 'run into an open goal' counter. It's because we are too deep in the press and at three quarter time, Simpson, the WCE coach half-mentioned it when he spoke to Barry Hall. In defence, unless we run the footy like we did in the last, the kick from inside 50 is always in danger of coming back because we allow a line of defenders between our last player and our own goals. Also, there were at least four occasions where one of Kennedy, Darling or LeCras was allowed to stand alone and wait for the footy to arrive. Had Darling kicked even reasonably straight he would have got three. Yesterday he made Casboult look like Peter McKenna.
Anyway, despite all that, I enjoyed watching the last quarter replay after the power went off in our street while Gibbs was lining up for goal....
I liked Silvagni's game most of the newbys and he will probably play 300 like his dad and grandfather before him. There isn't much of him yet but he has no fear and goes where the ball is.
Curnow30 had some great cameos, including the non-mark and a great run from half back to mark and goal. He is good overhead and has a strong body for a kid. He will also play a lot of footy for us.
Weitering is one of those players who looks like he was born to play.
Jaksch didn't have the visual impact of Curnow30 but he didn't disgrace himself either. He'd be unlucky to not play next week.
Cripps had an outstanding second half, thanks to a few frees for holding which made Priddis and Shuey let him have a run at the footy.
Plowman was workmanlike. I like him.
I've been saying it for weeks now. Phillips is better than Kreuzer. If you want proof, just watch what Kreuzer does in the ruck with 95 seconds left in the game after the Gibbs long bomb. He decisively wins the tap and puts it straight down the throat of....Priddis, who bombs it into their F50. Game over.
Kerridge is hot and cold. He gets the footy but in the first half he absolutely butchered it, including one OOB where Docherty just stood there, hands on hips and gave him the death stare. I think he is worth persevering with, though. He's a hard nut and we need them.
Of the more 'established' players:
Gibbs had a very good second half. Nice of him to turn up. I particularly liked the way he blew his nose on his hand and wiped his hair with it. Cheaper than product.
White played one of his best games for us. I can't understand the hatred for him from some posters here. 100% effort every week and mentioned AGAIN at the post match presser.
Rowe was very solid against Kennedy. Having Weitering down back as been good for him.
Simpson had a blinder. The umps hate him. He gets a lot of frees against and I wonder if he backchats them.
Buckley needs games under his belt. A burst player like he is needs to find the pace of the game.
Wright, Sumner and Lamb were quiet and after BB got 30 possies and 3 goals in the twos, I think one of them will make way for him.
Touhy was serviceable as usual without being dominant.
Docherty is Mr Coolhead and a sensational pick up.
Next week, Casboult will come in for Weitering, sending KJ down back.
BB will come in.
We need to bulk up the midfield with grunt. I am going to suggest we play Phillips as #1 ruck and play Kreuzer as an old fashioned ruck/rover. His best work is bullocking and linking up and clearing the footy from congestion by hand. He can go for the tap in specified zones so Phillips doesn't have to cover the entire field of play. Of course that won't happen but neither will he get dropped, which is the other option.
If we turn the footy over next week like we did last night, Sydney will win by 100 points. They will be looking for percentage. We should be looking at shaping the top eight like we did yesterday. No easy games for anybody.
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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)
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