Well, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of moaning on here about how disgraceful the players were in the second half and how it was all their fault. But that would all simply miss the point.

In the first quarter and a half we were ‘on’ – more possessions, more hard balls, more inside 50’s, more tackles, more clearances. Everything you could ask for from the midfield and backline.

But with all that – we were 6 goals down.

What that clearly exhibits is a complete breakdown of forward structure – not for the first time this season.

Brett Ratten, and Lappin the forward line ‘coach’ (if you can call him a ‘coach’) had their incompetence completely exposed – and that is the story of tonight’s game.

PROS

1. Armfield - good game

2. Henderson – played well, marks well.

3. Bower – good to have him back, hopefully the Taliban don’t kidnap him again.

4. Gibbs in the middle and he should stay there.

5. Kade Simpson tried hard

CONS

1. Brett Ratten’s forward line structure – embarrassing. An indictment on his alleged ability to coach. How many times this year have we had more inside 50’s but a lower score as we did at half time??? Too many! Having all the forwards running back toward goal with the ball flying over their head is NOT A GAMEPLAN.

2. People on here who will blame skill errors going inside 50 – IT MISSES THE WHOLE POINT. When the players look up and see no clear option because of a hopeless setup, I’ve got news for you – their skills will look poor! That’s because they can’t take the first option.

3. Jamo seems to be hesitating when he gets the ball.

4. Hampson is a RUCKMAN – playing him forward is a waste and tires out Sauce to exhaustion. Why Brett, why? It would also be nice if he didn’t fumble so much

5. Setanta has been worked out.

It is all academic until we change our coach.

And Matty Lappin is making the easiest money on in the country as our ‘forward coach’. He should have to give his wage back.

We are better than that.

RATTEN OUT!

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They will know that they've been playing against the famous old dark blues

Pros
- I left just before 3/4 and got home quickly and easily
- Despite feeling nauseous all day I managed not to spew even while watching our crap performance
- Hmm....really just got nothing good to say about today.

Cons
- Massive game, results from rest of this round went in our favour, missed our chance to be 9-6 and a game clear in 5th spot.
- Shit run ahead of us and going to have to work very hard and be a bit lucky with other games to make the final 8.
- Player confidence looks at a very low ebb.
- Had just as much if not more of the ball but no forward set up meant that was all wasted.
- Hall smashed us.

Pros
Army - busted nose and all, tried his guts out and ran

Hendo - has a future at CFC

Simmo - gives his all

Sadly not much else


Cons

The coaching (read planning and development) and leadership at our club is dreadful. We won't be going anywhere until that changes for the better.

Santy has lost the plot - has to wear red until he shows he has his confidence back.

There appears to be a lack of spirit and playing for each other. Would have helped to see the game live but on tv there were some very poor examples of players not working for each other. When the pressure is on, people either band together or fragment. Which scenario occurs depends on the leadership. Pretty obvious where CFC is right now.

Desperate times needs some changes in thinking - bring back Lucas, Fish (couldn't be any worse than Santy right now) and hopefully Waite can pull his head in and play fir the team.

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Okay, what about the skill errors in the middle? What about the skill errors in defence?

Yes, you're right to suggest our forward structure is often ineffective, but that doesn't explain players in defence handballing to the feet of their mates does it.

Our forward set up today was poor. But this was simply further highlighted by such crap disposal.

You're right, we are better than this. We've seen a number of clear examples already this season. The concern for me is that our skills have been in decline for several weeks now. Why? And how can we arrest that decline?

Aside from that, here's a few positives...

Garlett tried hard in 2nd half.
Gibbs threw himself inside the packs in the 1st half.
Judd broke a few packs open as per.
Jamo was pretty good one on one against Hall.
Armfield busted a gut all game.
Bower didn't get injured.
The game ended.

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worse game from the playing group that I've seen for a while - just didnt give a whimper

positives
armfield - ran all day
hampson - showed a bit of mobility/potential
edit: - russell did ok as well

aside from that not much else to write about. Way too static in the forward line resulting in too much handball to try to create movement

setanta needs a spell to regain confidence - has done nothing for the previous 6 or so weeks. Fisher to take his spot - consistent goal kicker in the 2's and will at least threaten on ocassion + provide a good strong lead up option.

I agree with almost everything, but how you could praise Jamo's effort is beyond me. I love Jamo, but he was woeful. Playing without confidence.

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Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!!!

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W T F .........
Visit http://fromthemoshpit.com/

Cons.

We Were Outed

Out Coached
Out Run
Out Smarted
Out Skilled
Out Scored
Out Played in every facet

Just plain Outed.

Shambles to say the least.

Pros

As soon as I can find a suitable Cult to join I'm ditching this one

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Army was good
Bower and JR were ok.

Everyone else....including the coaching/gameplan, were an absolute disgrace.

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I see you watching me watching you.

I only said he did okay in the one on ones. And he did. Hall kicked his bag because he got silver service that no defender could stop. In general play, yes, Jamo does look lost at times and playing without confidence is a by product of our last few games where we've been below par. Sadly, he's not alone there.

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C-Man....
we need a Mitch Hallahan type

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I see you watching me watching you.

Just about sums it up perfectly, unfortunately. Time for drastic action.

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We are on our way back...

Pros: Got home early

Cons: We won't make the 8.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Pros:

- The pies were actually hot today.

Cons:

- Our failure to recognise that selection involves 22 players, not 20. Carlos and Hampson were bollocks. Hampson made Tom Williams look like Reiwoldt, in fact apart from two marks he looked the like the most un-cordinated footballer I've ever seen, a level so far from AFL it's not funny.

- Carrazzo. Andrew was too busy admiring his tricks with the ball during our warm ups to care about playing for Carlton Football Club today. Message to Carrots, shape up, recognise your value to the team.

- Murphy. Murphmellows I hear are coming to a supermarket near you. King of the front runners tonight.

- Betts. If only the full time siren blew after the first goal.

- Jamison. Talk about a player confused about our game plan. Why the need to play on every time? Not much he could do about some the passes to Hall, but did himself no favours when he won the ball.

- Simmo. First game in a long long time I've seen him turn it up.

- Houlihan. Princess was back.

- Robbo. Tried to replicate Houlihan and did it to a tee.

- Club? Embarassing display, lack of effort, lack of heart, lack of balls. Someone needs to take this team and deliver some home truths, Robert Walls we are calling you!!!!!!!

PROS:
Armfield.
Judd.
Bower didn't injure himself.
Waite back next week.
Game finished.

CONS:
Judd is going to kill himself trying to resurrect this side.
Poor Setanta going backwards at a rapid rate of knots.
Murphy seemingly going at 3/4 pace.
Why wasn't a defender of the Walker type put on Lake early when he was totally decimating our attack? With spring, pace and aggression Walks would have made Lake more than accountable. Even as an armchair watcher I could see that after he had taken Setanta totally apart this was the type of move needed.
Lappin will stay as forward coach at least untill the end of the year.
Game didn't finish after Jacobs kicked the first goal of the game.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Their cattle is better than our cattle ATM

And you've come out of the closet NTTAWWT

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Pros
- Waite back next week
- Army was effective.


Cons
- overall lack of enthusiasm/spirit.
- O'Hailpin. Cameron Cloke Mark II.
- Is Murphy playing injured or just a frontrunner?
- Some "senior" players like Carazzo, Scotland and Houlihan gave us nothing whilst Jamo needs to lift.
- Robinson and Joseph try hard but skills not good enough.
- The MC. Surely Lucas is a better footballer than some of players in our 22 today. Grigg deserved another chance IMO and shouldn't have been dropped.

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There is no footy god

Seriously, the Bulldogs have been a much better side than us for ten or so years now. It's hardly the end of the world.

We played like a bunch of old PROS
We are easily the biggest CONS in the eight

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Hammer is unco, he is a poor ball handler and clumsy at ground level. He has straight line speed but not good lateral movement. He does not present as a natural fwd.
Posting an isolated example of him marking and goaling vs Cwood in a previous season means nothing.
You could make an equally impressive youtube highlights package for T-bird as a fwd.
Hammer also kicks poorly.

These delusions of him being a viable forward are bizzare given his current skill set.