Was discussing with someone else in the last quarter that TC would be going nuts and what a surprise.

Really, there is nothing to be concerned about regarding the fade out. You could clearly see us take the foot off the pedal in the last quarter. Missed shots on goal cost us. Mentally we switched off - our kickout zone in the last quarter was non existant - they had around 4-5 coast to coast goals. Before that though we defended them a lot better.

Hampson - Probably our best. Dominated the ruck, even against Ottens. The pleasing thing was we had someone to mark the ball when we bombed it from the kickout. He took quite a few marks from these long bombs. Continually palmed it to his midfielders

Yarran - not as dominant today as last week but when he got it most of the time he did something special with it. Brilliant goal in the first half where he cut back on his left and slotted it.

Garlett - brilliant timing when he hits the packs...couldn't time it any better.

Lachie - Not brilliant but what can you expect first game back. Got on his bike a few times which was good

Judd - won his fair share of possession, some brilliant kicks mixed in with some shockers.

Simpson - again missed set shots which was disappointing.

Gibbs - coasted a bit again. Big deal. It's pre season FFS.

Scotland - cleaned up at half back, disposal a bit sloppy at times.

Waite - excellent second half...at times in the first half he took a good mark then had the typical brainfade and gave the ball away.

Carrazzo – very rusty. Called for possession when really he isn’t the one to deliver it. First game back though. Missed a sitter in the last quarter.

Russell – first game back too, looked ok at half back and cramped in the last quarter

Walker – Disappointing performance. The weak link in the forward line; got a few sitters/over the top handball goals. Still tries to take mark of the year when he isn’t a chance – leaves his man at ground level to sweep it away. Would have Houlihan ahead of him if he was fit.

Robinson – Excellent game on the ball; his hardness got us back in a few contests when it looked like the cats would stream forward without pressure.

White – ok game at half back/loose man.

Bower – played the first half then subbed I think for Watson.

Lucas – disappointing game where his disposal was fairly average and he seemed to lose his feet quite often in a contested situation.

Armfield – fairly quiet, I think played as a defensive half forward

Jamison – excellent one on one with Hawkins and Mooney as well.

Laidler – Not prolific but floated across as a loose man. A few times he negated Ottens in a one on one when it looked like Ottens should have marked.

Duigan – very good again

Watson – did well in one on ones, one time got caught out paddling the ball along when he should’ve just kicked it off the ground but he’ll learn from that.



Regarding the game plan we still were caught out when we lost the ball up forward – they swept the ball up the ground with ease a lot of the time. Still not setting up defensively in those situations.

And when we moved the ball forward we still couldn’t deal with the opposition having a tall loose in defence. It was either Scarlett or Taylor and we kicked it to them a lot of the time. Gave our key forwards little chance – all they could do was hope they got to the contest and try to bring it to ground. Need to be better at bringing the ball in.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

obviously the bombers have gone passed us now, I mean they played in the NAB final, oh those were the days!

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Forgot to add Curnow was very good. He is good at diving in for the ball and then being able to handball to someone and release them forward. Not just a hard at it player who doesn't really benefit the team; he sets his teamates up.

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"You are being watched. The government has a secret system. A machine that spies on you every hour of every day. I know because I built it." - Finch

Ratt Sacken.

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

Thank you Cazz, that's all I've been asking for

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Easy Cazz, doesn't look like a knock on Collins to me.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

My first time watching the Blues live this year and I must admit, we did look very 2010 (the bad part) for large portions of the game. Missing 5m handball targets, 20m kicking targets, bombing long to a 3 on 1 forward, missing set shots for goal, lack of movement when running out from the backline etc. Geelong looked rusted themselves I must admit so we're not alone but I always thought they had another gear, which they proved in the last.

Only a practice match my mates were saying and they're right, as I remember the days when we didn't win a single one but blitzed during the season proper. Only a practice match indeed but I did want to see something different in regards to game plan and team structure. Apart from individual efforts already mentioned (loving Yaz off half back), I didn't really see anything too different from last year in regards to team dynamics.

As I said, it was my first view of the boys this year and so I will not make a season judgment based on today, so bring on round 1...

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Yep, pretty much sums it up for me. We were the better side on the day IMO but poor conversion in the last cost us.
Very happy with Hammers game and Yaz was sensational. Just needs to improve his fitness as fatigue seemed to effect his disposal at times. Bower and Armfield went off early so hopefully they are OK.

Points to work on? Our concentration/ preparation when shooting at goal. Watching Adelaide last week, they prepare their zone anticipating their team mate will kick a point. They are the best transition team in the business IMO. Watching Carlton, we stand around hoping we'll kick a goal and then run to set up our zone when we miss. Unprofessional. Today it cost us at least 3 coast to coast goals including players being hit up with 50 metre kicks from the kick in. Amateur stuff.

Positives, when the contest was at it's hottest, our boys were able to compete and more than hold their own. In past years our smaller bodies were pushed aside but today when the contested pill was there to win or neutralise, we stood up. Apart from a few boys who were obviously rusty, a very good hitout. The final score is largely irrelevant to me.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Bower did, I don't remember seeing the other two

Ellard and tuohy didnt play - carrazzo and watson seemed to be the subs i think armfield and bower subbed off for both of them, although didnt see army after the first quarter

Garlett was my BOG (mercurial), just ahead of Robbo (5th and 6th efforts), Hampson (his hands are getting sticky) and Yarran (ridiculous goal in first half, some great run off hb).

Duigan and Laidler should play round 1, Jamison will be missed who played well today, gave quite a bit of run out of the backline.

Curnow looked good in and under, bit of pace on him aswell. Twomey came on as a sub i think, had an impact-seems to get alot of the ball and always make a solid decision.

Though Waite played quite well, really prolific 1 on 1. A few brainfades, but what do we expect?

Simmo really needs to work on set shots, cannot have that.
Walker-swap for Houla. Please.

Juddy quiet by his lofty standards, did a few nice things.

Stick by Levi, did some nice things.


Everyone seemed to be noticing Gibbs lack of impact. did not move out of second gear. towelled up by selwood in the middle when he was there. if the preseason is anything to go by (which i know it is a bit of a joke at times), then maybe half back is his best position.


Overall, the boys outplayed geelong easily, just ran out of legs in the last quarter and gave the game away. like others have mentioned, set shots are a problem, something like 11.15 for the game. Points are going to lose more games than they win. Everyone should be excited for Round 1 !!!

We must have lost, the same old faces turn up everytime. We're only missing Headcutter to come in and start 3 threads on how bad we are.

Some of you are more worried about the last 10mins than the rest of the game.

I really don't understand the doom and gloom from people who haven't even seen a game.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Was at the game and generally the signs were very good.

Was particaularly pleased with Jamo, thought his spoiling, positioning and then rebound were first class, significantly better than last year.

I'm going to hold off on the Yazz love fest for just moment. Not a comment on his brilliance, and some of his sneaky body work in close shows his natural feel for the game. His touch by foot was I think was a bit off today. Quite a few balls were sent bouncing out of bounds or not placed to advantage. Of course, some of them were inch perfect, but he was inconsistent by foot to say the least.

Liked Duigan, he'll be in Rd 1 on his showing thus far.

Really liked what I saw of Watson, paid special attention to him in the 3rd, he had on great passage downt eh wing where he followed the contest, provided body when required and cleared out to receive when he had to as well. Just great awareness of the play and where he needed to be. If we don't ask to much of him he could be ready to go Rd1 if needed.

Which we may, because White limped off at 3/4 time, not happy. He walked up the stairs unaided, so it could be minor.

Who's 16? Í know I should remember but I can't. He looked good. Very composed.

Hammer terrific, marking a lot cleaner this year.

I wouldn't be concerned at the score. We matched them well for 3.5 quarters, missed some goals which would have iced it and then took the foot off the last 15 minutes.

All in all a decent hit out leading into Thursday week.

My one question to others there was - did you see anything significantly different to last year? It was my first live viewing, and i couldn't see dramatic changes. If anything we seemed more committed to the corridor, and were trying to put more pressure on the ball carrier. In terms of forward set up I didn't see much different. The real concern for me was the continuing and frustrating tendency to bomb into the forward line.

Saw nothing to suggest we won't be handing out another spanking in Rd 1

Surely he couldn't have been as good as the best ever front and centre player in the whole history of the human race ... Andrew Krakouer?

Hird was better

Collins

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Would of been nice to win but we were cruising. If we had taken our chances we would of been up by 7-8 goals in the third qtr.

Haven't read others but some points from me.

White - looks to have hurt his knee again. Looked very disappointed after the game. Was playing fairly well prior.

Yarran - the improvement is incredible. Finally in his rightful position but he also directed play, ran on and looked so much fitter. He uses the ball better than anyone and his combination with Garlett was too good for words.

Garlett - fantastic. Worked hard, got to the right positions and was all class. Looks better with Betts out when he is the 'man'

Hampson- took some great one grab marks at FF and around the ground. Great game, thrashed Ottens

Watson - hesitant to play him Rd 1 but not now. His kicking and when he ran through Hunt without flinching convinced me he can handle it.

Collins - impressive. He is tough but what surprised me was his ball use, lifts his eyes and hits targets and is a smart player.

Walker - I wouldn't play him. Runs into trouble, makes simple errors that cost us. If he doesn't get it know he never will. Can't play him and Waite in same fwd line. Too similar.

Twomey - first I have seen him live and he's got a bit. Gets to the right positions and is smart. Smoky for Rd 1.

Hendo - rusty early but took some good grabs later and look set for Rd 1.


All in all some improvement but showed how we can be slaughtered with poor disposal. Top 4 within reach with right selections.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

I thought the same re his kicking. It was sizzling last week, some of it was poor today. Doesn't concern me though because we know what he can do, his kicking won't ever be an issue.

_________________
"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

So if Ellard & Tuohy didn't play, did Joseph & Davies?

CFC Twitter confirmed Watson as the second sub for me, Hendo apparently played 3-4 quarters.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

We lost I blame the recruiting

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06