all season we've struggled with allowing scores from stoppage. we were the worst defensive stoppage team in the in the afl after the loss to sydney. and all of that was with pittonet and tdk rucking. where we should have owned both sides of the ball in stoppage we were dismal in defence.

the pies horribly exposed us with stoppage scoring.


i have no idea why we're so bad ... but we were. we tidied it up briefly these last 5 games we won on the trot, but last night we reverted back to not working for each other, and not applying pressure on the ball.

that's why imo, last night was all on the players, rather than coaching or selections. and why next week against the dogs, i think the players will atone and come out breathing fire.

Stoppages are important to us. They are our one wood. What we mean by our one wood, is our natural strength from our personnel. Sttoppage dominance won us 10 games in a row and got us to a Preliminary Final. If we didnt miss the 4 we may have not run out of petrol tickets and who knows what would happen against the Pies: we beat them 7 weeks earlier. If we had a turnover game, we may have been in the 4 and won the friggin Flag. We all believe that.

The newfound Turnover game has been proven to be important this year; something we weren't good at last year.. Not more important, but just as important as Stoppage game. Remember GWS scored 70 points from stoppages. That's 12 goals. That's important in anyone's language. That's how GWS beat us.

We won games from our strength in our new turnover game at the start of the season against good teams Brizzy 4 pts, Freo 10 pts and Richmond 5 pts but Vossy publicly stated we needed to get back our one wood. Enter Pitto back from injury, we found our stoppage game. Pittos first game back on limited game time, we won stoppages but we had in the bag with 5 mins to go 16 points up, but lost the game after Pitto went off in the last 5 minutes, then we beat GWS convincingly and Melbourne.

We need to be good at both and that's what Vossy has tried to work out during the H&A season. We have Game 16 completed and we are not the finished product.

Pitto got injured against Sydney and TDK had a purple patch against GCS, Port, Effendon and Geelong. Teams with underdone (Witts) or inferior rucks to an in form TDK. Regardless of the quality of opposition, it was and is naive to think a purple patch lasts forever; that's why its called a "purple patch".

TDK was fatigued and sore after his stellar game against his brother (Geelong), and it was a good idea to rest him against the stronger and dirty Nankervis. Vossy omitted an in form Pitto after a great game against a strong ruckman in Nankervis. Voss decided to play a fresh in form TDK on his own against a stronger ruckman in Briggs and make no mistake Briggs bullied him in a game we lost the stoppages.

Why did we have 12 goals kicked against us from stoppages? That's for Voss to work out, not us. I agree with Voss. We need to be good at both in all games, but more impotantly, all finals and in Grand Finals. We can't rely on just one source to score.

Vossy knows he has 7 more games to work out how to make this happen, and win enough games to finish 2nd or 1st on the ladder for us to start the Finals at home, at the MCG.

In Voss I trust.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I reckon you're right about Fantasia. I watched him standing in areas where he wasn'ty in the contest but in holes, then he'd walk further away, and side ways. I couldn't see the correlation to what was going on up the ground. Now you mention it, that sounds like the ticket. Makes sense. I was going to add Fantasia to that list but haven't seen his Kms.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Probably always going to lose one. This was the reminder of the tidy-up we needed as we approach finals. We often don't come of breaks switched on. So many times in one qtr we take our foot off the throat, let sides back into the game but when they get close we shift a gear and kill them of with a mighty run-on. That or reset at 3/4 time and smash the opposition. Last time we played GWS we fell 20pts behind in the 3rd qtr, not alot of pressure, then we suddenly up the pressure rating to 240 and kicked 6 goals in 10 min. Last night we just expected it to happen again, couldn't lift though and got caught out. It was a reminder we can't get away with it all the time and to keep the foot on the throat. If this was round 22, at the real pointy end of the season, that wouldn't have happened. A loss we needed to have to sharpen us mentally. The team itself is all good, can always argue the small aspects of team selection, but it's just the mental side of complacency. We hit our form, switch on, then no-one rolls us.

I regretted what I said to your kids being the idiot I like to be.
When I asked them if they liked horror movies, and they responded with a fearful and assertive "No".
And I responded to that with "Then what are you doing with [CK]?"
I came back to them when were still in front in the 2nd after we scored thos 2 goals in a row with the high 5's.

The next time I was going to tell them how lucky they are to have a dad who takes them on a driving holiday, plus taking them to the footy, but you were gone. We didnt see you leave. I don't blame you avoiding me....for the kids sake.

Yeah, there will be a next time. The reunion in Melbourne after we win the Flag.

We learned a lot from last nights game. No doubt. Best think to happen to us, as long as we don't lose 2nd spot.
I will be barracking for teams playing against interstate teams Freo Port and Brizzy.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

That is good

You have a wickedness with your words I fancy.

I'm using that one.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

2023 Cameron Cox
2022 Biclavs Stanley
2021 Gawn Jackson

Last 3 premiership teams all played 2 rucks
Obviously didn't affect their turnover game

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They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I took the kids to the match. Not much atmosphere last night it must be said.
Bondi i don't agree with Acres. His first 3 kicks (from memory as i haven't watched the replay) were turnovers. He set the tone for the team
early. I thought his output was well down on his previous 6 weeks or so. He must must must tidy up his disposal before finals.

When Weiters went off and Kemp started to panic and despair (his body language at the game was terrible), I was hoping Gov stood up and took some pressure off the kid. He was the one that had to take some ownership down back as he plays taller than he is but he has little impact at the marking contests.
A few of his disposals also resulted in costly turnovers. Senior player on some good coin in the last few years. Time for him to take on some responsibility like Newman has and step up. He doesn't do enough. He is always around that 14 or 15 disposal figure and he just doesn't hurt the opposition enough for a guy with his skill set. If we are to get deep into the final series, he is one of the players that we should be looking at for some improvement.

Williams was the other senior player I was disappointed in. Sure he kicked a few early goals, but I was watching him closely in the third and 4th quarters. Wasn't working hard enough for my liking.
A few times when he was following his player back inside our D50, he wasn't fully invested. His brain fade at the end of the third was very costly.

All in all not a time for panic. We looked a few % off and it showed on the scoreboard. I would have liked to have seen Charlie moved up the ground to get him involved well before the move was made. TDK will be better for the experience.

I don't know why either and get where you are coming from.

I think there's too many other factors to blame than just the 2 rucks playing.

The argument we win with TDK as a sole ruck was debunked last night...yeah I know, its a small sample size, but so is the 2 rucks imo.

Teams selected are never the same. See GWS, Richmond GWS played twice
Key players missing Saad, Gov and if you like Fog, and haven't seen the effect of a Martin, Cunners etc
Ground
Weather
Players Carrying injuries
Coaching experimenting ... like last night imo.
Tactics


I don't look at it as 2 rucks.
I look at it as No 1 ruck and Fwd/Ruck.
I don't think there's limits the Fwd/Ruck should ruck.
If TDK could hold his marks, and/or kick straight like that GWS game he's gold, because we know he can ruck and be another mid.
He's so good on the ground he's also just as good on the ground applying pressure in the forwardline.
And we know high pressure cam create perceived pressure. GWS suffered from that in 1st Qtr last night then went all frenetic thereafter, nothing to lose, and they held onto the ball where he we became fumbly and under siege...creating perceived pressure.

I think Cincotta has played a huge role in the last 5 weeks quelling the oppositions danger players.

Next week is Crippas 200th game.
I think we will be the frenetic ones next week.
That's when we are at our best.

I don't think the moves Vossy wanted to have a look at worked last night, plus we didnt bring the pressure.
Sydney Blue pointed that out in the first quarter. He thought we we lacked energy.
Things did go our way in the ist last night.
Umpires had a bid say in the result.
I'm hoping the loss wasm a blessing

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I thought that was a beauty!



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This is the first time I’ve managed to post by proxy in a thread here, I came to say something and then realised I’d already said it!

I tried to take a picture but Bondi was too busy yelling at the umpires, scaring CK’s kids, running up and down the wing and eyeing off Pitto….all at the same time whilst also talking non-stop!

I do actually have a (not very good) snap of myself CK and SB, I’ll see if I can post it once I get release agreements from CK and SB.

I almost walked over to Pitto myself and told him to put his gear on and get out on the ground to help TDK.

Tommi - re your post on Cowan, he took that kick right in front of us and we were all screaming at him to have shot, he was easily in range.

We also noted the big shove in the back kemp received to ensure he didn’t touch the GWS shot for goal, it’s crazy they never pay in the back anymore.

It’s actually the first time I’ve stood for an entire match with barracking with others since the good old days at PP and brought back good memories of standing in the outer there.

Sorry CK I didn’t get to talk more, but I didn’t want to distract you from spending time with your kids.

Pressure Points by the quarter

GWS........187-234-231-198
Carlton ....194-184-176-169

I thought we excelled in the last in spurts, and when we did you could see feel the surge

Umpiring snuffed out a few of our surges. We could have drawn or pinched that back.

Like I said, and agree with you, I hope its the loss we needed, and it doesnt jeopardise 2nd spot...or 1st.

Cowan 64 PP's
Kennedy 54 PPs
Ollie 53 PP's
Elijah 52 PPs
Walsh 49 PPs
Williams 46 PPs


Harry .......1 PP
Charlie ......20 PP...probably all in the last
Fogarty .....25..........gee he's slow when chasing...he's good when the opponents aren't aware of his proximity...he doesnt give up the chase tho
Fantasia .....23
Owies....... 10 in 0ne qtr
Kemp ........16....shocker of a game. Unfair to be on opponent like Hogan, but he wasn't smart about it, and he knew it
McGovern 17...but we know Gov doent like contact
Saad.....26.....he really didnt feature....I couldnt tell why, and I watched him because he's my fave.

Also noticed in the VFL when Motlop had the ball sprinting away from oposition, he didnt.
Opposition always caught up to him even if they started 3 metres behind. His lack of pace always worried me....he's kicked goals in last 2 games....but that's not all I ask coz sometimes the goals don't come.

Cuningham is a delight to watch....speed to kill, great balance and great foot AND handball skills (something a lot of our players lack)

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I reckon Bondi dictates his posts, there’s no way he types all those words, I’ve seen him pecking at his phone keyboard like a chicken stalking a cockroach, he’s a one word a minute guy.

GWS are a good team that has been playing badly.
The middle two quarters were the worst we've played this year and a huge part of that is the hunger GWS had for the contest. Players shitting themselves, players with lazy disposal, players not willing to go with their opponents. The last goal GWS scored in the 1st and the first two in the 2nd quarter were handed to them by poor decisions/disposals and that set the scene for the next hour.

Beat GWS and Collingwood would still be in the 8, so there is some silver lining.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

Acres 3 turnovers in a row. I know what you saying about daggs. I heard Sydney Blues thoughts. I couldn't disagree. Lucky those 3 disposals didn't hurt us in the first. He ended up with 78% Def which isnt bad, especially after starting with 3 in a row,,,,kicked a good goal....18 possessions, 340 metres from 10 kicks 35 PPs 2 SI's . He's OK but done better.

RE Gov....super athlete. Great vertical leap. Can Intercept. Lazy. Soft. Injury prone. Shits me . Felt for Kemp

I think TDK is young like Kemp an still developing. He played well when ball on the ground but he needs Pittos support in the big games, otherwise a bigger ruck can work him out. Sure he will learn. But he's still developing. Ha's enjoyed a purple patch and people think that's going to last. Against his brother, that was a lifetime experience and he was'nt going to stop. Mind over matter, but in the end it killed him. If he played the next week against Nankervis fatigued he wouldve bbeen eaten alive imo. He needs a chop out....not from Cripps or Harry for me. They have important roles to play..to play what we pay them for. He hasnt played out of his skin like he did before. If anything I think he will fatigue badly as a sole ruck this year ...imo.

It is a shit atmosphere.

Lucky its small and cosy and noise echoes when they cheer...then its really quiet.

Sydney games are hilarious but getting better.....people chatting sipping chardonnay then when they hear a crowd noise they look up and if its a sydney goals they put their drink down and clap or just say "Yay Sydney". They love the slow chant Syyyyydddnnnnneeeeeyyyyyyy. Because you don't have to put your chardy down and dfont have to scream.

I wish we would have a slow Carlton call every now and them ...not after goals,,,but when we are up.

How old are your kids? If they needed clowns for a laugh I was there and then there were the clowns next to me. We wouldve created atmosphere.
Are you sydney based?

I still think we will win the flag. Last night will make us stronger.

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I hear he uses his dictaphone.....

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I wish you had have

All good sinbagger, was nice meeting you, & like Bondi you looked younger than I expected. TC must be like the opposite of tinder really

OK by me for the pic but hopefully I don't break too many computer screens.....


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2 games in Sydney
2 games we got off to a flyer
2 games Weiters cops a corky
2 games we get run over

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Did I look older
Ok to use pic




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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Yeah they are cute and they smiled...but they could've been smiling at my head thinking I was wearing make up, or something. Who knows. I thought it was funy at the time then.....oops

Dad is their hero. I shouldnt say anything to that may be otherwise.

I wish we caught up with you at Locker Room.
I was with a different crew there. A Melb crew. They are bigger and badder than me.
I do the shit stirring and get us into trouble, and they would step in.
I bet those bulldogs bogans wouldve said boo to us in a group.

You were vulnerable with 2 kids.


Funny story at my wedding.
My best man in his speech said to the guests:
"You probably have noticed Harry has a lot of mates here over 6'4""
"Yeah, he's smart"
"He gets into trouble, then we have go in and fix it up for him"

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue