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Acceptance - we are now a middling side
- Thread starter Carter
- Start date
Disagree. Reckon our tackling is poor. All 3 games I have watched too many occasions where oppo players have easily slipped our tackles or stood up in them and dished the ball off. When we do nail one it is often too high and we give away a free. There have been a few nice run down tackles by MJ but overall I think we need to get a lot better at this skill.
2019 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Giants 49 pts, 1W 2L after 3.
2020 Rnd 3 got smacked by Hawthorn 32 pts, 1W, 1D 1L after 3.
2021 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Swans 45 pts, 2W 1L after 3.
2022 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Saints 33 pts, 1W 2L.
2023 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Pies - OMG the best team ever, play scintillating football, so much pace, speed, class by a massive 14 pts!!
Five straight years losing in Rd 3, if you haven't learnt yet, let's skip Round 3 and worry about the next round/rounds
Two of the four completed seasons above we won a flag, in 3 of the 4 we made finals, not too bad.
The only year we were positive after 3 years, 2021 started 2W 1L we didn't make finals!!
Early day mans, we're not the March Champions or the Pre-Season Winners, we'll wait until September!!
2020 Rnd 3 got smacked by Hawthorn 32 pts, 1W, 1D 1L after 3.
2021 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Swans 45 pts, 2W 1L after 3.
2022 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Saints 33 pts, 1W 2L.
2023 Rnd 3 got smacked by the Pies - OMG the best team ever, play scintillating football, so much pace, speed, class by a massive 14 pts!!
Five straight years losing in Rd 3, if you haven't learnt yet, let's skip Round 3 and worry about the next round/rounds
Two of the four completed seasons above we won a flag, in 3 of the 4 we made finals, not too bad.
The only year we were positive after 3 years, 2021 started 2W 1L we didn't make finals!!
Early day mans, we're not the March Champions or the Pre-Season Winners, we'll wait until September!!
Indeed.
I say middling side with the top heavy team profile we have selected thus far.
Injuries to some stars in the middle age bracket doesn’t help.
Replace a couple of the older guys with kids producing more and we might make a run.
Then, and only then, would I upgrade our status back to ‘contender’
Love your optimism, tigertuff.
What irks me is we are putting in really bad halfs or bad quarters.
Rd 1 1st half 2 Goals.
Rd 2 3rd quarter 1 Goal.
Rd 3 1st half 1 Goal.
That's 5 quarters for 4 Goals.
Theses are worrying traits.
The forwards are not cohesive to this point.
Last year we were one of the highest scoring teams.
This year we are way off.
Early days of course but we are losing valuable points on the ladder.
Must finish top four to be any chance.
We don't like Elim. Finals.
I think there's 2 really good signs so far this season:
- Our defence is trending to be a top 3 defence in the competition for points conceded
- Our better players tend to be in a younger age bracket than in previous years (with Hopper/Taranto fitting that profile in the position we needed it most)
Good defence, good list profile
- Our defence is trending to be a top 3 defence in the competition for points conceded
- Our better players tend to be in a younger age bracket than in previous years (with Hopper/Taranto fitting that profile in the position we needed it most)
Good defence, good list profile
Yeah, just like Hawforn are doing.
Gotta get miles into the youngsters while the old farts are still around to help guide them n steady things down a bit when the oppo start to get on top. So that difficult times during a game doesn't turn into a rout.
We're playing a touch clunky at the moment as the young blokes learn n the old farts start to wind down, but we're still going at 50 / 50 for the moment while trying to find the best combination to run with.
There's going to be players in & out of the team all year. There may even be some high profile casualties by season's end.
Yes there's a place & a time for romance but I'm less worried about the makeup of the side (names) than I am about winning & looking forward.
All that ultimately matters is that we're playing our best footy at the business end. I have no doubt Hardwick will do what's required to make that happen.
Yes there's a place & a time for romance but I'm less worried about the makeup of the side (names) than I am about winning & looking forward.
All that ultimately matters is that we're playing our best footy at the business end. I have no doubt Hardwick will do what's required to make that happen.
whilst it is fair and reasonable to store faith in Hardwick (all time great coach) he has never had to confront the issue of mortality within his Old Guard. Riewoldt, Cotchin and now even Grimes and Nankervis must all come under the microscope at some point. The latter two may simply need to take a back seat to the kids in terms of the roles they play, whereas the first two could well be surplus to needs very soon.
on a general note, I can see the usual sentiment being trotted out - its only Round 3, let's see how things settle down, premierships aren't won in April, etc etc.
i would counter that in previous successful years, indeed premiership years, we haven't looked so slow and we haven't carried senior players who are clearly struggling with the pace of the modern game.
these two elements - clearly distinct, but linked - tell my eye that we will struggle to contend for that golden top four berth UNLESS WE CAN REPLACE THE OLD WITH THE NEW.
we are doing that already, sure - but tougher decisions must soon be made.
i would counter that in previous successful years, indeed premiership years, we haven't looked so slow and we haven't carried senior players who are clearly struggling with the pace of the modern game.
these two elements - clearly distinct, but linked - tell my eye that we will struggle to contend for that golden top four berth UNLESS WE CAN REPLACE THE OLD WITH THE NEW.
we are doing that already, sure - but tougher decisions must soon be made.
Yet another case I’m sure Carter of you being overly negative as per usual, and being proven wrong when it counts as history suggests always happens.
Lol you’re that burrito guy
I could be wrong but this team looks terminally slow
The kind of slow that can only be fixed with youth.
No more ‘building into a season’ for this group. Changing of the guard will happen sooner than you think.
We need to get 18 games into Sonsie, Young, Cumberland, Ryan, Gibcus, Clarke in 2023
12 games into Banks, Green, Campbell, Brown, Biggie
Give Bauer a look at some point
Hopper and Taranto aren’t young - we need to load up now, even if we miss finals because of it.
But please mr burrito, stick with your fantasy of never ending sunshine with Cotchin Riewoldt and co
So folks want positivity from me?
This team could contend (or miss finals completely) but better than dying a slow death with what we’ve got now. Yes I know some are currently injured but this is my ideal round 12 team. The main objective is loading games into the kids.
Baker Young Broad
Grimes Balta Rioli
McIntosh Taranto Pickett
Clarke Ryan Cumberland
Martin Lynch Bolton
Soldo Hopper Prestia
Gibcus Sonsie Vlastuin MRJ
Sub: Ralphsmith
Depth: Green, Campbell, Brown, Bauer, Miller, Nankervis, Ross, Banks, Biggie, Short, Graham etc
Speed, experience, youth, dynamic movement, skill, lethality, versatility
This team could contend (or miss finals completely) but better than dying a slow death with what we’ve got now. Yes I know some are currently injured but this is my ideal round 12 team. The main objective is loading games into the kids.
Baker Young Broad
Grimes Balta Rioli
McIntosh Taranto Pickett
Clarke Ryan Cumberland
Martin Lynch Bolton
Soldo Hopper Prestia
Gibcus Sonsie Vlastuin MRJ
Sub: Ralphsmith
Depth: Green, Campbell, Brown, Bauer, Miller, Nankervis, Ross, Banks, Biggie, Short, Graham etc
Speed, experience, youth, dynamic movement, skill, lethality, versatility
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Okay, I'll play. Pick a side with no Cotch, Jack, Dylan or Nank? (And I assume, no Tarrant?)
B: Broad Young Gibcus
HB: Prince Tigga Bakes
C: Marlion TT KMac
HF: Shai Balta Dusty
F: MoJu Lynch Cumbo
R: Soldo Hoops Dion
I: Graham Short Sonz Ross
S: Juddy
Short back to being the seventh defender. Balta plays second ruck/extra mid. Unless we're writing off the year, then Samson plays most weeks. Not at CHF though Carts.
B: Broad Young Gibcus
HB: Prince Tigga Bakes
C: Marlion TT KMac
HF: Shai Balta Dusty
F: MoJu Lynch Cumbo
R: Soldo Hoops Dion
I: Graham Short Sonz Ross
S: Juddy
Short back to being the seventh defender. Balta plays second ruck/extra mid. Unless we're writing off the year, then Samson plays most weeks. Not at CHF though Carts.
Dimma will be loyal to a fault. He will not drop our champions, and he will play them every game for the year, whether we win or lose.
Taranto and Hopper are guns - but they aren’t quick. They can go all day but struggle pace wise. Can’t have them, Cotchin, Garaham, Prestia and Ross all moving through there. Far too slow.
I think Bolton will primarily need to be played as a midfielder. We need his pace and burst speed. Its a shame we need Balta desperately as a defender - would love to see what he could do with his power and kicking up the ground more - wing or roaming ruckman.
I think Bolton will primarily need to be played as a midfielder. We need his pace and burst speed. Its a shame we need Balta desperately as a defender - would love to see what he could do with his power and kicking up the ground more - wing or roaming ruckman.
I have Short, Graham, Nank, Cotch and Jack out
Updated to include Gibcus as swingman
Vlastuin a watch
