So all the things some of us have been saying have come to pass - the month we have just been through was the world of pain. You can't have 4/6 of your top midfield out and expect the coaches to magic up results using "slingshot defence" and "outside run" or promoting untried mids or even an untried ruckman from the magoos. There are some holes you just can't wallpaper over - you hang tough, do the best you can, maybe jag a win or two. Winning all of the games in this block was totally unrealistic, but we still kept up the W L W L pattern to keep us square.
Good news is we did jag a win or two - the win over the GWS was full of merit. Yeah, we had the edge in age/experience overall, but our 2nd string midfield really stood up in the second half. It took a 4 goal dusty cameo to get us over the line, and a lucky bounce to Rioli - but a great win. Thing is we can't rely on Dusty to do this every week, but I still rank this win up with the Port win in 2019 (IIRC).
Good news - we've tried some young-uns and RCD and HRS in particular look promising. Naish, too early to call but he'll go back to the ressies to work on his stuff. HRS likewise, although he's been ok. More good news - we now have Bakes as a genuine midfield option. I'd still have him in the rotation even when Cotch/Prestia/Bolton come back, although it looks like he'll go wherever required. RCD keeps his spot hopefully - love this kid. Slow? nah.
Forward line disfunction - the problem is not Jack/Lynch, it's mostly the smalls - particularly Jason C. He's really gone missing and is only hanging on by his defensive efforts, which haven't been that great either. Rioli has at least kicked a clutch goal or two. But I'm very confident as we have more quality coming through midfield the problems will self-correct. Adding a third tall is worth an experiment but not necessarily the answer - again it comes down to midfield. Note the Footscray game - Cotchin led the mids to smash Footscray and all of a sudden the forward line clicked. Can the forward line be better? sure. Am I worried? nope.
Defence - the defence have copped a hiding on here, but again as I've stated many times we defend from the forward line back and in particular the midfield. Shorty, well down. Houli, finding form after injury. Astbury, making some mistakes. Broad - a rock but still being beaten by the true talls occasionally. Grimes, hasn't found the same form as last year yet.
Good news though - I have no worries whatsoever about our defence. When your midfield can't cope defensively, the ball comes in more often and better directed. This will correct after the gun mids are back in and the defensive game picks up again.
Midfield -- Graham will be much better with his mates in - he's not ready to be the number one mid yet and/or he's carrying niggles. Ross - needs a spell. Tough on the kid, the circumstances haven't suited him but he needs to show more when given the opportunity. Still not writing him off though. A fit Cotchin, Prestia, Bolton, Lambert and we look the equal of any midfield in the comp again.
Now looking forward. We'll beat Adelaide. If we have some of Cotch/Prestia/Lambert/Bolton back we'll beat Essington. We'll go to the bye 7-5. We are not that differently placed to 2020/2019 - same pattern of dropping some games before the bye, significant injury concerns.
Last thing - Dimma has successfully deployed the "us-against-the-world" card again, aided by the media, the MRP, our good friends the umps and the whole world of AFL fandom who are sick of us winning. This is good. I hope they keep hating.
Assuming we can get top four OR a home final, the only threat I see is the Cats. Port no. Sydney, already peaked and falling. Brisbane, at the G and in finals, nope. Melbourne, reality is catching up. Footscray - great midfield, but defence is too short. And our midfield can make their midfield melt. Eagles, can't win outside Perth.
All is far from lost. And I haven't even really talked about Shai Bolton either.
Good news is we did jag a win or two - the win over the GWS was full of merit. Yeah, we had the edge in age/experience overall, but our 2nd string midfield really stood up in the second half. It took a 4 goal dusty cameo to get us over the line, and a lucky bounce to Rioli - but a great win. Thing is we can't rely on Dusty to do this every week, but I still rank this win up with the Port win in 2019 (IIRC).
Good news - we've tried some young-uns and RCD and HRS in particular look promising. Naish, too early to call but he'll go back to the ressies to work on his stuff. HRS likewise, although he's been ok. More good news - we now have Bakes as a genuine midfield option. I'd still have him in the rotation even when Cotch/Prestia/Bolton come back, although it looks like he'll go wherever required. RCD keeps his spot hopefully - love this kid. Slow? nah.
Forward line disfunction - the problem is not Jack/Lynch, it's mostly the smalls - particularly Jason C. He's really gone missing and is only hanging on by his defensive efforts, which haven't been that great either. Rioli has at least kicked a clutch goal or two. But I'm very confident as we have more quality coming through midfield the problems will self-correct. Adding a third tall is worth an experiment but not necessarily the answer - again it comes down to midfield. Note the Footscray game - Cotchin led the mids to smash Footscray and all of a sudden the forward line clicked. Can the forward line be better? sure. Am I worried? nope.
Defence - the defence have copped a hiding on here, but again as I've stated many times we defend from the forward line back and in particular the midfield. Shorty, well down. Houli, finding form after injury. Astbury, making some mistakes. Broad - a rock but still being beaten by the true talls occasionally. Grimes, hasn't found the same form as last year yet.
Good news though - I have no worries whatsoever about our defence. When your midfield can't cope defensively, the ball comes in more often and better directed. This will correct after the gun mids are back in and the defensive game picks up again.
Midfield -- Graham will be much better with his mates in - he's not ready to be the number one mid yet and/or he's carrying niggles. Ross - needs a spell. Tough on the kid, the circumstances haven't suited him but he needs to show more when given the opportunity. Still not writing him off though. A fit Cotchin, Prestia, Bolton, Lambert and we look the equal of any midfield in the comp again.
Now looking forward. We'll beat Adelaide. If we have some of Cotch/Prestia/Lambert/Bolton back we'll beat Essington. We'll go to the bye 7-5. We are not that differently placed to 2020/2019 - same pattern of dropping some games before the bye, significant injury concerns.
Last thing - Dimma has successfully deployed the "us-against-the-world" card again, aided by the media, the MRP, our good friends the umps and the whole world of AFL fandom who are sick of us winning. This is good. I hope they keep hating.
Assuming we can get top four OR a home final, the only threat I see is the Cats. Port no. Sydney, already peaked and falling. Brisbane, at the G and in finals, nope. Melbourne, reality is catching up. Footscray - great midfield, but defence is too short. And our midfield can make their midfield melt. Eagles, can't win outside Perth.
All is far from lost. And I haven't even really talked about Shai Bolton either.
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