Surprisingly, we were pretty competitive and could have snatched the game. This was due more to Freo playing to our low level rather than us lifting up a gear... A few things lets us down - things that have let us down all year:
1. A frigid game plan due to our brain(les)'s trust
2. Skill errors and poor decision making
3. A lack of on-field leaders showing the way
4. Poor discipline
We were also shafted by some really bad umpiring. A few that are worthy of note were:
1. Zantuck's tackle on Medhurst where Medhurst threw the ball and was given a free kick for God knows what at the end of the 2nd quarter.
2. Fleming's tackle on MacManus was also a perfect tackle which resulted in a free kick being given away.
3. A 50 m penalty given against Richo for a tap on the shoulder after freo took a mark.
4. A free kick going to Longmuir agaisnt D. Kellaway for holding. Longmuir was actually holding Duncan.
5. A play-on call agaisnt Holland where he had convinced everyone else that he had actually taken the mark.
ANYWAY...... Here's how I saw the votes....
3. Coughlan - Again his disposal was a little shabby but the way he hit the packs and continued to get up after getting cleaned up so many times was awe inspiring. His housemate is teaching him well ;D
2. Johnson - 31 touches and although not all of them were effective thought he complimented Coughlan well and did some of the in and under work as well. Benefitted greatly from Ottens' tap work in the centre.
1 - Tivendale. Mixed the sublime with the ordinary. Kicked 4 beautiful goals but also had a few problems with the kick ins.
Also worth a mention:
Richo - Had his usual sooks, clangers and free kick give aways, but also did some good things in between. Should have been playing at least at this level a couple months ago when it meant something.
Blumfield - Still looks underdone, but did a few clever things. Has great hands and did some good handballs and marked well.
Ottens - Did ok in the ruck with some good palming to Johnson in particular.
Rodan - Doesn't get much of the ball but is very dynamic when he has it.
DUDS:
King - Must be the king of giving head - how the hell does he keep getting a game?
Nicholls - Slow, fat, uncoordinated, no footy smarts. But he does have a rough head that could probably scare the opposition team.
Holland - Dissappointing that he didn't back up last week's good performance. Needs to impose himself on the game more. With a physique like that he should be able to knock down buildings.
blow-up Doel Bowden - Only a matter of time before a supporter hops the fence and wrings his neck.
D. Kellaway - He is shot, but when fully fit is still worthy of a spot in the team before the likes of Nicholls, King Houlihan, Biddiscombe and Hilton. His legs are shot to pieces, would get outrun by a geriatric.
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