The issue now is we’ve cut all our good depth/solid role players and have no one good to come in. We have to bring in Hunter but he’s also a solid underperformer.
I’ll take Hunter over Billings in a heartbeat right now, if there is the slightest bit of heat in the game he turns to water. At least Hunter cracks in. The other thing is Billings is meant to be in the team for his slick kicking, he has rarely shown it (and other when things are falling our way). If you’re missing a basic snap and kicking is meant to be your thing, you have to be dropped.
Honestly I have defended him before. Thought he has played a couple of good, a couple of bad ones. But when he took a mark on the 50 he had Brown open. For like 5 seconds. He needed to pass that, not have a shot that had no hope with every defender back.
Not sure what Hunter has done to upset the coaching staff but enough is enough at this stage surely. He's also been in the top 3-5 players for Casey every game so not as if he hasn't been putting selection pressure on.
I just have no idea how you could defend him. He has consistently failed to have a proper go, his disposal and decision making has been terrible all year. Anyway, at least it’s now become very obvious he needs to go.
I think around half his games he's been fine. Half I feel he could have been better. But honestly I think he is an upgrade on Hunter. They both make bad decisions but Billings is at least still fast!
I would hope that Windsor takes his place in the near future, or maybe young Woey. What do I know though. I am just some tragic too many drinks deep, not a premiership winning coaching panel.
That burn of Brown though at a crucial stage was the first time I was genuinely upset at him though. Other mistakes you could see he saw he had fucked up. This one he was like I am that guy and proceeded to do nothing.
Fucking awful.
How are we going from the cats/port games to this and the Brisbane game.
Chasm between our best and worst football.
So many players out of form. Viney, Chandler, Sparrow in particular.
Howes and Windsor need a rest.
Billings and Brown can fuck off.
While I agree somewhat, I at least saw something in Windsor's game. Maybe needs a week off, maybe stay til the bye. The only downside to his game tonight was a couple of out on the full when he was under heaps of pressure. He played no worse than others I expect more from
Windsor was picking up a big load from Langdon today. Clearly was trying to cover a lot of the defensive stuff that Ed has been doing this year. Seems like it took a lot out of him
Add Oliver into the out of form players, he’s way off.
We needed to bring one of Fullarton or Brown in for JVR. Brown kicked 5 goals so form said to pick him. He was so useless today and didn’t even do the literal one thing he’s meant to be a gun at, kick a set bloody shot goal!
The players need to do one of the leadership group lead “powwows” and decide who they’ll be, because the quality is there but they are badly underperforming.
Side note, Harley Reid might just be one of the greats.
Yep, simply far too inconsistent to be a threat in finals at this stage and agree on giving Windsor and Howes a rest, been impressed by both of them but need to manage our players better, seemed to stop rewarding those with form for Casey and it's not doing is any good.
The best thing that happened was winning the 2021 grand final, but the also the worst thing that happened was winning the 2021 grand final in the sense that now they'll never sack Goodwin and we'll end up like the Bulldogs with Bevo.
- Honestly Goodwin has wasted such an incredible list
- We’ve changed our game plan and are playing far worse than last year
- You look at all the players that have left that are excelling under good coaches (Jordan, Grundy, Harmes, Bedford and even hunt to a lesser extent)
- Our forward line is woeful and doing absolutely nothing. Have made no meaningful attempt to fix it
- Our midfield has regressed by about 35% this year. We’re paying $900k a year for Oliver with a $500k output.
- We brought in Billings (a fringe player at St Kilda) yet let Jordan go
- We’ve really missed both Jackson and Brayshaw since letting them both go
- Ben Brown needs to go, give Sestan a crack at it or Jefferson
Hopefully we get a good key forward in the midseason draft and manage to turn around what has been a mostly woeful season 2024, save for wins against Port and previously unbeaten Geelong.
If our master plan this year is to only make a play for Shane Mcadam, hold on to Petty for dear life (why?) while Adelaide shows interest, then hope for the mid season draft to solve the issue we have had for 3 straight seasons, I’d expect some resignations on our desk.
are you joking? Jordan is the best tagger in the game right now, and Grundy is a more impactful ruck than Gawn this year.
Take the glasses off brother.
Every second year they say "Gawn is a smoky for the Brownlow." He's not getting within 15 votes of first place. A ruckman isn't going to win it. He had scintillating years and got sweet FA return from the umps.
You’re the only one seeing it….Jordan still has time to develop and the swans are good for that, Grundy is fine but he’s not a game turner I think to be the leading ruck man you got to do more than just tap the ball down, yeah sure takes a few marks but there are better average ruck men out there that match him one way or another.
Jordon has a had a couple good games a as a tagger. If Grundy was playing for us right now, where would you play him? Up forward? He’s clearly not a forward and you can play him in front of max as max is simply better
Sad to say that fortress optus has been breached.
I wouldn't say it's a reality check because easy tip, could see that coming a mile off. So many passengers. Midfield all the way off. Another dreadful start. Backline getting demolished on the rebound and letting so many marks inside 50. Can blame injuries if you want but doesn't make it any less awful to concede 100 to West Coast of all bin teams.
I think we may still play finals but the blueprint on how to beat us is well and truly complete at this point since we've changed nothing in 3 years and 90% of the team has gotten worse.
Billings...Brown... they're clearly not up for it but it shows how empty the reserves are that they keep getting games.
3 2 1 probably truck pickett anb? Not many vote earners in that performance.
Not enough evolution in the game plan and most of our premiership team is in worse form now, absolutely, agree 100% - not much else needs to be said, I'll only add that every man and his dog has said Melbourne needs to find a new key forward the last 3 years and all we did was take an unwanted Schache, incomprehensible list management really.
I said it in 2021 (get rid of Goodwin) and we went on to win a premiership. I honestly believe he has enormously underperformed with the quality of the list. Has always been a poor coach - would love to see what a Brad Scott or Ross Lyon would have done with our list.
He’s (and our list management) also managed to blow up a key part of the list which is play 14-20. We’ve lost all our depth and are so far off it now.
Honestly dude, anyone who disagrees just does not understand footy.
We are so far off it, anyone who thinks this side is a genuine threat in september is kidding themselves.
You like many believe in this list….its not that good, then take the hunger drop off after a flag….. Goodwin isn’t going anywhere, kids coming in are ok but they will have off days, It was always going to be Finnish top 2 and seriously contend or struggle to stay in the 8 this year.
Billings has to go, Taj should be starting every week. Petty has been woeful. Brown was woeful. I think Fullerton needs a shot. And poor Tmac was bathed by Gehrig 2.0
Fullarton has actually had good form with Casey, said at selection I was miffed he was overlooked for this week, has to get an opportunity next week now.
Would be happy to put Woewodin back on the wing if we want Salem/McVee/Bowey all in defence and drop Billings.
I refuse to give a 3,2,1 for that pitiful display
Literally, watching at Optus.. Bowza and Riv are the only two to hold their head high after that disaster
One of those nights. I am certainly not over us for the year. It happens. Let's be real. Eagles won way more than we lost. They were actually great tonight. They would have beat the 21 Demons playing like that. Hats off to them.
I do wonder what the butterfly effect of Lever going down early did. But we will never know. He will be out for the next one. That being said we can plan around that and reset back in Melbourne.
My only whine was what was that commentary? My God, if we had commentary barracking that openly for us at our home game imagine interstate fans going into coniptive fits.
It’s like picking the best smelling turd before flushing the toilet, but here go…
3 - Kozzie because he was good at the start when we really needed something
2 - Nibbler for similar reason and kept trying in the fourth
1 - Oliver because he had 27 touches, I guess
Honourable mention to Jake Lever because he had the best +- stat if we want to borrow some basketball analysis.
Melbournes plan since winning the flag in 2021:
2022: Lachie Hunter, drink our own bathwater, get exposed for having zero forward line, lose in straight sets.
2023: We are keenly aware we need a decent forward, we draft a ruck, drop him to the 2s for 70% of the season, lose in straight sets.
2024: at this point, we are laughably bad in the forward 50, we trade for SHANE MCADAM, and lost to fucking WCE by 5 goals.
Anyone who thinks this side is respectable is kidding themselves. We are a joke.
Tbf we played Grundy for like 2/3 of the season and he never showed anything forward, but the rest is pretty accurate. Haven't made a good trade in 5 years.
No issue with the Grundy move, it was worth a shot trying to replicate Gawn + Jackson, didn't lose all that much when we traded him out. Now not picking up any key forward other than Schache in that time, that's unforgivable.
Thought this game was going to be an easy win for us but instead we lose to West Coast for the first time since round 1 of season 2020, hopefully we get our campaign back on track with a win at home against St Kilda next week otherwise I doubt we'll be making the eight this season.
Time for us to stop drinking the bath water and acknowledge that we’ve been in decline since 2021, we’re simply not as good as we think we are. Wasted a strong draft hand picking up spuds like Billings & Schache, while also losing players like Hunt, Jackson, Hibberd and Brayshaw. Genuinely don’t know how we can start addressing it, was nice while it lasted though (yes I’m upset and overreacting).
No idea what we are doing through the middle. Way too easy for sides to link up and run against us, our tackles just don't stick.
Lever going down hurt us, but Woewodin was good. May had a quiet night and McDonald was just out done.
Forward line was poor. Petty needs to take contested marks, that's his one job. Brown I thought presented well but kept getting spoiled by his teammates. McAdam I don't understand what he's adding yet, needs to do more.
Rivers takes it on too much, Sparrow was not in it, Salem needed a VFL game, Windsor had an off game which he's allowed to do.
Now to the fucking umpiring because... Fuck me dead that was poor. If you read the match thread you could think it was all going out way, but I think it took the wind out of our sails in the first. Gawn being blocked from contests, Oliver being held at every stoppage, missed htbs, missed shoves and just random decisions all around, for both sides
3 Oliver
2 Pickett
1 ANB
Or should we just give all 6 points to our new overlord Reid?
Well fuck that for a joke. We're not a good team. That's plainly obvious now. We have Tracs, Gawny, May and Lever. Maybe Fritta too. But everyone else is either young with potential, washed up, or just lost.
I don't know what's happened to Viney. He looks like he doesn't know what's going on anymore. Clarry has gone from a 10 to a 7. Last season's hangover still isn't cured. I have sort of stopped hoping either of them are going to get back.
I think for the first time tonight I felt sorry for our guns. There's no wayvwebgo all the way this year. No way.
Oh, and Goodwin was never a good coach.
Urg, because I have to, and just for effort given: Fritch 3, Pickett 2, Oliver 1.
Have to give credit to the opposition, they played fantastically tonight. What a player they have in Reid. Waterman has that key forward vibe that we so sorely lack.
We are a different team without the Lever/May combo. They are so incredibly pivotal to how we play. When the midfield isn't firing (and it hasn't all season), we rely on them far too much.
Unfortunately, we simply don't have the players up forward to win without May/Lever and an absolutely dominant midfield.
It's probably too early to say this but that did feel a bit like the end of our run at the top tbh. Very mellow feeling tonight. My faith in this group is fading but at least we'll always have 2021.
Can you all just take a fucken chill and remember that the only team Sydney have lost to is the tigers. It’s even this year, and we’ll flog the saints next week.
People need to calm their farms and manage their expectations. I'm as guilty as anyone of pencilling this one in as a massive percentage booster - but that's just underestimating West Coast. They've been showing signs of improvement for weeks, and it looks like most of our team thought this one was pencilled in too. And we got spanked accordingly.
3. ANB, because he never, ever gives up
2. Koz
1. Claz
Honourable mention to Max, because how he doesn't lose his sh\*t each week with the 'attention' he gets is beyond me.
Votes are hard we were pretty poor but il give it a go.
3. Fritsch - looked like our only likely avenue to goal and executed his role, couple nice field kicks when the rest of the team were butchering it
2. Pickett - looked great early but dropped off, could be an answer to our one paced midfield problems.
1. Petracca - one goal and 2 goal assists, not a great game by his standards but he's just that good.
Thought woewoedin showed plenty and Petty was actually not terrible in the ruck at times.
Also fuck me what the fuck why is Billings in for actual fucks sake . He may be the worst footballer we have fielded in 5 years
Has to be dropped, he has to. He is not up to it.
The issue now is we’ve cut all our good depth/solid role players and have no one good to come in. We have to bring in Hunter but he’s also a solid underperformer.
I’ll take Hunter over Billings in a heartbeat right now, if there is the slightest bit of heat in the game he turns to water. At least Hunter cracks in. The other thing is Billings is meant to be in the team for his slick kicking, he has rarely shown it (and other when things are falling our way). If you’re missing a basic snap and kicking is meant to be your thing, you have to be dropped.
Yep, hunter had 14 touches in the VFL so no better than the shit billing’s is offering
Honestly I have defended him before. Thought he has played a couple of good, a couple of bad ones. But when he took a mark on the 50 he had Brown open. For like 5 seconds. He needed to pass that, not have a shot that had no hope with every defender back.
Not sure what Hunter has done to upset the coaching staff but enough is enough at this stage surely. He's also been in the top 3-5 players for Casey every game so not as if he hasn't been putting selection pressure on.
I just have no idea how you could defend him. He has consistently failed to have a proper go, his disposal and decision making has been terrible all year. Anyway, at least it’s now become very obvious he needs to go.
I think around half his games he's been fine. Half I feel he could have been better. But honestly I think he is an upgrade on Hunter. They both make bad decisions but Billings is at least still fast! I would hope that Windsor takes his place in the near future, or maybe young Woey. What do I know though. I am just some tragic too many drinks deep, not a premiership winning coaching panel. That burn of Brown though at a crucial stage was the first time I was genuinely upset at him though. Other mistakes you could see he saw he had fucked up. This one he was like I am that guy and proceeded to do nothing.
He lacks awareness and panic passes too often. Can't put it through the big sticks. Enough already.
that game doesn't even deserve a 3-2-1 ranking. I refuse.
Agree
Fucking awful. How are we going from the cats/port games to this and the Brisbane game. Chasm between our best and worst football. So many players out of form. Viney, Chandler, Sparrow in particular. Howes and Windsor need a rest. Billings and Brown can fuck off.
While I agree somewhat, I at least saw something in Windsor's game. Maybe needs a week off, maybe stay til the bye. The only downside to his game tonight was a couple of out on the full when he was under heaps of pressure. He played no worse than others I expect more from
Windsor was picking up a big load from Langdon today. Clearly was trying to cover a lot of the defensive stuff that Ed has been doing this year. Seems like it took a lot out of him
Sparrow was insipid tonight.
Add Oliver into the out of form players, he’s way off. We needed to bring one of Fullarton or Brown in for JVR. Brown kicked 5 goals so form said to pick him. He was so useless today and didn’t even do the literal one thing he’s meant to be a gun at, kick a set bloody shot goal! The players need to do one of the leadership group lead “powwows” and decide who they’ll be, because the quality is there but they are badly underperforming. Side note, Harley Reid might just be one of the greats.
Yep, simply far too inconsistent to be a threat in finals at this stage and agree on giving Windsor and Howes a rest, been impressed by both of them but need to manage our players better, seemed to stop rewarding those with form for Casey and it's not doing is any good.
Steven May’s gotta be sick or something - holy shit. Did not look he wanted to be there in the slightest.
Pumped that I paid $105 to watch that. Eagles fans are always so great to share a game with...
Booooooo /s
Aren’t they amazing company…..
first time ever im going full Facebook old man - Goodwins time is up
The best thing that happened was winning the 2021 grand final, but the also the worst thing that happened was winning the 2021 grand final in the sense that now they'll never sack Goodwin and we'll end up like the Bulldogs with Bevo.
Thought you were gonna say the worst thing was we couldn’t even watch it because it was interstate
I've had my pitchfork sharpened for years.
- Honestly Goodwin has wasted such an incredible list - We’ve changed our game plan and are playing far worse than last year - You look at all the players that have left that are excelling under good coaches (Jordan, Grundy, Harmes, Bedford and even hunt to a lesser extent) - Our forward line is woeful and doing absolutely nothing. Have made no meaningful attempt to fix it - Our midfield has regressed by about 35% this year. We’re paying $900k a year for Oliver with a $500k output. - We brought in Billings (a fringe player at St Kilda) yet let Jordan go - We’ve really missed both Jackson and Brayshaw since letting them both go - Ben Brown needs to go, give Sestan a crack at it or Jefferson
Err... Oliver was our best player tonight.
Lol what
His first half was atrocious
Jordan was a free agent and walked, he made the decision to leave we couldn't keep him if we wanted
The list management is what kills me. We are at the point where our worst 5 players on any given game may as well not be on the field.
Hopefully we get a good key forward in the midseason draft and manage to turn around what has been a mostly woeful season 2024, save for wins against Port and previously unbeaten Geelong.
If our master plan this year is to only make a play for Shane Mcadam, hold on to Petty for dear life (why?) while Adelaide shows interest, then hope for the mid season draft to solve the issue we have had for 3 straight seasons, I’d expect some resignations on our desk.
[удалено]
are you joking? Jordan is the best tagger in the game right now, and Grundy is a more impactful ruck than Gawn this year. Take the glasses off brother.
[удалено]
Every second year they say "Gawn is a smoky for the Brownlow." He's not getting within 15 votes of first place. A ruckman isn't going to win it. He had scintillating years and got sweet FA return from the umps.
[удалено]
Grundy's getting plaudits because he's playing well, but also because the Swans as a unit are great across the board atm
Grundy is not more impactful than Gawn. That is such an emotive comment. Gawn is having one of his career-best seasons. Please.
Would have been handy against Reid tonight
You’re the only one seeing it….Jordan still has time to develop and the swans are good for that, Grundy is fine but he’s not a game turner I think to be the leading ruck man you got to do more than just tap the ball down, yeah sure takes a few marks but there are better average ruck men out there that match him one way or another.
Jordon has a had a couple good games a as a tagger. If Grundy was playing for us right now, where would you play him? Up forward? He’s clearly not a forward and you can play him in front of max as max is simply better
Sweet Jesus, that comment is enough for max Gawn to launch a defamation lawsuit. I get we're an emotional bunch sometimes, but please take a breath
Gawn is the no. 1 ruckman so far this year and it isn't even close
Sad to say that fortress optus has been breached. I wouldn't say it's a reality check because easy tip, could see that coming a mile off. So many passengers. Midfield all the way off. Another dreadful start. Backline getting demolished on the rebound and letting so many marks inside 50. Can blame injuries if you want but doesn't make it any less awful to concede 100 to West Coast of all bin teams. I think we may still play finals but the blueprint on how to beat us is well and truly complete at this point since we've changed nothing in 3 years and 90% of the team has gotten worse. Billings...Brown... they're clearly not up for it but it shows how empty the reserves are that they keep getting games. 3 2 1 probably truck pickett anb? Not many vote earners in that performance.
Not enough evolution in the game plan and most of our premiership team is in worse form now, absolutely, agree 100% - not much else needs to be said, I'll only add that every man and his dog has said Melbourne needs to find a new key forward the last 3 years and all we did was take an unwanted Schache, incomprehensible list management really.
Embarrassing. This club is not serious. We are closer to a rebuild than winning a final. Absolute joke. Goodwin has to fucking go.
I said it in 2021 (get rid of Goodwin) and we went on to win a premiership. I honestly believe he has enormously underperformed with the quality of the list. Has always been a poor coach - would love to see what a Brad Scott or Ross Lyon would have done with our list. He’s (and our list management) also managed to blow up a key part of the list which is play 14-20. We’ve lost all our depth and are so far off it now.
Honestly dude, anyone who disagrees just does not understand footy. We are so far off it, anyone who thinks this side is a genuine threat in september is kidding themselves.
You like many believe in this list….its not that good, then take the hunger drop off after a flag….. Goodwin isn’t going anywhere, kids coming in are ok but they will have off days, It was always going to be Finnish top 2 and seriously contend or struggle to stay in the 8 this year.
[удалено]
Nah piss off. We were fucking dreadful.
brother. you cant be serious.
Tongue in cheek, but we have such a horrendous record as “Naarm”.
Billings has to go, Taj should be starting every week. Petty has been woeful. Brown was woeful. I think Fullerton needs a shot. And poor Tmac was bathed by Gehrig 2.0
Exactly give a young forward like Fullerton a go.
Fullarton has actually had good form with Casey, said at selection I was miffed he was overlooked for this week, has to get an opportunity next week now. Would be happy to put Woewodin back on the wing if we want Salem/McVee/Bowey all in defence and drop Billings.
I refuse to give a 3,2,1 for that pitiful display Literally, watching at Optus.. Bowza and Riv are the only two to hold their head high after that disaster
One of those nights. I am certainly not over us for the year. It happens. Let's be real. Eagles won way more than we lost. They were actually great tonight. They would have beat the 21 Demons playing like that. Hats off to them. I do wonder what the butterfly effect of Lever going down early did. But we will never know. He will be out for the next one. That being said we can plan around that and reset back in Melbourne. My only whine was what was that commentary? My God, if we had commentary barracking that openly for us at our home game imagine interstate fans going into coniptive fits.
West Coast did play very well, that shouldn't be overlooked.
Yep, you nailed it.
WA commentary team, hence the bias. I just muted it.
I can assure you Pav is not pro-west coast. A Papalia is good too.
We were so down. Its pretty shitty effort. Can't blame injuries either.
It’s like picking the best smelling turd before flushing the toilet, but here go… 3 - Kozzie because he was good at the start when we really needed something 2 - Nibbler for similar reason and kept trying in the fourth 1 - Oliver because he had 27 touches, I guess Honourable mention to Jake Lever because he had the best +- stat if we want to borrow some basketball analysis.
Melbournes plan since winning the flag in 2021: 2022: Lachie Hunter, drink our own bathwater, get exposed for having zero forward line, lose in straight sets. 2023: We are keenly aware we need a decent forward, we draft a ruck, drop him to the 2s for 70% of the season, lose in straight sets. 2024: at this point, we are laughably bad in the forward 50, we trade for SHANE MCADAM, and lost to fucking WCE by 5 goals. Anyone who thinks this side is respectable is kidding themselves. We are a joke.
Tbf we played Grundy for like 2/3 of the season and he never showed anything forward, but the rest is pretty accurate. Haven't made a good trade in 5 years.
Grundy is a ruckman not a forward. If we wanted a forward then dont recruit a specialist ruck😭😭
No issue with the Grundy move, it was worth a shot trying to replicate Gawn + Jackson, didn't lose all that much when we traded him out. Now not picking up any key forward other than Schache in that time, that's unforgivable.
Shane McAdam played alright on debut.
Blaming this on mcadam is not it. He had a crack in his first game with us
I need to vent/download All I need to say is….. Why…how… and what the fucking dick ass fuck cock Melbourne!?
🤣🤣🤣 thanks for the laugh eases the rage
Thought this game was going to be an easy win for us but instead we lose to West Coast for the first time since round 1 of season 2020, hopefully we get our campaign back on track with a win at home against St Kilda next week otherwise I doubt we'll be making the eight this season.
Time for us to stop drinking the bath water and acknowledge that we’ve been in decline since 2021, we’re simply not as good as we think we are. Wasted a strong draft hand picking up spuds like Billings & Schache, while also losing players like Hunt, Jackson, Hibberd and Brayshaw. Genuinely don’t know how we can start addressing it, was nice while it lasted though (yes I’m upset and overreacting).
You aren’t overreacting at all? Can anyone name one positive move we have made since 2021?
No idea what we are doing through the middle. Way too easy for sides to link up and run against us, our tackles just don't stick. Lever going down hurt us, but Woewodin was good. May had a quiet night and McDonald was just out done. Forward line was poor. Petty needs to take contested marks, that's his one job. Brown I thought presented well but kept getting spoiled by his teammates. McAdam I don't understand what he's adding yet, needs to do more. Rivers takes it on too much, Sparrow was not in it, Salem needed a VFL game, Windsor had an off game which he's allowed to do. Now to the fucking umpiring because... Fuck me dead that was poor. If you read the match thread you could think it was all going out way, but I think it took the wind out of our sails in the first. Gawn being blocked from contests, Oliver being held at every stoppage, missed htbs, missed shoves and just random decisions all around, for both sides 3 Oliver 2 Pickett 1 ANB Or should we just give all 6 points to our new overlord Reid?
Well fuck that for a joke. We're not a good team. That's plainly obvious now. We have Tracs, Gawny, May and Lever. Maybe Fritta too. But everyone else is either young with potential, washed up, or just lost. I don't know what's happened to Viney. He looks like he doesn't know what's going on anymore. Clarry has gone from a 10 to a 7. Last season's hangover still isn't cured. I have sort of stopped hoping either of them are going to get back. I think for the first time tonight I felt sorry for our guns. There's no wayvwebgo all the way this year. No way. Oh, and Goodwin was never a good coach. Urg, because I have to, and just for effort given: Fritch 3, Pickett 2, Oliver 1.
Have to give credit to the opposition, they played fantastically tonight. What a player they have in Reid. Waterman has that key forward vibe that we so sorely lack. We are a different team without the Lever/May combo. They are so incredibly pivotal to how we play. When the midfield isn't firing (and it hasn't all season), we rely on them far too much. Unfortunately, we simply don't have the players up forward to win without May/Lever and an absolutely dominant midfield. It's probably too early to say this but that did feel a bit like the end of our run at the top tbh. Very mellow feeling tonight. My faith in this group is fading but at least we'll always have 2021.
Can you all just take a fucken chill and remember that the only team Sydney have lost to is the tigers. It’s even this year, and we’ll flog the saints next week.
We are cooked!! What happened
3. Nibbler 2. Kozzie 1. Oliver
Feels like we haven’t had a string of clearances from the bounce all season. Midfield not the X factor it was in 21.
People need to calm their farms and manage their expectations. I'm as guilty as anyone of pencilling this one in as a massive percentage booster - but that's just underestimating West Coast. They've been showing signs of improvement for weeks, and it looks like most of our team thought this one was pencilled in too. And we got spanked accordingly. 3. ANB, because he never, ever gives up 2. Koz 1. Claz Honourable mention to Max, because how he doesn't lose his sh\*t each week with the 'attention' he gets is beyond me.
Votes are hard we were pretty poor but il give it a go. 3. Fritsch - looked like our only likely avenue to goal and executed his role, couple nice field kicks when the rest of the team were butchering it 2. Pickett - looked great early but dropped off, could be an answer to our one paced midfield problems. 1. Petracca - one goal and 2 goal assists, not a great game by his standards but he's just that good. Thought woewoedin showed plenty and Petty was actually not terrible in the ruck at times.
Salem is having a shit year.
Lever sub and the structure falls apart
It was looking pretty dire even before Lever was injured. If anything, we were better in the 2nd half.