I had this thread going a while ago. It is what it says it is.
Loses can burn, and can re-focus a group. I hope so.
This was intense finals like experience. That’s great for younger guys. Especially for the coaches to show all the guys, especially seniors guys, the panicked kicking and breakdown of our system in the third to hopefully make sure it doesn’t happen again or how to try to change momentum.
We realise how important English is. So we need to make sure there’s a replacement for Martin, trade, in addition to Sweet.
We need a KPD, so if there was doubt, Sam Power now has none.
There’s an opportunity to trial Schache back now. We should take it.
Scott has some building blocks. Runs hard, tackles well tonight. No superstar, but I think he’s a good upgrade on Hayes.
Lipinski should be told a spot in the 22 is almost guaranteed. We should not be yoyoing him. He’s good, will get better and should be offered a decent contract extension.
The JJ experiment is over. He find a use for him or select a forward. We tried it, and it was worth a shot.
The defensive unit with Keath, great users in Daniel & Dale with Williams, Wood, Crozier & Duryea is solid. Just need a really solid KPD that the MC will select.
Hunter is winning me over with the one question I’ve always had. His careless use of the footy. He’s now at almost a surgeon level in finding inside 50’s under pressure. If he can start nailing more set shots he will have fulfilled his potential.
We get a chance to look at Bruce’s drop of form tonight, or running under the form as it may be. If it’s ruckung that disrupts his game, then we shouldn’t ruck him if possible.
Naughton got his mojo back with set shots, except the last when his eyes kept darting to the scoreboard clock. He’s clearly worked on it, good on him for doing the work.
Libba is a gun. But we all knew that. Our mids are, albeit quieter nights. I hope Bonts has 100 shots at training for the same spot.
Hannan needed the run at the top level and that’s what he got.
We put on another decent game for Ch7, so we are giving them every reason to keep us in prime time.
We’ve had six new players pull on the jumper so far.
In the next week/month or so, we are hoping to get back English, Richards, VDM, Williams, McLean & Gardner. Our depth was tested a bit tonight, but all things being equal, we are about to re-stock our depth with some very serious talent.
We are temporarily still top of the ladder, 6-1 and 157%. Our best start since 1946.
Would’ve preferred a good win. That said, there’s some definite positives to take away and some insights to our players and where we are playing them. Plus I expect to see the team next week make a strong statement.
