What - the glass is half full??!

[Mantis]

Good q : I can only go from what Bevo has intimated.

Defending the entire ground is his mantra. The back off 5 has gone as part of that.

English is definitely staying a kick behind consistently.

I've noticed our ball movement has definitely slowed, trying to be more measured with our entries.

Statistically it's hard to gauge considering we've been so bad.

We are 18th for inside 50s - could be due to trying to be more careful with entries, or that we are crap!

Kick to HB ratio is 1.31 last year it was 1.37 so that's the same.

Metres per disposal is 15.3 last year 15.4

2023 UC marks pretty much the same as 2022 (around 80)

I'll keep looking, statistically there don't seem to be any clear indicators.

Good luck with that!

Re: defensive structure - it was mentioned a number of times in the pre training thread that there was quite a bit of ''back shoulder'' defending occurring in the match sim... I haven't seen that being a strong part of our play so far.

The slow ball movement is also failing... I have no confidence in our ability to kick our way through a defensive zone as we just don't have enough good kicks of the ball. The number of times we made quite basic kicking errors on Saturday night was mind-blowing.

[Bulldog4life]

For starters with us Malthouse never had a once in generation player like Bont. Beasley was good but I think Naughton is better.

Not yet. Beaser was a century goal kicker and kicked bags of 12. I'd take Beaser.....at this stage anyway.

[mjp]

Not yet. Beaser was a century goal kicker and kicked bags of 12. I'd take Beaser.....at this stage anyway.

I think Beasley kicked the most goals of any player during the 1980's...for this era where contested marking is a premium I would take Naughton but Beasley was a serious footballer.

[Bulldog4life]

It isn't working at present, but really it hasn't had the opportunity to so do with some of the reasons including:

- Lobb, Cody & Arty all injured
- JUH & Darcy are not physically capable yet to play as key forwards.
- Naughton getting held, double teamed.
- Only 37 I50's in Rd 2.. hard to have an effective forward line if you can't get the ball down there.
- Poor kicking skills in midfield & defence meaning lots of long kicks to packs or missed targets.
- Lack of clean ball from the midfield.

Should be a free each time especially now there are bloody 4 umpires.

[Bulldog4life]

I think Beasley kicked the most goals of any player during the 1980's...for this era where contested marking is a premium I would take Naughton but Beasley was a serious footballer.

He did I believe MJP. His average was one of the best at the time or the best...not sure. I was lucky enough to see 90% of his matches so I saw how good he was first hand. His leading was superb.

[mjp]

He did I believe MJP. His average was one of the best at the time or the best...not sure. I was lucky enough to see 90% of his matches so I saw how good he was first hand. His leading was superb.

I grew up watching him at Swan Districts and he was a 'pretty' player who played for a mongrel club. Look up 'Ron Boucher' or 'Stan Nowotny' if you have any doubts...

[Bulldog4life]

I grew up watching him at Swan Districts and he was a 'pretty' player who played for a mongrel club. Look up 'Ron Boucher' or 'Stan Nowotny' if you have any doubts...

Yes he didn't look like a tough footballer with his pale skin and wispy blonde hair. But he took some hard knocks and always got up.

[GVGjr]

I think Beasley kicked the most goals of any player during the 1980's...for this era where contested marking is a premium I would take Naughton but Beasley was a serious footballer.

Very different era's and players so the comparisons are difficult.
Beasley's goal kicking would have been deadly at the Marvel dome.

[JanLorMill]

Very different era's and players so the comparisons are difficult.
Beasley's goal kicking would have been deadly at the Marvel dome.

Yes different era, given that the AFL hasn't had anyone kick 100 goals for years. Not sure if Beasley would fit in today.
My original point was 1987 side was less talented side than ours today.
1987 rnd 22 included players like Shane Williams, Cronan, Cousins, Peter Baxter and Moloney!
Bont is easily a better player than Hawk was too and definitely in 1987.
Malthouse over achieved with what players he had.

[GVGjr]

Yes different era, given that the AFL hasn't had anyone kick 100 goals for years. Not sure if Beasley would fit in today.
My original point was 1987 side was less talented side than ours today.
1987 rnd 22 included players like Shane Williams, Cronan, Cousins, Peter Baxter and Moloney!
Bont is easily a better player than Hawk was too and definitely in 1987.
Malthouse over achieved with what players he had.

I think Bont is better than the Hawk but it's a close mark.

Mick was a great coach for us and instilled a fighting quality in the playing group but then got full of himself when he landed at Collingwood. His work at West Coast was impressive.

[bornadog]

How we all feel