3 Things Learned - R11, 2025

[Mantis]

How can we limit it to just 3? Perhaps we explore it more during the next 2 weeks before our next game, but we all learned so much about the team & individual players last night... and there's been some awesome suggestions so far in this thread already.

1/ We're made of the right stuff - things were looking grim when we were 30+ points down during both the 2nd & 3rd quarters, but we kept coming which was extremely impressive, especially when you add in the lopsided free kick count.

2/ The mix needs to change - our bottom 4-6 got horribly exposed last night. As good as our top 6-8 are the load needs to be shared. As GVGjr we need some more height to help our intercept game in defence and a contest up front, Darcy in is a no brainer, but we need one of Jones or Busslinger in defence too.

3/ We need to learn to close out games against good teams - we did everything right to draw ourselves level, but the last 10min was truly shitful. From McNeil freezing when in a scoring position, to having the wrong players on the bench, to the awful stoppage set-up that led to the Neale free, to dropped marks... the list goes on. It needs to get better!

[azabob]

Mantis I would like to learn (keeping with the thread theme) are you going with Jones or Busslinger?

[Mantis]

Mantis I would like to learn (keeping with the thread theme) are you going with Jones or Busslinger?

I don't really care who it is, it's more about the structure it creates.

Who it will be will work it's self out, but we need to play the extra tall... I'll start with Busslinger for 4-5 weeks but then switch over to Jones if Buss doesn't take his chance.

I'm totally fine with Lobb or JOD playing on a medium-sized player. Both are mobile and we really need to intercept better than we did last night.

[GVGjr]

I don't really care who it is, it's more about the structure it creates.

Who it will be will work it's self out, but we need to play the extra tall... I'll start with Busslinger for 4-5 weeks but then switch over to Jones if Buss doesn't take his chance.

I'm totally fine with Lobb or JOD playing on a medium-sized player. Both are mobile and we really need to intercept better than we did last night.

The big advantage of having both Lobb and JOD in the back line is they're mobile and flexible enough to be pitted against a variety of opponents.
In Lobbs case he can also be used in the ruck or up forward if needed.

Fixing the structure will help us.

[Angak]

1. Lacked Aggression to start the game
We got our prep wrong the physicality just wasn’t there. We needed to bring more heat across the ground. Within the rules, yes, but we let Geelong set the tone.

2. Smith Hit, No Response
Choosing to ignore Baz is one thing, but when he whacks Kennedy and no one remonstrates, it sends the wrong message.

3. Buku > Naughton
Buku’s been better than Naughton over the past month. With Darcy returning soon, it might be time to send Naughton back. Our forward line looks more dynamic when it's more mobile

[SquirrelGrip]

Once Darcy is back, does Buku stay forward or does he move back to be that third tall/hybrid? We will lose a lot of run if we add an extra tall forward and an extra tall back.

What I learnt is that poor disposal kills us. That's why Cleary was subbed off. Harmes's turnovers were epic. Baker and Bramble make me nervous with ball in hand. We need better users in the back half.

[Bornadog]

The big advantage of having both Lobb and JOD in the back line is they're mobile and flexible enough to be pitted against a variety of opponents.
In Lobbs case he can also be used in the ruck or up forward if needed.

Fixing the structure will help us.

The other issue with the 11 goals between the two big guys is the quality of entries that gave them the opportunity to kick the goals. They were accurate with hardly a set shot missed compared to us.

[Rusty12]

1 - Bad kicking is bad footy. Otherwise, despite all the overreaction to a loss, we are better than them, and that will show by seasons end

2 - Big home crowds, do influence the incompetence of the umpires

3 - We might have a few, not built for the big stage, need to figure that out by Round 20

[Rusty12]

Once Darcy is back, does Buku stay forward or does he move back to be that third tall/hybrid? We will lose a lot of run if we add an extra tall forward and an extra tall back.

What I learnt is that poor disposal kills us. That's why Cleary was subbed off. Harmes's turnovers were epic. Baker and Bramble make me nervous with ball in hand. We need better users in the back half.

Right now, Buku is a better key forward target than Naughton.
Naughton had a dip last night, but everything good that happened was more pressure forward type stuff, than key target.
I would try Naughton as the stopper, on the Oppos best intercepter for a while, Darcy permanent deep forward (no ruck, off the knee) and Buku, other forward and to continue the 10-20% ruck time.

[Sedat]

1. When Treloar returns, Freijah to play down back a little more with stints in the mid. Our HBs are a bit fickle and vulnerable against better teams.

2. We have fight. I expected to fold after the second quarter but we responded and should have won. Good in that sense.

3. Big questions on our ability to win close games and perform when the stakes are high. We just seem to find ways to lose when it matters most, and it's generally down to poor execution and composure. I'm pretty livid about this loss. We needed this. It would have proven a lot. We're not good enough just yet and that is bloody annoying because we should be.

Just on points 2 and 3, it is both very encouraging that we can pivot in-game and stem the tide when matches are getting away from us, and also very frustrating that once we get the match on our terms we are unable to seal the deal late in these games. The same playbook has happened against Collingwood, Fremantle, Gold Coast and now Geelong - I'm not sure if it is lack of composure, poor decision-making or other issues but we are fantastic at creating the opportunities but poor at converting them when it is in the balance late. To be fair, we did execute against Carlton and got it done in that match after being blown away early.

I guess that is the last piece of the puzzle to becoming a great team - poor/mid teams accept the loss, good teams fight back and great teams nail their chances and get the W.

[whythelongface]

The other issue with the 11 goals between the two big guys is the quality of entries that gave them the opportunity to kick the goals. They were accurate with hardly a set shot missed compared to us.

That is purely based on our turnovers. Once you turnover the ball one or two of the opponents forwards run into an open forward line and isolate the defenders to a one on one contest. The opposition can then kick to advantage. Similar to Naughton’s goal when we equalised- they turned the ball in our defensive 50 and bang some quick movement and Naughton runs into space.

minimise turnovers and suddenly you are much harder to attack against. Easier said than done but if we had of done that we would have won. Our game does rely on quick ball movement and accuracy and at times this will come unstuck.

but you are right Geelong are very good at taking advantage of this and punish teams on turnovers due to their accuracy and ability to run into space.

[Mantis]

1 - Bad kicking is bad footy. Otherwise, despite all the overreaction to a loss, we are better than them, and that will show by seasons end

2 - Big home crowds, do influence the incompetence of the umpires

3 - We might have a few, not built for the big stage, need to figure that out by Round 20

Yep, the MC would've learnt so much about that selected team last night which will be invaluable as we move forward through the year.

The fact that we have 2 top 5-6 players to return in the short team helps immensely, and we probably have, without counting probably 14-16 players we can rely on, but we need to get the right players filling the last 6-8 spots such that we don't make a mess of the finals like we did last year.

[whythelongface]

Yep, the MC would've learnt so much about that selected team last night which will be invaluable as we move forward through the year.

The fact that we have 2 top 5-6 players to return in the short team helps immensely, and we probably have, without counting probably 14-16 players we can rely on, but we need to get the right players filling the last 6-8 spots such that we don't make a mess of the finals like we did last year.

that is the key. Our bottom 4 to 6 are too inconsistent. They have good games interspersed with poor games. Getting Darcy and Treloar back will be significant. Throw in a Buss or Jones then we potentially only have 3 to 4 spots to be concerned about. Hopefully we can get someone like Garcia in the mix over the back half of the season as well. Definitely a bottom 4 player ATM but could also be an X factor moving forward

[Mantis]

that is the key. Our bottom 4 to 6 are too inconsistent. They have good games interspersed with poor games. Getting Darcy and Treloar back will be significant. Throw in a Buss or Jones then we potentially only have 3 to 4 spots to be concerned about. Hopefully we can get someone like Garcia in the mix over the back half of the season as well. Definitely a bottom 4 player ATM but could also be an X factor moving forward

We aren't miles away that's for sure... we just need to tidy up a few things and we go again.

Like you I'm bullish on what Garcia can provide in the back half of the year... he has owned some big moments in games and is an upgrade on some of the options we're running with now.

[Bornadog]

that is the key. Our bottom 4 to 6 are too inconsistent.

They are also inexperienced with under 50 games and will learn. What the MC has to determine is whether they have the talent to take the next step.