Always Right Match Committee R21 vs GWS 2025

[Rocco Jones]

I am far from a Poulter fan, but there is no way he should be dropped after playing his best game of the year.

I think Poulter's game really depends on what the coaching instructions were.

Of course a lot had to do with the low level oppo but Naughts and Darcy worked as well as we've seen them together. Did Poulter help with creating space for them?

I think with the last 6 picked, so much is about how they are playing the role asked of them, which can be very hard for us to tell.

[Bornadog]

I think Poulter's game really depends on what the coaching instructions were.

Of course a lot had to do with the low level oppo but Naughts and Darcy worked as well as we've seen them together. Did Poulter help with creating space for them?

I think with the last 6 picked, so much is about how they are playing the role asked of them, which can be very hard for us to tell.

Poulter played mainly on the wing

[DOG GOD]

I think Poulter's game really depends on what the coaching instructions were.

Of course a lot had to do with the low level oppo but Naughts and Darcy worked as well as we've seen them together. Did Poulter help with creating space for them?

I think with the last 6 picked, so much is about how they are playing the role asked of them, which can be very hard for us to tell.

There were times during the commentary when Gary Lyon in particular was going off at Poulter for taking his opponent into Darcy’s space.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

There were times during the commentary when Gary Lyon in particular was going off at Poulter for taking his opponent into Darcy’s space.

It’s funny but I thought Poulter was much better while getting up to half forward-wing and linking up. The only issue as he stopped and took time to look for an option. I would have loved him to just roll around and see what opens up in front of him. It was like he lacked confidence or was perhaps looking for a perfect entry to show itself

[josie]

Just watched replay. I’m guessing no change or Harmes in for VDM or Libba if he is injured or needs a rest.

Everyone’s face whipping boy NcNeil put a fair bit of pressure on opposition and doubt he will be dropped.

I thought marginal players Garcia, Baker & Poulter were pretty good.

Another marginal in Cleary, well he took the game on, got caught HTB once (should have been twice with his crazy play early in Q1) however I reckon that was more than counteracted by his good link up play. Whether he can stand up in a big game is a big question but there’s no way you can drop him after a good performance like that.

Sanders was ok compared to two prior IMO poor weeks, without reaching heights of first part of season.

A little concerned about form drop of Frejiah and Williams. Hope they can turn it around.

[The Adelaide Connection]

For all the talk of how terrible our defence is, I had a look at how many points each of the Top 9 concede per game.

After round 19, our average Points Against was 80.68. We score 107 points on average.

Average Points against (difference versus our average in brackets)
Collingwood- 67.9 (-12.78)
Adelaide- 69.16 (-11.52)
Brisbane- 80.2 (-0.48)
Geelong- 76.42 (-4.26)
Hawthorn- 73.63 (-7.05)
GWS- 76.43 (-4.25)
Freo- 77.05 (-3.63)
GC- 77.95 (-2.73)

So turns out we are just half a point off last year's premier and less than a kick off Geelong, GWS, Freo and GC. The media has sung the praises of these defensive groups over the year.

Against the top 8 we have an average margin of -8.67.

I would love our defence to improve, but honestly my biggest concern is how easily teams (including Essendon last week) still walk out of the front from centre bounces. I would wager we give up at least a few goals in this way every week (likely more against the good teams).

Also, we have coughed up a lot of unforced errors against these teams over the journey (which was particularly bad against Adelaide).

Collingwood are pretty stingy in defence, but they also score 16 points less than us a game.

So yeah- strive to improve, but I don't think we need to lose our minds and given the way the ball often comes in, I think we are overly harsh on the players down back.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I would love our defence to improve, but honestly my biggest concern is how easily teams (including Essendon last week) still walk out of the front from centre bounces. I would wager we give up at least a few goals in this way every week (likely more against the good)

This has been an issue for years. We’ve even lost a grand final bc of it. I agree with you it still needs some strategy and work. But I think the we are in reasonably good shape and will pit GWS away early this week

[JanLorMill]

There were times during the commentary when Gary Lyon in particular was going off at Poulter for taking his opponent into Darcy’s space.

Lost me at Gary Lyon

[dukedog]

Buku must have been caught cat-calling bevo's wife.

OUT - McNeil, Poulter, Buss
IN - BUKU, Davidson, Jones

[Bornadog]

This has been an issue for years. We’ve even lost a grand final bc of it. I agree with you it still needs some strategy and work. But I think the we are in reasonably good shape and will pit GWS away early this week

However, we are the number one Centre Clearnace team. We have 42 more than the next team Geelong.

Our defence is not the issue as in can't defend, our issue has been turnovers against those top 7 teams.

[Jam Donuts]

Harmes comes back as one of the runners , and anyway as things stand not much good calling guys runners who dont get the footy .
I get where your comming from but McNeil and Vandermeer have had little or no effect on results in the past few weeks , so lets no fall into the situation where we are gifting guys games who dont deserve them .
Khamis i would have as sub .

Sorry, but you spelt years wrong

[Mantis]

Lost me at Gary Lyon

Not sure if you're trying to be humorous or dismissive, but Lyon was correct with his comments.

Darcy had a favorable match-up and all Poulter did by heading back close to goal was add 2 more players to the area in which Sam would be competing for the ball.

[JanLorMill]

Not sure if you're trying to be humorous or dismissive, but Lyon was correct with his comments.

Darcy had a favorable match-up and all Poulter did by heading back close to goal was add 2 more players to the area in which Sam would be competing for the ball.

He may be right but he is still a knob.

[doggies ftw]

Sorry, but you spelt years wrong

VDMs 10 disposals & 2 tackles career avg pretty important, at least he also has the added benefit of getting injured every 3rd game forcing an early sub.

3 year contract? Cmon now, he should be on yearly at best.

[westbulldog]

VDMs 10 disposals & 2 tackles career avg pretty important, at least he also has the added benefit of getting injured every 3rd game forcing an early sub.

3 year contract? Cmon now, he should be on yearly at best.

Or given a permanent place in the VFL or traded to North Melbourne. Imo we have to be more ruthless and not carry to likes of Vandermeer and O'Neill.