Whats our bigger issue?

[Mofra]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

With Griffen, Tutt and Sherman out that is three of our quickest runners (and arguably our 3 best outside mids)

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

can't believe we took Everitt over Riewoldt & Frawley.

Hypothetical:

Instead of Everitt, we take Riewoldt.

Instead of Howard, we take Fyfe.

That makes a MASSIVE difference to the side.

[anfo27]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Hypothetical:

Instead of Everitt, we take Riewoldt.

Instead of Howard, we take Fyfe.

That makes a MASSIVE difference to the side.

it shouldn't be a hypothetical though, it was the wrong selection then and its the wrong selection now. We have always been a club needing KPP and we had Frawley & Riewoldt right there.

[Greystache]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Everitt absolutely, Howard perhaps (although at least one other team rated him highly) but disagree on the others.

Williams: Rated a potential top ten for months pre-draft
Higgins: Rated very highly, Marc Murphysaid he was his best opponent in the TAC
Grant: Was touted as our pick very early, highest goal per game ave in his TAC year (from memory, need to confirm)

Even Sam Power was very highly rated as a junior, and there was the Farren Ray vs Brock McLean debate pre-draft that, really, had no winners as it turned out.

It rarely gets a mention, but our record with second rounders is quite poor too compared to other teams and this has put us right back (2008 excepted). Faulkner, Addison, that spud from Tassie (don't mention his name), and then there are the trades - Aker & Street. Will is ok but has taken 10 years to get to where he is, that's a hell of a long lead in for a high secnd rounder.

Sadly Faulkner was another 1st round failure, he was a priority pick at the end of the 1st round.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Panicking.
Well for lack of a better word anyhow?
The decisions to slam the ball onto the boot rather than pick out targets. It did pay off a bit today but I was still cringing when they did it. Boyd is one of the main offenders, plenty of the ball but constantly does a half turn snap kick to gain meters. Watching classy sides they take the time and try to maintain possession first, only rushing a kick when they have to.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Negativity!
There were some good things to see today. Score board did not reflect our genera effort

[always right]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Trying to stay positive but I remember going to the footy in the dark days just to watch Templeton when we had an ordinary side. Then I used to go games just to watch Hawkins. I hope I don't end up going to matches this year just to watch Dahlhaus...although I guess there are worse things in life.

[The Underdog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Negativity!
There were some good things to see today. Score board did not reflect our genera effort

It may not have reflected our general effort, but I thought it was a pretty accurate reflection of the gap between the sides in regards to pace, skill, fitness base and where they are at structurally.

I think our biggest issue is midfield pace and skill as some have said. Griffen will help to some extent but we are currently too one dimensional and there isn't a lot of help on the list.
Our forward line is a work in progress but it is in progress.
Jones is a 3rd year key position player. He needs to continue to build his fitness so he can repeat effort like Kennedy does and he needs to work on his kicking. Cordy can also probably help in the long term.

[Bornadog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

It's not just the guys that didn't make it with us (add Power, McMahon and Everitt as first rounders from the 2000s that ultimately played at other clubs) but guys like Williams, Higgins, Grant, Howard and Cordy that just haven't given us the output required from such valuable picks.

One poster said skills is our biggest issue and I agree but if you nail your first round picks in the draft, the team's overall skill level will increase significantly. Guaranteed.

It's because we've messed up our drafting for the last decade that our skills and decision making are so bad right now.

I am sorry, but you can say that about nearly every team. Unless you can compare our drafting history to other clubs, you can't make these comments. Drafting boys at age 17 about to turn 18 is not an easy task. Just ask, Melbourne, Richmond and many other clubs. Carlton have what 3 or 4 number one draft picks and only now are starting to be considered a top four team.

At the end of the day, we need a team built, not just good first round picks. Look at Collingwood, they play as a team, same as Hawthorn. Hopefully, BmAc can build us to be a team.

Today we had 11 players, ie half the team that haven't even played 50 games yet, and that's what we are lacking, experience.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

It may not have reflected our general effort, but I thought it was a pretty accurate reflection of the gap between the sides in regards to pace, skill, fitness base and where they are at structurally.

And age / experience.

but do you really think the gap was as you suggest?
Add up the numbers: If jones had jagged his, Brian not given away his, Dahlhaus, higgins or Dickson / Grant got theirs ( pretty much right in front for all of those ) that's 40 odd points right there.
Players who are usually pretty good were ordinary with disposal today. No, I just disagree. We didn't take our opportunities and were ordinary today with disposal. But it won't be every day. They are the better team, yes, but not by 56 points on any given day of the week. I firmly believe we could have matched them today had we been a bit more composed and got the momentum without the spurts of skill errors.

[The Underdog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

And age / experience.

but do you really think the gap was as you suggest?
Add up the numbers: If jones had jagged his, Brian not given away his, Dahlhaus, higgins or Dickson / Grant got theirs ( pretty much right in front for all of those ) that's 40 odd points right there.
Players who are usually pretty good were ordinary with disposal today. No, I just disagree. We didn't take our opportunities and were ordinary today with disposal. But it won't be every day. They are the better team, yes, but not by 56 points on any given day of the week. I firmly believe we could have matched them today had we been a bit more composed and got the momentum without the spurts of skill errors.

I think they are a vastly more skilled side, they have a game plan and structures well in advance of ours. They have a load more pace and have a fitness base that is also advanced. Their avenues to goal are much better than ours and their key defensive options are better. Yes we matched them for a good portion of the match but we also gave up 9 or 10 goals straight without reply. Yes we didn't take our opportunities but that is another reason that they are a better side than us.
There were positives to come out of today, but at this point in time for various reasons, they are well and truly a better side than we are. Maybe not by 50 points with Griff back but given they were missing LeCras and Nicoski, we're not that close.

[Topdog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

Today we had 11 players, ie half the team that haven't even played 50 games yet, and that's what we are lacking, experience.

If you think we are just lacking experience I suspect you are in for a rude shock.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

I think they are a vastly more skilled side, they have a game plan and structures well in advance of ours. They have a load more pace and have a fitness base that is also advanced. Their avenues to goal are much better than ours and their key defensive options are better. Yes we matched them for a good portion of the match but we also gave up 9 or 10 goals straight without reply. Yes we didn't take our opportunities but that is another reason that they are a better side than us.
There were positives to come out of today, but at this point in time for various reasons, they are well and truly a better side than we are. Maybe not by 50 points with Griff back but given they were missing LeCras and Nicoski, we're not that close.

A lot of the points you are making are related to players being in development. You don't expect developing players, players with one or two AFL preseason to perform at the top level. Compare oranges with apples.

Of course Dickson isn't going to have the fitness base of a third year AFL player. He trained for 1 hour a week last year.
Of course you can expect Smith to cramp up. There is only so muchyou can expect from young players like Liam Jones, or even Libba or Wallis, when they are in their second year. But they are learning and are improving.

[Topdog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

A lot of the points you are making are related to players being in development. You don't expect developing players, players with one or two AFL preseason to perform at the top level. Compare oranges with apples.

WCE have about 6 players with that experience too.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Whats our bigger issue?

WCE have about 6 players with that experience too.

Yes but their very damaging position players are not those players. Their forwards for example. their rucks.

Their Kennedy was our Liam Jones. Their Nic Nat, our Roughead.