The % wouldnt be so bad if Crows and Hawks didnt belt us
The fade out I felt was caused by a few factors
- Our first half pressure was epic which put us in the strong position we were in. We kind of had a stale mate in Q3, but it may be we gassed ourselves from early game intensity.
Perhaps the coach’s/ high performance team had seen a trend and tried to put extra behind ball early because of this. But it did seem we came out in Q4 overly cautious & that seemed to play Swans back into it. We could barely get it into our forward line, and stuffed around with it on our backline.
-
We had a lot of young players out (including 3 playing their first full game) there who inevitably tire quicker as game goes on (Kako didn’t have much left in the last), plus also Caldwell first game back and prob underdone. That would have impacted.
-
We also went in with one less mid used to main mid minutes this week. And then also had Merrett taken out of midfield for large periods to beat the tag. A lot more expected of others and I’d assume that also played a part in lack of run/zip in legs late in game
….
Overall though we played a sensational first half and that was exciting footy to watch.
Caddy was up and about early, Reid going as he pleased, Goldy seemingly involved in everything. McGrath was ON.
And the umps were loving us!
Lots to like in the game, but also lots to work on.
Dogs next week going to be a massive challenge
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They paid a free for Durham, but it took away all our momentum should have just let play go on.
You can see why we can’t put teams away. It seems when we get a good lead we go into our shell to Dave the game. The commentators were onto it. We are still getting the wins against the lower teams but there is no killer instinct.
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Not before a score saving defensive effort
We also a young team
We Won the Weekend (and, for a change, also the percentage).
| Team | For | Against | Result | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VFL | 107 | 42 | W | 255% |
| VFLW (vs FC) | 49 | 22 | W | 223% |
| AFL | 71 | 63 | W | 113% |
| TOTAL | 227 | 127 | 3 - 0 | 179% |
Wheelchairs start next week.
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Fend-off to Kako’s face?
Caddy gonna kill ya.
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yeah we were just unlucky to lose by 10 goals
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That game farked us is all im saying
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Being at this one the second quarter was something, some of the best pieces of end to end play I’ve seen in some time. Some promising kids.
The second, well when we get a little more tired we’re easy to control.
I’m all for never draft talls ever again, too much pain.
Back from the game. Not sure why so much grudging praise; they towelled up the giants last week. Yes they won the second half, but we ground it out. That spud McGrath seemed to go alright. The backline was great. i’m happy
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Nino loves hypotheticals almost as much as Houli
They beat last years grand finalists with a bunch of kids, a ruckman older than yoda and another ACL.
But you know it’s Blitz, Kent’s keep sooking.
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I found the midfield set up strange in the last quarter. We bought on Shiel which was fine but then the centre square trio was he, Merrett and Setterfield for most centre bounces. I would’ve gone back to Durham, Caldwell or Perkins with Shiel and left Merrett forward
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At least we know, and he now knows he’s an AFL level player. He looked comfortable. He will rehab and have a good career. At least we achieved that from watching his first half 
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There was 2 real stinkers that went no where near an Essendon player.
He’s tracking well though
Probably would have got the rising star nom
HS running with the story that Merrett is in trouble for a hit on the Lizard. I was at the game and Zac was playing the ball
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I’m assuming you were at the game? If so, crazy how different it can look on TV.
On TV I’d have said Blakey was very much loose in the first quarter (after failing to go with Caddy early). 9 touches and 5 intercepts as well.
Barely touched it in the 3rd.
Completely understand that different viewpoints will capture different things though… My view was limited by what the camera would show.
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