Post Match. Pies tie Dons. All comments.

[Magpietothemax]

Definitely should start HH next week.
I thought he was a chance this week, but after his performance in the last qr, we definitely need to give him a full game.
We need antoher inside mid to support Mitchell.
Is Sullivan the one?

[think positive]

[Raw Hammer]

Whatever. 2 points is as good as 4. Out sub-100 percentage ain’t growing enough to make a difference due to our lack of firepower and tall timber, so the draw is as good as a win in the grand scheme of things.

5 day turnaround was telling. Only their accuracy early kept them in it. But damage was done early, and playing catch up all game takes its toll. Mihocek usually snags every snap, just one of those days. Not scoring the final 13:11 after taking the lead is weird, but so is not conceding a single score too (until they shank kick found an in manned Langford). Plenty of positives, perhaps not winning was a blessing in disguise.

One of the toughest draws to star a season in living memory. Still a long way to go.

[Charlie Oneeye]

Mitchell, Degoey, Naicos - supported by handy 4th options.

On paper is good ,

Just for the halibut:
1. Is Mitchel too one dimensional?, hard ball gets, but he does accentuate a contest imo.
Considering a player who's natural tendency is to keep his feet, break free more often, even half a metre could be beneficial, potentially giving that second player more room to operate..(i.e Parish)

or

2. do we just need a new regular 4th gun.
Pendles is 36, and Crisp not his core position... Do we thin out too much when one of the 3 is rested.

or

3. Is it our play in the middle which needs improvement.


But FMD, my kingdom for gun KF lol

[eddiesmith]

May as well bring in Parker next week for Sidebottom,

Maybe Steele can have a send off against North, even he couldn’t cost us that one…

[Jezza]

Mixed emotions. Both teams will feel it's bullet dodged or a missed opportunity to win depending on how one interprets the match.

Langford missed a gettable set shot, which was a massive relief. However, the number of easy opportunities we squandered in front of goal was infuriating. I was actually shellshocked by Mihocek's two set shots in the final quarter that were both out on the full. Never seen anything like that from him before.

Our clearance/stoppage game is a real weakness in the team. Essendon won centre clearances 19-8, so it's a real deficiency we've had for a long time. Most of our scores are generated off turnovers, especially in the front half this year which is in contrast to last year where a lot of our scores were coming from the back half and we were able to smoothly transition through the corridor. As long as the stoppage game remains a weakness, we'll unfortunately have tight tussles like we did today.

Our turnover game still looks strong which is the good news, and ultimately Premiership sides are the ones that have a strong turnover game rather than a brilliant stoppage/clearance game. The pressure being applied to Essendon's defenders by Hill, Schultz, Elliott, McCreery etc was excellent for the most part. They were good in closing down space and forcing turnovers which was generating scores for us particularly in the second quarter when we ramped up the pressure.

The 5-day break was always a concern for mine. I suspect a lot of supporters underestimated it, but some of our big performing players from Saturday such as WHE, Mitchell and Sidebottom looked a little flat today. Another rotation or two on top of adding Harrison into the team might have been worthwhile with the benefit of hindsight.

The season is far from over, but there's plenty of work to be done. We're in a dogfight to get into the 8 and push for a top 4 spot.

[Jezza]

[Jezza]

[Jezza]

Fly's presser

You've been involved in some epic games in the last few years, that must be up there?

[qldmagpie67]

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Who keeps the Anzac trophy I assume Collingwood keeps it as they won last years Anzac Day match

[What'sinaname]

[warburton lad]

hindsight always provides 20/20 vision.

Could we have, perhaps, swapped Sidey and Hoskin-Ellliott positionally at half time yesterday??

Hoskin-Elliott is a great endurance runner and Sidebottom has the capacity to jag a goal or two forward.

Of course, if Mihocek kicks a point from either of those last quarter attempts or Elliott holds that final mark, the above is moot...

[warburton lad]

On our list but not playing yesterday:

McStay- definite first 22 player
De Mattea- just a kid, but has a bright future
Jath- as per De Mattea
Steene- project player but has potential- retain
Krueger- has talent but body fragility persists
McInnes- definite potential- would love to see him given time as a mid
Macrae- see McInnes
Ryan- nothing special to date
Richards- very fine VFL player
Begg- not big enough to ruck- perhaps he could play forward and pinch-hit in the ruck in the AFL- must be given an opportunity at some stage.
Eyre- wait and see- may be a Hackman but needs to be tried forward
Sullivan- ball magnet- is he the Mitchell replacement??
Markov- must, must, must play AFL- and yep, he and Noble can co-exist in the same side
Parker- I suggest he will debut around Round 14- has a lot of skill and pace attributes any side needs
Bytel- a hand-me-down from St Kilda- has great running endurance but is that enough.
Carmichael- we need an inside mid and he hasn't been able to break into the 23- can kick a goal- might be a handy sub.
Allen- has the outside pace we will need to stay competitive- please trial him Pies.
Dean- is the likely Howe replacement and may find himself back in the 23 as we progress through the year.

If we are to rise up the ladder and contest finals in 2024, it will only be with the infusion of grunt, pace and youth into the 23.

AFL Legend, David Parkin once wrote that Premiership teams need to introduce around 4 players into their team the following year to retain their competitive edge- (this was when there were only 20 players in a team).

I am warming to the idea that Ned Long a 21 year old, 194cm and 89 kg mid
will be drafted in the mid-year draft- the longer term list deficiencies will need to be addressed at season's end.

We have quite a war-chest if Sidebottom, Howe, Cox and Pendlebury retire.

[LaurieHolden]

Just for fun I stuck the post-match comments into Chat GPT -

Version 1

The post-match feedback conveys a mixture of sentiments, primarily centered around frustration and analysis of tactical errors, but with a notable vein of constructive criticism and forward-looking suggestions. The general tone reflects dissatisfaction with the team's performance, particularly in terms of game starts and midfield efficacy, compounded by what many see as underutilization of younger talent in the reserves.

Analysis of Performance:
The commentary consistently points out the team's inability to capitalize on early opportunities and a recurring theme of "miracle goals" by the opposition, which fans attribute to luck rather than strategic outmaneuvering. This perspective suggests a belief that the game's close outcome was more due to chance than the opponent's skill, highlighting a view that better execution could have yielded a win rather than a draw.

Strategic and Personnel Critiques:
Many comments focus on the need for tactical shifts, particularly the integration of younger players into the game to bring fresh energy and perspectives. There's a clear call for less conservative selection policies, with specific suggestions to replace older, underperforming players with new talent. This is intertwined with concerns about the physical readiness of veteran players, especially in games following short breaks, and the strategic use of substitutions during the game.

Forward-Looking Suggestions:
Suggestions for future games include starting younger players like Harrison and adjusting midfield strategies to better support key players who are currently overburdened. There is also an expressed desire for the coaching staff to be more dynamic in their game-day decisions, particularly concerning player rotation and in-game tactics.

Sentiment:
The overall sentiment, while critical and at times harsh, carries an undertone of hope and a desire for improvement. Fans express a readiness to move past this game, using it as a learning experience to foster better results in future contests. The feedback also contains elements of pride and attachment to the team, indicating that the emotional investment in the team's success is profound and enduring.

In summary, the feedback provides a comprehensive view of the fanbase's current state of mind: a blend of disappointment over the draw but with proactive discussions on how the team can adapt and improve. The focus is on tactical refinement, better utilization of the roster, and strategic in-game management to enhance the team's competitive edge moving forward.

Version 2

The feedback from the post-match commentary reveals a complex blend of frustration, critical analysis, and cautious optimism concerning the team's performance. Fans highlight dramatic swings in momentum and execution throughout the game, particularly pointing out the miraculous early goals by Essendon, which many attribute to luck. This perspective underscores a sense of missed opportunity and emphasizes perceived deficiencies in their own team's execution rather than the strengths of the opposition.

Criticism is mainly directed towards the team's lackluster start in the first quarter and the overall ineffective goal-kicking, elements that many fans believe could have shifted the result from a draw to a win. Moreover, there is a strong call for injecting fresh talent and making strategic adjustments, especially given concerns about the aging roster and the underperformance of key players. The lack of depth in the reserves, seen as necessary to bring vitality and fresh legs into the lineup, also emerges as a significant point of concern.

The detailed mention of specific incidents, such as missed free kicks and contentious substitution decisions, demonstrates the fans' deep engagement and critical scrutiny of tactical choices made during the game. This scrutiny extends to the coaching strategies, with many advocating for a more dynamic approach in giving younger players more significant game time and reevaluating the team's defensive tactics and conservative selection policies.

While there is evident disappointment over the draw and concern for the team's strategic direction, there is also a thread of resilience among the fans. Many express hope for a robust bounce-back in the next challenging game, reflecting both an attachment to the team and a demand for improved performance. The overarching sentiment calls for an evolution in how the team approaches matches, suggesting that past strategies may no longer suffice as other teams adapt and grow stronger.

In summary, the sentiment blends disappointment with proactive discussions on tactical refinement and better utilization of the roster. There's a clear desire among fans for the team to adapt and enhance its competitive edge moving forward, capturing both the passion for the sport and the deep commitment to seeing their team succeed.