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Date Posted: 00:17 08/04/24 Mon
Author: Annabelle
Author Host/IP: 139-216-204-154.sta.dodo.net.au / 139.216.204.154
Subject: Autopsy of a gritty but unimpressive win given our comfortable lead.

It was yet another war of attrition against a nemesis and the scramble win meant that we have only won six of our past twenty-one against them. There were lots of hard hits and once they had wrested momentum from us after what was looking like a comfortable outing, we struggled to combat them. Their pressure rating rose and it took all of our customary close finish wherewithal to nullify them in the end.
The nail-biting result did not come freighted with the satisfaction of winning these types of tussles against opponents with strong credentials. We are mired in mediocrity at this juncture with all sectors across the ground struggling and our personnel lacking polish, vitality and dynamism.

Despite our defensive issues and our dysfunctional forward line, the midfield is a concern given it’s the conduit between the two key areas of the team. At times the Hawks got dynamic clearances which placed our defence under siege and they shrugged many feeble tackles with impunity.

Both sides made fumbling errors in a game which was especially sloppy early and looked below the standard of teams in some of the high-quality clashes earlier in this round.

We do look like an ageing unit lacking a bit of zip and class. Once we lose our pressure edge, we’re highly vulnerable.

One might argue that the forward line is not favoured by silver service but equally they are static at times and our attacking zone often looks as congested as Flinders St during peak hour. Matty Richo opined the other day that it is the duty of forwards to be forever on the move. Most of ours are stagnant for long periods.

As an aside, Ginni was largely ineffective but did push the buttons of our irascible types which was probably his brief. He looked comfortably happy with a smiling demeanour after losing.

The hair dye seems to be having a Samson like effect on Hill who had a few chances to put his imprimatur on the game but the sheen has dulled.

JDG was arguably our best player. He got his hands on the pill a lot, hit the scoreboard and looked threatening, though some of his disposal was woeful and casually executed and he seemed to go wide a lot which was characteristic of our game plan this evening.

Nick got a lot of the ball but some of it was stat massaging and he is not as damaging as he was at the c corresponding time last year.

Josh, like his sibling kept running and racked up the numbers but in the first half in particular his disposal was often wayward.

Cox did one or few good things but essentially lowered his colours to a ruckman not highly regarded. He was clumsy at times and conceded some frees, some in a fit of pique seemingly at his struggle to impact.

Cameron was reasonably solid and battled a bloody nose. He took an important mark late to stem the flow.

IQ was a bit flashy and effected some telling interceptions but was also loose at times.

Noble wad indefatigable but some of his egregious errors crept in and a few were crucial, including the awkward tackle on Dyland Moore.

Maynard got a bit of the ball without being influential. He manned Ginni at times but the defensive structure was constantly changing as opponents rotated.

Howe did the odd constructive thing but conceded three goals at least one by lazy checking but he also seems to struggle one on one against opponents you would back him to match.

Jamie started well but then appeared to be a victim again of our ball carriers misreading his height. He applied pressure but seemed frustrated at times.

Schultz dobbed a few early, but likes his forward colleagues seemed not to get the type of supply he needed to suit his game and our bevy of small attackers became impotent as the game progressed.

Pendles kicked a goal but before he received the knock which ended his game, he wasn’t a huge factor in the match. Perhaps his leadership was missed though as some believe he’s the real captain.

Frampton has arguably the only guy who’s improved this year. He’s now the linchpin of the defence in Murphy’s absence. He took marks, positioned himself well and showed some dash at times. He proved to be our bulwark against danger at times.

WHE flashed in and out as is his wont, kicking a great goal and stymying some attacks but he also allowed Hardwick off the chain on occasions when opposed to him.

Moore has become one-dimensional. His one wood is to spoil and he had a season high sixteen spoils and is leading the competition in this stat. He appears disinclined to provide the dash once renowned for and prefers punching the ball to marking At least he’s not giving up lots of goals now.

Beau runs around applying some tackles with vigour, but unlike the GF he doesn’t appear to get the ball much to go on one of his forays into attack which at least threaten danger for the opposition.

Sidey failed to impact much as the sub, especially in contrast to Crisp last week.

Jack himself made one memorable dash from defence and through the corridor and absorbed some high pressure at times but he’s not the kamikaze model of last year and seasons past.

Checkers contributed well on the scoreboard and his body took its usual punishment as he battled valiantly against a nest of Hawks camped in his area. He pushed up the ground to impact too but he’s fighting a tough battle against what he faces week in and out.

Reef got a bit of the ball and could have had three majors if one mark would have been paid and his snap in the last penetrated slightly more. We have to persist with him.

Thus on balance we’re struggling all over the ground. There may be intangible factors at play such as a bit of hubris, especially once we had a comfortable margin over the . Wish we had a May Weitering of the brilliant Taylor, but we have to work with what we’ve got.

Our forward line has a combination of the mosquito fleet supported by the two talls Reef and Brody. That is a lot of crumbers with few crumbs. Jamie can mark but opposed to taller opponents, and unless delivery is pin point, he has to play as a defensive forward or get outmarked.
We are also devoid of classy bull mids save for JDG, and the occasional work of Crisp. This means the opposition can still ‘walk’ it out the front, while we are robbed of that type of entry going into our attack.

Let’s hope the bye freshens our bodies and minds and we can rise to the Port challenge which will be tough given their stellar group of mids.

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