Post Match. Pies win thriller . All comments.

[think positive]

[think positive]

[piffdog]

[Pies2016]

I think what really changed after half time, is that we inadvertently forced Hawthorn into playing an all out attacking style of footy that nearly won the game for them. They were so defensive so early, it fell into our hands. They started the extra in the backline and we had the extra around the ball. They put more time into Nick early but had to drop the close checking after being five down so early. This freed up another mid for them to focus on the ball and combine all that with our drop in pressure and the game changed so quickly. The Hawks basically threw everything out the window at half time and went for it. Once they got a roll on, it forced us to reinforce our backline and suddenly we have one less around the ball and that impacts us at stoppages.
It all comes back to pressure, everything does but basically the Hawks went to plan B against us after half time and we didn’t have neither the answers or the ability to apply the pressure required to negate their surge. What we didn’t do well in this game was to slow down their run on.

As Fly would say “ we didn’t manage the minutes “ very well at all. Most teams get some kind of run on within a game every week but the good teams mitigate the oppositions momentum. As one other poster astutely pointed out, the Hawks did the same to Geelong a week ago, so they are capable. The difference was Geelong had the response to their surge, where we didn’t.
We’ve got thirteen days to get it right and we’ll need it because we’ve got a lot of work to do.

[Mr Miyagi]

[lazzadesilva]

[Pies4shaw]

By way of example, Cox's work in the ruck at the start of the 2nd quarter was horrendous - goals like that straight out of the centre will ruin games against decent opposition - not least because the prospects of him doing the same thing going the other way are nil. He's a resting ruckman who has not kicked a goal for the season and is averaging just 3 marks per game. Yesterday, he played just over half the game. He's got to go back to the VFL in favour of a someone who can perform a useful role in the forward line. Whether he's finally done or not is quite another question but his form is woeful.

[Pete 70]

I hate Jawthorn so much. Seriously. Probably more than Carlton to be honest, and in my life I’ve seen us win three premierships - and we may have lost to them in every one of those years. I would feel more confident playing the All Australian team. When we got 38 points up I said to my son I’d be happy with any win. We are not playing well at all but thank god we aren’t 1-4. I think confidence is everything, and we need a bit now, or to keep working away. More second quarter yesterday would be nice, but I’m not prepared to concede the season just yet - nor the top 4. We were 4-5 in 2022, and then got on a role - let’s hope we can do so again. Enjoy the week off. Oh and two observations about Ginni:
- he may have found his spiritual home
- and if he’d been umpired that way when he played for us, he’d have won the Coleman.

[Pies4shaw]

^ So, by beating them in 2024 have we put paid to all chances of going back-to-back?

[WhyPhilWhy?]

The awful centre bounces, seemingly always to Hawthorn's advantage, didn't help at all.

[Collingwouldn't]

[masoncox]

[Gerry Cooper]

We need to address also our long running inability to stop opposition small forwards. Hawthorn got 8 goals out of three small forwards yesterday. Fly prefers attacking backmen but this vulnerability bites us time and time again. Running attacking back flankers etc are all very well but if their defensive skills are lacking when needed, they are next to worthless.

[Rex]

Cox’s lack of marking and presence is disappointing, but what are options? McStay would be first choice, but not for another 10+ weeks. Frampton was reasonable last year when both rucks were out and in general he’s playing so much better so I expect he’d ruck well, but we need him down back (and he’s not great up front) - I see him as a Leroy Brown type; not brilliant, but serviceable in various positions. Johnson has played the smaller, agile ruck role, but is so out of form at the moment. I reckon Steene might get a go, but is a month away with concussion (I assume, given he’s not back to contact). The only other choice is Begg. He’s ok in the VFL, but not really big enough.
So we stick with Cox at present, then Steene when he’s back. I thought Josh Ayre looked good as a second tall down back. If he pushes for selection then I believe we’ll see Frampton rucking.

[Rex]

I was lucky to get to the game so watched it again today for a different perspective (Adelaide oval is such a great place to watch footy - if you’ve never been treat yourself).
There’s a lot to like about Josh Daicos; his hard running, his in close work and his positioning. But his decision making and delivery when he has time and space is often sub-par. Time and again he missed easy targets or put it to a contest where our player was not only outnumbered, but smaller (three of our forwards are 175-178cm). I don’t expect him to have Nick’s finesse, but wondered how he might clean that up. Can that be coached?
Last year we talked about intentional chaos kicks to give the smalls a chance. I’m not talking about quick snaps in when under pressure, but deliberate ground balls to open space. The kick wide that Hill collected, sold candy twice a H-E goaled, was a classic example.
The other observation is about the number of times we punched the ball rather than marking. Darcy only took two marks, but often seemed in a good position to mark, which he would have done last year. Other players were also doing it more than expected in my opinion. If it was a coaching directive I can’t see the benefit. Or is Darcy less confident after wrist surgery?