Autopsy 2025 AFL Round 3: Saints thrash Tigers

[Diehard Saint]

Anybody brave enough to start a round 4 thread against our bogey side or nobody wants to go there

Let us bask in this victory until at least tomorrow

 

[akaifu]

18 contested possessions , when did we last have a player who could rack them up like that.

Big Row had 23 against Hawks last year round 10, 22 against Giants in EF 2023

 

[luca77]

I was at the game and could not believe there was no free for the LOC incident, and I've just logged in from the lounge in Dubai airport to see that Mansell got 3 seeks for it!!! How is that remotely possible that a guy gets 3 weeks for something that the umpires saw and did not penalise in any way!?

The umps gave a free kick to Lynch for Hammer lightly touching Lynch's midriff, didn't they?
If they noticed that, they probably weren't looking at Mansell/LOC at all.

Like some others on here, my initial reaction was that LOC was running back with the flight anyway which made it hard to tell how forceful the push was, and how much the push was responsible for the impact (ie. whether there would have been impact anyway).

On replay (especially the slow-mo replay) I can see why King and co. are upset about it. There's a lot of pushing players into a contest going on. I think it's partly to get separation, and is often careless rather than intentional. But if it results in injury/concussion they probably have to wear the consequences.

You can compete for the ball without doing it, so it's not like the player didn't have another option. Like the dump tackle, players need to act with the safety of other players in mind. If I imagine my kid playing the game, I can see the necessity for it pretty clearly. 3 weeks? Sounds like a lot when the victim only misses a week. Doesn't sound like much if there's permanent spinal damage.

 

[austinnn]

The heartening thing is that all the youth that played yesterday look like they'll have a good future as AFL players. For the last 2 years Ross has been blooding those kids every game and you couldn't really tell if there was gonna be value there at the end of the day. That's not really the case anymore.

Ain't it funny how our opposition gets a mulligan for having a less experienced team than ours, but the reason our players are so relatively experienced for their age is because Ross and co gave them a proper chance so early.

You might remember at the start of RTB's first year it didn't even make them less competitive, in fact quite the opposite (sure, a lot to do with a massive upgrade in coaching but also to do with Stocker, Caminiti and Phillipou coming into the side).

He's played a lot of kids since he came back and now he's reaping the rewards, just as teams like the Hawks are and the Tigers, Eagles and Roos eventually will.

The selectors and development coaches have done an outstanding job since the start of the '23 season and they should get the credit for pundits, rather than the other club get excused.

 

[SG34]

yep Disagree with Caminiti beaten by Lynch a couple of times but held that full back position very well -miles ahead of Cordy and maybe behind Doogs but has found his spot in my opinion

Judging by responses here, yep. And he really has a go for sure. One thing a key back role will do is at least give him a space and a place to be, certain patterns etc. I thought he was a bit lost as a forward.

 

[Sully111]

I don’t think his push had any effect on his momentum, he still was able to get in position for the ball, but gets wiped out by Lynch. If his momentum changed from that push, he did a great job of masking it

I actually watched this again last night with the blinkers off. You have a point. Not as black and white as everyone is making out.

 

[True Believer]

The umps gave a free kick to Lynch for Hammer lightly touching Lynch's midriff, didn't they?
If they noticed that, they probably weren't looking at Mansell/LOC at all.

Like some others on here, my initial reaction was that LOC was running back with the flight anyway which made it hard to tell how forceful the push was, and how much the push was responsible for the impact (ie. whether there would have been impact anyway).

On replay (especially the slow-mo replay) I can see why King and co. are upset about it. There's a lot of pushing players into a contest going on. I think it's partly to get separation, and is often careless rather than intentional. But if it results in injury/concussion they probably have to wear the consequences.

You can compete for the ball without doing it, so it's not like the player didn't have another option. Like the dump tackle, players need to act with the safety of other players in mind. If I imagine my kid playing the game, I can see the necessity for it pretty clearly. 3 weeks? Sounds like a lot when the victim only misses a week. Doesn't sound like much if there's permanent spinal damage.

Sorry, to be clear, my gripe wasn't with the penalty, it's with the lack of a free kick for nearly taking a blokes head off - which I saw clearly from level 3 !!

 

[True Believer]

Haha, I ask because at one game I was talking to a guy who brought me a beer and said he flew in every second week from Dubai... He told me a few things... closest to and ITK I ever knew.

Man, that's hardcore!! It's a 15 hour flight or whatever......

 

[gringo2011]

I don’t think his push had any effect on his momentum, he still was able to get in position for the ball, but gets wiped out by Lynch. If his momentum changed from that push, he did a great job of masking it

He's definitely pushed him off his balance. It must be the fourth concussion in 3 rounds from similar. Considering that there has barely been a few a year in the last century it needs addressing. Players are obviously seeing it as a way to keep players out of approaching a contest.

I do feel sorry for him a bit still. O'Connell was praised for his extreme bravery the week before so was probably going in harder than what was wise, that said all players should expect a level of protection when vulnerable.

The AFL want concussion as rare as possible and it's getting to the point that if your actions cause one you almost get a suspension as a baseline.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

It's an extremely dangerous action that needs to be removed from the game imo.

 

[jwikked]

The AFL want concussion as rare as possible and it's getting to the point that if your actions cause one you almost get a suspension as a baseline.

If that's what they want, they'll have to ban contact. And even that won't fix the issue.

 

[jwikked]

It's an extremely dangerous action that needs to be removed from the game imo.

Playing the game is extremely dangerous. You can't make it safe without changing the fundamentals of the sport.

 

[gringo2011]

I’ve been critical of our current and future midfield pretty much every chance I get but one thing I’m liking is the bunch of HF’s we’re putting together. Higgins, Butler, Hall, Collard, Henry and Wilson is an awesome collection. Don’t try and find room for them just play them all. It might sound crazy but I put HF’s almost as high on importance as midfielders these days (case in point: Geelong) because all of the good teams have them and they play a critical role. Collard hit the post but players who can make that type of play is something we’ve desperately needed for years.

Garcia had 7 disposals in the first what? 10 minutes? Super exciting.

Good last couple of weeks but the next four games are brutal. If we split them we’ve done well.

The "midfield" Isn't a ruck, a ruck rover, a rover and mid any more. It's got the two classic wings and now it has the high half forwards and attacking HBs.

So much of modern footy is scoring off turn over now. There is set plays to get the ball to go back inside 50 from defensive turnover. It's usually the easiest way to score because the opposition is spread out for an attack and left vulnerable behind the ball.

Our HB attack is elite and Wilkie and Webster are both excellent kicks and hit up the next link in the chain which allows us to move fast. Guys like Wilson, Hill, Wood, Jones and Byrnes are link men in that chain.

 

[gringo2011]

Some thoughts finally catching the replay.

I didn't realise how big Travaglia is. Sure he's a lanky kid at the moment but doesn't seem like it's stopping him! Should grow into his body over the next few years... thought he looked taller than 187 would have said 190ish. Either way.

Garcia is a ball of energy and what's that saying...he zigs when others zag. Thinks a bit differently and is unpredictable. Gret signs that he's getting so many touches. Seems to 'purple patch' and get a bunch of touches in not long and then go missing. He reminds me of Acres in a lot of ways. Probably less good overhead, but a lot quicker and a better kick.

Nas is exciting. Yes he misses a couple kicks a game but he's got 'it'. The Pendles factor. And they've clearly told him to take his chances and don't worry if he misses one every now and then. That might need to change later on but right now he's only 60 games in and gawd its fun to see him becoming elite.

Coops is just so freaking reliable in front of goal. It's nice. Him and Max should make a pretty formidable duo.

Fantastic to see Mitchy get some reward. Absolute animal at the ball and man.

Hill has always been cream...hopefully he can keep it up and snag a goal every now and then.

Max Hall looked like he belonged too, super neat kick.

Sincs, Wilkie, Macrae, Marshall....enough has been said about them but jeez all value pick ups!

Garcia looks like a gun. Has a bit of Libba, a bit of Butters maybe even a bit of Merrett. Can't see much Acres in him. We have a really good midfield now. Macrae, Steele, Jones, Clark, Boxshall, Garcia, Dow, Phillipou, Boxshall, Carroll and a few that are dual position like Henry and Wilson. Some quality, some in development and some GOP depth.

 

[bergholt]

Playing the game is extremely dangerous. You can't make it safe without changing the fundamentals of the sport.

Yes but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to reduce the risk of long term issues. Every sport is doing the same.

 

[stavro#4]

 

[The Punter]

Thoughts:

• I know it was only Richmond, but have we found the front six (save King replacing Keeler)? Collard or Butler, then Sharman, Owens, Higgins and Hall. Geez I like the look of Hall. Tough, smart, good user inside front 50.
• Caminiti did well, and he's very much worth persisting with at FB. But Lynch didn't really make it hard for him. If you keep leads simple, Caminiti has the physical capabilities to deal with that. Double back, go sideways, block, and Caminiti isn't there yet. Neither is the trust with Wilkie. Confident both will come.
• Shout out to Jimmy Webster, who was excellent on Saturday.
• He ran out the game well, but Wilson looks a candidate for the second year blues. He'll be fine.
• Travaglia's first game looked like the nondescript game of a 25 year old, 100 game soldier. That's not a criticism. It's a fantastic place to start a career.
• Rowan Marshall is the most underrated player in the comp. End of.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Geez that was terrible, three minutes of nothingness, what a waste of airtime.

 

[BrutThough]

I wonder what happened to make Cornes so bitter towards us.

 

[stavro#4]

I wonder what happened to make Cornes so bitter towards us.

Probably just an easy target.

 

[jwikked]

Yes but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying to reduce the risk of long term issues. Every sport is doing the same.

Sure, but when it comes at the expense of the fabric of the game - I don’t think it’s worth doing. Neutering the game to make it safe, will make it no longer Aussie rules.

 

[ScrappyDo]

I wonder what happened to make Cornes so bitter towards us.

He just criticises everything no matter what. We're easy targets.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Pushing a player into traffic is not a part of the fabric of the game.

 

[Remboy]

I wonder what happened to make Cornes so bitter towards us.

He’s just a bitter, miserable person. Which is why I don’t listen to him.

 

[Remboy]

Sorry, to be clear, my gripe wasn't with the penalty, it's with the lack of a free kick for nearly taking a blokes head off - which I saw clearly from level 3 !!

My gripe is that everyone is focusing on Mansell but nobody is asking Lynch why his forearm made contact with O’Connell’s head. And it had nothing to do with O’Connell getting a nudge from behind.