Autopsy Roast & Toast v Saints & Changes For Brisbane

[Daka]

Taranto & Hopper have had 2 years to prove.
they have had enough time & proven they aren't it as a midfield group.

In 2022 we made finals.
Our midfield was already struggling at times due to it being aging, and reliance on Prestia both Taranto & Hopper have been worse when they should have been improvement over an old Edwards, Cotch and Prestia.

 

[dothebowdenshuffle]

I take the little wins - impressive first half. Campbell easily our best. Our games in recent seasons v Saints at Marvel with a way more experienced side have been awful from start to finish, so even though the margin blew right out after half time, I feel with our young side we can take definite positives out of the game. Be good to get back to the G next week.

 

[Azzleberry]

Play the future and take the spankings that come with it. But also play them in their right positions.

Blights a backman so don’t do what we did with Balta and stuff him around by getting him to play different potions early on.

Dow was ok today. If he’s out, then that’s the call on him. 20 possessions wasn’t a bad game. Sonsie needs a continual run. Green was also ok. Needs time.

This.

Don't have enough depth to be dropping players like Dow after a reasonably solid game for someone with <40 games experience.

Out: Mansell (susp), Armstrong (rest), Green, Tresize

In: Gray, Sims, Macauliffe & Alger

Give the young kids blocks of 3-4 games and then rotate them back to VFL for development. We also need to reward the VFL players and get them in when they play decent games to build competition for spots/reward effort.

Keep Sonz, Dow and Macaullife in the side for 3-4 games and rotate them all 50% through the midfield rotations and have Hopper, TT, Kmac all rotate onto a flank or wing

 

[TigerTank]

For some perspective, there’s not much difference between where we are now and where Hawthorn was four years ago.
It’s not enjoyable but it’s fine, especially given what we’re seeing in the VFL, which looks promising.
McAuliffe has clearly earned his chance at AFL level, and Armstrong may benefit from a chance to dominate at VFL level but I honestly don’t see much scope for further change to the 23.
What I would like to see is a different balance in the midfield mix more often just as Azzleberry suggested.
Taranto and Hopper rotating forward more often makes a lot of sense. They did that well enough at GWS.

 

[Azzleberry]

For some perspective, there’s not much difference between where we are now and where Hawthorn was four years ago.
It’s not enjoyable but it’s fine, especially given what we’re seeing in the VFL, which looks promising.
McAuliffe has clearly earned his chance at AFL level, and Armstrong may benefit from a chance to dominate at VFL level but I honestly don’t see much scope for further change to the 23.
What I would like to see is a different balance in the midfield mix more often just as Azzleberry suggested.
Taranto and Hopper rotating forward more often makes a lot of sense. They did that well enough at GWS.

The "protect the kids" just means not having them get battered for 100% of the time in the midfield... but we do need to be giving them experience through the middle as part of their development.

This was always what 2025 was going to look like!

Positives:
1- we are going to get Balta, Prestia, MRJ, Smillie and the ACL Crew back over the next 4-6w
2- were undefeated in the VFL
3- biggest one... no major injuries so far

 

[TigerTank]

I’m not out on Dow. He is often hand passing to the “wrong” player because the right player is not presenting well enough yet.
He may prove to be far more useful once the likes of Lalor learn the tempo of the game.

 

[DickieKnee]

Totally agree with this

we do need to be giving them experience through the middle as part of their development.

Which means giving midfield time to Lalor and Smillie when he comes in the team.

 

[TigerTank]

Did Smillie play VFL this weekend?

 

[captain blood 17]

The big takeout for me was the midfield. We’re cooked in there currently. I’m ok if we get done. But, if we’re gonna get done, FFS, play Sonsie, Campbell and Mansell through there. At seasons end, one of Taranto or Hopper has to be traded. The mix is stuffed. So i’m not saying they’re bad footballers etc, what i am saying is we have 0 pace and outside run. Something has to change.
There’s not much a backline can do when the saints ran it though the guts with ease.

 

[Hoos]

Sick of seeing Hopper get caught trying to side step 3 guys only to get caught HTB.

Every game. It's like a nervous tick he can't get rid of.

 

[captain blood 17]

I also think Armstrong could do with a rest in the VFL and we look at Sims for a couple. Fawcett copped a bad broken nose, so if he’s fit, i’d give him a run, but if not, Sims.
And Lalor and Trainor looked ok again.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

What I think is refreshing is through the pressers we actually understand from Yze what he tried to do instead of the usual dribble we used to get from Dimma. Credit to him for taking accountability.
Time to walk the walk and drop a few of the senior blokes who don't warrant selection.

Rather listen to a 3x premiership coach any day of the week.

 

[tigs2010]

Had 9 centre bounce attendances, it’s probably right for his age and experience at AFL level

Langford had 16 just yesterday. Lalor goes in in the 4th when the heat is out of it. 0, 2, 1, 6 was his split and has 83% TOG. Think we could get that better even if it means reduced TOG.

 

[Sol23]

Called it early on Bauer. He’s a dud and scared. Fawcett played a ripper last week and should have been given another game.
Brown is really trying and looks to be improving.
Yes it a rebuild but we need more speed around the ball asap.
I really believe if we get the mix right it will make this rebuild a little less painful and quicker.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Why did we let Sinclair do as he pleased all day? Bloke tore us a new one and didn’t see anyone touch him.

Green did a good job on him in the 2nd qtr.
Not sure why clueless changed it after half time.

 

[captain blood 17]

Sonsie dominates VFL as a legit midfielder yet never gets a chance to play there in the seniors.

Give him a ****in chance at least.

 

[Rubber Hips]

Very happy with Blight’s progress….very reliable

 

[Rubber Hips]

Kano and Gray should come in this week

Armstrong needs to find form in .VFL

Think Smith might be injured

 

[UpTheGutz]

Can’t believe the line for the Lions game is only 42.5

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

I think I have seen enough of Bauer. He lacks effort on the ground and doesn't have presence or physicality to play tall and he lacks the speed to play mid or small so he is in this no man's land.

I would actually put him back
Trainor too the wing.
The kid needs relief from how often the balls coming in.Let alone the pressure he's under.
Otherwise he'll be burnt by mid season.

 

[Rubber Hips]

You just know Mansell will become the martyr for pushing in the contest


Could have stamped this out when Gumby did it to Lalor….

 

[tropicaltiger]

last two have been at adelaide oval and marvel resulting in two flogging, back at the G this week. expecting improvement in performance and attitude.

 

[Azzleberry]

Did Smillie play VFL this weekend?

Nope so hopefully features next week

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

The big takeout for me was the midfield. We’re cooked in there currently. I’m ok if we get done. But, if we’re gonna get done, FFS, play Sonsie, Campbell and Mansell through there. At seasons end, one of Taranto or Hopper has to be traded. The mix is stuffed. So i’m not saying they’re bad footballers etc, what i am saying is we have 0 pace and outside run. Something has to change.
There’s not much a backline can do when the saints ran it though the guts with ease.

Convince carltoon Crippa needs help outside of umps.
We need run.
Straight swap Hopper for Acres.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Can’t believe the line for the Lions game is only 42.5

That's each qtr