)The following assessment appeared elsewhere pre Saturday’s game, and was made after studying various field reports received:
Should be a really interesting afternoon.
Can we beat Hawthorn? No doubt about it!!! The big problem though, is whether we can yet maintain things for long enough to do so.
So what is to be hoped for, is firstly that we concentrate on implementing the necessary game plan... swarm their ball carrier and the ball carrier's target player to disrupt their game plan, and meanwhile, our forwards have to once again spread, with our mid-fielders honouring that spread.
If we can get that happening, even for a limited period of time, we can then demonstrate to our kids that they CAN beat Hawthorn... and we CAN make them bleed.
So, getting this happening should be the main aim of today. Therefore, even if Hawthorn get away from us, forget the scoreboard, the mission is to implement the game plan for long enough to show the kids that it works.
This week’s Flux Report is therefore written with the above (and Roger
) in mind:Mission accomplished!!! The kids now know that the game plan works, and that they CAN carry it out against even the best opposition and the worst umpires.
(Actually, as pointed out by one respected intel analyst who can always be found where the heat is on – the game plan doesn’t yet work against the worst umpires.
But that’s ok. Saintsational has a whole thread devoted to sorting out this problem. My professional advice is to where possible always go with the automatic weapon. The idea is to NOT give the target a sporting chance!
)Now to the game itself:
Sooooooo bloody close!!!!!! (Unlike ‘those’ two passes in the backline!
)That grab at the end from Paddy!!!
He had NO right to take that. Came from no where! What a shame (especially for his confidence) that he couldn't nail the shot. Oh well... next time Paddy... you WILL. (That grab also probably means another week without Westy.
Though unconfirmed reports suggest that he may be working on a new thread “Paddy McCartin The Fourth Biggest Recruiting Disaster of all Time.” So things are looking up for Paddy. )Looking at the game plan and its execution:
Swarming their ball carrier - generally a tick.
Looking for the best option in the forward line - two weeks in a row(!) - tick.
Run n' gun - all day, even in the dying stages, we never went into our shells this time (c/f against Port Adelaide). A BIG HUMUNGOUS BLOODY tick!
Run off half back - see the point above.
Stopping their run off half back. Way better than against Footscray and Port, but not as good as against the Collingwood. That said, from about half way through the third quarter we got a lot better, and largely were able to limit the damage.
More ticks:
The even spread of the work load amongst our mids. And that by definition means that our young mid fielders are now stringing good games together.
Hickey’s ruckwork against Ceglar and that other bloke. Just needs to start taking a few more marks around the ground, but maybe that’s hard to do with sore hands - after all those tap outs, many of them decisive.
Bruce turning down larger offers to re-sign with his mates, and for four years! At $500K p.a. that is damn cheap. Anyone who doubts this, just look at what our competitors are paying their key forwards. And whilst Bruce’s stats are a little down, his output is not, and how many other key forwards are contributing much more to their teams?
So that’s two young, top-line, versatile key position players we have signed up long term – and we’re paying unders.
BTW, acknowledgement and thanks here to SMS for an excellent field report (submitted via encrypted sms – of course) viewtopic.php?f=1&t=90512&p=1608379#p1608370Those two old blokes in defence, including the ‘liability’, both simply continue to do a great job against the odds.
Our kids. Gaining strength. Gaining fitness. Gaining experience. GAINING BELIEF!!!
The jury is out:
Lee and Acres. On occasions both really attacked the footy hard. On other occasions, they did a bit of spectating.
Acres NEEDS to be played, so he can become settled with the tempo of AFL footy.
Lee. I still subscribe to the reports and analysis that he should be used more up forward as the third marking, and also lead-up, target. He can still be swung back when needed.
Pleasing:
Ross Lyon is still embracing the rebuild. Is still tanking.
(Now which club is closer to a flag? Just think Ross, if you’d stayed with us, what could have been................ )
Crosses (and cross cuts):
Delivery into the forward line - improving, but still too many errors. This was where we lost the game. There would have been pushing half a dozen two-goal turnarounds when we botched our kick into the forward line, and what should have been OUR goal was rebounded into a Hawthorn goal instead. That BLOODY hurts!!!
The holding the ball against Gears in the final quarter cost us a goal. The umpire made the correct guess, but when the umpire can’t see the play, the correct DECISION is play on. (This was checked with Destiny's Goat, just to make sure.)
And as was reported by SuperDuper, that WAS holding the ball to Bruce against O’Brien. Just like Gears’ decision, his fist just missed contacting the footy. Unlike Gears’ decision, the umpire had a clear view!
As for ‘those’ two back line passes. Unforgivable!
The grass is now cut in opposing directions at 10m intervals to allow the umpires and real estate agents to easily judge the distance of short kicks. It’s not rocket science fellas! So Saint’s fans, just run the replay, and have a look for yourselves. 
And what a sensible idea that cross-cutting of the grass at 10m intervals is too! Unfortunately though, as that great analyst Kinky Friedman was heard to mutter whilst watching the game from his trailer in New Mexico, “You can lead an umpire to water, but you can’t make it think.”
Opposition player to bag:
This week’s clear winner (of course) is No 12 for Hawthorn, Stephens!
INS:
In alphabetical order and depending on fitness – Dunstan or Gresham or Webster.
In alphabetical order and depending on attitude – West.
OUT:
Templeton.
Selection Considerations:
The outside run and speed of GWS. This may require injecting some more running players, even at the expense of some height. (That’s ‘injecting’ as in, into the team, not as in as per Effendope style.) The second prong of our response to this threat is to find out if Ian Stewart is available for a short mission after the Footscray vs Brisbane game on Saturday night.
Thoughts, Roger?
Thoughts, Westy?
Thoughts, Sainters?
- Aeon.
After thought:
Last week’s mission was accomplished – instilling belief in the players in the game plan(s), and belief in themselves to be able to carry it our against the best opposition team (even if not the worst umpires – but that hiccup is being worked on
).Moving ahead, the longer term mission is basically and unsurprisingly to build on that, and to hone our game. This is happening!
But a word to the faithful. Our team is still young, still being assembled and tuned. This process means that some stumbles along the way are almost inevitable. So be prepared, not disheartened.
The plan IS coming together.
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