SA Footy

So, no one seems particularly excited on here after last week.

I'm afraid we have another game this weekend, and I'm very afraid it will be as pitiful as last week. On paper we should win, but that was the case last week, and the Showdown, and against Melbourne. In other words I have NFI what is going to happen on Sunday.

For us to win, there are some glaring areas we need to address:

1. We need to learn to read big Sauces taps and get some clearances. Midfielders need to be on the move when the tap comes down, not stationary. Fingers crossed Vince can come in and make a difference in this area this week.

2. Defenders need to play on quickly FORWARDS and UP THE LINE to ONE ON ONE CONTESTS. Too often they don't back their team mates to win a 1:1 contest and wait for more favourable numbers, holding up play or kicking sideways which inevitably ends up giving the opposition time to do the opposite and clog the space. 1 on 1 = good contest, kick to it and back your team mate FFS.

3. Give the forwards some decent delivery. If Tippett is leading, put it in front, not over his head! Argh! Also, back yourself and have a shot from 50 mtrs FFS. If you don't get the distance at least you'll get the in ball deep and not just lob it up for easy pickings by the opposition's loose man. I would love to know how many goals have been kicked against Adelaide directly from a turnover in our attacking 50. Absolutely sick of seeing opposition player's kicking goals in the goal square unchallenged after our defence is left high and dry by a quick turnover in attack!

Anyway, there are my thoughts, I'll get off my soap box now.

As far as the team goes this week, I don't really care who plays. As long as they show some ticker rather than that piss poor crap we saw last week (and against Melbourne, and against Port, and for periods in every other game so far this year).

I refuse to bet on Adelaide matches this year because you never know what team will show up. Or if Chris Schmidt is playing. Lol.
Why can we flog the pi$$ out of Collingwood for three quarters yet the Lions make us look slow and useless?

Two huge areas for exploitation.
1)Firrito and Pratt out. There's a big chunk of their rebounding defence out. How do we take advantage of this?

2) Kurt Tippett. Rarely beaten one on one. Deliver to his advatage FFS and he will mark it or at least create a spillage in our forward line.

Henderson needs a break. Ineffective and klutzy.

Give Jack Gunston a go. Like this kid's endeavour, leave him on the field for more than 15 minutes a match.

Patrick Dangerfield must go into the midfield.

Recipe for success right there.

James Sellar was seriously exposed last week for a lack of pace and defensive smarts.

Stevens and Davis leave a gaping hole

Need to find a match up for Petrie, Edwards and Hansen (Assuming these are all playing?)

OnSong wrote:Henderson needs a break. Ineffective and klutzy.

Give Jack Gunston a go. Like this kid's endeavour, leave him on the field for more than 15 minutes a match.

Buggered if I know how Henderson got a gig over Gunston last week. He's done nothing all year, I'm sorry. I feel like a broken record on that one.

Also - I'd like to see Petrenko get more of a run also, possibly up forward and even a bit of a pinch hit through the guts.

We'll see the team later today, but it seems that Vince would be a certainty, with Gunston and Symes other possible inclusions.

Harvey needs to be tagged and I'd give Douglas the job, I don't think anyone else can go with him.

B: Johncock, Rutten, L. Thompson.
HB: van Berlo, Sellar, Doughty
C: Jaensch, Reilly, Vince
HF: Knights, Gunston, Sloane
F: Douglas, Tippett, Wright
R: Jacobs, Dangerfield, S. Thompson
I/c (from): Henderson, Maric, Moran, Otten, Petrenko, Schmidt, Symes

In to 25: Gunston, Maric, Moran, Otten, Schmidt, Symes, Vince
Out of 22: Walker (knee), Smith (hip), McKernan, Cook.

McKernan dropped but Henderson still in the squad!

Otten hasn't exactly torn it up for South either - surely they won't rush him back in.

Gingernuts wrote:B: Johncock, Rutten, L. Thompson.
HB: van Berlo, Sellar, Doughty
C: Jaensch, Reilly, Vince
HF: Knights, Gunston, Sloane
F: Douglas, Tippett, Wright
R: Jacobs, Dangerfield, S. Thompson
I/c (from): Henderson, Maric, Moran, Otten, Petrenko, Schmidt, Symes

In to 25: Gunston, Maric, Moran, Otten, Schmidt, Symes, Vince
Out of 22: Walker (knee), Smith (hip), McKernan, Cook.

McKernan dropped but Henderson still in the squad!

still trying to figure out whether or not to make the 3 hr drive to etihad this sunday and seeing mckernan being dropped the same time we lose walker doesn't feel me with confidence. as for henderson i think his role at the moment is a learning one and he will do so quicker at AFL level rather then with centrals... only possible justification i can think off anyway.

I've tipped the Crows. What have I done? Surely we're not that bad are we? (yes I know we just lost to Brisbane at home, don't remind me!)

Cant understand why McKernan was dropped, with Walker out we need more forward options. Maybe
Dangerfield will paly alot more forward this week when he should be in the midfield.

Mckernan had too go back. Not getting enough of the ball

the joker wrote:Mckernan had too go back. Not getting enough of the ball

Agreed, form had been declining over the past month.

NFC wrote:

the joker wrote:Mckernan had too go back. Not getting enough of the ball

Agreed, form had been declining over the past month.

If Walker was playing this week then yes Mckernan should go back, but with him not being able to play thought he would be a good option up forward.

Two things I'm particularly interested in today:

1. Whether Vince will have an impact in the midfield. In reality he should be right up there with Thommo as a second influential midfielder, but it hasn't happened. Time to step up to the plate Bernie.

2. What can Moran produce? I remember him performing quite well when he strung a few games together in 2009, but that was a long time ago. This is the last role of the dice for him you would think.

Doughty, Sellar, Moran, Henderson, Symes wouldn't get a game for any other team.

sapaul wrote:Doughty, Sellar, Moran, Henderson, Symes wouldn't get a game for any other team.

correct.

plus a few others

sapaul wrote:Doughty, Sellar, Moran, Henderson, Symes wouldn't get a game for any other team.

agreed, and as much as Doughty can be a liability, need someone with a few games under their belt in defence.

Sellar and Moran. Competition for worst AFL listed player.

People, don't forget to direct some of the blame towards our midfield coach. The insipid display by the midfield is becoming a recurring theme. I lay the blame squarely at the feet of those in midfield and those coaching them (Thompson is the exception).

This is the most soul destroying period in the history of the club. I can't even get upset when I watch anymore, I find myself laughing (mostly delusional laughter).

Mad Mat wrote:People, don't forget to direct some of the blame towards our midfield coach. The insipid display by the midfield is becoming a recurring theme. I lay the blame squarely at the feet of those in midfield and those coaching them (Thompson is the exception).

This is the most soul destroying period in the history of the club. I can't even get upset when I watch anymore, I find myself laughing (mostly delusional laughter).

Very good point Mat. Our midfield was insipid today. It is dead set hopeless. It made an ordinary unit in Nth Melb look like superstars, just as it did with Brisbane last week.

No accountability, no hunger for the contest, just a lot of standing around navel gazing.

Moran is a spud, I can understand why the coaching panel wanted to have another look at him, but one match is enough. I'd rather have an out of form McKernan out there.

Sellar tries hard but is as slow as a wet wig. Henderson - well he's the first player I've ever been frustrated about getting picked every week. Give him the arse FFS. I'm not saying he's dead set hopeless, but HE NEEDS A SPELL!!!! All his done so far in his career is kicked a few handy goals from 50, that is not a golden ticket!

This is going to be a long season.