NEGATIVES
A refusal to change the game plan when it clearly isn’t working, either that or the recognition by the coaching staff is awful.
Players going to ground for no reason an taking themselves out of the contest, the worst offender is Fiora.
Richardson is not longer up to it as a spearhead focal point forward. He can’t take a mark out in front of his face, goes to ground to easily, is more interested in wrestling and looking for free kicks and can’t kick straight for goal. Time for a move up the ground where he can use his alleged superior running ability. Get him up around the center and wing areas because now that Stafford and Ottens are both in the side one of them will be resting down there so Richo will have a target to pump the ball long to.
Coughlan needs some help in the middle. He can’t do it all himself although he busts his ass every week. Campbell needs to get back soon and Johnson needs to get his back right before next week. Newman is rotting in the backline. Let’s get him into the midfield and see what he can do. Either him or Chaffey needs to be part of the rotation.
Bowden is a hideous joke, please trade him. Fiora is not an AFL standard player and the sooner we can offload him the better we will be. Houlihan should be gone the minute his contract expires.
I don’t have a problem with Richo not getting free kicks in his wrestling duels. Maybe one day he might remember that he was once a top flight forward by running and leading and running his opponent off his feet. Richo used to be the hardest match-up in football. Now you just need a player of equal size to wrestle with him. Really a waste of talent.
POSITIVES
I was happy with Holland’s game and to a lesser extend Dragicevic too. They both worked themselves into the game and will only get better.
Tivendale was very good again as was Chaffey and Ottens is getting better by the week. Zantuck battled on and is a player we can rely on to give 100% each week.
Can’t think of too many other positives I’m afraid. Season is slipping fast and it will be a huge effort to make the finals from here, particularly with the cushy draws that Essendon and Collingwood have from this point on. I was going to say that it’s time to blood some youngsters but apart from Schulz there aren’t any to try.
