Originally Posted by
bloodspirit
I did post on Saturday but somehow managed to delete it. I will now belatedly offer my thoughts on the game:
* I was delighted to see Horse's presser. It my opinion it was much more feisty and illuminating than he usually is. The points he made in his understated style in my opinion included that he was alarmed by, if not disgusted with, the umpiring, he was delighted with the effort from the youngsters and he was disappointed in the performances of the senior players (not including Sam Reid who did brilliantly).
* Apart from having a generally excellent performance, it was wonderful to see Sam Reid kick straight! I have seen him win that many kicks for goal but rarely has he converted so well. I think he has once before kicked six in a match? I won't rush to assume it was Plugger's influcene... but you never know!
* I would like to recognise Newman's great performance. I think he has gotten a tad less recognition than he deserves. I haven't watched a replay but I remember thinking he was everywhere, thereby showing great work ethic and endurance and, more especially, he is an absolutely beautiful kick!
* Although Aliir's performance was marred by errors and overall ordinary, I was once again struck by his wonderful composure under pressure and his ability to counter-attack.
* I thought Naismith did well in the ruck again, especially with only limited support from Tippo and Reid. Will be so exciting if we pick Cameron to replace Tippett instead of Sinclair. I'll trust the selection committee to make the right call.
* I think we were let down by our senior players - as highlighted by Horse and the meejia. Where their reduced output seems to be hurting us most is in defence. It is alarming that we have conceded 110 points in consecutive weeks. I think this is significantly due to a lower performance by our midfield and the opposition kicking inside 50 under less pressure. Obviously the youth in our backline is not helping. Swampy had a quiet night and will get away with it this week but needs to step it up a bit as injured players return to the side or he may lose his place.
Some other bits I would like to contribute to the rest of the discussion:
* I agree with Meg we need to focus our complaints properly to have the most impact and the Mills' rushed behind is not the right place. The decision was correct; the debate is if the rule is right and I don't feel that strongly about it. I remember hearing I think Garry Lyon firing up during the pre-season that the 'softer' ball up at the top of the square variation on the penalty rule would just invite players to subvert the rule and not take it seriously so I don't know whether to agree with the superficially appealing argument that the penalty is too harsh. On the other hand, focusing on those stats about Bulldogs free kicks v Vic sides compared to interstate sides is really powerful. It would be interesting to know the Bulldogs free kick stats when they travel interstate too.
* In this regard, I don't favour conspiracy theories but I think whoever mentioned the 'perception' bias is on the right track. I think it might be more a case of confirmation bias/halo effect or some other cognitive bias rather than a conspiracy involving the AFL, the umpires and payments into bank accounts. (Incidentally, I am very surprised to hear umpires bank accounts overseas are scrutinised and would hesitate to support something like that. Why should umpires forfeit their right to privacy any more than players, coaches, administrators, commissioners?)
* I've said it before and I'll say it again now, liz is right about everything! The voice of reason. Call me a sycophant. I'll live. (That said, I'm secretly waiting, hoping she'll make a slip and I can pounce!)
* I'm loving the @@@@s and don't agree there is anything untoward about the odd bit of *?#! either. I agree with being decent and respectful but I don't think that precludes ever swearing let alone *#@!ing. There is a place for profanity. It communicates effectively. It can be fun. It can give emphasis. And it doesn't have to be stupid or disrespectful. I can certainly live with garden variety profanity, especially at the footy, and even with my kids. I think it often creates a lot of the colour at the game although the best chirps definitely don't have to include any profanity. They just often do. Profanity/swearing is used across all walks of society and has become more and more socially acceptable as is seen, for example, on tv and in the newspapers and other media. Nor are the media leading the way there, in my opinion, they are simply reflecting the fact that people in our society swear widely. On RWO it is very restrained with people usually not even printing the words they mean and instead substituting @@@@ which, for mine, is definitely ok. I'm happy with that.
* I'm feeling reasonably sanguine about our season notwithstanding 0-2 start, especially after good effort against the Dogs that could have led to victory with better umpiring. However, that will all change if we don't beat the Pies! Get ready for Armageddon this Friday night, as our players lay it all on the line (I hope).
p.s. I'm totally a fan of the Buddy trade. Even though, stevoswan, may be right that there has been a cost in terms of backlash from the establishment, it has still been worthwhile. For me, while the single most important measure, flags are not the only measure of success. H&A victories, membership, GFs, just the joy of watching our team play are all important yardsticks too.
p.p.s. Whoever wrote that Hodge is better player than Joey - I totally disagree!! Hodge is a thug and a bully and, great as some of his performances have been, they have not been at the same level and with the same consistency as Joey. He might be a better onfield 'general'/coach but that is, at least in part, because he's been playing longer and because Joey is a bit more of a quiet achiever. I would so much rather have Joey playing for us than Hodge! And I would so much rather play alongside Joey than Hodge. Even our players who have a bit of mongrel in them (like Jones now or BBBH once upon a time), are/were more fiery and feisty and wearing their heart on their sleeve than cunningly calculating and predatorily nasty like Hodge.
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