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Mick Cowan's avatar

What was learnt:

1. The auditors confirmed our underlying suspicion as to the operation of the business – Whilst not operating whilst insolvent, the audit provided by the Lions confirmed that the business whilst “profitable” isn’t functioning at a level that provides the maximum return on the investment. The inability of our midfield to match the spread from the contest by the Lions’ midfield brought home the fact that we lack a midfielder with dash from the contest to either provide an exit from the contest or to run down an opponent from the contest.

2. Good teams don’t get beaten by what they know – Having used Gunston as a guardian on Andrews previously, they did not allow this to happen again this time. Equally, we knew that Zorko coming off half back will provide them with drive going forward, yet our half forwards didn’t appear to be up to the task of quelling his run and carry. He nearly gained 1km repeat of last week.

3. Lack of connection between the midfield and forward line – There were certainly some poor kicks to open players within the forward 50, but at the same time, there were many times when the forwards didn’t come towards the ball carrier on the lead providing them with an option rather than inviting a long bomb entry. Kicking a high entry to Watson, one or two out, isn’t a sustainable method of operation with as experienced defensive unit as the Lions have in their side. Reflect on some of the entries the Lions had inside 50 to the ones we attempted. Late in the 3rd quarter, Worpel didn’t have a option come to him forcing him to take a long shot and similarly, the options provided to Weddle when he had two strong entries into the forward 50 (Gunston did slip over on one, but we need to provide more than one option).

4. Players didn’t go into their shells after making an error – Even in a game where not much went right, there were numerous examples where a player made an error usually a turnover, where they then worked their backside off in the next contest to regain or neutralize the next possession. This should be seen as a growth learning – a couple of seasons ago, the same players would have doubted themselves. Mackenzie being run down after confusing pace with ambition in the first quarter, then intercepting a marking contest.

5. Loopy handballs to an outside runner leads to confusion – Whilst not quite hospital handballs, when you have an overlap scenario, to handball in an high arc, just provides a greater opportunity for the opposition to come forward and pressure the receiver. Always keep in mind that once the ball is in the air, then the receiver has to keep their eye on the ball, thus lose sight of what the opposition is doing in response, so whilst they may not be tackled, they may then run into a compromised position when they had thought they were “free”.

6. Watson from 45+m out having a set shot is not a good option. On the run, he is marginally better, but with the momentum for the moment, he needs to be aware of his limitations.

Observations:

• Another week where we didn’t get good looks at the goals which made the scoring opportunities not only difficult, but even more important with how few clean scoring chances we generated.

• Some elements of either poor decisions or self-interest came into play in the last quarter – Jiath taking a mark on F50 didn’t give Scrimshaw a handball running onto his left and then took the shot from 50 without success; he took a tight shot from the boundary later in the quarter as did Weddle when centring the ball would have been the better option.

• Mackenzie doesn’t appear to have returned from his injury with all guns firing as to whether this indicates his injury is still an issue e.g. wearing a glove, although the pre-game social media had him gloveless or a broader issue – see below on DE.

• There is no real right/wrong answer, but the week off to Meek and Gunston didn’t appear to have an immediate benefit to their form whilst Nash looked rusty from his lengthy break.

• As per last week, this being a 3 point game, Morrison was one player whose credit bank was enhanced i.e. previously hadn’t been deemed to be capable at the level. Along with this, the back 6 as a unit held up quite well when you consider how dominant the Lions were in the midfield, this is not to say that individually, they didn’t always stand up to the heat.

• Barrass’s intercept marking does provide a skill set that we have been lacking over the past few seasons.

• Albeit marginal and arguably against the run of play, we did “win” the first quarter.

• TOG % - Bottom 5 (leaving out subs): Ward 65% Morrison 72% Worpel 75% Chol & Ginnivan 76% D’Ambrosio & Jiath 77%. (Sicily highest on the ground at 96%.)

• Kicking efficiency (DE): Sicily 100% (100), Moore 100% (100), Meek 100% (67), Battle 93% (96), Ward 88% (80) Scrimshaw 80% (83) Hardwick 80% (75).

Jiath 50% (67), D’Ambrosio 50% (63), Gunston 50% (63), Chol 50% (67), Macdonald 40% (60), Watson 33% (25), Worpel 31% (57). (Note: Mackenzie 0% (80) based on 1 kick – a floater that was intercepted.)

• A broader observation – in the two games where we have been outplayed for significant periods of games, we have not allowed them to become 10 goals losses which occurred last year. A point that did draw Sam’s ire last year against Gold Coast.

Starting 4: (CBA/CC)

1st Qrt: Newcombe (20/0) Worpel (19/1) Ward (8/1)

2nd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Nash (17/0)

3rd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Nash

4th Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Nash

Meek 21/1 Mackenzie 9/1 Chol 5/1 Moore 4/0 Weddle 1/0 D’Ambrosio 0/1

Even with Nash back, Ward was given the first rotation this week, however given the way the centre clearances played out, we reverted to the regulars of the Big 4. Interesting that Mackenzie (2/7) in a half, just shaded Ward (2/1/2/3) for CBAs across the match. With our lack of pace, Moore only had 1 CBA in each quarter. Many have asked for Weddle to be used in CBAs and this happened very late in the 4th quarter.

Issue for the week:

As per last week, the current run of games may well become a defining period for selection with players returning from various forms of absence. With Impey a given, there are others whose form warrants attention – Bailey Macdonald didn’t much wrong in the games he played and having played a sub, may have needed to play a full game for match fitness as much as anything else. As to whether Dear did enough at BH this week will be a watch. He did look sore at training early last week. The pace that Butler has brought to the BH midfield may well bring him into discussions this week, however the Pies’ midfield structure is different to the Lions.

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Stuart McKenzie's avatar

This game highlighted a lot of what we've seen since the bye:

1. Inexcusable clangers that have a double effect of costing us a scoring opportunity and giving the opposition a scoring opportunity. This was a feature of rounds 1-7 in 2024 and has been a feature of our play since the bye. The repeated bloopers just make it impossible to get any momentum in our game. Missing very gettable shots at goal (Worpel and Gunston) also hurt.

2. The inability to win clearance, yet rarely do we see significant change to the mix or the method. McDonald never gets a run on ball, nor does Weddle or Watson. The rinse and repeat of Newcombe / Worpel with one of Nash, Ward, Mackenzie isn't getting it done and surely there needs to be some change. It also means that we never see Jai forward which is disappointing as he's a dangerous forward option.

3. One dimensional kick ins that are either short to the left or long to the left. Obviously, opposition sides are denying us the fast break to the right side but we need more than the two existing options.

4. Meeky is a great competitor and gets hands to the ruck contest more than the opposition ruck, but he doesn't mark the ball around the ground - never gives us that contested mark at half back/wing to relieve pressure or a saving mark in defence.

5. Once again, our captain spent too much time complaining to the umpires and setting a terrible example, which no doubt is a factor in a younger player such as Ginnivan doing the same thing and giving away a 50 metre penalty. It's poor leadership.

6. Had Hardwick been playing in defence, it's most unlikely that Cameron doesn't kick those 3 goals before half time. I'm not sure what other HI people think, but we look better with Hardwick behind the ball and playing on the opposition's best small forward and only being swung forward when we need a change up. If he doesn't play on Elliot this week, who does?

7. Mackenzie needs a run in the twos to regain some confidence. Outside of the GWS game, he's been just ok and his possession numbers are not at the level required, notwithstanding his somewhat lesser game time.

8. There are players consistently performing above VFL standard for Box Hill and there needs to be consideration given to rewarding that form. Watching Butler on the weekend, he was very impressive, as was Bailey McDonald, Bodie Ryan (who has made great strides over the past month), Serong, Seamus, Henry and Ramsden.

9. Interestingly, we again had more marks inside 50, which is encouraging. In the loss last week, there were several bad errors in our defensive 50 that cost us goals, this week it was massive bloopers with ball in hand and against Geelong we just didn't take our opportunities. Eliminate the costly errors, reduce the bloopers and take our chances and we are doing enough to be right in the game against any opponent.

10. Players trying for long goals - yes Nashy got one through, but Watson continually tries it usually without success, as do others, for a very low success rate.

11. Agree with Andrew's point below, too often we didn't have an option or options ahead of the ball carrier when transitioning from defence, which was a feature of the early rounds in 2024. We need to hold a better forward structure.

12. Slow starts again. While we managed to regain the lead in Q1, we still did so from a two goal to nil deficit early.

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