Disappointed but not disheartened, the Insiders wrap up the Saturday afternoon match that saw the Hawks come up short against the Bombers to kick off 2024.
I thought skill let us down today not commitment. Poor kicking for goal, missing targets being the two main negatives. Generally ok with the performance but we have to takes our chances. Essendon had a day out with their kicking and were cleaner than us.
It's time to let Meek crash and bash through the centre clearances. We were comprehensively smashed today in the middle. Meek needs to be given a few games as the No.1 ruckman as Reeves output is well below what is acceptable. He has no mongrel in him and is too slow to zone up in Sam's gameplan.
I found yesterday really frustrating. As you mention, we coughed up easy goals through the midfield all day and simply couldn't keep any decent momentum. The burned chances in the first half were always coming back to haunt us.
Am a bit concerned about Reeves (doesn't appear fit enough) and am getting more and more concerned that Josh Ward may not be the player we are / were hoping for as such a high pick. Probably slightly alternate to your views, think Cam Mackenzie still has a long way to go as he appears half a kick off the pace. Will be patient with him though as he has elite attributes.
Big positives were D'Ambrosio, Weddle's last qtr (reckon he should have been put as a mid in the last qtr), and Ginnivan. Worpel's game was very good too and Chol showed enough to think he'll be a great foil for Lewis.
I thought Sam Mitchell had a poor day coaching. 1. He left using the sub too late in the game when it made no difference, should have at least done at 3/4 time. 2. Most importantly he lacked any imagination with centre square changes. We lost the game out of the middle and he tried nothing. Mckenzie should have been given a run, maybe Ward, Ginnivin, Moore, even Weddle as mentioned. Doing nothing was brain dead. One of this worst coaching performances and uncharacterically lacking imagination. You can't have no Plan B out of the middle if you are getting smashed.
Enjoyed the Wrap, all good points……Dylan Moore was enormous. Ginni gets me up and about with every touch of the ball “LOVE him”. Massive fan of what Massimo brings. Looking forward to the Weddle post 50 games, I can forgive mistakes if he continues to dare. Senior players let us down. What the hell is going on with Sic? Lewis and Nash are well down on last year - why? Newk MUST work on his disposal. IMO, despite many errors, had we kicked straight, we would have won the game.
Great wrap Lads. Always make me consider a few things in a more positive way after my eyes focused too much on the missed shots on goal.
I can’t believe that after being the shining light of 2023 our midfield could be so comprehensively beaten at centre bounces and I hope that we sort this out quick smart. We will!! On the flip side, for us generate so many shots on goal without many centre clearance wins says something really positive about the way we moved the ball and I think our forward half pressure was strong, causing quite a few turnovers.
Really enjoyed the podcast but I also really like last years format. Ideally we’d have the hot take post match and a more considered analysis once dust has settled?
I thought skill let us down today not commitment. Poor kicking for goal, missing targets being the two main negatives. Generally ok with the performance but we have to takes our chances. Essendon had a day out with their kicking and were cleaner than us.
It's time to let Meek crash and bash through the centre clearances. We were comprehensively smashed today in the middle. Meek needs to be given a few games as the No.1 ruckman as Reeves output is well below what is acceptable. He has no mongrel in him and is too slow to zone up in Sam's gameplan.
I found yesterday really frustrating. As you mention, we coughed up easy goals through the midfield all day and simply couldn't keep any decent momentum. The burned chances in the first half were always coming back to haunt us.
Am a bit concerned about Reeves (doesn't appear fit enough) and am getting more and more concerned that Josh Ward may not be the player we are / were hoping for as such a high pick. Probably slightly alternate to your views, think Cam Mackenzie still has a long way to go as he appears half a kick off the pace. Will be patient with him though as he has elite attributes.
Big positives were D'Ambrosio, Weddle's last qtr (reckon he should have been put as a mid in the last qtr), and Ginnivan. Worpel's game was very good too and Chol showed enough to think he'll be a great foil for Lewis.
A lot to work on.
One last point, Brad was 100% correct; Finn is NOT a sub!
I thought Sam Mitchell had a poor day coaching. 1. He left using the sub too late in the game when it made no difference, should have at least done at 3/4 time. 2. Most importantly he lacked any imagination with centre square changes. We lost the game out of the middle and he tried nothing. Mckenzie should have been given a run, maybe Ward, Ginnivin, Moore, even Weddle as mentioned. Doing nothing was brain dead. One of this worst coaching performances and uncharacterically lacking imagination. You can't have no Plan B out of the middle if you are getting smashed.
Enjoyed the Wrap, all good points……Dylan Moore was enormous. Ginni gets me up and about with every touch of the ball “LOVE him”. Massive fan of what Massimo brings. Looking forward to the Weddle post 50 games, I can forgive mistakes if he continues to dare. Senior players let us down. What the hell is going on with Sic? Lewis and Nash are well down on last year - why? Newk MUST work on his disposal. IMO, despite many errors, had we kicked straight, we would have won the game.
Great wrap Lads. Always make me consider a few things in a more positive way after my eyes focused too much on the missed shots on goal.
I can’t believe that after being the shining light of 2023 our midfield could be so comprehensively beaten at centre bounces and I hope that we sort this out quick smart. We will!! On the flip side, for us generate so many shots on goal without many centre clearance wins says something really positive about the way we moved the ball and I think our forward half pressure was strong, causing quite a few turnovers.
Really enjoyed the podcast but I also really like last years format. Ideally we’d have the hot take post match and a more considered analysis once dust has settled?