The big test!

[Toga]

But although every time I think about it I am spewing, I have cooled enough to say that yes there were a lot of positives out of the game.

Ellis was fantastic. I loved him last season, but had been unimpressed by him up to last night. Provided good run, and didn't shy away from tackles and hits.
Vlastuin will be a star. His Q1 in particular was great - laid some great tackles and took some heavy hits across the night, not afraid to put his body on the line. I think he will be in the team again last week.
Titch and Knights were great up forwards - both laid good tackling pressure all night which is what we lacked last week, and Knights kicked some fantastic goals.
Martin ran out the game nicely again this week (as he did against the Doggies), hopefully he can do this consistently from here on in.
Cotch and Deledio - Cotchin looked good as always and was brave to play on after that nasty looking ankle twist. Deledio was pretty well beaten by Crowley but was still working hard and got some kicks into the forward line that were valuable.
Vickery was a presence up forward.
And as JROO said, Jackson was great again last night.

But the negatives:
Jack didn't do much at all. McPharlin is a champion player, but Jack is an elite forward and needed to start leading up a bit more rather than sitting back and calling for it to be bombed on his head.
Our forward pressure in general (aside from Knights & Titch's tackling) was pretty lacking. Every long kick from our midfielders would be intercepted by Freo, in a 3 vs 1 contest. Seemed like their defenders just towelled us up in most forward entries.
Griffin dominated Maric... He is struggling with the new stoppage rules.
Rance is so low on confidence he can't take sitters. Really feel for him as he was thrown in the deep end last week after Chaplin was injured against Cloke who was unstoppable. Really low on confidence, he needs to get that confidence back somehow.
We needed Steve Morris last night. That quick small defender would have been uber valuable on Ballantyne and particularly Walters.



Anyways I'm still spewing we lost, and am not happy with the umpiring last night at all, I'm sure Dimma will have something to say about it, but hope the boys can take some confidence out of last night's effort and really take it to Geelong and the Port the week after. Go Tiges.

[Jroo]

Agree Toga. Morris would've been really handy last night. He would've shut down one of Walters or Ballantyne.

[Vincent]

the big test

result: failed!

[quinny88]

the big test

result: failed!

The big test was over 4 weeks if you read the thread so its not failed yet..

[Toga]

Ignore the tossa quinny, no substance to any of his posts.

[Jroo]

the big test

result: failed!

Spud ^^

[Toga]

Interesting article - wouldn't have had any clue we have been that good at stoppages. Pity we lost the one that counted.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-04-30/tiger-tales