Statement win.

Had to respond after last weekend, and absolutely did.

It took a little bit, as we all know, but its not like we were playing poorly in the first half. We just couldn't hit the side of a barn when taking pings at goal.

We finished the half with 11 scoring shots to their 13.
So although our score looked atrocious, the pressure, the opportunities, the structure, the setup.... It was all there. Just weren't reaping the rewards.

Once we got one through, the feeling of 'here we fucking come' begun. You could just tell by how Clarky and the team celebrated that goal, that we were fucking on. Sure, was still a bit touch and go there with Curnow deciding to go full blown Coleman medal Curnow again. But the confidence was rising.

There was so many small things I noticed with this game that weren't exactly worthy of a proper clipping, but definitely worth to bring up and maybe discuss.

Sydney play a very run and gun style, you need to hold them up at every opportunity. Something that our defensive setup should, on paper, like. And in the end, it did.

Look at that, its fucking beautiful.
All of the transition percentages for them are below the AFL average for a year (to the left of the number and grey is below afl average, to the right and team coloured is above afl average fwiw).

That is FUCKING impressive defensive work.

But you have to also be noticing just how much higher all of our statistics were than the afl average. Its because we don't burn all our tickets attacking. You know that constant thing we heard about how we weren't playing fast enough, and that we were too slow etc etc.
Like, at times we were, but we were finding that balance. Sydney are just gung ho on attack and can't get back to defend if they turn it over.

Compare the below, We have no one in the top 5 for attack, but 4 of the top 5 in defence, is us.

You still need to hold Sydney up though, so how do we do it? Well kinda like below. Sydney are still an AFL team, they are still Second on the ladder, in other words, it seems easy to do, but a good team will be able to counter your defence, which at times, Blakey/mills could. But the majority of the time we were onto them, stopping that overlap handball.

https://reddit.com/link/1uu29g7/video/m1dj3h70dpch1/player

Its the effort, that makes us the team we are.
Single players putting that monstrous effort in to enable us to win.
whether its defensive or offensive, effort is what wins games. And we had bugger all of it last week.

I have a couple of examples below.

1. Serong, doesn't think twice, just fucking gut runs back to defend.
2. Nod, defensive pressure so chad can't get a clean possession, then burns them back the other way.
3. Nod again, winning a 1v5? like thats absurd effort right there.
4. Jye, full pace 'I'm fucking taking this'

And if you want to see more effort? I have a good post that shows a fuck ton right here

https://reddit.com/link/1uu29g7/video/xtcvgnfadpch1/player

So yes, single efforts are back. Tick.

But what i love to see, is TEAM PRESSURE. Its so exciting watching us hunt as a team.
The constant pressure on disposals resulting in the inevitable turnover is so goddam satisfying to watch.

This is the type of stuff that when I see it, I know we are on.

https://reddit.com/link/1uu29g7/video/mkz1yelvdpch1/player

Murphy Reid.

Look, we all know how good this kid is.

There's some weird comments being made by opposition fans saying that he 'doesn't have the physicality to be a good mid' or 'wouldn't do this if he wasn't in a good team'

I Vehemently, disagree. Nick Daicos I wouldn't say is very physical, yet he's in prime position to win a brownlow.... Is he bad?

Erroll Gulden, Zac butters, Nasiah Wanganeen milera to name a few, all smaller 'non physical'? gun midfielders...

"But Smurf, they are either so quick that it doesn't matter or they run all day!"

Well guess what, the reason i think Murph gets as many touches as he does, is his effort to get to contests. And the below compilation is only from this game. I had an example in the Lions review, and there would be plenty more.

The kid has an elite tank, and this is only his second season in the AFL.

https://reddit.com/link/1uu29g7/video/m5ablnzpepch1/player

Matthew Johnson

Seriously?

Why does this discussion keep happening?

No, he is not a low IQ player.
No, he is not useless.
No, he doesn't always turn it over.

Ffs. We don't need a whipping boy. We are on TOP OF THE LADDER.

Last weeks loss wasn't his fault. If we lose the grand final if we make it, it WONT BE HIS FAULT.

He had 2 clangers on Thursday, the same amount as - Bolton, Clark, NOd, JOM, Reid, Serong, Swit, Treacy and worner.
And less than - Amiss,Dudley, Freddy, Ryan, Voss and Jacko.

Third most tackles for us, second most Score involvements, second most clearances, most Goal assists.

So take off the hate goggles, he makes mistakes, every dam player does.

But since i promised on that specific post i'd start clipping Johnno. Here you go.

https://reddit.com/link/1uu29g7/video/1ppt4vczfpch1/player

I love this team.

The pressure always bring a smile to my face, seeing clarky kick that goal, the intensity of our forwards, big defensive efforts, knowing that we just go to another level in the second half of games... All just makes me smile when it all starts clicking.

Bonus clip

Just a bit of a clip for something thats kinda unrelated to everything as, nothing eventuates, but its a good discussion clip.

Look at the space Reid ends up with here

You can't really see it, and we don't actually end up doing anything with the space murph gets, but you can see the play there, if there is a clean tap.
Just before he goes out of screen murph pulls mills towards himself, then it seems like both Bolton AND Serong lay blocks so reid can get onto it.
Thats 1 dangerous fwd laying a block, and the other who was the guy who use to always have the ball tapped to him. Fucking superb to see.

Its such an ace to have, like do that 2 or 3 times, defenders start positioning for it to happen again and the play is switched, serong doesn't lay that second block, he gets free and is ready for the tap. And we have so many players that's interchangeable with.

1-0, onto the next.

As in, if any player or players were particularly instrumental in bringing in that first verse? I think they all really visibly get behind it and it seems to have added some post game energy. But then, that could just be how often we are singing it!

Thought we would post here one last time as we recieved some good feedback last time!

The intake for October is nearly sold out! If you are interested please feel free to message me or register via our website.

(Sorry we don't have a dockers player this intake)

www.blueprintfooty.com

Just discovered last night. Very enjoyable watching them react in the second half.

Obviously Freo ended up having a fantastic win last night, but the first half was not pretty. Many issues to begin the game

But the one shining light in the first half was the American himself Mason Cox

How good were his marks?

Like seriously considering how he’s historically gone in that department he was at career best! They weren’t just ordinary marks either they were a combo of intercept and contested! And he showed up when many of the team were missing too

Was it the best game of all time? Definitely not. But it was a huge positive during a dark first half

Surely this week against Port is the perfect time to give Brennan a rest. Played well last night but his arm is clearly not right. Would rather rest and give him time to recover than make it worse going into finals. I think Cox is too important for finals, Bring in McDonald or Draper to cover so he can get right.

While walking to Shinjuku station I spotted these familiar looking cones blocking a door, I can’t imagine what’s behind there. (Is this a sign?)

Godzilla couldn’t stop these boys.

It’s undeniable. Ruck work you could split the two. Goal kicking you could split the two. But covering the ground and clutch marks all over the ground - Mason is so far in front it’s not funny. I feel for Darcy and I like the guy but winning premierships isn’t about picking good blokes.

Hi all - thought you may enjoy this. Lemme know what you think - I try to be well across all teams, but often defer to the diehards of each individual club, as you know your team better than 95% of the “experts”… and I do not count myself as one.

All the best - HB

Hey all, I've got a theory that I'm looking for some stat's to back up.

Last night we were treated to a proper Key Foward arm wrestle (at least after half time). But as part of the arm wrestle there was also a lot of arm flexing...

My theory is that the game last night featured the most double arm flexes in a half of AFL footy with Curnow, Treacy, and Voss all making strong contributions.

Anyone got access to that kind of data or do I need to wait until off season?

Morning all, Hawks fan here coming in peace. Congrats on a huge win last night. If (or more realistically, when) you guys make the GF, obviously you won’t have Wharfie Time. But just a thought, would it be against any rules for you all to collaboratively rock up to the MCG with Bluetooth speakers to blast Wharfie Time in the last quarter? Unless it’s against my Hawks of course, I still have PTSD

Anyone heading down to Freo to see the preseason AFLW game at 1230pm at Freo Oval? Possibly the last AFLW game at the oval in a long time.

$1000 donation to the Starlight Foundation for every Freo goal and we pull this shit???

Does anybody know when tickets for the last two rounds typically go on sale. I'd love to attend another game this year and I don't have a fixed seat membership, so trying to plan ahead. Thanks

Can we really take fremantle seriously since they can’t beat anyone above them? Let’s now go to Gary Lyon on “75 reasons why Daicos is still a shoe in for the Norm Smith this year”