FWIW, After attending the game at Etihad here are some observations:
1. The centre-square setup left a space just behind, defensive goalside of the tap. The 2 early goals were a direct result of us being too agressive forward of the ball. In fact on the second goal, Fyfe ran forward well before the centre clearance lottery had even been decided. This was fixed up soonafter, but surely an assistant coach was executed in the box for that setup.
2. In the first quarter, after we kicked a point or there was a rushed behind..........we seemed genuinely surprised that North would have a kick-in. Many time we failed to man-up that first kick. This was rectified about 20 mins into the quarter, obviously another assistant coach was killed in the box.
4. Around 20mins in the 3rd quarter, just after we took the lead, our forward setup was Ballas, Walters, Weller and Pav. Fyfe was on the pine and Mayne was in the midfield. Don't know where was Tabs. So basically, we'd given up bothering with Tabs or Mayne taking a fwd 50 grab. We were looking for chaos balls. Around this time, We received a free on the forward wing. Can't recall the kicker, but we had Ballas jogging into the forward line with his back to the kicker. The kicker kicked it towards Ballas, who never even saw it coming......and an opportunity went begging. Roly killed another assistant. The small fwd setup might have worked but just like the end of the 2nd quarter, North received an avalanche of Frees and kicked 2 goals.
5. For those who think Tabs might be dropped, it is instructive to hear Roly at the 4.40min mark of the presser:
Presser
Tabs is ahead of schedule.
6. We were smashed in the free-kick count again. To put in in perspective, if the free-kick count was reversed, then we win (pretty easy actually).
