Just a practice match on TV?

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So it was a pre-season match and watching a game on TV gives virtually no assistance in making any assessments.

BUT, what was of concern, when the game was won, was Brisbane running forward in waves, dishing off hand balls to supporting players, running around static defenders with ease and then finding players who, even in those conditions, could take a contested mark in the forward line.

By contrast St Kilda were just not in it and every action reeked of defensive panic.

We had players out, but so did Brisbane - and a couple of "holding the man" frees at the end were to all intent and purpose home town calls and looked like "holding the ball" or "incorrect disposal" because the Brisbane players were in possesion when tackled - but, I repeat, when the game was there to be won St Kilda were totally outclassed and Brisbane made it look so easy it was of great concern.

I have a view that this will be a most difficult season, losing our most incisive mid-fielder and needing to put the question against our younger brigade to assist our core of perceived "better players", some of whom go missing against better opposition - which is precisely when you need them to lift performance and give leadership.

In those conditions, with King and Gardiner giving us the first look by dominating the ruck contests, we were thrashed around the mid-field including because we gave away a series of free kicks out of the centre.

A long way to go and a long way to go!

Positives?

NIL, and we should not delude ourselves that there were any because when the game was there to be won we were woeful and no player put their hand up.

Brisbane went home at half time and still won, easily.