bondiblue wrote:
Sad that you feel that way after one game. I was always bought up to know a footy season is a long season, full of ups and downs, for us, and the opposition. Luck plays a big part, as does injury.
You're a hard task master on Cerra. That's all I will say. One of our best.
You reckon Crippa playing Ruck Rover and 'resting' in the energy sapping role of ruck may have had to do something with "normal" supply to fellow mids????
I saw Doc and Boyd in a sprint race, this summer. Doc beat Boyd and a lot of the younger kids you'd expect would be too young too fast. Doc isn't slow. That is a tag some are spreading and some are believing. Point is mute. Doesn't really matter. Perception is reality.
As for intercepts. Maybe there was a "good" reason why Haines only took one intercept mark. You saw who was taking all the intercepts in the backline, and one that had Haines name on it was knocked away by that same bloke. Remember who? 7 intercepts by half time.
The Tigers didn't kick too much high ball anywhere near Weitering in the 2nd half, in fact, most of their goals were running goals and 4 of them from the goal square. Maybe that's the reason why Haines only took one mark. I agree Haines has played better during preseason and last year at GWS.
One bad comedy of errors with Gov, who started it, and all people want to remember is that one stuff up...then write him off. We wouldn't have a team if we crucified players for 3 mistakes in a game, let alone one. Perception is reality. Gov is the non defender in defense, or the defender pretender.
Boyd didnt start off in the VFL game. came on in 2nd quarter. He's only getting back to speed. He's a chance, but if I was a betting game, I think they will give him one more game in the Ressies.
But Carroll was always a chance in round 1. He's in such good form, he should be in.
Moir...nowhere near it for a 4 quarter game. You dont build fitness in the seniors. That's what the Ressies are for. He has to do the hard yards, not gifted games. Wilson still learning the game, and tried in midfield in 2nd half in Ressies for first time. About time. He will improve, but he hasn't put his hand up yet. Not fair to bring him for Hawks game without finding his feet as a mid in Ressies.
Point is as you said. WE haven't drafted for need. Where's the speed?
Where do we find speed? We can't change the list now, but we can move the ball smarter and quicker. When we do that, we are unbeatable. There was a period last year when we won 5 games in a row including Geelong by 63 points. We were flag faves despite Swans being 2 games clear, and we had players like Cerra, Martin, Cottrell, Cuningham, Doc and SOS, Marchbank, Fantasia missing from Best 23. 8 missing.
Went downhill after TDK got injured vs GWS Briggs. Then injuries started to mount again after that.
We need a little luck, and better ball movement...and uncompromising competitors who hate to lose. Get it sorted Vossy!!!
As Braithy said, it's not 1 game though is it.
Aside from Campo, Haynes and the downgraded version of Owies, it's the same team that has been on a 2w out of 10 game losing streak.
Even the rest of the football world is calling it as it is, our worse loss in 30 years and that is saying something.
Let's stop sugar coating it.
The only logical hope one can have is that this is the fire that keeps us going all season.
I never said Cerra was bad, he was serviceable but that was it.
65% disposal efficiency is nothing to get excited about.
The Tigers only had 5 players with less than that.
And Cerra and Walsh are supposed to be elite midfielders.
I already stated I didn't like Crippa in the ruck, but if we need him to supply the mids all the time than this supports my issue with our mids.
And players like Walsh and Cerra should be the next man up, relying on the one player all the time is why we are in the mess we are in.
Sorry I'm not saying you are wrong but Doc looked pretty slow, whether it be agility, burst or top speed.
How long was the sprint, 100m?
Yes there was a good reason the Tigers stopped bombing the ball in, they were too busy slicing up the midfield.
Just remember, we had Weiters, Haynes, McLovin and JSOS.....all mature smart footballers who should have that back 50 locked down and directing the kids to help block this further up the ground.
It doesn't matter which way you want to look at it, I can guarantee if you asked Haynes how he went, he'd agree it was a pretty poor effort.
Also I am pretty sure it was Haynes that dropped the mark that started that Laurel and Hardy skit.
This is not 'writing him off' it's pointing out the icing on the cake.
Maybe we only need 1 of Haynes or McLovin out there at a time with JSOS down back.
I hope Boyd is ready to go, so too Carroll. They are both needed.
I'd still like to see Moir getting game time if we are going down this mini rebuild path we seem to be on.
Motlop, as much as I like him is not really showing he's up to the role.
I like your enthusiasm that we can move the ball smarter and quicker but as you also know we have too many hack kicks in the team also.
Our best kick on the night was Saad at 80%, the Tigers had 8 players better than him.
And in our midfield we had Acres and Campo (first game he gets a pass) kicking at 25% and 33% respectively on the wing.
In fact the players that kicked 50% or less in the game we had 9 out of 13.
That included Doc, Crippa, Lord and Motlop and Cotters as well.
The other 2 were Williams and Kemp at 50%.
So the only way we are going to move the ball smarter and quicker is by hand at this stage, even then, some of the easy misses we seen by experienced players that night, it still might be a challenge for our group.
On the positive side of the ledger, surely we can't get worse than what we dished up.
And it is Sunday afternoon, so we can start to reset and get ready for this weeks.....................
As for luck, you make it.