With the exception of the GC game (which doesn't really count) and perhaps the filth game (where IMO they had control all night), every team we've played has been allowed to come back at us after a period of dominance through our inability to finish them off. This forces us to dig in even deeper every week, which itself isn't a bad thing, but SO draining week after week.

So why can't we finish teams off when we have them on the ropes? Do we take their foot off the pedal, or lose concentration? Or could it be remnant of our shit years and we just still have to shake it?

Why, I ask?

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

They have all been too brave.

I actually think we are in a bit of a slump.

The forward line needs to work itself out!

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dane's trolling again

Last night was identical to the Adelaide game....we probably just needed one or two more goals to kill the game early, but wasted opportunities.

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"I had to eat"

Kill them till they are dead, and then kill them some more - as one of my ex Albanian teammates you to say when getting pumped up for a game of footy

Ratts said early there are more momentum swings this season so there are going to be periods where there opposition come at us.

I think we're playing a pretty taxing style of footy with a focus on lots of run.

I think we need to still get more guys going through there. I noticed Judd spent more time away from the middle last night.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Bad kicking early on doesn't help, neither does bad decision making when a game is there to be wrapped up.

It seems a combination of physical and mental aspects - we make a lot of hurried wild kicks at goal, particularly last night and a lot of players could have taken the extra couple of seconds to judge their kick, and we still tend to panic a bit when the heat gets put on.


However games in general this season have seen more momentum swings and a lot of close results. Last night and in Round 1 we had to use our sub early due to injury too and in Round 1 it affected our structure quite a bit.

Collingwood was doing the same thing last year, maybe the style of play has something to do with it.

A LOT of snap's at goals.

It's only been this year their kicking for goal has improved.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Holiday Practice for our boys.

1/ Contested marks.
2/ Goal kicking sessions.

Then we will graduate from finishing school.

I really noticed the contested marking ability when we played Pies..and in the better parts of Saints game..same thing. Strong grabs.
Duigan was a big exception to this.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

We're scrounging a lot of shots at goal from our smalls, so the inaccuracy is not entirely surprising. If we can develop another capable, accurate tall forward, it should really help our accuracy.

Guys, you don't think that with all the (quality) coaches we have down at the club now, our boys' wouldn't be getting the best education...
Show faith. That is the most important element of ANYTHING! Having faith in your team cancels out any qualms or room for negative thoughts. Positive psychology!! From this, grand things grow! Enjoy the ride! Blue (and sunny) skies lay ahead. The possibilities are endless.
I know exactly how if feels to be watching a game and we perhaps aren't displaying a "NO MERCY", Hawks style of unsociable play but you got to figure if we as supporters are seeing errors in the boys' ways then surely those at the club do also.

Go Blues!

We are privileged to support the best team in the league!

Agree with all of that. Trouble is that when we do have the momentum, we're not putting it on the scoreboard.

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"I had to eat"

Well said BlueJean.
Still...cn we still just do some more goal practice please?

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

If Fevola had played last night we'd have won easily and never been challenged

Not saying we ought to get him back, rather the point is we are lacking for quality tall fwds - Waite is the only one and he plays up the ground as a leading CHF

Crows couldn't get a sniff early, we should have put them away, but we didn't, and they stayed in the game due to having better key fwds

We will improve when we get Kruezer and Henderson back

But it will take them a while to get going and both are still babies really

Ratten even admitted in his presser we 'lacked system up fwd'

The 2011 style of play is taxing on the players.
Contest, contest, sontest, run run run mark/ look up at goals.....
I'm sure that style causes more fatigue than the previous years, and as a result our kicking for goal is reflected by the fatigue.

Composure is the answer...I suppose. But if you're spent from 3 x 100 metre sprints and 5 tackles etc, then that's something that will evolve.

Whatever, I am rapped with the output of our KIDS thus far.
I'm really over the moon.

You gotta remember how many of our players haven't played 50 games yet, and we have Kreuzer, Houlihan and Bower to come in.
Yes I know there's other runners who will be considered for the Geelong game now that Curnow has an ACL: Lucas and Tuohy spring to mind.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Possible later in the game - but surely not in the first quarter?

I noticed this, and began to wonder, taking into account his tone, was this a subtle dig at John Barker?

Probably the players. Setanta was a bit basic with his work, and those drifting in gravitated to the pack too often.

I'm of the opinion we overcook our run forward and could use 2 or 3 sitting back from the 50 arc ready to defend a turnover. Teams go from CHB to CHF against us in a flash unless our forwards get a chance to chase them wide. That's putting too little responsibility on the midfield, who coast back to CHB and then collapse too tight to cover space.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

Fev just rang SEN and said the same thing.

I think it’s a good topic and, last night especially, it would have been much more agreeable to watch had we buried the Saints early. I think the running and fitness points are well made.

Equally, we need to remember we’re still a developing side and while it has been disappointing to see us fail to maximise our scoring chances so far this year, the very pleasing sign is we are showing the ability/willingess/belief to hold on and win those games, even when challenged or forfeiting the lead late in the game. That ability to fight back into a winning position, regardless of whether we should have already iced the game, is one development of our team that is both welcome and is pleasing to watch.

You can slowly see the players developing a calmness and maturity on field that will need to continue on our inevitable path to premiership success!

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But are we as good as Essendon* yet

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)