Blue Vain wrote:
We are getting there. We had an opportunity to go further ahead in the 3rd quarter and a couple of selfish decisions (IMHO) cost us. There's small things we need to iron out but we're enormously improved from last season and when we play our best footy, it's brilliant to watch.
I understand the disappointment but I don't understand the continuing negativity. If people cant see the impending good times, they're not looking IMHO.
everyone here can see the good times coming, and our future is bright -- from a playing list perspective. but ... the inevitable incoming good times don't necessarily equate to flags.
bolton is great in many aspects of coaching ... his gameday decisions and moves have always been suss (imo). he's reactionary (rather than proactive), and, that's if he makes any moves at all. so many games when momentum is sliding, or the other coach makes a structural change, bolton's hands stay in his pockets? imo, bolton needs to add some unpredictability to his game, and be prepared to take some risks as the next part of his coaching evolution.
Like, clarkson got towelled up in the 1st on the weekend, (bolten's biggest strength as a coach is midweek film sessions scouting the other team and formulating a plan to stop them.)
at qtr-timeClarkson made changes in the forwardline, back and midfield in order to win. this exposed bolton's biggest achilles heal -- formulating a plan-b or c to counter the other coach.
Watching us bombard the front 50 in the last two minutes hoping for a miracle pack mark while they flooded those pack areas with defenders wasn't good coaching. no one broke free of the pack and lead onto the flanks, none of the mids run and carried into the 50 while their defence sagged off and loaded up on our predictable pack mark situation.
basically we made it too easy for the hawks to diffuse us. they were spent, with everyone behind the ball, they weren't capable of rebounding, yet we kept our central zone to prevent a rebound which never came?
in that moment we still played defensive not to risk a rebound, rather than go all out run and carry and break their line?
those little missed moments within a game have been our calling card under BB.
and once the squad is elite and in it's prime,, it's those moments which are the difference in winning flags, and just being really good. yeah?