Brendon ‘honourable loss’ Bolton

Turn over 54 players in in 4 drafts and its the players.

Anyone outside of the club who reads this thread would think we are all delusional, because some people carry on here like we are a top 4 chance.

We played a good (not great) game yesterday, much better than what I thought we would and in improvement on last week. We were competitive longer, attacked the ball harder and at times we hit the scoreboard (losing Charlie didn't help). But we still have the same issues we have had for the last 3 years of the rebuild, skill errors, lack of experience and being able to stand up for a full game. And I hate to point out the obvious, this is what happens when you rebuild with a bunch of kids that have mostly less than 50 games under their belt.

The only thing that really annoyed me as a supporter yesterday was Murphy, as a long time supporter of him he cost us the game (apart from the deplorable umpiring). For a senior veteran midfielder his disposals were terrible and mainly ineffective. And I hate to say this, but if he is injured (and we are not being told) or just out of form he needs to be dropped back. The main issue for us is that our only senior midfielder who has elite kicking is no longer elite and this will be the difference with us and every team this year. There are a few others to mention but every team has them, every team.

The main thing everyone with high expectations needs to remember when bashing the coaching department and game plan is, as Jim pointed out in the after game thread. We have only won 2 games out of the last 37, this team does not know how to win yet and this is a collective mindset. So you can attack the coaching and game plan all you want but you might want to open your eyes a little and see that this year with the new runner rules will prove it's more about the players than the coaches more than it has ever been. And as for the tripe about players being played out of position or not to their strengths, c'mon, so they can't play a role in a team now, yet you expect them to be coached on how to run out a full game, have elite skills from preseason etc. Pfft....sorry but that is hilarious. They have been drafted, traded and inherited to the team to play these roles as a team for the team, there is many a player in every team that has had to play a different role than they used to or that some may think is not their "natural" game. But this is what their teams need and if they can't do it, they get moved on. Plus when do you realise we have a talented core but still a lot of players that wouldn't make it in any other team above us.

How about we leave the coaching to the coaches and stop being so Carlton and starting the momentum of calling for heads after round 2.

And yes, I am happy with the way the rebuild is going and can't wait for the day when it all clicks together, hopefully soon. I see us still a year or two behind Brisbane.

At lease we are not playing like EFC**** or the Demons at the moment.

That is just crap.
Nothing in his presser suggests he isn't hurting every but as much as we are. Nothing he said suggests he is happy with the result.

I agree, but if the guy has nothing but turnover merchants to choose from, he's [REDACTED] no matter what.

Coaches are supposed to improve their players' output. If that's not happening.....

This has some truth, but it's still up to the player and how much they want it. Look at Bugg as an example......he clearly didn't want it enough.