Blue Vain wrote:
IMHO, he needs to harden the @#$%&! up and so do our players.
When the players complain about getting a serve off the coach and he apologises, there's a soft underbelly existing.
He drives the standards. He is in control of his own personal actions. Not the players or assistant coaches.
He sets the program, the expectations, the methodology and minimum requirements. If he sets the direction with authority and he fails, full credit to him for having the guts to give it his best.
When he allows the players and others to set the agenda, he's doing us and himself no favours.
The difference in skill and ability between us and the top sides is minimal. It's our approach that is piss poor. People use buzz words like selflessness and they're sometimes scoffed at in the football community but nothing is more apt.
Our players wouldn't have a clue about selflessness on the football field. Whilst our captain prefers to take 3 opponents on instead of giving it to a team mate, the example is set. Whilst he prefers to kick the ball instead of giving to well placed runners on his outside like he did numerous times on Saturday, the example is set.
Whilst Harry runs at a football wanting the mark instead of blocking his opponent and calling McGovern back with the flight, the example is set.
We have players that want to feather their own nest instead of taking pleasure in seeing their team mates flourish.
Watch Richmond or the Bulldogs. Or Geelong in at their peak. The players celebrated the selflessness. They took pleasure in tackling to allow a ball to spill free for a team mate. They took pleasure in shepherding, or giving the ball off to a team mate in a better position. Why? Because it was celebrated as their key to success. They knew that it would lead to team success and that they would be valued by the team for doing the hard things that really matter.
They play manic football, they chase, tackle, harass and bust a gut to close space. Because it's what is valued and celebrated by them.
We're miles off that. Not because we're not capable but because as I said above. Teague drives the standards. We focus on the outcome instead of the means.
And assistant coach was interviewed at half time and he was asked how we'll turn it around. He said we want to get the ball in our front half and pin it in there. That's not a strategy. That's Teagues pipe dream. That what he talks about when asked about our brand.
But it's the process that is the key. How do you achieve it? How do you bridge the gap between us and the best teams?
It's not about talent now. It's about approach and most importantly, it's about attitude.
Teague has his hands on the wheel. I dont feel sorry for him. I want him to harden the @#$%&! up and set some standards that will make us a tough, uncompromising, competitive team. It's no none elses responsibility. It's his.
Spot on. 100% correct .. especially the reference to cripps and Harry..
Perhaps that's down to trust as well. They take it on to do it all themselves because they don't trust their team mates ...
I especially took note of the mcgovern/Harry and thought that was everything wrong with our club ...
Harry should have called him, let him take the mark and hopefully kick the goal which would have done wonders for McGovern confidence ... instead it lead to McGovern backing off.
Same scenario happened in the game later on and it was a disaster, neither got to the ball ...
Hopefully that comes with some cohesion ... but for mine it summaries where we are at as a club ... too many interested in self interest and contract dollars as opposed to doing what is better for the team .. why we won't compete at the pointy end until we rectify it.
We are just carrying too many passengers as well but I'm not convinced that if we had a full list that our passengers wouldnt be in the side anyway... thats on team selection.
We have a long way to go in my opinion and I don't think it's the players as such, but rather all aspects of the club that need to be considered.
Honestly me dad is getting on so I drive from cheltenham to Berwick, pick him up then drive to the game .. happy to do it.. but start to question why I drive for nearly four hours every game and make that effort... when the players don't appear to make the same commitment. I pay for it as well... abit frustraing.