bosman wrote:
I'm waiting for Jimmie to say that we lifted our intensity after half time like we did last week against west coast.
waiting.............
.....
..
.
Oh hai.
We were thereabouts in the first, and we stopped working for the ball in the second. Definitely dropped our heads when we were given that bogus free against Bower for holding the ball.
Second half, we only responded for mere moments in the third, and the Pies took the foot off the gas in the last. That was really disheartening to see, and if Ratten or the players look to that as a positive they are deluded.
When you see our blokes stop working as a unit defensively, one closing the ball carrier, the rest minding the next options; our blokes not hitting the knock-ons when they have to; kicking without looking; running off without looking; not quickly getting back to position on a mark/kick-in to take advantage of the run in play, that's when you know we're struggling.
When none of that is happening, it's like someone's flicked on a switch. We needed more of what we produced in that second half last week and first quarter this week, less of the rest of the time where we expect it to happen with no effort on our part.
One thing Ratten is clearly not getting across in this 'momentum' style of play is that you need to take advantage of what's given to you: if you can move it on quickly, move it on quickly; if you need to be more cautious, do so, but for the love of God be quick to get a view of the field of play as your opportunities dry up while you're looking the other way or thinking twice.