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But that's the key though Kev - you understand that there are things outside of physical ability which can make or break a player.
BlueRob on the other hand just keeps banging on about a team of "unskilled hacks" which is clearly wrong. Unlike your golf, where you can fluke a good shot here and there, you can't fluke entire games of great disposal and then just lose all your skill and ability entirely the following week. It is still there, but something is preventing it from happening.
Is it mental fragility?
Is it a lack of understanding of the game plan?
Is it a crap game plan that doesn't work?
Is it a game plan that is hard to implement successfully against certain other types of game plans?
Is it that the players don't have enough leadership?
Is it because the core of our playing group is too young?
Is it that the players find it hard to play for their coach or each other?
My guess is that it is a combination of all of the above to varying degrees.
BlueRob however thinks that the simple reality is that we just need to get some more skilled players
At least he could add an ounce of merit to his argument by admitting that it may have something to do with things other than just skill.
I agree with all your "Is it" points, Mil, and could maybe add one or two more, ("Is it because key players are carrying
injuries that don't keep them off the park but prevent them from performing at their best").
Still have a small point of contention though with how significant our big wins are. I don't think that anyone would
argue that it's part of the human condition to perform better at some times than at others. "Form" in all sports seems
to come and go and sometimes no one can figure out why. Not enough practise. Too much practise. Not focussed enough
on opponents. Too focussed on opponents. And so on.
This year we've had some terrific games and some very poor ones. So which is the true Carlton of 2010? Did we have a core
of players who just happened to be in top form at the same time earlier in the year and how we're playing now is really where
we're at? Or is the opposite true. Are we really going places with this list and they're just in a temporary slump? I don't think
any of us can say for sure, but I'd be wary of putting too much store in what they did a few times early in the year. It might
have been just an aberration, (like my good golf shots
)
The best teams have a high % of players who are very bankable almost every week. We might have a list that will develop into
just that and #17 might then be within reach. But equally our list might be littered with on-again off-again types who will never develop the consistency required to go all the way. Time will tell and it will be very interesting at the end of the year to see who is persisted with and who isn't.