Sorry Mikkey this is actually what was written before marketing got itAfter Friday night's game I asked the players to stop bitching and arguing about what had happened and tell me whether they give a crap. I also told them that the crap they dished up again did not meet the expectations of our football club and would not be tolerated under any circumstances and as such some will pay the price , no matter who they are. Sticks agrees
Not long before the first bounce at the MCG or Etihad Stadium (can't remember which) on Friday night, I made a comment to one of the assistant coaches that I have no idea what Im doing in footy. The remark came after the game threw up its latest challenge in the form of Zach Tuohy. Zach had battled a back complaint all week and said he couldn't play. While we were all mindful of it, he I told him I needed him to save my job and as such offered to fly his parents out if he played. I said to him I don't care if you become a cripple I need you tonight. Unfortunatley Zac could not run up the race, so I dropped him for an emergency. I think his name is Kane and is a young key forward with potential.
With Zach's late unavailability we completed a hasty reshuffle, only to lose the very moody Andrew Walker – an endurance athlete capable of playing small or tall in case no one knew – who hurt his calf and was subbed out early. We then lost Aaron Joseph (a player in the first half who is probably leading our B&F because i love him) with concussion and from then on we really fell away. Sticks agrees.
Of course our structures were not altered just because of injury, although its the excuse I like to use, as does Sticks and Gleeson. Drew Petrie's four first quarter goals on a useless Jamison (who's instructions were to stop Petrie kicking goals) forced me against the wishes of the other coaching staff to send Lachie Henderson back to help stem the flow in our back half and this required more changes all over the ground. Who or where I don't know but I like moving the magnets and it looks good on TV. Its a tactic I picked up in my valuable time at Norwood.
These changes do not excuse for what was a very disappointing night, firstly someone forgot my lollies (I think it was Thornton again) and secondly Andy made me sit next to him in the box again. Though we matched the opposition in the warm up, pre match press conferences and in terms of getting the football into THEIR forward line, it was the North players' ability to listen to and follow their coaches instructions, coupled with our repeated lack of effort and care, that really told against us. Definitely wasn't my fault. They also smashed us at the stoppages and posted 11 goals straight as a consequence, whereas we just didn't give a crap. Thinking back on it the umpiring really let us down.
I have to say that the performance of our captain Chris Judd to apply a new style chicken wing was unbelievable. He virtually tore the arm from the players shoulder had it not been for his sheer brilliance the final margin would have been even greater.
I also thought Eddie had a great game at FF and Jeffy at CHF. Couldn't ask anymore from them. Watto also looked a Natural ruckman and when Hampson, Warnock are back we can look seriously at playing 4 ruckman.
In the wake of this defeat we're going to have a real hard look at where we're going (I thinks its Etihad) and which players are actually available because Justin hides the injury reports from me and if it wasn't for injuries we would be undefeated. Marc Murphy and Lachie Henderson have to be commended in their ability to play in positions they don't want to and still look interested. I though Marc's decision to use my barber made a real difference to his run and carry.
This week Jarrad Waite will play because Im desperate and he is the best key forward in the league and my wife is a great fan of WAG Nation.
Kind Regards and I off to get my cheque and lunch with Sticks to negotiate and extension to my contract and to interview school teachers for the Northern Blues job
Go Demons
