Seriously f*&ked if I know.
The next morning and I am as disappointed as anyone. During the last 6-8 months I have tried to be as positive as anyone regarding our list and its talent. Well I was wrong and I am gutted.
I sat there and watched us up to the 20 min mark we looked good. Then that was it. As soon as any pressure was put on us we folded.
The fact that we go for such long periods without looking like scoring is just scary. Our defensive efforts were pathetic. Players just jogging after the opposition.
This morning has made very interesting reading here on TC.
My take is there is some talent but they are mentally soft. It can come from personality or environment. I think its both. We are recruiting so called "talented" players that are mentally P1ssweak.
AFL is for the elite and weaknesses get exposed. We have too many.
Three examples:
Yarran. I was told by two recruiters they wouldn't of had him in the top 20. We took him at 6. Talent wasn't the issue but desire and effort was. Flashy player
Menzel. Rated as talented as anyone but nowhere near as tough as his brother. Very unfit and unbelievably bad skinfolds. Flashy player. Geelong would NOT have picked him if available. Said he was most talented on list but that's not what they value as much as other characteristics. How many kids from last years draft are now playing and playing well. Our top pick is struggling at VFL level.
Lucas. Great engine and nice kid. Soft and poor awareness and lacks poise. Rated around Top 30.
Let's not mention McLean (medical and slow), Rowe, Duigan, Warnock, Hampson. Wastes of picks.
We are also physically small. I have said it for years!!!!!!
Get next to our players and then stand next to players from Geelong, Sydney or Collingwood. We are lean they are like tree trunks.
After a decade of crap I was confident (or maybe just hoping) we were on the up. So many good picks wasted.
We lack guys with drive and desire. Selwood, Hodge types.
Judd aside, who I think has been unbelievable, we are a side of down hill skiers and are soft across the board. What example is that to our younger kids????
Unfortunately I think its major clear out time and start again.
Pressure is on our recruiting staff and anyone involved in the last 5 -10 years should be sacked.
Sad.
