Teen Spirit wrote:
Its very easy to find negatives from Friday's game, but as hopeless the lads looked, im still far too optimistic for my own good and i can still cop that on the chin and move on.
Fristly, Hawthorn's movement of the ball was sublime. Instead of looking at how ordinary (for lack of a better word) we were, try and hurl praise at the Poo & Wee Utd (Hawthorn)
i've said it once, i'll say it again...we've waited 5years. I'm willing to wait another 10weeks. Losses like that suggest we havent moved forward at all...but we ALL know thats a load of tripe. Last year Hawthorn coped a loss or two like they pulled our pants down Friday Night....Now look at them. We forget that Geelong lost to Collingwood by 100+ points last year, now they're premiership favourites!...
An Embarrassment? You bet your ass it was...But its SO easy to jump off the bandwagon, but its alot more beneficial to look at the past 9 weeks and be proud of the inroads made thus far. i'm as passionate as i've ever been in my time as a blues fan, and sure being 18 i havent seen as many of the strong years as many of you guys/gals...but nonetheless i see posts from Mark Harrison etc from inside the club showing VERY positive signs. And i look at an unbelievably inexperienced side getting thumped and i take it for what it was. A Loss...the margin means sh*t all...
I'll judge the lads on how they react to a loss like that, not on the loss itself. You'll learn ALOT about a young kid's character on how they draw a line in the sand and say 'im better than that' I dont see us beating Fremantle next round, but i'll be VERY proud to see the boys put in 4quarters of effort and watch them prove just how strong they can be...
We lost...end of the world? No...Move On...GO BLUES!!!!!
Nic

Great post. The fact is the We were murdered in the Ruck hitouts (22 to 55 - 33 free shots for the Hawthorn midfield) and this gave our defence no chance. It also made it very hard for our young and inexperienced midfield. I don't know whether Ackland just had a bad night or the whack on the nose he got from Cambell (which broke his nose) caused it.
But whatever was the cause, if your main Ruckman only gets
2 possessions and 13 knockouts out of 77, you are always going to be in trouble!
Look at what happened against Port Adelaide and WB when we won or broke even in the Ruck, our midfield fired up, our run was there and we finished up kicking over 20 goals in each match to win the Game.
If Ackland was injured then that may be an excuse. However, if he wasn't then he needs a large boot right up the backside and to be told in no uncertain terms to get his finger out and start performing for the side, or start putting on the Bullants jumper and give someone like Aisake, Hampson or Jacobs a go. They may be young and inexperienced, but if Ackland will not put in then they will be a better bet in the longrun!
