Molly wrote:
On another topic... it is time Ratten showed some real guts at the selection table. Until Stevens and Fev are dropped to show them they aren't dispensable (and to demonstrate the team is bigger than the individual), then Ratts looks weak to me.
This to me is the major problem and it is glaringly apparent in performances like last night. When we are down on confidence/energy/spirit, whatever you want to call it, we lack discipline, we lack structure, we lack composure, we lack determination. We lack these qualities, but primarily in a TEAM sense.
From start to finish Essendon* were willing to run hard to get more numbers to the contest, because they were disciplined as a team whereas we were not.
From start to finish Essendon* were willing to run hard and spread to provide options in attack, because they were disciplined in their structure/gameplan, whereas we were not.
From start to finish Essendon* were prepared to, as a team, shepard the guy with the ball so that in most cases he had the composure dispose of it skillfully. To be honest I don't know if we do this half the time when we do actually win.
From start to finish Essendon* were determined to put their body on the line and go in and get the ball first. They did this as a team and with their players having the discipline to get numbers to a contest, they won the ball and took it away. It appeared as though were just waiting for them to get it first so that we could tackle them.
These four things should be TEAM rules that if you fail to do, you fail to get a game, regardless of how skillful a player you are or what role you are playing on the day. The bombing it long to a contest down the line is a direct consequence of players not spreading to provide options in the middle and being afraid to take it into the corridor because we are not going to get the required protection from their teammates to do it successfully. Moving the ball quickly through the corridor should not be a question of confidence, we should know that if we do these team things, as a team down to every last man, that it will work. Sadly we don't have this faith, because these team rules are broken and there are no consequences to players who break them. This perpetuates a mindset that we need good players in our team to win, rather than good team players.
Carlton didn't play as a team last night, they played as a collective of individuals wearing the same jumper. I'm sick of it.