keogh wrote:
We have possibly the best player in the comp
Due to his effort mainly we got over the line against a pathetic team in Freo
The effort against Richmond was ordinary won again through Judds first half as well as Shaun Griggs peformance in the first half .
Fevola is the clubs greatest strength and weakness. He got us over the line yet still doesnt chase at times yet he is allowed to get away with it because Ratten knows that He is so reliant to kick goals.
Yes we have a few injuries .Most teams do but what disturbs me is the lack of leadership out there and what the coaching staff except apart from Judd
A case in point. Gibbs received the ball and CHB metres in the clear and he had plenty of time to dispose the ball. He took too long he was tackled by Nahas the ball spilled out and a Richmond guy ran in and kicked the goal. The umpire had blown his whistle but didnt call the advantage and Nahas took the free. Whilst this was going on Gibbs had picked himself up and had walked 2 metres or so. Just gave up chasing.
In another case Gibbs was running to mark a ball with a tiggies player one metre behind him. If Gibbs had run hard at the ball and not dropped his head the opposition player would not have been able to touch the ball. Gibbs did the opposite and the ball was punched away.
On both occasions the runner was not sent out let alone Gibbs taken off the ground to be told what he should have done and that the club doesnt want players not doing the footy basics.
that is unacceptable. Forget inexperience that is a backward step.
This aint a Bryce Gibbs bashing exercise. Its evidence that things are not being done properly.
Fevola should have been sent away from the club for a month after his effort against Essendon*.
It isnt right that he is playing for the club. I am sure that 9 goals would have posters saying the opposite but it doesnt teach him anything.
With some of Houlihan's efforts on the weekend its laughable he gets a game
THe club goes about things the wrong way.
I have said this for a long time. If we are too soft on what is excepted on the field in the long run we will be worse not better off.
The Swans game this weekend is an interesting one
We should win but the Swannies are a proud disciplined club well coached and coming off a loss.
Lose and we will be 8 and 9 because the way we are travelling I cant see us beating Collingwood.
You are over simplifying the reasons why we won the games against Freo and Richmond. You made no mention of our midfield including Carrots and Gibbs scoring some great goals from around 50 and some great muscle work from JR and Grigg etc.
Your comments regarding Gibbs game against the Tiggies is interesting but a little shallow, Why wasnt he dragged or directly spoken to by the runner as you say? well there are many resons why this might not happen during play, certainly too many to list but lets just say the runner was busy at the time.
These errors occur all game long by almost all players at some point and are best dealt with in proper one on one meetings during the review process post game, gone are the days when runners carry instructions on what players should have done better during the game.
Positional changes and team structures, opposition match ups and interchange take care of most game day messages.
The footy basics as you put it are being highlighted to our players during the course of every week, one only has to read Hird's recent article on what goes on in players mind during the week and game day to realise what pressure they are under to perform.
For a young playing group that is just beginning to string some games and more importantly some victories together after so many bad losses over recent years we are doing quite well.
I find it strange that people expect us to go from being the competitions whipping boys to top 4 material so quickly.
Last year we stopped the rot, remembering we had the greatest losing streak looming in front of us, this year we are very likely to make the finals - that in itself is very impressive, doing it on the back of the 1 of the youngest playing groups both in games played and age is simply put....................
A Fine Effort!!!!!
Lets get behind our club and players, their hard work deserves some praise
