Each and everyweek i concerntrate on the important things that sperates us from being potential Grand Finalists from the teams just making up the numbers.
#1. Kick-Outs.
IMHO we are clearly the worst in the leauge. Even Melbourne has a better structure. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
Johnson gets the ball, waits.................... nobody leads............... thinks about it, then gets the hurry on from the ump................kicks to thornton in the pocket................. looks up ahead along the wing (mean while there is space in the centre of the ground yet nobody leads there).............thinks about it a bit longer and then FINALLY does one of two possible scenarios.
A) Bombs long towards the wing and hopes for the best
B) Kicks backwards to Johnson and we start again.
Good god - there is no decent excuse as to why this would be happening. It's amature stuff, yet we've done it all bloody year.
SAME STORY ALL YEAR!#2. We are Way way way to defensive.
It's almost as if Ratts goes out there trying not to loose rather than trying to win. You have the leauges best forward and a 4 goal wind advantage and your playing him up the ground along the wing? WTF?
This has been going on all year.
Last week, we were 5 goals down and we still flooded at times? It makes no sense to me?
SAME STORY ALL YEAR! #3. Forward Line Structure.
Don't kid yourself. There is
none. Zero. Last week it was evident the most. Kreuzer, Fisher, Fevola, Betts and to a lesser extent Yarran...............yet we manage just 4 marks inside 50 and just 4 goals for the game.
Sure, Collingwood put preasure on, but bloody hell we made it easy for them.
For me, it appears as though our forward line structure is "Kick to Fevola" and if he's double teamed or is having a bad game, then we throw Kreuzer down there and cross our fingers.
SAME STORY ALL YEAR!#4. Match Selections.
Good god, they're just as bad as the tribunal............. all over the place.
Sure, the MC are to blame for this as well, but Ratts is a big part of that.
Not playing Setanta in certain games easilly cost us (you know the ones i'm talking about).
Constantly playing certain players despite their poor form (again, no point naming them).
More and more "Revolving Door" selections. (In one week, out the next).
There is no consistancy.
I do give him credit for the "Stevens" decision though.
#5. Inability to use the corridors.
Good god it's frustrating.
Essendon* spotted this well. They knew we pushed wide and they let us. They put preasure on us wide which forced a turn-over and BANG.............. Instantlly they had their speedsters alone in the centre running it straight up the ground.
Much like our kick-ins, they are predicatable and painfull to watch.
SAME STORY ALL YEAR! If these issue continue into next year (and honestly, Ratts will be coaching next year - it's silly to think otherwise) then NO - i don't think Ratts is the man.