southerncross
09-04-2007, 07:46 AM
Eade blames top Bulldogs for bad loss (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/eade-blames-top-bulldogs-for-bad-loss/2007/04/08/1175970948167.html)
WESTERN BULLDOGS coach Rodney Eade last night launched a scathing attack on six elite players after his side's 38-point capitulation to Adelaide at the MCG.
Eade was quick to apportion blame for the disappointing performance, and he questioned the attitude of his players, saying less focus on hype and more on bringing their "A-grade" efforts was needed.
"Six of our best 10 players were probably our worst players today — (Brad) Johnson, (Ryan) Griffen, (Lindsay) Gilbee, Aka (Jason Akermanis), (Robert) Murphy, Gia (Daniel Giansiracusa). They were probably in our worst eight players. It's pretty tough to win when that happens," Eade said.
"Lindsay Gilbee doesn't actually lose his skill level from one week to the next, it's whether you turn up to play. Subconsciously, do we believe our own publicity? We're a young, inexperienced team, we were written up reasonably last week, Adelaide was supposed to have a couple of injuries, do players believe all that hype?
"You're dealing with human beings, they're worse than horses — at least (with) horses, you know you can get a whip on them and give them a bit of a crack. I think for us to compete and hopefully forge our way up the ladder and compete with the better sides in the competition — and Adelaide is one — we need to make that step up. We need to bring our A-grade mental game."
The Crows today will find out the extent of the injury to Graham Johncock, who hurt his ankle in a second-quarter tangle with Robert Murphy. Johncock left on crutches, but the club described his injury as a "sprain". It was also feared that Robert Shirley had broken a hand.
The Bulldogs have had to add their big summer recruit, Akermanis, to their injury list after he hurt his left hamstring in only his second game for the club.
Akermanis will have a scan today. "I've had this type of problem for 2½ years, it kept me out late 2005 and it happened a little bit last year as well," Akermanis said after what was a forgettable 250th game for the former Lion.
After lunging at a contest early in the final term and pulling up sharply, clutching his upper thigh, Akermanis said he felt like he'd been "shot". The 30-year-old was troubled by his hamstrings during the pre-season. "It was like a really big grab, like a cramp grab, and you can do little fibres when you do that stuff. But that was quite a big one."
Akermanis spent most of yesterday in a forward line that was starved of action, and Eade had plenty to find fault with.
"Really, the way we played was unacceptable. We've really got to hit our targets, otherwise we get killed going the other way," Eade said. "I thought early our skill level was terrible, I don't think it was so much the pressure. We missed targets."
Crows coach Neil Craig was pleased with how his side responded after its surprise loss to Essendon last week. Adelaide plays Port Adelaide this week. "We don't like to play like (we did against Essendon) at any time," he said.
WESTERN BULLDOGS coach Rodney Eade last night launched a scathing attack on six elite players after his side's 38-point capitulation to Adelaide at the MCG.
Eade was quick to apportion blame for the disappointing performance, and he questioned the attitude of his players, saying less focus on hype and more on bringing their "A-grade" efforts was needed.
"Six of our best 10 players were probably our worst players today — (Brad) Johnson, (Ryan) Griffen, (Lindsay) Gilbee, Aka (Jason Akermanis), (Robert) Murphy, Gia (Daniel Giansiracusa). They were probably in our worst eight players. It's pretty tough to win when that happens," Eade said.
"Lindsay Gilbee doesn't actually lose his skill level from one week to the next, it's whether you turn up to play. Subconsciously, do we believe our own publicity? We're a young, inexperienced team, we were written up reasonably last week, Adelaide was supposed to have a couple of injuries, do players believe all that hype?
"You're dealing with human beings, they're worse than horses — at least (with) horses, you know you can get a whip on them and give them a bit of a crack. I think for us to compete and hopefully forge our way up the ladder and compete with the better sides in the competition — and Adelaide is one — we need to make that step up. We need to bring our A-grade mental game."
The Crows today will find out the extent of the injury to Graham Johncock, who hurt his ankle in a second-quarter tangle with Robert Murphy. Johncock left on crutches, but the club described his injury as a "sprain". It was also feared that Robert Shirley had broken a hand.
The Bulldogs have had to add their big summer recruit, Akermanis, to their injury list after he hurt his left hamstring in only his second game for the club.
Akermanis will have a scan today. "I've had this type of problem for 2½ years, it kept me out late 2005 and it happened a little bit last year as well," Akermanis said after what was a forgettable 250th game for the former Lion.
After lunging at a contest early in the final term and pulling up sharply, clutching his upper thigh, Akermanis said he felt like he'd been "shot". The 30-year-old was troubled by his hamstrings during the pre-season. "It was like a really big grab, like a cramp grab, and you can do little fibres when you do that stuff. But that was quite a big one."
Akermanis spent most of yesterday in a forward line that was starved of action, and Eade had plenty to find fault with.
"Really, the way we played was unacceptable. We've really got to hit our targets, otherwise we get killed going the other way," Eade said. "I thought early our skill level was terrible, I don't think it was so much the pressure. We missed targets."
Crows coach Neil Craig was pleased with how his side responded after its surprise loss to Essendon last week. Adelaide plays Port Adelaide this week. "We don't like to play like (we did against Essendon) at any time," he said.