southerncross
16-04-2007, 06:07 AM
This from the Australian
Eade works to arrest lack of confidence THE Western Bulldogs face another week of soul-searching after a dismal performance against a tough-nosed St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade conceded his team was down on confidence and reluctant to take risks after its 50-point loss. Former captain Luke Darcy, who has been out for two years with knee injuries, struggled to get his hands on the ball and key forward Robert Murphy, out last year also with a knee injury, is taking his time to slot back in.
Eade said the difficulties involved in returning after major knee surgery may have been under-estimated.
"Their pre-seasons were good and their practice matches were OK, but it's probably a step up in class when you get to the normal season," Eade said yesterday.
"Both are struggling a bit at the moment. I think Luke's been OK in the ruck and I think it's a confidence issue. Nobody really knows, there are not many guys who have done two knees.
"He just seems to be lacking confidence going for his marks as a forward.
"You need the confidence and probably subconsciously it's just getting used to the pace of the game again."
The Bulldogs, touted in the pre-season as top-four material, play struggling Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
"You can't go to the shop and buy confidence, so I think you get your confidence back through hard work, just doing the basics right," Eade said.
"You get the confidence just from knowing your preparation's right and your hard work and looking at the little things, the tackles and chases."
St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt has no such worries after he returned from a hamstring injury to kick four goals.
"There's always a little bit of nerves when you're coming back, I think it's been about 10 weeks for a hamstring, so it's been a bit of a saga," Riewoldt said.
"They took the no-risk policy and so far it's paid off ... hopefully I'm out of the woods."
Riewoldt said the Saints were adapting to new coach Ross Lyon's game plan and had worked hard to beat the Bulldogs for the hard ball.
"That was a huge focus for us, winning contested and ground ball and that's an area that the Bulldogs are very good in," Riewoldt said.
Carlton will be on a high this week after the club's greatest comeback win.
On Saturday, the Blues overcame an eight-goal deficit to beat Essendon by three points in a rivalry round contest that lived up to its billing.
The Bombers looked home in the second term, but the Blues, with Brendan Fevola firing up forward, kicked 12 of the next 13 goals.
Carlton's Denis Pagan, coaching his 331st game, said it was the most satisfying home-and-away win he'd been involved in.
Fevola, who had a nightmare start to the game, ended as the hero with eight goals.
But Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy didn't blame Fevola's opponent, Mal Michael, for the shattering loss.
"The problem was up the midfield, it didn't matter who you had on him," Sheedy said.
"It's about whether you get the ball going our way ... it certainly wasn't the backline players'
Eade works to arrest lack of confidence THE Western Bulldogs face another week of soul-searching after a dismal performance against a tough-nosed St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade conceded his team was down on confidence and reluctant to take risks after its 50-point loss. Former captain Luke Darcy, who has been out for two years with knee injuries, struggled to get his hands on the ball and key forward Robert Murphy, out last year also with a knee injury, is taking his time to slot back in.
Eade said the difficulties involved in returning after major knee surgery may have been under-estimated.
"Their pre-seasons were good and their practice matches were OK, but it's probably a step up in class when you get to the normal season," Eade said yesterday.
"Both are struggling a bit at the moment. I think Luke's been OK in the ruck and I think it's a confidence issue. Nobody really knows, there are not many guys who have done two knees.
"He just seems to be lacking confidence going for his marks as a forward.
"You need the confidence and probably subconsciously it's just getting used to the pace of the game again."
The Bulldogs, touted in the pre-season as top-four material, play struggling Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
"You can't go to the shop and buy confidence, so I think you get your confidence back through hard work, just doing the basics right," Eade said.
"You get the confidence just from knowing your preparation's right and your hard work and looking at the little things, the tackles and chases."
St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt has no such worries after he returned from a hamstring injury to kick four goals.
"There's always a little bit of nerves when you're coming back, I think it's been about 10 weeks for a hamstring, so it's been a bit of a saga," Riewoldt said.
"They took the no-risk policy and so far it's paid off ... hopefully I'm out of the woods."
Riewoldt said the Saints were adapting to new coach Ross Lyon's game plan and had worked hard to beat the Bulldogs for the hard ball.
"That was a huge focus for us, winning contested and ground ball and that's an area that the Bulldogs are very good in," Riewoldt said.
Carlton will be on a high this week after the club's greatest comeback win.
On Saturday, the Blues overcame an eight-goal deficit to beat Essendon by three points in a rivalry round contest that lived up to its billing.
The Bombers looked home in the second term, but the Blues, with Brendan Fevola firing up forward, kicked 12 of the next 13 goals.
Carlton's Denis Pagan, coaching his 331st game, said it was the most satisfying home-and-away win he'd been involved in.
Fevola, who had a nightmare start to the game, ended as the hero with eight goals.
But Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy didn't blame Fevola's opponent, Mal Michael, for the shattering loss.
"The problem was up the midfield, it didn't matter who you had on him," Sheedy said.
"It's about whether you get the ball going our way ... it certainly wasn't the backline players'