southerncross
16-06-2007, 07:35 AM
Darcy admits underestimating return (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/darcy-admits-underestimating-return/2007/06/15/1181414549898.html)
ADMITTING he underestimated his own task to re-establish himself in the AFL, Western Bulldogs star Luke Darcy says his team will not make the same mistake with Fremantle tonight.
In what could be a pivotal game for both teams this season, the Dogs and the Dockers will meet in Darwin, with the likely heat at game time mirroring the repercussions of a loss for either side.
And Darcy, who after two years out with knee injuries is still battling to rediscover the form that made him All-Australian in 2002, says while he thinks he has more to come this year, there would be no better time to find it than against the Dockers at TIO Stadium.
"(Coming back from injury) has probably been a bigger challenge than I thought. Maybe I underestimated how hard it was going to be missing two years of footy and coming back," Darcy said. "It has been a challenge, but I have felt right throughout … and I feel it is on track.
"This (game) is right up there for us, we know how important it is with a week off to try and get the result we want.
"You look at their list and you know how good they are. You go right through their side and they are a very hard unit to play against at any stage."
That task was made all the harder with the debilitating loss to injury of Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen last week, which has forced Rodney Eade to call up Tiwi Islander Malcolm Lynch to make his AFL debut in the Top End.
But Darcy says while the loss of two key components of the Bulldogs' renowned running engine room is a blow, the Dogs had the cattle to compensate.
"They are both super players for us in different roles and different areas … but we have got a lot of good, four or five players banging the door down every week to get in," Darcy said.
A loss for Dockers and coach Chris Connolly could have some wolves at his door during the mid-season break, with discussions about all facets of the club — including Connolly's future — scheduled next week.
With Richmond coach Terry Wallace claiming Connolly's criticism of the Tigers' tactics last week was a sign of the pressure he was feeling, the Dockers coach said the only pressure he was focusing on was that of his forward line tonight.
"The Bulldogs have adapted their game to Telstra Dome, and it is like a pinball machine the way the ball zings around," Connolly said.
"To be able to do that, you need players who are quick on their feet … the pressure in the forward line to not let them run the ball out easy will be very important."
And assistant Peter German said the time had come for the Dockers to "get back" one of the shock early-season losses to Port Adelaide and Essendon.
"We think there are a couple that got away from us early in the year, we are still disappointed with those, and it is about time we made up for one of them," German said. "This has got to, got to be it this week."
ADMITTING he underestimated his own task to re-establish himself in the AFL, Western Bulldogs star Luke Darcy says his team will not make the same mistake with Fremantle tonight.
In what could be a pivotal game for both teams this season, the Dogs and the Dockers will meet in Darwin, with the likely heat at game time mirroring the repercussions of a loss for either side.
And Darcy, who after two years out with knee injuries is still battling to rediscover the form that made him All-Australian in 2002, says while he thinks he has more to come this year, there would be no better time to find it than against the Dockers at TIO Stadium.
"(Coming back from injury) has probably been a bigger challenge than I thought. Maybe I underestimated how hard it was going to be missing two years of footy and coming back," Darcy said. "It has been a challenge, but I have felt right throughout … and I feel it is on track.
"This (game) is right up there for us, we know how important it is with a week off to try and get the result we want.
"You look at their list and you know how good they are. You go right through their side and they are a very hard unit to play against at any stage."
That task was made all the harder with the debilitating loss to injury of Daniel Cross and Ryan Griffen last week, which has forced Rodney Eade to call up Tiwi Islander Malcolm Lynch to make his AFL debut in the Top End.
But Darcy says while the loss of two key components of the Bulldogs' renowned running engine room is a blow, the Dogs had the cattle to compensate.
"They are both super players for us in different roles and different areas … but we have got a lot of good, four or five players banging the door down every week to get in," Darcy said.
A loss for Dockers and coach Chris Connolly could have some wolves at his door during the mid-season break, with discussions about all facets of the club — including Connolly's future — scheduled next week.
With Richmond coach Terry Wallace claiming Connolly's criticism of the Tigers' tactics last week was a sign of the pressure he was feeling, the Dockers coach said the only pressure he was focusing on was that of his forward line tonight.
"The Bulldogs have adapted their game to Telstra Dome, and it is like a pinball machine the way the ball zings around," Connolly said.
"To be able to do that, you need players who are quick on their feet … the pressure in the forward line to not let them run the ball out easy will be very important."
And assistant Peter German said the time had come for the Dockers to "get back" one of the shock early-season losses to Port Adelaide and Essendon.
"We think there are a couple that got away from us early in the year, we are still disappointed with those, and it is about time we made up for one of them," German said. "This has got to, got to be it this week."