Originally Posted by
Lantern
No we wouldn't. Many of us said after last week's win at Freo that this can't keep going the way it is. If we don't turn up to play and just rely on little bursts of magic to ice teams in the last quarter, it's going to come back and bite you up the butt more times than not.
I think Aker's said it best -- this pretty, pretty, tough-nut team has to just develop an edge, a clinical, killer instinct. A certain nastiness, a certain mercilessness. Put the foot down early, break a team open, then just keep going.
Teams that have had a lack of success for a while struggle to get that killer instinct because they empathise too much with losing teams and so struggle to realy blow teams out. Successful teams don't care if they beat you by 20 goals (same in other sports -- Manchester United don't take their foot off the pedal for anyone -- if it means they trash Spurs 5-1 or Fulham 4-0, they'll do precisely that, same for Brazil, the Bulls in the '90s etc.). They'll just keep on doing it for as long as they can.
You do it because you know your window is small and closes as quickly as it opens. You do it because your career is short and is over before you know it. You do it because you don't ever, EVER, get second chances in this game. And you do it because playing your absolute best every single minute is the only way you show respect to your opponent, your fans, and yourself.
Bloody hell. Anyone who is happy after that loss should go talk to Johnno. He'll kick you in the teeth.