What's going on doggies?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What's going on doggies?

When I first read this I wasn't sure but upon some reflection there might be something to it. All season long we were supposed to be flying, best summer etc etc and the new fitness guy performing miracles. Now I don't doubt that they did have a great summer but I wonder if the 3 wins upon the upbeat vibe around the place has bred some complacency.
Even the games we won we haven't been that impressive.

Politics 101, never beleive your own hype. Our wins were far from impressive. If Freo kicks that goal at the start of the last they are within 16 pts and got the run on. North was lucky and Richmond was much to write home about. Yet we were winning. That is a good sign, i guess.

Then under some pressure and zoning from some better teams, we have dropped right off badly. There needs to be some clear leadership and serious questions asked at the selectors table. Obviously a pre-lim we should have won and the best pre-season ever is counting for jack shite at the moment. Again, lets not slit our wrists, but senior players being selected on reputation whose form is down, need to be sent a clear message that reputation is not what gets you selected. We need to review some tactics especially against the zone and blood some more kids. I'd like Reid given a run.

But to the emotional pre-text, i think some (maybe only very few) are beleiving ouw own GS.

[Mantis]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Yes, that was good - I enjoyed that passage of play. Hopefully, that will give Minno some added confidence when he sees that passage of play again - he looked very good doing that.

Two St.Kilda ran into each other and Will picked up the ball and strolled in for an easy goal... Whoppy doo.

Much prefer Will to have split the pack open and player 'X' picked up the crumbs for an easy goal.

[The Pie Man]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Two St.Kilda ran into each other and Will picked up the ball and strolled in for an easy goal... Whoppy doo.

Much prefer Will to have split the pack open and player 'X' picked up the crumbs for an easy goal.

Good point - to be fair to Minson, the kick in this instance went right over his head. Was a very lucky goal. He looked alright on the run though

[Mantis]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Good point - to be fair to Minson, the kick in this instance went right over his head. Was a very lucky goal. He looked alright on the run though

I'm not blaming Will as it was a poorly directed kick, but it's seriously worrying that we are applauding a critical error by the Saints as something we did well.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What's going on doggies?

I'm not blaming Will as it was a poorly directed kick, but it's seriously worrying that we are applauding a critical error by the Saints as something we did well.

Surelt it was a fault of Eagleton wasn't it Mantis?

[Mantis]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Surelt it was a fault of Eagleton wasn't it Mantis?

Don't know who you are talking about...

And yes it is taking all my god given strength to stay away from the Eagleton thread. And I don't even believe in god so I don't know how the hell I'm controllling myself.

But Mantis is staying strong.....

[Missing Dog]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Some observations today:

1. When we kick in after conceding a point we take too long and as a result NEVER have a free player. So we have to kick to a contest, which then puts the defense under pressure. Hence the many goals conceded from turnovers. This has been a problem for oh about 6 years and we don't seem to learn. St Kilda did the opposite.

2. The midfield got smashed. Cooney is not 100% fit, not sure what the other's excuse is.

3. We DO NOT need a tall marking forward IF we deliver the ball quickly and in front of the forwards. That goes back to the midfield being ineffective, or the ball coming in from defense under pressure due to not creating the loose man in defense. Despite St Kilda having Reiwoldt and Kozzie, most of their marks were not contested marks in a pack, but chest marks or marks on the lead 5-10 metres in front of their defender.

4. Our forwards do not work hard enough to keep the ball in our forward line. Not enough pressure on the opposition defenders in our forward line.

5. If Reiwoldt kicked straight this could have been a 10-12 goal drubbing and game over by half time.

If things don't improve a top eight finish is not certain, let alone going one better than last year.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Don't know who you are talking about...

And yes it is taking all my god given strength to stay away from the Eagleton thread. And I don't even believe in god so I don't know how the hell I'm controllling myself.

But Mantis is staying strong.....

C'Mon, you know you want to.

...If only he was a little harder.

...If only his kicks penetrated the lines.

Give in to 'Evil Mantis'. "I am evil Mantis... Eagleton was **** today."

[Mantis]

Re: What's going on doggies?

C'Mon, you know you want to.

...If only he was a little harder.

...If only his kicks penetrated the lines.

Give in to 'Evil Mantis'. "I am evil Mantis... Eagleton was **** today."

I wrote four paragraphs in the thread, but hit the delete button rather than the post button.... I'm such a wuss.

But I did watch him very closely today and I can tell you I wasn't all that impressed... Playing him in the forwardline??... Clearly someone was taking the piss.

[GVGjr]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Guys, lets move any Eagleton discussion to the Eagleton thread.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What's going on doggies?

I wrote four paragraphs in the thread, but hit the delete button rather than the post button.... I'm such a wuss.

But I did watch him very closely today and I can tell you I wasn't all that impressed... Playing him in the forwardline??... Clearly someone was taking the piss.

We know the club love him and he will be selected. So lets go with that assumption for this week.

I agree playing forward is not ideal.

What about playing him loose man in defense ala Gilbee/Hodge (By no way am i suggesting he is as good as them). But if he can run, break lines and hit targets, occasionally get down for a shot and release Gilbe downfield.

What are your thoughts. I can't ever really recall using him like that. Otherwise how would you use him, again knowing that despite much opinion, he will be selected next week?

[Happy Days]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Cooney's not even close to match fit. He looked much slower than usual and his kicks lacked both penetration and distance, dropping short of the intended target more often than not.

[Rocket Science]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Are we believing our own bullshit about being bigger, stronger, better etc and expecting things.

Our wins are only to bottom 2009 6 sides. Big issues. Something has got to turn around. I know we are aiming to peak at a certain time of the year, but you need to win more than you loose for that to happen. I'm not on the panic button, but i'm worried for sure.

Why does aiming to peak at a certain time of the year suddenly seem to involve plumbing the depths most other times.

I'm exaggerating, but why can't we be 'steady' before ramping up to our 'peak' instead of average-to-very bloody ordinary. Surely just makes it harder to ascend to this 'peak' we're all told is imminent.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Why does aiming to peak at a certain time of the year suddenly seem to involve plumbing the depths most other times.

I'm exaggerating, but why can't we be 'steady' before ramping up to our 'peak' instead of average-to-very bloody ordinary. Surely just makes it harder to ascend to this 'peak' we're all told is imminent.

I agree. It was used a lot last year as an excuse. i don't get it and i think it's mostly BS. But it's an excuse i guess.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What's going on doggies?

Good to see Everitt out there and Minson showed his strength a few times, he managed to take some strong grabs.

Our decision making is generally poor and our skills have disappeared, even handballs aren't hitting the target. We have probably had enough of the ball to be in a better position the last two games but letting ourselves down with turnovers.

I love the way Brian can nail a chest from 50 metres in the back pocket but cant kick between two posts from 20...

We have some work to do! Please, please, please beat the fruit loops over here!

Lose still only contains one 'o'