What is wrong with this team?

[LostDoggy]

How can they play so badly for long periods ever single week. They spot teams big head starts, they even gave Richmond as much of an advantage that they physically could get.

Last night (and against for most of the Collingwood, Richomnd and half of Hawthorn) they just play terribly and so far below there potential. We had a 15 period of good play last night where we were dominating play, but it was we can't play like shit for 3 quarters and expect to win against any team. The skills and decision making were far below were they should have been i.e Gilbee's handball to the 3 doggies players that went to Power. We deserved to get pumped last night

Just why can't they play well for any decent amount of time, seems like 06 all over again

[azabob]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

Don't have an answer to your question, not worried yet. I think you meen 07 not 06.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

How can we go from being the highest scoring team - with no POWER fwd to struggle to score 100pts with BBBBarry? Last night Brisbane had almost twice as many inside 50's... I think our structures are falling down - some players are out of form and we are not being proactive enough.

When Coon's aint getting a touch throw him fwd, When were getting beating in the clearances - Ruckmen belt it fwd 30m. Poor skills and silly mistakes are killing us...

IMO bloke aren't doin the hard running fwd that they were NAB cup and last year. Are they overtraining? They look tired and its only rnd 4!!

[mjp]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

How can we go from being the highest scoring team - with no POWER fwd to struggle to score 100pts with BBBBarry?

LOL. 'Cos it aint just about the forward line?

We have totally changed the structure of the side with Hall and it is going to take some time for everyone to get used to it. Last night though - particularly in the last q - we were completely out on our feet. Blame Hawthorn, blame travel, blame Brisbane, blame the coaches...whatever. If you bomb away rather than run the ball you are simply not going to score goals.

[DOG GOD]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

Brisbane completely clogged our run and moved the ball with ease out of their defense. Why is it that each time we play against Travis Johnstone he pulls a stellar game out his ass? I'm sick of these hbf's running freely and even after 1 or 2 great quarters, the coaching staff refuse to put a strong tag on them.

Not much went right last night. Griff, Coon and Higgo all had bursts, but with players like Johnno and Aker out, its guys like these that really need to step up and take it to another level. We seem to lack direction and leadership out there without Johhno. Gia just doesnt do enough.

Everytime Minson or Cross got the ball last night i cringed. Has Cross's kicking skills gone backwards? It really amazes me how AFL standard players cant kick to save themselves. Its like he freezes everytime he goes to kick it, like there's no confidence there at all.

Crow, Saints and Demons are all big games and we need to win all 3 to get back on track.

Next question is what to do with our very slow fwd line?

[LostDoggy]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

LOL. 'Cos it aint just about the forward line?

We have totally changed the structure of the side with Hall and it is going to take some time for everyone to get used to it. Last night though - particularly in the last q - we were completely out on our feet. Blame Hawthorn, blame travel, blame Brisbane, blame the coaches...whatever. If you bomb away rather than run the ball you are simply not going to score goals.

I agree. Accompanied with poor decision making and execution of skills really hurt. I felt sorry for some of our backs. They'd work hard, we'd win the ball then give it straight back again. That's just a tad disheartening. Look at how many times we spilled easy marks, kicked the ball straight to a Brisbane player, missed handballs, fumbled, couldn't get run and carry going. If you look at the game you'll see because we were so poor at moving the ball out of defence it made it very easy for Brisbane to get their zone set up, and we had no chance of getting through with the skills we were dishing up.

[Charlie the Wonder Dog]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

I've come to the conclusion, that as a side we are unable to maintain the intensity at the contest we would like for 22 rounds + finals. Its like the group we have do not have the mental toughness to week in and week out be primed for a tough contest. My conclusion is based largely on watching us over the last 4 years.

Whether this will prove to be our undoing I do not know. Despite being up and down we have managed to win enough games to make the top four in the last two years and also played well enough in finals to make the PF in both years. Only time and fortune will tell if we are lucky enough to make the GF, whether we can string 6 -7 games of high intensity football together.

I don't necessarily hold Rocket or whomever might be our captain accountable for this, I think it is just peculiar to the group of blokes we have.

[GVGjr]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

I don't necessarily hold Rocket or whomever might be our captain accountable for this, I think it is just peculiar to the group of blokes we have.

Perhaps it's one of the problems of having an older list?

[G-Mo77]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

I've come to the conclusion, that as a side we are unable to maintain the intensity at the contest we would like for 22 rounds + finals. Its like the group we have do not have the mental toughness to week in and week out be primed for a tough contest. My conclusion is based largely on watching us over the last 4 years.

Whether this will prove to be our undoing I do not know. Despite being up and down we have managed to win enough games to make the top four in the last two years and also played well enough in finals to make the PF in both years. Only time and fortune will tell if we are lucky enough to make the GF, whether we can string 6 -7 games of high intensity football together.

I don't necessarily hold Rocket or whomever might be our captain accountable for this, I think it is just peculiar to the group of blokes we have.

I've got nothing much to add to this but love the handle.

Charlie the Wonder Dog is there anything you can't do?
Charlie the Wonder Dog, Charlie we love you.

I'm a big fan!

[chef]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

LOL. 'Cos it aint just about the forward line?

We have totally changed the structure of the side with Hall and it is going to take some time for everyone to get used to it. Last night though - particularly in the last q - we were completely out on our feet. Blame Hawthorn, blame travel, blame Brisbane, blame the coaches...whatever. If you bomb away rather than run the ball you are simply not going to score goals.

Yep, I agree. We also came up against a good side in form last night.

Would the Gabba be the hardest road trip ATM?

[LostDoggy]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

I remember seeing us play as if very tired last year in the pre season cup. It transpired that we had loaded up their training that week. I'm wondering if the same could be said this time...because...I again saw blokes standing outside the contest, watching. The fact this happened in the last quarter suggests to me that we just did not have the legs to run out the game.

Why was this? Possible reasons -

1. Illness. Were some of our players not well? I haven't seen Murphy have so little impact. He seemed to be slow all night. Moles was slow. Was he injured? Hargrave wasn't thinking clearly and reacting slowly as if he wasn't ready. It only takes one or two players to be off their game and the loose man can be created easily, resulting in our other players having to work extra hard.

2. Shortish break after intense physical game against the Hawks. Did we have sore bodies out there?

3. Beaten by a better team. Twice now we have been beaten by a team that has been able to use its quick players across the ground to put pressure on our ball carriers, cut the angles and crowd us into coughing up the ball.

4. Training heavy??? No idea but the fact that some players were standing still outside the pack and spectating (eg Higgins) instead of working to support their team mates in the last quarter suggests to me that we were stuffed.

We also continue to gift goal opportunities to the opposition with poor unforced errors, some of which may be attributable to tiredness, and some to lack of skill. Minson, Lake and Hargrave to name 3.

[Dazza]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

Skills and decision making are well down. To give up 31 shots at goal from direct turnovers is unacceptable. The majority of those turnovers were coming out of our backline where we seemed to just kick long to a 2 vs 1.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

Would the Gabba be the hardest road trip ATM?

Freo and the Swans certainly wouldn't be easy away missions either.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

It's definitely time for the team to have a crisis meating. They need to really turn this around quick and it's time for a little peer group pressure to point out some home truths to some of the boys going along at half pace at the moment.

[Doc26]

Re: What is wrong with this team?

We have totally changed the structure of the side with Hall and it is going to take some time for everyone to get used to it.

Well we better get our skates on or a top 4 berth will be out of reach before we know it. Our window is more geared to this year than next. With Johnno, Aker, Eagle and even Harbrow (please not) likely/possible departures it will be a new look again for 2011.

Perhaps it's one of the problems of having an older list?

Mmmm, can't teach old dogs new tricks