What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

[Jasper]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Looking at Smorgo's face you would think that Eade will and footy dept will come under pressure if we don't measure up this year. The notion of trading Boyd or Cross keeps crossing my mind...a team like Essendon would kill for Cross or Boyd you'd think. Oh well onto next week, watch us pump Sydney, overcome Essendon and probably succumb to the Pies...fingers crossed we beat Collingwood, I believe we can...do the players?

[Greystache]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I agree with the theme of this thread in that it's time to make some big calls on players that don't stand up in big games for us.

This week is the week to make the St Kilda style statement in regards to team instructions and that is to drop Boyd, clearly he has gotten ahead of himself, and if he doesn't play to instruction next week at Willi he doesn't come back in. I would assign Cross a purely defensive role this week and tell him if he doesn't do it he'll be out next week. I'd drop Johnson for Grant, and when Wood is fit again I'd make the call on Hargrave. There's no point rolling on the way we are, it's going to finish like the past 2 season (lose the first final, get a consalation win over a low ranking team, then lose the prelim again).

At seasons end I'd look at trading Cross to a team looking for an inside midfielder like Carlton, preferably in exchange for one of their 3 crumbing forwards. Plus I'd call time on Johnson, Hahn, Hargrave.

[Jasper]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I think a few people on here need to take a deep breath. Yes last night was embarrassing but more that anything it show that you can not win(especially against the best teams) with a poor preparation. We had to cancel 2 training session during the week because of this virus and as much as the team aren't using it as an excess it clearly had a huge impact. Our team has not change from the one that was part of the big 4 last week even if the media and some people on here have jumped off.

remember Geelong got beaten by the Pies by 80 points the year they won their first flag.

[Jasper]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I agree with the theme of this thread in that it's time to make some big calls on players that don't stand up in big games for us.

This week is the week to make the St Kilda style statement in regards to team instructions and that is to drop Boyd, clearly he has gotten ahead of himself, and if he doesn't play to instruction next week at Willi he doesn't come back in. I would assign Cross a purely defensive role this week and tell him if he doesn't do it he'll be out next week. I'd drop Johnson for Grant, and when Wood is fit again I'd make the call on Hargrave. There's no point rolling on the way we are, it's going to finish like the past 2 season (lose the first final, get a consalation win over a low ranking team, then lose the prelim again).

At seasons end I'd look at trading Cross to a team looking for an inside midfielder like Carlton, preferably in exchange for one of their 3 crumbing forwards. Plus I'd call time on Johnson, Hahn, Hargrave.

Lucky you aren't the coach

[LostDoggy]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Lucky you aren't the coach

Funny

[Greystache]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I think a few people on here need to take a deep breath. Yes last night was embarrassing but more that anything it show that you can not win(especially against the best teams) with a poor preparation. We had to cancel 2 training session during the week because of this virus and as much as the team aren't using it as an excess it clearly had a huge impact. Our team has not change from the one that was part of the big 4 last week even if the media and some people on here have jumped off.

remember Geelong got beaten by the Pies by 80 points the year they won their first flag.

Lucky you aren't the coach

Oh I get it, you're one of those types that think doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results isn't the definition of insanity.

NFI

[LostDoggy]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

One game .... players out and others coming off the flu ..hard wet game last week 6 day break little training... playing 2 short ( Eagleton Higgins)...knee jerk reaction. We play finals now with no pressure on us might take the monkey off our back.

101 points. I fully agree that we had a number of things going against us coming into last night - but we got belted by 101 points. I fear that it takes more than just the pressure off.

[Guest]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I think a few people on here need to take a deep breath. Yes last night was embarrassing but more that anything it show that you can not win(especially against the best teams) with a poor preparation. We had to cancel 2 training session during the week because of this virus and as much as the team aren't using it as an excess it clearly had a huge impact. Our team has not change from the one that was part of the big 4 last week even if the media and some people on here have jumped off.

remember Geelong got beaten by the Pies by 80 points the year they won their first flag.

Round 9 not 2 weeks out from the finals.

People have mentioned that we can't make the hard calls because it might upset the group. Would this not confirm the absolute mental fragility of this group . Blah Blah Blah but you shouldn't do handstands, don't write those particular words.(yes only words) without getting it ticked off by everyone as it might offend, Rockets doing too much media which is hurting the side, don't do anything unless the the leadership group give their approval blah blah blah. It seems to be a sad story for a club/ playing group that lacks that ultimate belief that they belong with the big boys.

Boydy said that he was at the club not to make friends but to win a premiership. I hope the club follows the same line.

[Jasper]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Oh I get it, you're one of those types that think doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results isn't the definition of insanity.

NFI

not at all, I am just not one of these fickle supporters whose opinion changes by the week depending on the result.

[Greystache]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

not at all, I am just not one of these fickle supports whose opinion changes by the week depending on the result.

Perhaps they should change over the course of 3 years!

Many close followers were expecting a similar result to this and have been discussing changes needed for some time.

[Bornadog]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I agree with the theme of this thread in that it's time to make some big calls on players that don't stand up in big games for us.

This week is the week to make the St Kilda style statement in regards to team instructions and that is to drop Boyd, clearly he has gotten ahead of himself, and if he doesn't play to instruction next week at Willi he doesn't come back in. I would assign Cross a purely defensive role this week and tell him if he doesn't do it he'll be out next week. I'd drop Johnson for Grant, and when Wood is fit again I'd make the call on Hargrave. There's no point rolling on the way we are, it's going to finish like the past 2 season (lose the first final, get a consalation win over a low ranking team, then lose the prelim again).

At seasons end I'd look at trading Cross to a team looking for an inside midfielder like Carlton, preferably in exchange for one of their 3 crumbing forwards. Plus I'd call time on Johnson, Hahn, Hargrave.

Is this a joke post, drop Boyd who has been averaging 31 disposals per game?

Why would you get rid of Hargrave who has had a pretty good second half of the season? Oh don't tell me he coughed the ball up once and we should drop him.

[Greystache]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Is this a joke post, drop Boyd who has been averaging 31 disposals per game?

Why would you get rid of Hargrave who has had a pretty good second half of the season? Oh don't tell me he coughed the ball up once and we should drop him.

What part of his opponent being best on ground and Boyd applying exactly zero defensive pressure did you miss? He's a serial offender, he refuses to follow the coaches instructions, and against the top team his opponents influence is a primary reason we're 0-4 this year. Clearly he needs a major wake up call.

Hargrave has been a let down his whole career against the top teams, if we can get everyone fit he is the weakest link in our finals defensive set up.

[Raw Toast]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Things are never as good or as bad as they seem.

A good quote for the moment MJP, and perhaps the run of wins preceding it as well.

To get back to the main topic of the thread, I don't think last night's loss has a negative impact on our finals aspirations.

We might not like it, but even if the flu had us off by a few percent then that opens the door for a game like that. I think the humiliation can spur us on, but I'm concerned about the lingering effects of the flu.

Most of us know that one of our key advantages these past few years has been our fitness, so can we get it back up in time? Collingwood has claims to being the fittest team in the comp imo, and we'll need to be running super-hard late against the Saints and Cats if we are to beat them.

[Desipura]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

I agree with the theme of this thread in that it's time to make some big calls on players that don't stand up in big games for us.

This week is the week to make the St Kilda style statement in regards to team instructions and that is to drop Boyd, clearly he has gotten ahead of himself, and if he doesn't play to instruction next week at Willi he doesn't come back in. I would assign Cross a purely defensive role this week and tell him if he doesn't do it he'll be out next week. I'd drop Johnson for Grant, and when Wood is fit again I'd make the call on Hargrave. There's no point rolling on the way we are, it's going to finish like the past 2 season (lose the first final, get a consalation win over a low ranking team, then lose the prelim again).

At seasons end I'd look at trading Cross to a team looking for an inside midfielder like Carlton, preferably in exchange for one of their 3 crumbing forwards. Plus I'd call time on Johnson, Hahn, Hargrave.

Ridiculous call to drop Boyd. Its not as if we have alot of midfield replacements. He has had a very good season.
Trade Cross and you sell your soul, wont happen, should not happen. (I am aware of these 2 players limitations, but you need to focus on their strengths)

Johnson & Hahn MUST hang up the boots at seasons end.
If no one wants to trade for Hargrave, we keep him.
Would you have made these big calls had we lost by 30 points to Geelong? Probably not.

Its not like we have been doing the same things year in year out as you say. Have a look at the inclusions this year, Wood, Grant, Jones & Moles to name a few.... There has to be a transition otherwise we may bottom out (which we cannot afford to do)

[LostDoggy]

Re: What does last night do to our finals aspirations?

Saturday's game?

A mere flesh wound - a minor setback

I travelled over for the game without any notion of a Doggies win because:

• A six day break from the hardest game of the year (brought about by wet conditions)
  
• Kennel cough causing two postponements of training sessions
  
• Players not fully recovered from virus
  
• Unavailability of important players - Hudson, Cooney, Harbrow and Grant

Add to this on the night the inexplicable performance of Lake, the playing of unfit players, Higgins and Ward and the ineptitude (again) of Eagleton in a big match plus the lack of any attempt to play a shut-down role on their runners at centre bounces and we were on a hiding to nothing.

What will it mean come September?

Absolutely nothing, because not one of the noted events of Saturday night will be repeated.