Bankers and Anchors Round 13

[Doc26]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

I was five when we last played in the GF. It really stinks and I am becoming very bitter about it.

Totally with you BD.

It's great that we do have the likes of Ghost Dog to keep us 'oldies' true to being 'through and through' but really I'm over having to be continually asked to 'remember 54' when 99% of us now would have absolutely no reckoning or appreciation for it other than being reminded of it through some historic footage that bobs up at every special occasion.

All our old timers are on the way out, if not gone, and I fear I'm up catching up to them. I have become bitter, aggrieved, aggravated, frustrated, angry to the point of despair wondering if our time will now ever come given the apparent obstacles in front of us with lagging membership, crap fixtures, awful stadium deals, gifts to expansion clubs, free agency and administration who often appear beholden to the game's gatekeepers for reasons largely inherited.

I'm fearing we have become South Melbourne of the 80s but with no place to turn.

Then again, there's always next week.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

Totally with you BD.

It's great that we do have the likes of Ghost Dog to keep us 'oldies' true to being 'through and through' but really I'm over having to be continually asked to 'remember 54' when 99% of us now would have absolutely no reckoning or appreciation for it other than being reminded of it through some historic footage that bobs up at every special occasion.

All our old timers are on the way out, if not gone, and I fear I'm up catching up to them. I have become bitter, aggrieved, aggravated, frustrated, angry to the point of despair wondering if our time will now ever come given the apparent obstacles in front of us with lagging membership, crap fixtures, awful stadium deals, gifts to expansion clubs, free agency and administration who often appear beholden to the game's gatekeepers for reasons largely inherited.

I'm fearing we have become South Melbourne of the 80s but with no place to turn.

Then again, there's always next week.

You need to have a few long beers with Nuggety Back Pocket to recapture your passion

[Doc26]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

You need to have a few long beers with Nuggety Back Pocket to recapture your passion

He's certainly more resilient and upbeat than I am and he's been going through it since the early sixties.

btw I know he was keen to catch up with you pre game in the Victory Room but wasn't sure how to find you.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

I was minus 15 when we last played in the GF. I can only hang my hat on the PF's, and I too am sick of hearing "I've seen my team win 3 premierships" and comments to that effect.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

I'm just thankful that I've got Chelsea as well or I would be a very bitter supporter right now.

I'm the same with Melbourne Storm. Even if two of the three have technically been taken away from us I will never forget the experience of being at the 2007 & 2009 premierships.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

I was 1 year old the last time the Dogs played in a GF and in another country. I just hope my mind is not in the same state or in a jar when we get to the next one.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors Round 13

The fact is that under the usual circumstances it's either that or get done for holding the ball where you are.

There are so many players around the ball and the defensive pressure is so high, you have no alternative.

The fault is not with the kicker, it's with the way we set up further down the ground. These scrub kicks under pressure will always happen, so we simply can't allow the opposition to set up 'plus one' in this area (to use popular recent vernacular). The second part is more old-fashioned - forwards to play in front and be first to move.

I think the problem is, in part, with the kicker. Under pressure we should still try to keep the ball lower, even rolling it along the ground, and kick to a designated place of advantage. This forces us to be on the move rather than be caught in a static contest. It is useless kicking the ball high up in the air without looking as it give the defenders too much time to get into position.

I accept that the forwards are also part of the problem when they don't seem to be instinctive enough, play from behind, play from in front when the situation clearly demands they be goal side and mobile, don't follow instructions or become static.

Watching Hawthorn last night, I felt they kicked the ball across their bodies or round corners and spotted up targets with precision most of the time. And under pressure they kicked it low if they could or to the side or in front of ( space) the leading forward. This has to be well drilled into them…..and into the forwards. It also has to to do with having pace and fitness, and accurate hand balls to keep providing triangles or squares for all play situations.

The up and under kicks generally occur when players become physically or mentally tired at the end of games.