We play Port at 1305 at the 'Gabba next Sunday 19th July.
We're not on free to air TV again.
Toughest test so far.
Lycett and Westhoff are a very good match up against Pittonet and Levi, then there is Dixon who is almost unstoppable.
Port are not short of hard edged mids either!
Toughest test so far.
Lycett and Westhoff are a very good match up against Pittonet and Levi, then there is Dixon who is almost unstoppable.
Port are not short of hard edged mids either!
Yes, should hopefully be a ripping game.
Dixon, unlike Levi, is not a gentle soul.
Ports weakness is down back where they are under sized.....so Levi and Harry need to be fed the ball and convert well.
It will force them to play Westhoff down back and put more pressure on Dixon...I think Jones and Weitering can handle him and Marshall but its the medium classy types like Rozee, Gray, Ebert and Motlop that will trouble us IMO.
They had a good win over GWS and players like Powell Pepper threw their weight around and I'd expect more of that stuff this week
especially if Cripps is sore.
Port will start favorites but I give us chance if we can control the middle and use our tall forwards to advantage....
I would think Jones would be a good matchup for Dixon who can lose his composure under pressure. I agree with EB, we need to pay close attention to their midfield and not let them off the leash.
Ports weakness is down back where they are under sized.....so Levi and Harry need to be fed the ball and convert well.
It will force them to play Westhoff down back and put more pressure on Dixon...I think Jones and Weitering can handle him and Marshall but its the medium classy types like Rozee, Gray, Ebert and Motlop that will trouble us IMO.
They had a good win over GWS and players like Powell Pepper threw their weight around and I'd expect more of that stuff this week
especially if Cripps is sore.
Port will start favorites but I give us chance if we can control the middle and use our tall forwards to advantage....
Generally agree, except the bit on Dixon. I'm not sure any of our back 6 can handle him, even on a rotation basis. He's agile for a big man, a good pack mark, good set shot, adroit at bringing the ball to ground, and clearly loves the crash and bash. if Port win too many centre clearances and clearances near their F50, we are toast IMO.
Afaik, the last time we played Port it was the smalls and mediums who put us to the sword, Boak, Ebert, Motlop, Rozee and Gray.
Lycett was also good racking up midfielder like possessions.
I specifically recall Gray being ultra-damaging forward of centre, and Boak knocking our skinny blokes over left, right and centre.
No excuses, last week showed they can play for 4 qtrs, required again this week and next week, and the week after that etc. PA will be a test. We normally go well against the top sides just not for long enough. Coach needs to come up with a plan, they players need to execute for 4 qtrs and we are a chance. Problem is, we have seen too many time we turn up half asleep the week after a good win. Balls in your court Teague et al.
I still dont rate Port as a top team....Tigers, GWS, WC and maybe Pies and Geelong are the top teams still and IMHO Port are racking up wins like Essendon courtesy of this weird season. Ken Hinkley is a nice bloke but no mastermind in the coaches box and I think a few people have gone early and over rated Port mainly on the basis they have a couple of slick young kids and a bearded monster in the goal square.
I still dont rate Port as a top team....Tigers, GWS, WC and maybe Pies and Geelong are the top teams still and IMHO Port are racking up wins like Essendon courtesy of this weird season. Ken Hinkley is a nice bloke but no mastermind in the coaches box and I think a few people have gone early and over rated Port mainly on the basis they have a couple of slick young kids and a bearded monster in the goal square.
You can only play whats in front of you EB, right now Port at the top of the heap so they need to be treated with respect. I remember in 2017 when Richmond kept winning and whenever finals talk came about, many including me, would say "Pffft, Ninethmond". Nekminut ...
Jones can take Dixon. It's their crafty small types and hard midfielders (Boak Wines PP) that will cause us problems. We have no match up for Gray, he kicks goals against us for fun.
I still dont rate Port as a top team....Tigers, GWS, WC and maybe Pies and Geelong are the top teams still and IMHO Port are racking up wins like Essendon courtesy of this weird season. Ken Hinkley is a nice bloke but no mastermind in the coaches box and I think a few people have gone early and over rated Port mainly on the basis they have a couple of slick young kids and a bearded monster in the goal square.
I'm not sure they're a true top team either but it's a weird season and they have some history on their side..........well sort of. Every leap year this century the side that has been on top after round 1 has gone on to win the flag...lol.
Ebert out suspended for one match..
Ebert out suspended for one match..
Probably helps our cause, the Port little blokes usually have a day out against us, but I think control over Dixon and Westhoff is the key.
2nd last game in Brisbane before we head to Perth with Hawthorn to join Geelong and Collingwood. So would be nice to roll Port and North before we go. So after North in round 8, Hawthorn round 9 we'll get the 2 WA clubs and Collingwood in what ever order.
Whatever, don't play Cripps injured!
Probably helps our cause, the Port little blokes usually have a day out against us, but I think control over Dixon and Westhoff is the key.
Westhoff will play down back IMO as Port have no tall defenders unless they bring someone else in.....
reckon Rockliff will replace Ebert.
Whatever, don't play Cripps injured!
I know the club has said that Cripps is OK, but he isn't. You can tell by the amount of strapping he has all over his body. I hope the club is thinking long term enough to let him recover.
I hate playing guys who are not right: it comes back to bite us on the posterior too often for my tastes.
But the club is well known for ignoring my opinion on this matter.
Westhoff will play down back IMO as Port have no tall defenders unless they bring someone else in.....
reckon Rockliff will replace Ebert.
Which is a win in itself (Westhoff down back).
If Port have even a sniff of an injured Cripps their attack dogs such as SPP will be unleashed.
I know the club has said that Cripps is OK, but he isn't. You can tell by the amount of strapping he has all over his body. I hope the club is thinking long term enough to let him recover.
I hate playing guys who are not right: it comes back to bite us on the posterior too often for my tastes.
But the club is well known for ignoring my opinion on this matter.
I agree, but Cripps occupies the best tagger even when he is off. All he has to do is attend the contests without really getting in there, and he is worth having on the ground.
Its also useful to have a big lump like him down forward as he can take a mark even when not 100%.
There are times when I say dont play an injured bloke, but Cripps isnt a regular human.
I agree, but Cripps occupies the best tagger even when he is off. All he has to do is attend the contests without really getting in there, and he is worth having on the ground.
Its also useful to have a big lump like him down forward as he can take a mark even when not 100%.
There are times when I say dont play an injured bloke, but Cripps isnt a regular human.
This. Just take the center bounce then waltz on down to the goal square, good luck with that to Salt and Pepper Shaker or whatever his name is. Even with one arm Crippa would take him to the cleaners.
need to stop the easy exit from our fwd line by port runners thats half the game there.Who can forget that open (port) fwdline with gray all the room to lead kicking 5 goals at the G all starts from there defence
Stop Westhoff!
Need to stop the Hoff!
He always burns us.
Stop Westhoff!
Need to stop the Hoff!
He always burns us.
Been under rated, our scouts said he wasnt good enough and we overlooked him...saying all that he is older now, slowed up and his once deadly goal kicking has also tapered off. This is a winnable game IMO and the Power are a flaky unit that can either be great or terrible and its been surprising to see them so consistent.
As PaulP pointed out the bearded assassin Charlie Dixon seems to be a barometer of success for them this season and a player we might need to put more time into than the more gentleman like Hoff . Dixon is one of the few rough diamonds that remain in the game and taming him will go a long way towards winning the game IMHO. He likes to bash and crash and even when not kicking goals will create room and panic for defenders allowing the Port smalls to prosper so Jones and Weitering might have to team up on him.
Been under rated, our scouts said he wasnt good enough and we overlooked him...saying all that he is older now, slowed up and his once deadly goal kicking has also tapered off. This is a winnable game IMO and the Power are a flaky unit that can either be great or terrible and its been surprising to see them so consistent.
As PaulP pointed out the bearded assassin Charlie Dixon seems to be a barometer of success for them this season and a player we might need to put more time into than the more gentleman like Hoff . Dixon is one of the few rough diamonds that remain in the game and taming him will go a long way towards winning the game IMHO. He likes to bash and crash and even when not kicking goals will create room and panic for defenders allowing the Port smalls to prosper so Jones and Weitering might have to team up on him.
Well Charlie and Hoff will be up against a couple of handy, miserly defenders so I reckon they need to bring their best. Tall fwd have been very poor against us of late, I'll back our boys but the mids will need to run two ways and help with the D.
The bloke we really need to watch is Rozee, can be very dangerous around goal. Havent watched a Port game so not sure if he's been playing fwd or mid. Would mind seeing Walshy touch him up if they play on a wing.
Dixon has bullied our KPDs before, and while Westhoff is not generally a dominating player against us he has a habit of popping up at just the critical moment to swing momentum.
But in the past the real damage has been by the likes of Boak, Gray, Motlop and Ebert, thankfully Ebert is having a holiday.
I'm not so concerned about eh others provided our fringe guys like Setterfield, Newnes, Cunningham and Gibbons(Fringe!) bring a consistent level of footy.
Will our mids/forwards be prepared to get into Dixon's space?
Dixon has bullied our KPDs before, and while Westhoff is not generally a dominating player against us he has a habit of popping up at just the critical moment to swing momentum.
But in the past the real damage has been by the likes of Boak, Gray, Motlop and Ebert, thankfully Ebert is having a holiday.
I'm not so concerned about eh others provided our fringe guys like Setterfield, Newnes, Cunningham and Gibbons(Fringe!) bring a consistent level of footy.
Will our mids/forwards be prepared to get into Dixon's space?
Dixon last played against us in Rnd 15 2018, he took a mammoth 4 marks and kicked 1 goal. Rnd 5 2017 2 marks 2 goals. Rnd 8 2016 3 marks 2 goals. The most he's kicked against us is 3 goals in 2015. Thats hardly cause for Jonesy or Weiters to quake in their boots. He's kicked one decent bag (6 this year) in 3 seasons albeit injury interrupted. I'll back our tall defs at this stage.
Dixon last played against us in Rnd 15 2018, he took a mammoth 4 marks and kicked 1 goal. Rnd 5 2017 2 marks 2 goals. Rnd 8 2016 3 marks 2 goals. The most he's kicked against us is 3 goals in 2015. Thats hardly cause for Jonesy or Weiters to quake in their boots. He's kicked one decent bag (6 this year) in 3 seasons albeit injury interrupted. I'll back our tall defs at this stage.
No doubt, but bullying isn't about collecting stats, bullying is about having an impact on an opponent, like the impact Mumford has on opposition players.
Our focus becomes the bully, and the rest of the bully's team have a feast!
I think tactically, one of BBs shortfalls was not hurting the opposition going the other way. He'd leave us with two or three blokes standing a guy like Dixon while we lose all intercept marking and defensive run. I'd go the very opposite, and have players like Weitering and Jones hurting Dixon's team going in the other direction, make Dixon accountable right down to his own D50!
They have Dixon and Westhoff, we've Mckay, McGovern, Casboult, Weitering and Jones in potentially the same roles!
We've lost the last three outings against Port, the last win we had was when Kreuzer had a day out at Etihad back in 2016.
If we contain and beat their midfield then that would largely starve Dixon out in his forward role. Of course he could then be moved to his ruck/on ball role - Pittonet come on down?
If we keep F50 pressure on that would mean the Hoff in a defensive role.
If we contain and beat their midfield then that would largely starve Dixon out in his forward role. Of course he could then be moved to his ruck/on ball role - Pittonet come on down?
If we keep F50 pressure on that would mean the Hoff in a defensive role.
@cookie2 Port have Lycett, I doubt they'll use B-Grade ruck options just to find someone useful employment.
We've been doing that for years, like when we played Kreuzer forward and left Phillips rucking, and I'd assert it's a significant factor in stifling our progress.
Dixon last played against us in Rnd 15 2018, he took a mammoth 4 marks and kicked 1 goal. Rnd 5 2017 2 marks 2 goals. Rnd 8 2016 3 marks 2 goals. The most he's kicked against us is 3 goals in 2015. Thats hardly cause for Jonesy or Weiters to quake in their boots. He's kicked one decent bag (6 this year) in 3 seasons albeit injury interrupted. I'll back our tall defs at this stage.
Dixon strikes me as a pretty lazy type.
Give him silver service and an undersized opponent - sure he'll kick goals.
He kicked 6 on Tom Barrass (who was conceding 5cm and 10kg) and WCE got spanked in the midfield.
Against the Lions no goals, then 1 last week which was a charity free from the ump late in the 3rd quarter which got the Power back in the game....
No doubt, but bullying isn't about collecting stats, bullying is about having an impact on an opponent, like the impact Mumford has on opposition players.
Our focus becomes the bully, and the rest of the bully's team have a feast!
I think tactically, one of BBs shortfalls was not hurting the opposition going the other way. He'd leave us with two or three blokes standing a guy like Dixon while we lose all intercept marking and defensive run. I'd go the very opposite, and have players like Weitering and Jones hurting Dixon's team going in the other direction, make Dixon accountable right down to his own D50!
They have Dixon and Westhoff, we've Mckay, McGovern, Casboult, Weitering and Jones in potentially the same roles!
We've lost the last three outings against Port, the last win we had was when Kreuzer had a day out at Etihad back in 2016.
Last week McKay had a statistical average game.
His impact was enormous which involved him in scoring chains on multiple occasions, but the stats show a decent but not outstanding performance.
Charlie Dixon has that kind of game frequently.
Last week McKay had a statistical average game.
His impact was enormous which involved him in scoring chains on multiple occasions, but the stats show a decent but not outstanding performance.
Charlie Dixon has that kind of game frequently.
That's a nice way to look at it, and a better way to describe it than bullying.
Stats are not illuminating generally.
I remember back to Bryce Gibbs 46 posession game against West Coast and remember thinking that he was involved a lot with maintaining posession but he didnt win his ball, and didnt set up a lot of our play, he simply accumulated.
I remember thinking to myself, that it was the worst dominant performance I had ever seen in a match we won easily.
Greg Williams record deserved much better than to have it broken in such fashion.
Charlie has gone up a level this year. He is leaner, bigger, stronger and faster than he was. Underestimate him at our peril. Our boys have been in good form back there, and I havent been this confident in our defense since the 90's so it will be interesting to see how this game pans out.
No doubt, but bullying isn't about collecting stats, bullying is about having an impact on an opponent, like the impact Mumford has on opposition players.
Our focus becomes the bully, and the rest of the bully's team have a feast!
I think tactically, one of BBs shortfalls was not hurting the opposition going the other way. He'd leave us with two or three blokes standing a guy like Dixon while we lose all intercept marking and defensive run. I'd go the very opposite, and have players like Weitering and Jones hurting Dixon's team going in the other direction, make Dixon accountable right down to his own D50!
They have Dixon and Westhoff, we've Mckay, McGovern, Casboult, Weitering and Jones in potentially the same roles!
We've lost the last three outings against Port, the last win we had was when Kreuzer had a day out at Etihad back in 2016.
I am not for a minute suggesting this will be a walk in the park, if we dont respect them we will lose. If we give them a head start, we are gone. If we play to a plan and play at our best fpr 4 qtrs like last week, we are a chance and it will be a cracker of a game.
Jones is probably a better match up for Dixon than Weitering? He's got a bit more pace and probably stronger than Weitering too. Jones was outstanding last week in completely shutting Bruce out of the game...coming off 6 goals the week before. I think Weitering was playing on Schache who went virtually unnoticed all game...2 possessions I think! Weitering seems to be playing with confidence this year...backing himself in...and his field kicking has been really good for the most part.
Agree though that it's the likes of Rozee, Gray, Motlop, Boak, Butters etc that are the threat...and Duursma likely to come back in. Would love to see someone drill Butters.
But Port will have their concerns too....match ups on Betts, Martin, McGovern etc.
If we didn't piss 2 games down the drain with horrible starts this could well have been a top of the table clash. We may be underestimated. Port certainly overestimated. Good, but not that good.
At our stage of development and maturity we are likely to win this game then lose the next one against North...lol. It's probably going to be 2 steps forward, one step back for a short while until we develop further and win consistently. Part of the journey.
Jones is probably a better match up for Dixon than Weitering? He's got a bit more pace and probably stronger than Weitering too.
I agree about Jones, but I disagree about Jones being stronger than Weitering.
Weitering is a monster now, and I doubt our club has any player stronger than Weitering or Casboult, they'd be well ahead of the competition.
I know some will refer me to the Aints game, but King was able to work outside the rules penalty free wrapping arms around Weitering and throwing him to the ground multiple times. McKay did the same thing as King last weekend and was penalised.
There is a lot of people around the net (both professional media commentators & armchair keyboarders) who are going ape droppings about the Blues and how much of a threat they are etc.
It's great to get some positive hype for a change but realistically, it's completely blown out of proportion and totally unwarranted.
We have hardly fired a shot for many a year and even though we have some young exciting players who are starting to play with more consistency, the simple fact is a couple of wins in a shortened & bizarre season shouldn't warrant such adulation.
This week's game against Port is going to be some sort of acid test, stink it up and the knives will be back out. Take it up to them and lose narrowly or better still, pinch a win and there is some room to have more higher expectations.
Enjoying the way the lads are performing but I will not go over the top until the ferocious effort on the contest we saw last week happens every week and by every player.
Extended squad is in....Cottrell, Fisher, Moore and Philp added....I'm tipping Murphy won't get up for this game and likely one or two more changes too.
Round 7 squad
Backs: Kade Simpson - Lachie Plowman - Sam Docherty
Half-backs: Sam Petrevski-Seton - Jacob Weitering - Liam Jones
Centreline: Will Setterfield - Patrick Cripps - Jack Newnes
Half-forwards: Michael Gibbons - Harry McKay - Eddie Betts
Forwards: Sam Walsh - Mitch McGovern - Levi Casboult
Followers: Marc Pittonet - Jack Martin - Ed Curnow
Interchange from: Marc Murphy - Matthew Kennedy - Zac Fisher - David Cuningham - Tom Williamson - Sam Philp - Matthew Cottrell - Callum Moore
Ins: Matthew Cottrell, Zac Fisher, Callum Moore, Sam Philp
New: Matthew Cottrell* (Dandenong Stingrays), Callum Moore* (Richmond)
Scott Lycett out injured!!!
Scott Lycett out injured!!!
Yep : out Lycett, Sutcliffe, Ebert, in Duursma, Ladhams, Mayes. Our chances of winning just got that little bit better.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/17/sunday-teams-huge-derby-changes-hawks-make-three-changes/
Yep : out Lycett, Sutcliffe, Ebert, in Duursma, Ladhams, Mayes. Our chances of winning just got that little bit better.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/17/sunday-teams-huge-derby-changes-hawks-make-three-changes/
Yep : out Lycett, Sutcliffe, Ebert, in Duursma, Ladhams, Mayes. Our chances of winning just got that little bit better.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/17/sunday-teams-huge-derby-changes-hawks-make-three-changes/
Not too familiar with Port list Paul. Who do you think will play ruck?
Yep : out Lycett, Sutcliffe, Ebert, in Duursma, Ladhams, Mayes. Our chances of winning just got that little bit better.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/17/sunday-teams-huge-derby-changes-hawks-make-three-changes/
Not too familiar with Port list Paul. Who do you think will play ruck?
Peter Ladhams is one of their listed ruckmen, so I'm safely assuming he will be the main man - not sure who will provide relief. Maybe Westhoff ?
I know nothing about Ladhams, but he's not Lycett, which is a plus. Listed as the same height as Pittonet, but several kgs lighter. Played 5 games last season.
Round 7 squad
Backs: Kade Simpson - Lachie Plowman - Sam Docherty
Half-backs: Sam Petrevski-Seton - Jacob Weitering - Liam Jones
Centreline: Will Setterfield - Patrick Cripps - Jack Newnes
Half-forwards: Michael Gibbons - Harry McKay - Eddie Betts
Forwards: Sam Walsh - Mitch McGovern - Levi Casboult
Followers: Marc Pittonet - Jack Martin - Ed Curnow
Interchange from: Marc Murphy - Matthew Kennedy - Zac Fisher - David Cuningham - Tom Williamson - Sam Philp - Matthew Cottrell - Callum Moore
Ins: Matthew Cottrell, Zac Fisher, Callum Moore, Sam Philp
New: Matthew Cottrell* (Dandenong Stingrays), Callum Moore* (Richmond)
Side unchanged, first time in 3 years.
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/744407/final-teams-blues-confirm-22
Side unchanged, first time in 3 years.
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/744407/final-teams-blues-confirm-22
I was astonished when I read that earlier, but then again not overly surprised...
Anyone know if it's true port are flying into gold coast at 4:30am Sunday?
That's a fair advantage for us if true
Not saying we should underestimate Port but have a look who they've beaten.
GC
WC when they were rubbish
Freo who are rubbish
Adelaide rubbish
GWS who are waaaay out of form
And got spanked by Brisbane.
You can only beat the teams in front of you and they've mostly done that but the form line isn't overly convincing.
Win this a we are a real true bonifide finals side. Lose and we've probably not lost a great deal, just where we sat before last week.
I'd rate us a 50/50 chance for this game. Bookmakers have us massive underdogs.
Anyone know if it's true port are flying into gold coast at 4:30am Sunday?
That's a fair advantage for us if true
They are flying in on the day from Adelaide and it is a 1:05 game so they would need to be there by 10 or so and they are 30mins behind anyway, so they might need to be up by 4:30. Most realistic.
I'd rate us a 50/50 chance for this game. Bookmakers have us massive underdogs.
Bookies are normally pretty spot on, didnt look at what they had us last week, do you know/recall?
Bookies are normally pretty spot on, didnt look at what they had us last week, do you know/recall?
I don't remember the numbers, but the Dogs were heavy favourites.
If we turn up mentally then we are a big chance imo.
Bookies are normally pretty spot on, didnt look at what they had us last week, do you know/recall?
i reckon we were mid-late $2 odds, say $2.8 to win.
Pre game was all about how if the dogs win they'll be in 2nd. No air time given to us if we were to win, certainly no mention of us making the 8.
We surprised a lot of people last week. Would love to do it again.
Sunny and 24 tomorrow for Brisvegas. It will suit a tall high marking forward line against an undersized back line, it will suit the team that has acclimatized to the warmer conditions (we’ve been there 2 weeks, they are communiting from cold, crappy Adelaide) plus we follow a normal match day routine whereas they are up at sparrows, and finallly ‘We are Carlton.....$&@# the rest!’ (S. Kernahan circa years ago!) The arrogance is slowly resurfacing!!!
Sunny and 24 tomorrow for Brisvegas. It will suit a tall high marking forward line against an undersized back line, it will suit the team that has acclimatized to the warmer conditions (we’ve been there 2 weeks, they are communiting from cold, crappy Adelaide) plus we follow a normal match day routine whereas they are up at sparrows, and finallly ‘We are Carlton.....$&@# the rest!’ (S. Kernahan circa years ago!) The arrogance is slowly resurfacing!!!
"Danger Will Robinson, Danger" - Robot - "Lost In Space" circa 1966
Cool your jets son.
i reckon we were mid-late $2 odds, say $2.8 to win.
Pre game was all about how if the dogs win they'll be in 2nd. No air time given to us if we were to win, certainly no mention of us making the 8.
We surprised a lot of people last week. Would love to do it again.
Yep - dogs were heavy favourites - though I don't normally bet on footy. Made an exception last night though for the dogs against bombers who were evens despite having beaten them 5 times in a row, including by over 100 late last year and Shiel and Heppel being out.
Blues still only 50/50 tomorrow I think but that is way different to the bookies.
Big chance for Jack Martin to really make a statement this weekend! Can really stamp himself with a big game here.
I really need us to continue with our forwards trajectory with this game - if we revert back to how we’ve played or capitulate or don’t turn up to play, all the good feelings of last week will wane.
If we give it a red hit go but fall short or they outplay is, so be it, but if we don’t turn up I’ll be very annoyed.
i reckon we were mid-late $2 odds, say $2.8 to win.
Pre game was all about how if the dogs win they'll be in 2nd. No air time given to us if we were to win, certainly no mention of us making the 8.
We surprised a lot of people last week. Would love to do it again.
Odds v dogs
Approx 1.45 to 2.80 as i recall
Regards any talk about us... it follows the age old pattern. If sh$& can be flung at us, it makes headlines. If it can't because we're behaving and our footy is ok.. 🦗🦗🦗
Near the end of dogs v Drugcheats last night, the question was asked. BT I think, asked how are the Blues positioned given our form v dogs. Discussion was brief but I'll take that.
Go Blues
I cant help but feel the ball is in the players court. It's up to them how much they want it. They can say things like "we want to bring the club back to where it belongs" ie talk the talk. It's NOW TIME to walk the walk. Problem for me is that 3AW interview of Betts I posted on another thread, I couldn't help but notice the negativity in his words when ask if they could make the 8 and play finals. He said something like "we cant play to that level every week" in reference to the Bulldogs game and at the end said "I dont know". That's poor attitude and all between the ears IMO, actually sad to hear from a senior player like Eddie TBH. To perform well, you need to "want" and dream big. They need to realise and firmly believe, like us supporters, that if they are prepared to play like they did against the WB, they can mix it and beat anyone. Question is, do they REALLY want it.
I'm worried we won't turn up mentally. We've plenty of form in this regard.
An important litmus test. We usually match up well on this mob. We'll know soon. Go Blues!
I'm worried we won't turn up mentally. We've plenty of form in this regard.
Got it in 1. We will only have turned the corner when we follow up a good win and tyre pumping session with a top effort the next week. The form you speak of is all too familiar.