Re: Rd 14: Post Game Palliative care: Carlton vs Richmond
Reply #105 –
They played two games where they put in a very good effort.
Maintaining that effort week after week is just not possible.
It's why a side has never gone through undefeated in the history of the game.
Even our 1995 premiership side (possibly our best ever "team") had a couple of down games.
Now when youré a side in development these "down games" occur more frequently.
It's hard for youngsters to be consistent.
I wouldn't be surprised that at some level we aren't actually targeting those games where we have less chance of winning and using them to manage players or give a few blokes a final chance.
That game earlier in the season where we played a heap of youngsters could have been such an example...."We're not likely to win....give them all a run and see what they come up with"...Unfortunately that one backfired.
And this is where I will respectfully, yet strongly, disagree with you. It is possible, in fact it is the stuff of sustained excellence and success. Excellence abhors failure.
Good sides can struggle, even be well down, yet find a way to win. This is a gladiatorial sport, which requires certain unique character and ability. We were reminded yesterday just how far off the pace we are, how ordinary we are. We're hit with a few injuries and fold up. Excuses and justifications are fast running out for poor efforts. When we excuse or rationalise poor performances, we allow them.