We have been playing some good football, punctuated with some of the worst clangers to be seen at AFL level. We haven't been far off it, without being able to beat too many teams. Some of our guys looked like they NEEDED the Bye to come along. Now that it is here, hopefully we can get some use from it, now it has arrived.
Last year we did not win a single game after the Bye, even though we scared a LOT of teams. We were very ordinary after the Bye the year before. However, in both of those campaigns we had SERIOUS injury issues. By the end of last year we barely had enough fit players to make up a team for the last round. This year we have a list in much better condition.
We have been playing some good football, punctuated with some of the worst clangers to be seen at AFL level. We haven't been far off it, without being able to beat too many teams. Some of our guys looked like they NEEDED the Bye to come along. Now that it is here, hopefully we can get some use from it, now it has arrived.
Last year we did not win a single game after the Bye, even though we scared a LOT of teams. We were very ordinary after the Bye the year before. However, in both of those campaigns we had SERIOUS injury issues. By the end of last year we barely had enough fit players to make up a team for the last round. This year we have a list in much better condition.
Despite our fade outs yesterday, I came away from the game, sharing the view of many around me, that we are tantalisingly close to a break out. We do need more focus and poise together with the collective tank to keep going for 4 qtrs but we are getting there for sure. Hopefully we can really play out the rest of the season strongly this year.
What worries me is that we are not getting the reward for effort.
Yesterday was another match that sort of got away from us right when it became a contest again. Yes North had slowed to a crawl and lifted when we asked the hard questions of them, but there is only so long that this starts to become "defeating".
At the minute we are showing plenty of moxy to hang in there, and this season has gone pretty well for us, and then you look at the ladder and IMHO it might become a bit confidence shattering.
We dont need that. Weitering is an example of what happens when confidence starts to escape your performances. His last game may have been his worst game for the club, and might be an indicator of why we stuck him down forward to begin with as he hasnt really looked "right" all season.
What worries me is that we are not getting the reward for effort.
As Bolton said after yesterday's game, the reward will come in time. Our young players will have learnt a lot from that, so the reward isn't coming in the form of 4 points yesterday, it's coming in the form of experience.
Honestly, I'm not too fussed with us losing these sorts of games this year. We get experience into the young players and go home with another prized draft pick at the end of the year. As long as we don't finish bottom, I'm happy.
I cant see us getting higher than 14th ,we will be fighting for the spoon again against Suns ,Lions ,maybe Filth and the Cheats .Who disagrees
As Bolton said after yesterday's game, the reward will come in time. Our young players will have learnt a lot from that, so the reward isn't coming in the form of 4 points yesterday, it's coming in the form of experience.
Honestly, I'm not too fussed with us losing these sorts of games this year. We get experience into the young players and go home with another prized draft pick at the end of the year. As long as we don't finish bottom, I'm happy.
I know and I understand that, but Im worried that it becomes a bit confidence sapping to not get the reward for effort.
It will expose those players who are not up to it in the long term, and hopefully we have a way to manage our players through such difficulty, but it worries me that too many games without winning may see players starting to lose focus and belief in what they are doing.
Thats when they can drop off, or worse, want out.
I cant see us getting higher than 14th ,we will be fighting for the spoon again against Suns ,Lions ,maybe Filth and the Cheats .Who disagrees
It's a fair assessment, but keep in mind that yesterday we were only two or three isolated acts away from winning and being in 13th today.
It looks to me like Norp, the Swans and Dawks are only another unexpected loss away from packing up for 2017. They probably have to win another 7 or 8 games to even have a chance of sneaking into the 8.
The smart thing for us to do is finish below them, the smart thing for them to do if and when they sign out for 2017 is to finish as low as possible. We play them all in the 2nd half of the season except for Collingwood, I won't be surprised to find any or all of them resting players and sending them for surgery!
CheatsFC have the softest run into the finals of any club, Swans have the hardest.
It was interesting at the weekend, just about every expert asked thinks Freo is over-rated and they will slide before season end. A couple of the experts wrote them off as having lucky wins due to opposition injuries, etc., etc.. How far could they slide?
Under the current system nobody wants to finish 9th or 10th, that is like the old harness racing "death!"
What worries me is that we are not getting the reward for effort.
But we did. We put in no effort in the first quarter and a bit and lost - our just reward. Footy is a 4 quarter game. We aren't quite fit and strong enough to do this yet.
Last year we did not win a single game after the Bye,
Ahem.......... we beat Melbourne 2nd last game of year. ????
I know and I understand that, but Im worried that it becomes a bit confidence sapping to not get the reward for effort.
It will expose those players who are not up to it in the long term, and hopefully we have a way to manage our players through such difficulty, but it worries me that too many games without winning may see players starting to lose focus and belief in what they are doing.
Thats when they can drop off, or worse, want out.
But we did. We put in no effort in the first quarter and a bit and lost - our just reward. Footy is a 4 quarter game. We aren't quite fit and strong enough to do this yet.
I just hope we perform better against the Bye than what Port Adelaide did then they were really struggling in 2011...lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXatqcigUFw
The Bye singing the song after their win!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALRJwPmtczM
Ahem.......... we beat Melbourne 2nd last game of year. ????
Indeed. I stand corrected. However, it was the only win in that period and even more amazing considering what players we had available for the game.
I know and I understand that, but Im worried that it becomes a bit confidence sapping to not get the reward for effort.
It will expose those players who are not up to it in the long term, and hopefully we have a way to manage our players through such difficulty, but it worries me that too many games without winning may see players starting to lose focus and belief in what they are doing.
Thats when they can drop off, or worse, want out.
Exactly my thoughts, 3 Leos. You can't build a culture of excellence by continually losing, regardless of how we lose. I firmly believe that Kreuzer, Gibbs, Murphy and others who joined at a similar time we negatively influenced by too many losses. I understand the club has smaller, incremental goals within so the players can have something to strive for and succeed at, but that kind of 'winning' doesn't feed the success beast for long. Nothing succeeds like success.
We're 2nd bottom and that's a pox and a scourge. A culture of excellence comes from wins on the big stage with everyone watching. The Doggies fast tracked kids and no-names into a premiership unit in quick time... they were behind the Demons and Aints but flew past them. Everyone was singing praise and potential re the Demons and Aints at the end of last year and early this year but neither is a serious threat to any deep September action any time soon. In fact we should have beaten both of them this year and they're supposed to be 3-4 years ahead of us in terms of an effective rebuild - what a load of bullsh1t.
Exactly my thoughts, 3 Leos. You can't build a culture of excellence by continually losing, regardless of how we lose. I firmly believe that Kreuzer, Gibbs, Murphy and others who joined at a similar time we negatively influenced by too many losses. I understand the club has smaller, incremental goals within so the players can have something to strive for and succeed at, but that kind of 'winning' doesn't feed the success beast for long. Nothing succeeds like success.
We're 2nd bottom and that's a pox and a scourge. A culture of excellence comes from wins on the big stage with everyone watching. The Doggies fast tracked kids and no-names into a premiership unit in quick time... they were behind the Demons and Aints but flew past them. Everyone was singing praise and potential re the Demons and Aints at the end of last year and early this year but neither is a serious threat to any deep September action any time soon. In fact we should have beaten both of them this year and they're supposed to be 3-4 years ahead of us in terms of an effective rebuild - what a load of bullsh1t.
Pretty much agree with all of that B. Nice post.
We are rebuilding the right way. I like the discipline - but one more draft to bring in more kids. Whether it is this draft or next draft we need one more batch of youngsters to come in.
..and I would trade seriously big for proven A graders to fill in holes.
Having seen the positives that are being delivered by the inclusion of ACoS, I am a bit surprised people aren't desiring another good player with some inherent mongrel!
It makes the others taller, the Hodge effect, or perhaps the Roughie and his minions effect!
Blokes like Weitering, Marchbank, Plowman, Docherty, SoJ, SPS, Pickett, Wright, Williamson, etc., etc.. Get to go 100% hard at the pill when they have a guardian angel watching their back! ;)
I think we are also seeing the effects of this at VFL level, the aggression being shown by Jones, O'Shea, Jaksch and McKay is having a huge positive effect on those around them.
I think we are also seeing Rowe, and our team, benefit from a harder edge to his game.
It's clear the benefit of the aggression is amplified when the aggression comes from a giant, Levi I'm specifically thinking of you! You are built to intimidate, do it son and they won't walk over you or push you around ever again! :o
BB said it himself, when the big blokes play well others follow. This is the incalculable value of a Kreuzer versus say a Warnock type.
PS; I've always rated Roughie higher than Buddy for this very reason. Buddy's aggression tends to only come when he personally needs a lift, Roughie uses aggression to defend and lift the team!
I've lost my understanding of the bye in AFL.
Argued for strongly, but clubs barely make use of it, in fact many are organising extra training sessions or even practice matches.
It gives the opportunity to nurse players who are playing through niggles and injuries a week off to recuperate, and it also gives teams a chance to adjust things such as game plan, roles, or what not.
Irrespective of how it gets used (a week off to refresh the mind if not the body) can still be beneficial.
I am comfortable with it being scrapped if that is the outcome, but to say that there is no benefit is not quite right. It also allows teams the chance to go play in china for a weekend and come back refreshed or even take a mini break to visit the family etc.
I've lost my understanding of the bye in AFL.
Argued for strongly, but clubs barely make use of it, in fact many are organising extra training sessions or even practice matches.
I've heard of at least 2 clubs giving players 4 days off to do as they please.
Haven't heard what the other clubs are doing, but thats all you'd expect to happen.
I've heard of at least 2 clubs giving players 4 days off to do as they please.
Haven't heard what the other clubs are doing, but thats all you'd expect to happen.
Saw a pic of SPS hanging out with Eddie and Wanganeen in Radelaide.
Saw a pic of SPS hanging out with Eddie and Wanganeen in Radelaide.
That makes 3 clubs then.
I'm sure the other 3 clubs are giving their boys a break too.
Not sure why people are questioning it really. ???
Saw a pic of SPS hanging out with Eddie and Wanganeen in Radelaide.
Could he be over there trying to get Eddie to return to the Blues? ;)
Could he be over there trying to get Eddie to return to the Blues? ;)
More like Eddie and Wanganeen are trying to get him across the border.
More like Eddie and Wanganeen are trying to get him across the border.
SPS is a very chilled out lad and I reckon he is very happy where is...Syd Jackson is really chuffed he was wearing his No 5 and I think
Samo will be a Blues player for a long time..
More like Eddie and Wanganeen are trying to get him across the border.
You missed the irony.
You missed the irony.
How did you know, are my clothes wrinkly? :o
How did you know, are my clothes wrinkly? :o
Hilarious.
Bye sucks AFL should get rid of it.