Re: Channel your anger
Reply #18 –
I agree with pretty much all MM said, becoming apologists for the output of certain players won't help us move forward as a club. A number of them have to go!
It isn't rocket science to work out who and what went wrong last night. Freo are famous this season for scoring in bursts, this happens because they eventually wear down the opposition who stop for a breath and by the time they catch that breath it is too late, game over. We were happy to go hard at Freo for 8 out of 10 minutes, provided we got a minute or two rest. Freo played for 10 out of 10 and rested after the final siren! Watch the replay, see a few of our guys strolling along half a kick behind play, it is very revealing.
Being hard as a player isn't just about belting blokes or putting your head over the ball. It' as much about leaving no stone unturned, Freo do not want to give you a thing, we are happy to share everything!
When the pressure is on we become "Cliquey", there is a group of players in our team that first look for each other then if it is still not too late look for the best option. Freo are a good team, they go the correct way every time regardless of who is getting the ball, they are not about looking after your mate with some cheap stats or kicking it to your buddy.
One of the worst offenders is one of our better players, 1AW keeps kicking the ball to Betts and Garlett in 2 on 1 or contested marking situations. Despite him cleaning up across HB he is the cause of so much of what goes wrong. We work hard, but one poor 1AW choice turns the ball over and the chase starts all over again. In the end frustration and despair take over and the team ethic is lost. Worst of all he is not learning from his mistakes, he has already cooked the careers of Casboult and Hampson with his poor choices, and Rowe, Kreuzer and other potential resting or full time forwards will suffer as well. 1AW is an incredibly talented, incredibly dumb AFL footballer.
Betts and Yarran. The only time they do not have goal vision is if there is a chance they can handball backwards so that they get a chance to run into forward space. Otherwise it's "Goal, goal, goal for me" thinking. Tonight like so many games this year you can see instances when Simpson, Armfield, McLean and Lucas worked hard to get into free space only to be completely ignored. For professional footballers this is disgraceful behavior, child like decision making! They are unprofessional!