Re: Post Game Analysis: AFL 2021 Rd 11: Carlton vs Sydney
Reply #128 –
Whilst another loss where we were in it up to our teeth until 3/4 time is difficult to cop (again), I have to agree with Krudd that we are not that bad.
Couple of points (not picking on players by the way):
- Docs fumbles which cost 2 goals, tidy that up and those 2 goals dont occur
- Vision of Saad sagging back to defend the goal line instead of defending is man, tidy that up and that goal doesnt occur
- Inject fully Charlie and Gov into that side and we dont lose
- Change some coaching staff around Teague and we will be way better off. Teague and and MC are starting to make statements with players like Murphy and SPS but I still think he needs better quality line coaches around him.
- Our best is good enough, about that there is no doubt and we have shown it against all the contenders. We just have to do it longer and be a little bit more ruthless when we do get ahead.
Yesterday, when we got ahead, we did everything right except put the foot on the throat. And that can be done in a number of ways and one of them is getting into your opponents head and intimidating them into submission. Instead, what I saw was Sydney players, despite being down, physically intimidating our blokes into submission. The sooner our blokes as a group truly believe we belong, that will change. Not trying to be a smart ass here but extract Doc out of that side and insert a Selwood or a Hodge into it and we dont lose, nothing surer in my mind. Not because they are superstars, but because they are competitive beasts who know the mind game side of thing better than most. They would have intimidated Syd into believing they were gone and the rest of our blokes would have followed. Instead, Doc for reasons we probably all know, has lost that "kent" he once had and the result was all there to see. Not blaming one man here, just making some points about collective attitude and leadership that we must improve in order to take the next step.