09-04-2020, 09:36 AM
(09-04-2020, 06:47 AM)Baggers link Wrote:This Jekyll & Hyde stuff is getting beyond a joke! The Midgets were much better than us in the 1st but wasteful... we go inside 50 a few times for an incredible return/efficiency. Then the game is ours for two qtrs and can't convert. Then we go soft between the lugholes for about 10 minutes, enough time to hand them the game, then for a short period late in the game we own the game but stuff up everything. One off? Nuh... it's what we do... did it last week as well. We had 2 good sides in struggling form on toast in consecutive weeks yet become an undisciplined rabble for just enough time to give our struggling opponents the game. How many games this year have we owned for an extended period, only to turn out being our own worst enemies when our opponents get desperate and applied the screws? Poos in pants. All between the ears... still. Where's the mental toughness?
The Good:
We led for most of the night.
Weitering.
Walsh.
Boldness, taking risks.
We saw plenty of tenacity (but more cold ruthlessness & mental focus/toughness needed).
1st qtr i50 efficiency.
The Bad:
Final qtr capitulation, or rather a 10 minute capitulation but, hey, that's all it takes to lose (though we did wrestle back control late to only lose system and composure).
Failure to capitalise on created opportunity ...big time.
Forwards failure to adapt to increased pressure from opponents/lack of creativity and playing to strengths... got too individualistic.
Casboult's form.
The Ugly:
Disposal efficiency - symptom of panicky cr@p under pressure/mental fragility. When opponents apply real pressure we become a kind of 'kick and hope' group aka lose confidence aka mental weakness aka poos in pants.
Goal kicking though it does relate to above.
To say we have improved on previous years is absolutely correct BUT we consistently and persistently repeat the same mistakes that cost us wins - how many games this year have we had a qtr or two or just a 10 minute period of total capitulation, it's become habitual, predictable, almost ingrained. It'll be a cliche soon... our regular habit of surrender for a period. What worries me the most is that it seems so damned ingrained and you just wait for it to happen in every game.
Is it 'Henny Penny Sky Is Falling?' Nuh. Our weaknesses are glaring but we need people who can really address and remove these weaknesses from our game, our players, their heads!!!! Heading in the right direction? Yep, but to repeat the previous sentence we now need people who can force and secure 'the next step' - we're ready for new blood, ruthless new blood, uncompromising new blood, not 'sentimental' new blood (I can only assume when some blokes continue to perform poorly and we allow them senior selection that the MC is too sentimental)... new blood who've come from winning environments. And that starts with some changes in 1. the coaching box (can I repeat - a coupla assistants who've come from a winning culture?) and 2. the introduction of a coupla new, experienced, successful players from a strong, winning culture.
(Reposted to here... where it should have been in the first place, doh!)
Unfortunately, that's all part of progress of from zero to top side. We unfortunately have to go through alot of $hit during various stages of improvement. Same in any sport. Takes alot of work and doesn't happen overnight, even more so this year when you can't train with your full team, and not train much anyway with shortened breaks between games. This year really favored the hardened, experienced team, who have they game style set in stone.