(04-18-2022, 11:33 PM)ElwoodBlues1 date Wrote:I felt SPP was a catalyst for Ports comeback and as you suggest it's his physical bullocking work that intimidated a few of our players and that he seemed to go to work without much interference from our players.Against GC I warned pre-match we did not really have a match up for Chol, to me that was obvious, and while I didn't see SPP's influence coming I really should have!
Harford describes teams that play like us, that is a bit timid and lightweight around stoppages, as "skinnies". In the first few rounds I thought Cerra and the new Kennedy might resolve this issue, Hewett has helped but when Cripps is out Hewett is on his lonesome. Cerra and Kennedy lift when they are in 3rd string roles, not one of the frontline troops. They need the shield that Cripps provides, but then again who wouldn't like that protection?
Of course, we could develop a bit of a nastier streak and take out some of the opposition skinnies, make them pay the toll for a the fleet-footed attack on the footy, but it's not in our team's nature. However, it's something the current coach did on a regular basis, I doubt he'll put up very much longer with blokes who just jog behind the chain of play!
Perhaps we should have bit the bullet earlier and give Charlie a run on the ball while we had momentum against us, he is more than useful in traffic, as is SoJ. Perhaps last weekend is the downside of having SoJ 2nd ruck because he is then unavailable to rove or tag someone like Chol or SPP. Gov coming back will hopefully make a big difference, but this week will be tough against Freo.
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"