Our fate this season highlights how lucky Nthmond were, and the Dogs in their flag season.
Fans give too much credit to Dimma or Beveridge, and too much credit to the list depth and management, when the real reason for the success is an unusually low run of injuries.
Give any AFL team a semi-sensible game plan and it's players a run of consistency, and they can win, they can defeat anybody.
Last weekend's game highlights that, we saw the contrast in the one game, Gov returns and the defence rise. Hewett goes out and the midfield struggles, it's just the way it is and there is very little a coach can do about it.
All the coach can hope for is effort, a willingness to sacrifice, and this season Voss is getting it.
A lot of forums are potting Cripps for being off his game, but he had a different role to play due to the absence of Hewett and Cripps did it well, he drew opponents away from the inside contests, which allowed Kennedy, Cerra and Walsh to continue to go about their way unhindered. If Cripps does what he usually does and hunts the footy at the feet of the rucks we struggle in Hewett's absence. Instead Cripps became more of a link man and opponents had to follow him.
I'd almost give Cripps BoG, for the sacrifice and smarts, except Saad had a blinder!
Fans give too much credit to Dimma or Beveridge, and too much credit to the list depth and management, when the real reason for the success is an unusually low run of injuries.
Give any AFL team a semi-sensible game plan and it's players a run of consistency, and they can win, they can defeat anybody.
Last weekend's game highlights that, we saw the contrast in the one game, Gov returns and the defence rise. Hewett goes out and the midfield struggles, it's just the way it is and there is very little a coach can do about it.
All the coach can hope for is effort, a willingness to sacrifice, and this season Voss is getting it.
A lot of forums are potting Cripps for being off his game, but he had a different role to play due to the absence of Hewett and Cripps did it well, he drew opponents away from the inside contests, which allowed Kennedy, Cerra and Walsh to continue to go about their way unhindered. If Cripps does what he usually does and hunts the footy at the feet of the rucks we struggle in Hewett's absence. Instead Cripps became more of a link man and opponents had to follow him.
I'd almost give Cripps BoG, for the sacrifice and smarts, except Saad had a blinder!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"