04-23-2023, 11:22 PM
Brand. What is ours? For the first 2 qtrs I think we saw it against the Aints. Well on top of a very good, in form, opponent. However...
...our forward line was inefficient and apart from H & Charlies, and occasionally JSOS, no-one presented other leading options for blokes up the field. Too much left to too few. As the game progressed this became more apparent. And when the heat came in the second half, it was only our two talls. JSOS lapsed into errors, critical errors that should not occur at this level and our small forwards, vanished. When that inevitable heat came later in the game (tiredness… more on that below), Fisher, small Durds & Mots failed to impose and create, but rather shrank. So, any wonder blokes up the field resorted to high kicks to our talls.
Had we been more efficient, nailing simple shots on goal, it would have provided scoreboard pressure and very importantly, confidence for all. Missed sitters sap confidence.
When I hear our coaching group and players talk, humility, empathy and mindfulness are often mentioned – all sound psychological ingredients. However, we must remember that our blokes, when it’s all boiled down, are warriors going into battle and should and must have fight and competitiveness addressed and implemented at an ‘above the shoulders’ level. We risk too much ‘nice’ when the before mentioned psychological ingredients become foremost. 120 minutes of a hunger for ruthless persistence in every contest must be the foremost to handle and want heat. We can’t and don’t hunger for heat. Too many shrink in the heat (e.g., Fisher, JSOS, small forwards) and errors ensue.
Cliques. Groups within groups. This results in out of form and even ‘not up to it’ blokes getting automatic selection based on reputation and/or being popular off field within one of these favoured groups or cliques.
Diet. Are our blokes too ‘carbed up?’ Latest research on carbs/sugars suggest strongly that this is not what it was once believed to be. When you have to pop caffeine tablets to get a lift (counter the tiredness brought on by sugars), you’re in trouble. Not to mention the long-term effects of caffeine on the body, but that’s a discussion for another day. For many folks meat and veggies (complex carbs, much better for the human body) work a treat. Some can handle high carbs but many can’t.
Just thoughts.
...our forward line was inefficient and apart from H & Charlies, and occasionally JSOS, no-one presented other leading options for blokes up the field. Too much left to too few. As the game progressed this became more apparent. And when the heat came in the second half, it was only our two talls. JSOS lapsed into errors, critical errors that should not occur at this level and our small forwards, vanished. When that inevitable heat came later in the game (tiredness… more on that below), Fisher, small Durds & Mots failed to impose and create, but rather shrank. So, any wonder blokes up the field resorted to high kicks to our talls.
Had we been more efficient, nailing simple shots on goal, it would have provided scoreboard pressure and very importantly, confidence for all. Missed sitters sap confidence.
When I hear our coaching group and players talk, humility, empathy and mindfulness are often mentioned – all sound psychological ingredients. However, we must remember that our blokes, when it’s all boiled down, are warriors going into battle and should and must have fight and competitiveness addressed and implemented at an ‘above the shoulders’ level. We risk too much ‘nice’ when the before mentioned psychological ingredients become foremost. 120 minutes of a hunger for ruthless persistence in every contest must be the foremost to handle and want heat. We can’t and don’t hunger for heat. Too many shrink in the heat (e.g., Fisher, JSOS, small forwards) and errors ensue.
Cliques. Groups within groups. This results in out of form and even ‘not up to it’ blokes getting automatic selection based on reputation and/or being popular off field within one of these favoured groups or cliques.
Diet. Are our blokes too ‘carbed up?’ Latest research on carbs/sugars suggest strongly that this is not what it was once believed to be. When you have to pop caffeine tablets to get a lift (counter the tiredness brought on by sugars), you’re in trouble. Not to mention the long-term effects of caffeine on the body, but that’s a discussion for another day. For many folks meat and veggies (complex carbs, much better for the human body) work a treat. Some can handle high carbs but many can’t.
Just thoughts.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17