JLT game 3

[Lods]

I am slightly disappointed with the (lack of) effort that has been put in thus far, but in all honesty, it isn't all that different from the tail end of last season. The same part of the season that most people seem to ignore when talking about expectations for this year.

I think most folk are very aware of the poor finish to last year when they speak of improvement this year.
But we look back to some of the early games and see the effort was there.
Is it not reasonable to expect that rather than dropping off this season that effort can be sustained a little longer.
Is it not reasonable to believe that our forward line will improve on last year's dismal efforts.
Is it not reasonable to believe that our players further down the field can provide our forwards with more scoring opportunities.

The big barrier to our ladder and win/loss improvement will be if the teams below us improve at a faster rate and not enough sides drop off.

[kruddler]

I think most folk are very aware of the poor finish to last year when they speak of improvement this year.
But we look back to some of the early games and see the effort was there.
Is it not reasonable to expect that rather than dropping off this season that effort can be sustained a little longer.
Is it not reasonable to believe that our forward line will improve on last year's dismal efforts.
Is it not reasonable to believe that our players further down the field can provide our forwards with more scoring opportunities.

The big barrier to our ladder and win/loss improvement will be if the teams below us improve at a faster rate and not enough sides drop off.

Possible? Yes.
Reasonable? Maybe.

You can look back to early games whenever we've had a coaching change in the past and seen the effort was there. Then there is always/eventually a drop off in effort and then the coach is sacked.
Now i'm not expected our coach to be sacked.
But it doesn't necessarily follow that we will automatically get better this year.

Of course from our JLT matches, others around us are clearly ahead of us in the early stages.

[Lods]

Possible? Yes.
Reasonable? Maybe.

You can look back to early games whenever we've had a coaching change in the past and seen the effort was there. Then there is always/eventually a drop off in effort and then the coach is sacked.
Now i'm not expected our coach to be sacked.
But it doesn't necessarily follow that we will automatically get better this year.

Of course from our JLT matches, others around us are clearly ahead of us in the early stages.

I wouldn't take much notice of the second JLT game...we were giving a few folk a farewell game.
The third one was much better but we still had a few going at less than 100%

Let's have a look at it after about 5 rounds and I think we'll have a good idea about how we're tracking.

[PaulP]

Cmon man, focus.

I'm saying you interpreting MY posts is based on your views.
I know the intention behind them because they are MY posts. If you misunderstand them then that is on you. Ala your Ratten comments before.

My powers of focusing are more than adequate, thanks for asking.

It's a shame that your support for Ratts waned right at the very time it was most needed.

I can understand certain folks believing a change was in order - I can understand people seeing cultural problems etc. But the change needed was internal, not external. More support for the incumbent coach, a good analysis of what was needed, what went wrong etc. And back him in for 2013. Then, if that season was a flop, by all means, move on. Momentum is a critical thing in situations like this. The timing of the change was completely wrong. I would've been 100% supportive of a change at the end of 2013, if it was justified.

The club learned nothing from the Britts/Pagan changeover, and we are all paying the price now.

I don't buy the rookie coach argument - Clarkson, Bomber, Bevo were all rookie coaches, who, luckily for them, ended up at clubs with more brains and more coglioni than ours.

[flyboy77]

could we just talk about the footy please!

[LP]

OK.

I thought Bolton can across as a little deflated after the Freo game, particularly in regards to skill levels and turnovers. The man looked flat.

[Lods]

could we just talk about the footy please!

Yep
@ Kruds and Paul...I think that's pretty much sorted guys but if not you could probably take it to PM's.
Malthouse and Ratten are legitimate topics.... even if they probably have been done to death, but use one of the threads in the Coaches Box section to continue that debate.

[Lods]

OK.

I thought Bolton can across as a little deflated after the Freo game, particularly in regards to skill levels and turnovers. The man looked flat.

I think he has an enormous task on his plate and we'll probably see the effects of that on his demeanour as the season progresses.
Obama's hair turned grey with the responsibilities of the Presidency.
I suspect Bolton has a bigger job.

[PaulP]

Yep
@ Kruds and Paul...I think that's pretty much sorted guys but if not you could probably take it to PM's.
Malthouse and Ratten are legitimate topics.... even if they probably have been done to death, but use one of the threads in the Coaches Box section to continue that debate.

Apologies ladies and gents. No doubt the temptation will always be there, but I'll try to resist as much as possible.

[Pratty]

Re Weitering. I've been saying it, play him at CHF. I know he;'s young but if you're good enough, you're good enough.

He can still switch back if need be.

The team for me is Weitering at CHF and Marchbank at CHB. I'd have those two able to swap positions at times in those two key posts.

Think Marchbank will become more than a key defender. Onball/Forward for him at some point.

So from that much improved (yet still skills error riddled) games against Freo, we have found two legit young forwards to build around - Weitering and Pickett.

Young Pickett has some Jeffy Farmer about him. He's a natural up forward, as is Weitering, who I think has the Lance Whitnall footy nous. Invaluable.