Rd 11: Blues have the Bye

[laj]

I just hope we perform better against the Bye than what Port Adelaide did then they were really struggling in 2011...lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXatqcigUFw

The Bye singing the song after their win!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALRJwPmtczM

[crashlander]

Ahem.......... we beat Melbourne 2nd last game of year. ????

Indeed. I stand corrected. However, it was the only win in that period and even more amazing considering what players we had available for the game.

[Baggers]

I know and I understand that, but Im worried that it becomes a bit confidence sapping to not get the reward for effort.

It will expose those players who are not up to it in the long term, and hopefully we have a way to manage our players through such difficulty, but it worries me that too many games without winning may see players starting to lose focus and belief in what they are doing.

Thats when they can drop off, or worse, want out.

Exactly my thoughts, 3 Leos. You can't build a culture of excellence by continually losing, regardless of how we lose. I firmly believe that Kreuzer, Gibbs, Murphy and others who joined at a similar time we negatively influenced by too many losses. I understand the club has smaller, incremental goals within so the players can have something to strive for and succeed at, but that kind of 'winning' doesn't feed the success beast for long. Nothing succeeds like success.

We're 2nd bottom and that's a pox and a scourge. A culture of excellence comes from wins on the big stage with everyone watching. The Doggies fast tracked kids and no-names into a premiership unit in quick time... they were behind the Demons and Aints but flew past them. Everyone was singing praise and potential re the Demons and Aints at the end of last year and early this year but neither is a serious threat to any deep September action any time soon. In fact we should have beaten both of them this year and they're supposed to be 3-4 years ahead of us in terms of an effective rebuild - what a load of bullsh1t.

[PaulP]

Exactly my thoughts, 3 Leos. You can't build a culture of excellence by continually losing, regardless of how we lose. I firmly believe that Kreuzer, Gibbs, Murphy and others who joined at a similar time we negatively influenced by too many losses. I understand the club has smaller, incremental goals within so the players can have something to strive for and succeed at, but that kind of 'winning' doesn't feed the success beast for long. Nothing succeeds like success.

We're 2nd bottom and that's a pox and a scourge. A culture of excellence comes from wins on the big stage with everyone watching. The Doggies fast tracked kids and no-names into a premiership unit in quick time... they were behind the Demons and Aints but flew past them. Everyone was singing praise and potential re the Demons and Aints at the end of last year and early this year but neither is a serious threat to any deep September action any time soon. In fact we should have beaten both of them this year and they're supposed to be 3-4 years ahead of us in terms of an effective rebuild - what a load of bullsh1t.

Pretty much agree with all of that B. Nice post.

[pinot]

We are rebuilding the right way. I like the discipline - but one more draft to bring in more kids. Whether it is this draft or next draft we need one more batch of youngsters to come in.

..and I would trade seriously big for proven A graders to fill in holes.

[LP]

Having seen the positives that are being delivered by the inclusion of ACoS, I am a bit surprised people aren't desiring another good player with some inherent mongrel!

It makes the others taller, the Hodge effect, or perhaps the Roughie and his minions effect!

Blokes like Weitering, Marchbank, Plowman, Docherty, SoJ, SPS, Pickett, Wright, Williamson, etc., etc.. Get to go 100% hard at the pill when they have a guardian angel watching their back!

I think we are also seeing the effects of this at VFL level, the aggression being shown by Jones, O'Shea, Jaksch and McKay is having a huge positive effect on those around them.

I think we are also seeing Rowe, and our team, benefit from a harder edge to his game.

It's clear the benefit of the aggression is amplified when the aggression comes from a giant, Levi I'm specifically thinking of you! You are built to intimidate, do it son and they won't walk over you or push you around ever again! :o

BB said it himself, when the big blokes play well others follow. This is the incalculable value of a Kreuzer versus say a Warnock type.

PS; I've always rated Roughie higher than Buddy for this very reason. Buddy's aggression tends to only come when he personally needs a lift, Roughie uses aggression to defend and lift the team!

[LP]

I've lost my understanding of the bye in AFL.

Argued for strongly, but clubs barely make use of it, in fact many are organising extra training sessions or even practice matches.

[Thryleon]

It gives the opportunity to nurse players who are playing through niggles and injuries a week off to recuperate, and it also gives teams a chance to adjust things such as game plan, roles, or what not.

Irrespective of how it gets used (a week off to refresh the mind if not the body) can still be beneficial.

I am comfortable with it being scrapped if that is the outcome, but to say that there is no benefit is not quite right.  It also allows teams the chance to go play in china for a weekend and come back refreshed or even take a mini break to visit the family etc.

[kruddler]

I've lost my understanding of the bye in AFL.

Argued for strongly, but clubs barely make use of it, in fact many are organising extra training sessions or even practice matches.

I've heard of at least 2 clubs giving players 4 days off to do as they please.
Haven't heard what the other clubs are doing, but thats all you'd expect to happen.

[Gointocarlton]

I've heard of at least 2 clubs giving players 4 days off to do as they please.
Haven't heard what the other clubs are doing, but thats all you'd expect to happen.

Saw a pic of SPS hanging out with Eddie and Wanganeen in Radelaide.