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Round 6
OPTUS Game Review Round 6 vs Essendon
It's interesting the term 'learn your lesson'. I am sure we have all grown up with this familiar saying, repeated to us on a number of occasions from an older, wiser person who was there to keep us safe or help shape our lives. Like at that moment when you are just about to touch something hot and you are told not to or even more interesting you are let to touch it in the hope that you will 'learn your lesson' and not do it again. Or when you race your brother down a steep concrete path, picking up pace and in the background your mum is calling out to slow down or you will fall over...and you do. You split your lip just like she said you would, but she didn't really want you to get hurt, lesson learnt all the same.
With a two goal loss to Melbourne the week before, you would have thought we had 'learnt our lesson'. If you show up and don't play four whole quarters of hard, contested footy well you're not going to win. Sadly but surely history repeated itself on Saturday, plain and simple.
We played a patchy, inconsistent brand of AFL that was not effective and probably only ever is if the other side does a no show. Every game is a hard one in the AFL, whether you are playing the top of the ladder team or the bottom of the ladder team who's coach and players have been raked over the coals on media street for the past seven days straight, there is no easy footy. It was wet and windy at the MCG and Essendon turned up aggressive and from time to time we matched it with them but for the rest we may as well have been playing kick-to-kick at the local high school oval.
We started the game well dominating the first twenty minutes, getting away to an early lead, always handy when rain clouds are looming. A lead not to be sustained though and the Bombers hit back hard with a couple of unanswered goals to bring the scores close together at quarter time.
We split into middles, forwards and backs to focus on our jobs and what was required until our half time rest arrived. 'First possession' was the key word for us.
Ok so the 'key word' got carried away with the wind and the rain that arrived in the second quarter or Essendon stole our idea, it was either one of the two but it wasn't happening for us. The black and red dominated, adapting quickly to wet weather footy. Winning the ball on the inside and getting it going anyway you can; kicking off the ground; surging whenever necessary; quick kicks; handballing into space and then chasing hard to regain possession; kicking long to your forwards and enjoying the spectacle of a one on one contest. They did this effectively and we went to the main break without kicking a goal. You would have thought it was hailing with the dents to our confidence. They definitely stole our idea...
Every player needs to be committed, willing and wanting to work as a unit, not fly solo. You shouldn't rely on it but we were in desperate need of some sparks from our coach to get the fire burning again. We needed to go out and meet the second half head-on and send a message to our Melbourne based fans that they weren't wasting their time in the rain.
The third quarter and we hinted at great footy from time to time. With players going in hard and putting their bodies on the line we inched closer and it seemed the fourth quarter arrived a bit too soon.
Ok the key word this time was 'get your hands dirty...everyone'. The heavens opened up and we finally used the right corridor instead of going via Brisbane to actually get to our end of the MCG. We ran the ball and got it in long to our forwards. We were persistent and a work ethic had arrived. Five goals in five minutes...yeah we did really want to play footy after all. But it was all a bit little too late for the Swannies. The game was over even if we thought, 'just five more minutes', the siren had sounded and Essendon were taking the ball, their four points and going home.
A lot has been said about the umpiring and you could choose to blame a lot of things, you could blame Saint Nick, the Tooth Fairy or your great Aunt Estelle for that time she said she was going to get you the latest Star Wars Lego set for your birthday and it just never came. We shouldn't have got ourselves into that 'catch-up' position in the first place. We need to be concerned with the things we can control, not expend energy on the things we can't.
So it's going to be a long week of taking a hard look at where we are and where we want to be and the road that is best going to get us there. Can't give away too much but I can promise you that we will be sticking to our 'key words' this Sunday at the SCG, regardless of rain, hail or shine and Richmond won't be stealing them that's for sure!
If you're around Sydney town for Mum's Day do something nice and shout her to the footy. Better still when you get there shout her a scarf to go with it. Help us welcome the Tigers to our backyard....10pm at the SCG...it's a date. Tickets are available at Ticketek on (02) 9266 4800 or visit www.ticketek.com.au
"In the faces of the greatest adversities the game can promote, each and every member of the team must know he can depend on each and every one of his team-mates not to let him or the team down."
Cheers Kirky #31
Re-posted from Optusnet newsletter
OPTUS Game Review Round 6 vs Essendon
It's interesting the term 'learn your lesson'. I am sure we have all grown up with this familiar saying, repeated to us on a number of occasions from an older, wiser person who was there to keep us safe or help shape our lives. Like at that moment when you are just about to touch something hot and you are told not to or even more interesting you are let to touch it in the hope that you will 'learn your lesson' and not do it again. Or when you race your brother down a steep concrete path, picking up pace and in the background your mum is calling out to slow down or you will fall over...and you do. You split your lip just like she said you would, but she didn't really want you to get hurt, lesson learnt all the same.
With a two goal loss to Melbourne the week before, you would have thought we had 'learnt our lesson'. If you show up and don't play four whole quarters of hard, contested footy well you're not going to win. Sadly but surely history repeated itself on Saturday, plain and simple.
We played a patchy, inconsistent brand of AFL that was not effective and probably only ever is if the other side does a no show. Every game is a hard one in the AFL, whether you are playing the top of the ladder team or the bottom of the ladder team who's coach and players have been raked over the coals on media street for the past seven days straight, there is no easy footy. It was wet and windy at the MCG and Essendon turned up aggressive and from time to time we matched it with them but for the rest we may as well have been playing kick-to-kick at the local high school oval.
We started the game well dominating the first twenty minutes, getting away to an early lead, always handy when rain clouds are looming. A lead not to be sustained though and the Bombers hit back hard with a couple of unanswered goals to bring the scores close together at quarter time.
We split into middles, forwards and backs to focus on our jobs and what was required until our half time rest arrived. 'First possession' was the key word for us.
Ok so the 'key word' got carried away with the wind and the rain that arrived in the second quarter or Essendon stole our idea, it was either one of the two but it wasn't happening for us. The black and red dominated, adapting quickly to wet weather footy. Winning the ball on the inside and getting it going anyway you can; kicking off the ground; surging whenever necessary; quick kicks; handballing into space and then chasing hard to regain possession; kicking long to your forwards and enjoying the spectacle of a one on one contest. They did this effectively and we went to the main break without kicking a goal. You would have thought it was hailing with the dents to our confidence. They definitely stole our idea...
Every player needs to be committed, willing and wanting to work as a unit, not fly solo. You shouldn't rely on it but we were in desperate need of some sparks from our coach to get the fire burning again. We needed to go out and meet the second half head-on and send a message to our Melbourne based fans that they weren't wasting their time in the rain.
The third quarter and we hinted at great footy from time to time. With players going in hard and putting their bodies on the line we inched closer and it seemed the fourth quarter arrived a bit too soon.
Ok the key word this time was 'get your hands dirty...everyone'. The heavens opened up and we finally used the right corridor instead of going via Brisbane to actually get to our end of the MCG. We ran the ball and got it in long to our forwards. We were persistent and a work ethic had arrived. Five goals in five minutes...yeah we did really want to play footy after all. But it was all a bit little too late for the Swannies. The game was over even if we thought, 'just five more minutes', the siren had sounded and Essendon were taking the ball, their four points and going home.
A lot has been said about the umpiring and you could choose to blame a lot of things, you could blame Saint Nick, the Tooth Fairy or your great Aunt Estelle for that time she said she was going to get you the latest Star Wars Lego set for your birthday and it just never came. We shouldn't have got ourselves into that 'catch-up' position in the first place. We need to be concerned with the things we can control, not expend energy on the things we can't.
So it's going to be a long week of taking a hard look at where we are and where we want to be and the road that is best going to get us there. Can't give away too much but I can promise you that we will be sticking to our 'key words' this Sunday at the SCG, regardless of rain, hail or shine and Richmond won't be stealing them that's for sure!
If you're around Sydney town for Mum's Day do something nice and shout her to the footy. Better still when you get there shout her a scarf to go with it. Help us welcome the Tigers to our backyard....10pm at the SCG...it's a date. Tickets are available at Ticketek on (02) 9266 4800 or visit www.ticketek.com.au
"In the faces of the greatest adversities the game can promote, each and every member of the team must know he can depend on each and every one of his team-mates not to let him or the team down."
Cheers Kirky #31
Re-posted from Optusnet newsletter
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