Not a good start.

[swan_song]

70 points now, and theyre goping down like flies. Could be our worst ever performance under Roosie (just turned the VCR off -- no need to watch this game again)...injuries are NOT an acceptable excuse for bad decision-making and poor disposal...

[Dave]

Originally posted by swan_song
70 points now, and theyre goping down like flies. Could be our worst ever performance under Roosie (just turned the VCR off -- no need to watch this game again)...injuries are NOT an acceptable excuse for bad decision-making and poor disposal...

The umpiring still helping them along though.

What about Bevan's mark???? Not paid, then goal to those pricks.

[Diego]

How painful to watch.

Our day was best summed up with Judes effort at kicking the ground first and the ball second.



At this rate Roosy will pull on the jumper and put the boots back on.

[hammo]

There is no doubt this is our worst performance under Roos.

Forget about the injuries, they have nothing to do with woeful disposals and not marking up.

We can't hit chests out of defence and handballs are missing their mark.

This will be a 100 point loss.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by sharpie
Maybe not an excuse, but a pretty valid reason, if there is a difference?

And it is not just regular injuries. They are key injuries. The following guys can all play in key tall positions (including ruck) that affect our team structure: Schauble, Barry, Ball, Doyle, Saddington. Of our top players out injured, only one, Schneider, cant play in a key tall position.

I don't think it's enough of an excuse or reason.

Compare this side to the one that won the final last year.

The only differences are Barry and Schauble. Certainly good defensive players, but Barry didn't star last year. Port are also without Stevens and Montgomery.

The difference between the sides cannot be explained by injuries alone.

[gossipcom]

If it wasn't for Jude I don't think we'd even have points in this match - I don't think I can pick three players (maybe 2 the most) for voting this week.

Casualty ward at the moment Amon (hammy), Willo (hip), Davis (ankle), Crouchy (headclash) - 2 weeks in a row we've finished we noone left on the interchange (last week we finished with 17 players on the field)

Also Goodes on Tredea just is so wrong it isn't funny.

ETA: Mindset was shot from the first ball up.

[The Boot]

well we've ended up with no-one on the bench, but this time the results are way different.

[Diego]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I don't think it's enough of an excuse or reason.

Compare this side to the one that won the final last year.

The only differences are Barry and Schauble. Certainly good defensive players, but Barry didn't star last year. Port are also without Stevens and Montgomery.

The difference between the sides cannot be explained by injuries alone.

They havent gone out to play with the right mindset.

It seemed the boys ran out with a defeatist attitude from the first bounce.

Very different to last week.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
The only differences are Barry and Schauble. Certainly good defensive players, but Barry didn't star last year. Port are also without Stevens and Montgomery.

But this year if we had those 2 guys, they would be taking the opposition's 2 key forwards. Without them, we have to use two more flankers as key defenders. The roll on effect destroys our whole team structure. Also, we only have 1 key forward, and with Davis unfit, that doesnt leave us with any options.

I believe part of the reason for the apparent poor skill level is because we dont have the structure out there that exists when you have a strong spine, and a ruck that works too. It looks like we just have a team full of flankers running around with no key position players to position themselves around.

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by Diego
I am losing patience with Nick Davis, sure he is injured but if your out there make a decent contest to the ball.

If he is really injured, rest him until he can provide something. Useless having him out there.

Don't blame Nick, blame the coaching staff for selecting him and putting him out there.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by sharpie
But this year if we had those 2 guys, they would be taking the opposition's 2 key forwards. Without them, we have to use two more flankers as key defenders.

The roll on effect destroys our whole team structure.

I agree that it does have an effect on our structure.

However, I don't think that is the key reason for our performance.

Also, we only have 1 key forward, and with Davis unfit, that doesnt leave us with any options.

Davis should not be playing if he's not fit.

I believe part of the reason for the apparent poor skill level is because we dont have the structure out there that exists when you have a strong spine, and a ruck that works too. It looks like we just have a team full of flankers running around with no key position players to position themselves around.

Possibly, but a major problem was that our midfield was pretty much smashed today. Destroyed in clearances and very little pressure on the Port players. I don't think injuries can excuse that.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
[B]
Davis should not be playing if he's not fit.


Possibly, but a major problem was that our midfield was pretty much smashed today. Destroyed in clearances and very little pressure on the Port players. I don't think injuries can excuse that.

Who would you have replaced Davis with? Oh, and Goodes certainly isn't 100% and could do with a few weeks off too so let's give him a rest.

At one stage today they said Tiger was injured - I wonder if that will flow on for the Pies game.

But it's unusual to field a team without a ruckman so perhaps it's not too surprising that we lost the clearances.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
The only differences are Barry and Schauble.

no cresswell. goodes not in the ruck.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Who would you have replaced Davis with?

Bring up a rookie. If Davis cannot make a contest and cannot chase, then he is little use in the side.

Oh, and Goodes certainly isn't 100% and could do with a few weeks off too so let's give him a rest.

Thanks for the sarcasm... He's still better than Davis in terms of fitness.

At one stage today they said Tiger was injured - I wonder if that will flow on for the Pies game.

But it's unusual to field a team without a ruckman so perhaps it's not too surprising that we lost the clearances.

We were killed in the ruck duels last year against Port, but weren't too far behind in the clearances, and we won the game.

Putting Goodes on Tredrea was a big mistake I think.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by timthefish
no cresswell. goodes not in the ruck.

Yes - forgot to mention Cresswell - and some people say we wouldn't miss him!!

I think Goodes should have played as a sweeper or ruck rover, not a key defensive player. He didn't need to play as the tap ruckman.

Even these differences do not explain the lack of effort in the 2nd and 2rd quarters - they are not worth a near 100pt turnaround from last year.