Match fitness

[Stealth bomber]

Are we a fit side?

I don't think so. These guys seem to have an alarming number of second half and fourth quarter fadeouts this year. Even in the matches this team has won, they have been beaten badly in the later stages of the game (the Swans, Demons, and Bulldogs matches come to mind).

Plain and simple they just look tired. Sluggish. Out of gas. I would guess that a lot of it has to do with guys missing weeks at a time and not being in good shape. Maybe the supposed hardness of Docklands' surface is wearing them out.

If you look at Dean Rioli and all that has been said about his physique, it makes one wonder if the club indeed does have low fitness standards.

Your thoughts?

[Smokin]

I see a team that is struggling to hit targets skill wise, decision making often is very ordinary and we arnt playing 100% of games.

I see as we are mentally drained.

You dont lose skills over night, or decision making. Cant remember a team being put under so much media and public pressure as we were the past few years.

[campbell]

I know you hate Brisbane at the moment, but I have an outsiders perspeective.

A similar thing hapened to us in 98. We were appalling.

I think it boils back to the Misiti and Mercuri debacle at trade time. Hird was angry as, the player group were down because they lost the GF. The players are human after all. If their mate mercuri could be trade bait what about me. They start to play for their place in the team, not as a team. Sheeds last year was always saying that players who played poorly, out, and there is always someone to replace you. It rarely happened, but at the end of the season, 2 big names were tradde bait. And it hurt the plaer group.

Thats what I think has happened. Also you guys seem to be unfit, compared to a lot of other teams. That has to do with the traiing regime, who ever is in cntrol of that. The skills are a personal thing, under pressure to keep a spot in the team, oops I missed that target.

Shout me down, but its my point of view.

I think clubs should treat their players with respect, without them they are not a club. The meatmarket aspect sucks bigtime. we all have feelings , they are only human and vulnerable. This macho stuff can backfire.