Tough day, but...

[blackshadow]

Crap. We have played WCE twice this season and have been more than competitive, whats the excuse this time!

We gave up and played like we did against the Hawks in Tassie, that's the reality.

Seriously, if this wasnt the last game in the season you bloke would be blowing your lids...what a joke.

Bullshit.

I think you need a Bex and a good lie down.

 

[Errol Street]

Bullshit.

I think you need a Bex and a good lie down.

Bullshit to you.

Give me one reason why its a good thing we lost by 100 points in a final.

 

[blackshadow]

Bullshit to you.

Give me one reason why its a good thing we lost by 100 points in a final.

Who said it was a good thing?

Bex, lie down, now.

 

[koshari]

at least we have seen what level is required, i still beleive we can learn more from a finals thrashing than never getting there in the first place.

 

[blackshadow]

at least we have seen what level is required, i still beleive we can learn more from a finals thrashing than never getting there in the first place.

Very true.

 

[Forever North]

Ask yourself this, if I had told you after the Hawthorn game we would win 10 of the next 12 in the home and away season, beating Adelaide, Collingwood, St Kilda, Essendon and Carlton notably would you have taken it?I suspect around 99% of posters would have wheeled me off to the closet mental institution and told me I was clinically Ill.

As disappointing as today was, sometimes its more about the journey than the final result.

Unless we are in serious flag contention which we are not, a football season following your club is somewhat of a 'journey' for me. By that I mean going every week and seeing some good exciting football, watching young players improve, seeing senior players play well, beating teams you dislike, having some good laughs, going through all the weekly roller coaster of emotions etc etc. It's always painfull losing like we did today but I have thoroughly enjoyed this seasons 'journey' following NM. The aim this year was top 8, we did that with 2 rounds to spare, realistically anything more would have been a massive bonus. For the likes of Hawthorn and Collingwood anything but a flag will be considered failure as they are right in the middle of their premiership window.

 

[Moti]

Today's result and the year for that matter can only be assessed truly this time next year. If we have a good season with injuries again and we fall behind, the year was not a coming out, if we move forward, then it is a step. We have had a few too many false dawns over the past ten years to take this one as a pure positive step. Backing up is the key.

 

[swannies]

One of the main things you guys should take out of it, is the contested posessions were 141 to 138, or something like that, so whilst the score looked bad, you didn't completely give up. You know what I am saying? Anyway, as much as I would love to hang crap on Brad Scott for earlier season press conferences, he handled himself as I had previously expected him to, with aplomb. Someone else mentioned you know the level required and Brad Scott will certainly be one to know that. Good luck for next season.

 

[Errol Street]

at least we have seen what level is required, i still beleive we can learn more from a finals thrashing than never getting there in the first place.

We have been trashed in around the last 7 finals by around 80 points and havent set the world on fire since. Haven't learnt much there.

I was at the game. It wasn't played at finals intensity, not like Hawks or Freo game. I don't see us learning much from that.

We can only learn from the finals build up, maybe next time avoid the Footy show and BTG.

 

[koshari]

We have been trashed in around the last 7 finals by around 80 points and havent set the world on fire since. Haven't learnt much there.

how many of the blokes out there today played in those last 7 finals?

 

[Errol Street]

how many of the blokes out there today played in those last 7 finals?

Not many. Our club is rapidly building a record of finals thrashings.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Not many. Our club is rapidly building a record of completely unrelated finals thrashings.

Not too concerned about that just yet.

 

[Errol Street]

Errol Street said: ↑
Not many. Our club is rapidly building a record of completely unrleated finals thrashings.

Not too concerned about that just yet.

It's not unrelated, it's a mindset. We haven't been able to competitive as a club in the finals for along time.

 

[GarnerSmash]

Errol Street said: ↑
Not many. Our club is rapidly building a record of completely unrleated finals thrashings.

Not too concerned about that just yet.

It's not unrelated, it's a mindset. We haven't been able to competitive as a club in the finals for along time.

Even though the players and staff are not the same. You think that there is some all encompassing energy surrounding Arden Street that seeps into the hearts and minds of all who walk through the doors that makes them feel like they need to get smashed in finals?

Sounds like we need an exorcist or something.

 

[Errol Street]

Even though the mids are not the same. You think that there is some all encompassing energy surrounding Arden Street that seeps into the hearts and minds of all who walk through the doors that makes them feel like they need to get smashed in finals?

Sounds like we need an exorcist or something.

Richmond could have done with one over the last 30 years. Maybe the Pies to break their Colliwobbles years back.

 

[Ischenko]

Perceptive perspective.
Some areas to fix up.
Overall, this season, some very positive signs.
Some very positive WINS, FFS.
We're on the right track.

 

[Event Horizon]

Even though the players and staff are not the same. You think that there is some all encompassing energy surrounding Arden Street that seeps into the hearts and minds of all who walk through the doors that makes them feel like they need to get smashed in finals?

Sounds like we need an exorcist or something.

BT, while I desperately try to find positives, as are all of us at the moment, it's hard not to question what is wrong with the club when it comes to finals thrashings. We may have changed 14 players, but another 100 point loss means we can't just roll out the standard excuses like being physically shot and lacking experience.

We need to consider some players futures, if they are repeat offenders in these kind of losses. We also need to consider our game plan and its suitability to finals footy. When you break even in contested posessions and lose by 100 points, something is wrong, obviously. And finally, we need to analyse our preparation once again. We had minimal injuries, yet seemed to run out of gas 6 weeks before GF.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

Bullshit to you.

Give me one reason why its a good thing we lost by 100 points in a final.

The margin is irrelevant.

 

[Event Horizon]

The margin is irrelevant.

It was relevant when we gave shit to the scum supporters after their finals "appearance" last year.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I honestly think that this loss today has been handled a hell of a lot better than every single loss during the season proper.

There's no excuses, there's no (or hardly no if you include the usual suspects) over the top rage and angry posts, it's all reasonable discussion. We know where we're at and we know where we have to improve. We can also see the talent is there within the group to take that next step. All it's going to take is a bit of focus, a bit of direction and a bit of development.

I'd honestly take this 96 point thumping everytime over not making finals at all, simply for the experience and the hunger it's going to instill in our young kids. Roll the clock ahead 12 months and see them standing on the field listening to the national anthem... not a single one will want to relive what they lived through today and they will figuratively work themselves to death to prevent it.

 

[GarnerSmash]

BT, while I desperately try to find positives, as are all of us at the moment, it's hard not to question what is wrong with the club when it comes to finals thrashings. We may have changed 14 players, but another 100 point loss means we can't just roll out the standard excuses like being physically shot and lacking experience.

Even if those 'excuses' are completely valid? We were cooked two weeks ago. It was as clear as day to anyone who was willing to pay attention to reality.

We need to consider some players futures, if they are repeat offenders in these kind of losses. We also need to consider our game plan and its suitability to finals footy. When you break even in contested posessions and lose by 100 points, something is wrong, obviously. And finally, we need to analyse our preparation once again. We had minimal injuries, yet seemed to run out of gas 6 weeks before GF.

Of course players futures will be looked at, as is normal for this time of year. As we had about 8-10 blokes today who can be called babies in the professional context of pre-seasons under their belts so you can see why they tapered off badly late in the year, injury or no. We got killed outside today, both offensively and defensively. Guys who have been in the system for a while, like Campbell and Anthony, whose role it is to provide running options, have no excuses for that type of output. Everyone else pretty much does when the season as a whole is taken as context.

Miles into legs, strength and experience into the likes of Basti, JMac, Gibbo, Mullett, McKenzie, Wright, Harps etc is where we are at. Other than Goldy's severe tapering off, our inside machine is looking good. Get the rest up to speed and watch performances like that become a thing of the past.

 

[Benno_900]

One of the main things you guys should take out of it, is the contested posessions were 141 to 138, or something like that, so whilst the score looked bad, you didn't completely give up. You know what I am saying? Anyway, as much as I would love to hang crap on Brad Scott for earlier season press conferences, he handled himself as I had previously expected him to, with aplomb. Someone else mentioned you know the level required and Brad Scott will certainly be one to know that. Good luck for next season.

Our inside mids - Swallow, Ziebell and Cunnington - were our best three. They all topped any West Coast player for both contested possessions and clearances.

Ironically, we were slaughtered on the outside and that was supposed to be our strength. You guys outworked us and found space way too easily. That was the most disappointing factor.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

The following blokes have shown they can stand up in finals heat:

Swallow
Ziebell
Cunnington
Thompson
Hansen
Campbell
Harvey

The rest are suspect.

I mean....our 5th highest disposal getter had 14 ****ing disposals!!! It's beyond shitful.

 

[Errol Street]

Even if those 'excuses' are completely valid? We were cooked two weeks ago. It was as clear as day to anyone who was willing to pay attention to reality.


Of course players futures will be looked at, as is normal for this time of year. As we had about 8-10 blokes today who can be called babies in the professional context of pre-seasons under their belts so you can see why they tapered off badly late in the year, injury or no. We got killed outside today, both offensively and defensively. Guys who have been in the system for a while, like Campbell and Anthony, whose role it is to provide running options, have no excuses for that type of output. Everyone else pretty much does when the season as a whole is taken as context.

Miles into legs, strength and experience into the likes of Basti, JMac, Gibbo, Mullett, McKenzie, Wright, Harps etc is where we are at. Other than Goldy's severe tapering off, our inside machine is looking good. Get the rest up to speed and watch performances like that become a thing of the past.

Being cooked 2 weeks ago isn't an excuse, it's called bad player management. We could have rested half the team against GWS if we " were cooked".

 

[GarnerSmash]

Being cooked 2 weeks ago isn't an excuse, it's called bad player management. We could have rested half the team against GWS if we " were cooked".

Can't help but look for the negatives today, huh?

I'm no expert, but I'd wager it takes more than a week off for blokes with little AFL experience to refresh enough to match what we saw from WCE today.