2009 So Far

[True Thylacine]

Certainly by any measure 2009 has already been seriously disappointing to say the least given all our expectations of a break out year with finals pretty much a lay down mezzaire. I just watched the replay again in my lunch hour, well OK lunch hour and a bit , and two things really stood out to me. Firstly it was how different the game looked on TV from being there with guys like Polo and Edwards having much better games than I thought on the night.
Secondly and more importantly, seeing how some guys have come on in 2009 makes me think already it hasnt been a total wipe out. On Saturday night alone we had Nahas, Rance, Graham, Collins and Cousins all who werent in the side last year. Going the next step we had Jackson, McGuane, Morton and Tambling.

Got me thinking that it won't happen overnight but it is going to happen.

 

[Madtiger2006]

We have a pretty good future, but we hope we have at least 1 and probably 2 tall forwards on our list which will help Reiwoldt. eg. Post, Putt, Gourdis, Hughes(still hope), Polak(still hope). Our form since our Round 5 win has been good mainly even though we've only won 3 games in that period. But players that were missing from Rounds 1-4 made the difference when they came back. I think missing Thursty, Cousins and Cotch for mainly the first 7 games have hurt us the most. I also think Hughes stagnation has hurt us. He is an afl quality player and his issues have held him back this year and also hurt our progress up forward

 

[Bojangles17]

yeah I too watched replay, edwards was good, cuzz played better than I thought also...ive said for a while we have 2/3 of a competitive structure..missing a hulking forward that has danger written all over them...would make a massive impact if we could land such a beast at the draft

 

[Spluff]

Despite the fact that it was not what we have set out to do, it has really turned into a rebuilding year - we've had a huge amount of improvement in a lot of our young players, or our players that hadn't shown much previously.

 

[mellowyellow]

One glaring observation was that even with a lead we again wilted when pressure was applied . Rather then play with the run and carry which put us in a healthy position, we began to chip the ball around and attempted to play balls off with the opposition. The crowd even sensed this in the second and 3rd qrts and rightly began to jeer them for it..


Its still pretty evident that the players lack the confidence to know what to do when they are leading or right in the game . I believe its a trait learnt under Wallace's tenure, but hopefully one that Rawlings and a few well fought wins will help remedy .

 

[Mario Speedwagon]

One glaring observation was that even with a lead we again wilted when pressure was applied . Rather then play with the run and carry which put us in a healthy position, we began to chip the ball around and attempted to play balls off with the opposition. The crowd even sensed this in the second and 3rd qrts and rightly began to jeer them for it..


Its still pretty evident that the players lack the confidence to know what to do when they are leading or right in the game . I believe its a trait learnt under Wallace's tenure, but hopefully one that Rawlings and a few well fought wins will help remedy .

Yeah, looked as though they were trying a simpler, more attacking and direct style for the most part, but it's going to take a while to shake the bad habits ingrained in them by Wallace. Getting them to stop panicking under pressure is another matter that will need at least a season or two and few turnovers in the list to fix under hopefully the right coach and coaching staff.

 

[BILC]

Edwards was fantastic, his kicking was excellent

 

[coke_zero]

yeah I too watched replay, edwards was good, cuzz played better than I thought also...ive said for a while we have 2/3 of a competitive structure..missing a hulking forward that has danger written all over them...would make a massive impact if we could land such a beast at the draft

yea we just need a tall forward that can dominate, and maybe another HBF and HFF with good presure and another mid selcted with our first pick to add more depth and we should be right.

 

[True Thylacine]

yeah I too watched replay, edwards was good, cuzz played better than I thought also...ive said for a while we have 2/3 of a competitive structure..missing a hulking forward that has danger written all over them...would make a massive impact if we could land such a beast at the draft

I agree we need at least one more tall forward, in fact we are desperate for one. Most of the good sides have twin towers or are developing them. Not sure we can look to drafting someone as we all know KPPs take time to come on usually. We really need to develop one we already have and have them put their hand up. Not confident Hughes, Polak or Schulz can get there but I live in hope. Fingers crossed Post and/or Gourdis will come on in 2010.

 

[Bojangles17]

I agree we need at least one more tall forward, in fact we are desperate for one. Most of the good sides have twin towers or are developing them. Not sure we can look to drafting someone as we all know KPPs take time to come on usually. We really need to develop one we already have and have them put their hand up. Not confident Hughes, Polak or Schulz can get there but I live in hope. Fingers crossed Post and/or Gourdis will come on in 2010.

both need an opportunity sooner rather than later...and on an earlier post , I would have thought a KPP with R1 selection is an absolute must...we're ok with Mids especially so if tambling continues with his improvement

 

[BILC]

Im starting to slightly get over my depression after i had such high hopes at the start of the year, some of our youngsters are really starting to come through

 

[Mario Speedwagon]

I would have thought a KPP with R1 selection is an absolute must...we're ok with Mids especially so if tambling continues with his improvement

Indeed , though we really could do with at least one more quality mid.

 

[tigertiger]

i watched the youtube stuff of putt, post, gourdis and browne last night they all look like likely sorts and should be given chances as soon as possible, dont know the full story with hughes but surely a run would do him good.

We dont want to win to many more games, 2 to be exact, but have a pretty good draw for the second half of the year so not sure how RFC is going to handle this.