I like to think this is more the reason for our usual and predictable lacklustre 1st scratchie performance. It would explain why we're much the same each preseason.
Yet the coaches and players say they go into the scratchie to win, and Graham was clearly disappointed suggesting they had some catching up to do before the next 4 qtrs of football.
This says that Eagles also wanted to "put it all together", but failed to do that.
So it's a conundrum, being slow starters each preseason..? You would think if a team was switched on to do well for the coming season, they would be fired up for the scratchie, or you would at least see some signs of what they've been practising... or of what's to come?
Yet come rnd 1 we roll out and play at much the same level as the season before.
(discounting that Freo seem to want to prioritise getting a win over us at any chance available, possibly having that extra motivation of payback for many losses))
"We were beaten in most facets of the game and need to win around the footy..."
Once again it begs the question, why don't we play a great brand of footy in scratchies?
I understand it's only a scratchie and is hardly worth the discussion, but we're the biggest club in the AFL(?), we finish in the top 6-8 most years and yet we always look unimpressive in the preseason. We had our prime movers out and that explains the midfield towelling we got re clearances. So can only presume that we're more interested in trialling different parts of the team/game/plan, while keeping other parts removed, then bringing the lot together come game day? Here's hoping...
If previous preseasons are anything to go by, the next match will be more up to speed!
So it's not a biggie...more a two-pack of head scratchings?
I think alot of it is to do with training loads in the lead up. I recall we had a scratch match over past few years where it game out after we had a very heavy load leading in - mainly to see how the players go when fatigued. Obviously for a normal game training tapers off before the weekend. It could have just been we have been on big training load this week.