A loss was exactly what we needed.

[PieBeast]

First time in over 30 years of watching the Pies play live that I've walked out before the siren. I didn't want to witness a 100 point hiding and hear their song after that.
Fwiw, I thought last night was a disgrace. They looked disinterested and didn't care a lot.
We did not need a loss like that, anyone who says it doesn't mean much is silly. I don't care what structures or players we were trialling, that loss was embarrassing.
I'm trying not to overreact here but all I can think of now is a straight sets exit
We need to get our act together really quick and hop someone knocks Geelong out of the way for us because on that performance I can't see us taking them.

I was with you till the "straight sets" line.
Chances of that happening are next to none but things aren't as rosy as most of us make them out to be.
Yes we can and will play a lot better but I'm really pissed off about boosting Cats confidence.

 

[Didak2Dawes]

I was with you till the "straight sets" line.
Chances of that happening are next to none but things aren't as rosy as most of us make them out to be.
Yes we can and will play a lot better but I'm really pissed off about boosting Cats confidence.

Maybe thats what mick wants.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Maybe thats what mick wants.

oh right, it's a master plan from Mick to boost their confidence, then crush them in finals? Just instructed the team to play like shit to give them false confidence?

FWIW I think a loss can be ok, but like a 2 goal loss or something. A 96 point loss is something else entirely, and in no universe could that be a good thing, surely?

 

[upnsmoke]

its not just about giving Cats boosted confidence... but taking away HUGE confidence away from Pies players...

Are Pies players that "scared" of Cats players?... just like against Saints pre-2010?

Pies need to get their Nasty side next time and start giving hard hits.... suspensions for first few games of 2012 season shouldnt be too much of a worry if it can get you your 2nd back to back premiership

 

[daics_35]

I dont know why people are really that worried. Its obvious we werent trying and we were trying new things, it was laughable at moments to see how soft the team was going in for the ball. Do people actually think we will leave 5 free Geelong players run by themselves like we did yesterday. We are a better side then the Cats and the only thing stopping us from winning the flag is Collingwood and injuries.

 

[HFF]

oh right, it's a master plan from Mick to boost their confidence, then crush them in finals? Just instructed the team to play like shit to give them false confidence?

FWIW I think a loss can be ok, but like a 2 goal loss or something. A 96 point loss is something else entirely, and in no universe could that be a good thing, surely?

The players certainly don't seem too worried by the result with the way they have spoken after the game nor the coach.

As Malthouse said, what was/is the net benefit of busting a gut to chase down a result, knowing what we know? i.e. dead rubber game, who our first opponents are and a top place all secured.

It all counts for nothing if Collingwood win next week and Geelong lose to Hawthorn- the main board would go into severe meltdown if this occurred as you can already sense some Pies posters itching to stir the pot and hit back.

 

[Nicco_jj]

The players certainly don't seem too worried by the result with the way they have spoken after the game nor the coach.

As Malthouse said, what was/is the net benefit of busting a gut to chase down a result, knowing what we know? i.e. dead rubber game, who our first opponents are and a top place all secured.

It all counts for nothing if Collingwood win next week and Geelong lose to Hawthorn- the main board would go into severe meltdown if this occurred as you can already sense some Pies posters itching to stir the pot and hit back.

read my 'no point busting a boiler' thread... just wrote it..
Ur spot on. We were never going to catch the lead tonight - they beat us. so it was either bust our gut and lose by 20-60 points and be SORE AS FRIG or lay down and await bedtime and next week.

if this was a grand final, you would be seeing craziness... Geelong's new 'Blitzkreig' (is that spelt right?) style corridor game vs our physical game... I think their game plan beats our currently... Mick has 2 weeks to figure it out

 

[Dan Moody]

Honestly don't give a shit whether the players aren't concerned with the big loss, they are also answerable to their members and supporters as well.
Ffs, losing by that much puts us in the same category as teams like Melbourne who have also been beaten up by Geelong.
Nobody wants to cop a hiding that big, the players should be embarrassed that they gave up so easily and were humbled.

 

[Williamc99]

I think it was a good thing, to be honest. Well, not the amount they lost by but the fact that we did have a loss. Remember Geelong in 2008? They only lost one match and then lost the Grand Final. Last year we lost the last round to Hawthorn and look what happened? We can learn more from a loss than from a win and I think next week we will come out firing and will win.

 

[rachhanley]

As far as losing goes, it doesn't get any better than this:
1. Its a BIG kick up the ass to the boys and reminds them that they are NOT guaranteed this premiership and they need to work hard for it.
2. It was dead rubber - doesn't change anything in terms of where we stand for finals.
3. Geelong (and other teams) might get a bit complacent in how they look at us now and almost 'forget' just how good a team we are.
4. No injuries (fingers crossed on Taz?), no reports, and no real concerns about over-exerting themselves for next week.

I will admit, watching this game broke my heart, I had forgotten what it felt like to lose this badly (and it made me feel a bit guilty to other teams' supporters who have to deal with this because of us every week). But there are definitely those good things to hold in mind when looking back at the loss.

 

[Hva sher a]

If we win the flag, this will be seen as the loss we needed to have. If we don't win, it will be seen as the beginning of the end.

the only thing important right now if how we play against the Eagles. Friday was bad end of story.

 

[pauly_moss]

What is the thought process of a loss we need to have because now they will try harder in the finals?

If you are in a final series and not giving 100% you shouldn't be there in the first place. Game meant nothing they werent switched on bring on the finals.

 

[rose jam]

Remember 2002 when we had 4th spot secured coming in to the last game against the Bulldogs who were a basket case that year. Wallace had resigned and we got done by 10 goals (they appointed Peter Rhodes off that game). Next game, over to Port Adelaide and put in the most stunning finals performance in recent history.

Just forget about the last round of the year when there's nothing to play for. The minds will be right, it's about our physical preparation, and in Butters we trust.

 

[otfc42]

Now don't flame me here It's just my opinion but i think a loss was what we needed.

1. It takes the pressure off this invulnerability in finals. We're not gonna be shoe in favorites now, much less pressure.

2. It shows the players that you cant just automatically win against the top sides. It takes a shitload of effort.

I actually think it might be what we needed to spark us up come finals time!

NO, and I'll say it again NO.

Ask a coach or a player that question and see what sort of reaction you get.

"The loss we had to have", was made up by the media and followed by some supporters genuinely attempting to find a positive out of a 90+ point flogging.....!!!!!

There is no fu8king positive in that, the only positive is the next game as it's 0-0 with four quarters to play. Lets see how they respond.

Yes we lost heavily, but its not the end of the world.

 

[stui magpie]

Geelong bought their A game and we didn't. They had something to play for and we didn't We had the cue in the rack half way through the 2nd quarter.

We didn't "need" the loss, certainly not one of that magnitude but what it does do is give the coaches carte blanche to lay down the law and make the boys fire up. Any complacency has been totally blown away. I'd actually rather a belting than a close loss because it should sting the players pride more.

Confidence is not a problem, we know we can belt anyone on our day, it's attitude and intensity that's important.

 

[otfc42]

Geelong bought their A game and we didn't. They had something to play for and we didn't We had the cue in the rack half way through the 2nd quarter.

We didn't "need" the loss, certainly not one of that magnitude but what it does do is give the coaches carte blanche to lay down the law and make the boys fire up. Any complacency has been totally blown away. I'd actually rather a belting than a close loss because it should sting the players pride more.

Confidence is not a problem, we know we can belt anyone on our day, it's attitude and intensity that's important.

Hear hear.....!

 

[daics cousin]

Well haven't the pies been saying they wanted a challenge ?

Now they have one.All that happened on Friday was that we now know how Geelong will play throughout the finals.

They don't know what we would be like with a full settled team.For us that won;t happen until prelim day or the next week.

Luke Ball spoke on sunday footy show on channel 7 .
He said that during half time break,malty had a crack at all the players,players realised at half time we were 6-7 goals down thought about coming back hard but realised what is there to gain more injuries ?
So we put the cue in the rack,conserve to fight hard next week.

This weeks weather predicts wet and windy come friday anmd Saturday.
Will not be a big mans game too wet.

We should win easily this week !

Heres another quote from the weekend,I was watching foxtel and Tony Shaw was on with another commentator.
The other commentator was stirring Shaw about collingwood's loss and shaw replied "That's funny cos i remember at the end of the home and away season Hawthorn defeated Collingwood by 85 points and the pies went on to win the Flag.............the year was 1990 !

What all the players do have is belief after coming back from a drawn grand final and playing again the following week,and winning !

That is a big advantage psychologically,don't forget a new mini season starts this week!

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

So a full strength Geelong losing to Sydney at SKILLED last week wasn't the end of the world, but us losing to Geelong a week later in a dead rubber is confidence sapping?

Yeah ok.

This side has been playing like it has one eye on finals for over a month now. Problem is, they came up against the 2nd best side who actually gave a shit after being kicked up the ass themselves the week before.

I can't believe I'M trying to calm people down. Who'd have thought.

I don't think it's a loss we NEEDED per se, but it's definitely not anything to be remotely stressed about.

When your coach comes out and declares his intentions from the first bounce with silly match ups he'd nenever normally make under normal circumstances, you should know how seriously to take the result from there.

 

[cleomenes]

I don't know about needing a loss, but
1. We didn't play a side to win - Wood was clearly there to keep him in play in case he is needed in the finals: we therefore were top heavy with too many rucks.(3)
2. With neither Leon nor Heath in the side, we had no kick out specialist or tactic for escape after points - instead a lot of random things were tried.
3. The game looked like a reverse view of last years preliminary when every strange bounce and borderline decision went our way. Not so this week, they went to Geelong.
4. The major concern for us, as so many have said, is the number of players coming in for the finals without too much game time. They are such good players that they can't be left out, but there are so many of them.
So don't worry about this game, it really doesn't matter, worry about the form of the players that come in next week.

 

[rose jam]

I'm worried that Duckwood only got 5 head highs on the weekend, that must be a season low, he's got a lot he can improve on.

 

[upnsmoke]

What is the thought process of a loss we need to have because now they will try harder in the finals?

If you are in a final series and not giving 100% you shouldn't be there in the first place. Game meant nothing they werent switched on bring on the finals.

The feeling of a lost, brings down players from complacency and gives them a purpose again.

Winning continously becomes numbing... the feeling of a lost is unwanted and undesirable enough to make the players give a $*** again.

Round 8 loss lead to... Pies went to a 15 game winning streak.

Pies did need a loss, maybe the Fremantle Dockers game would of been a better candidate... but Malthouse didnt want a BRUISING game against Cats for the top spot... which would of been the case if Pies did lose in purpose against the Dockers... or earlier games.... it would of lead to a fight for the top spot/minor premiership... which can lead to more injuries and sore bodies... considering pies alread were struggling with players.

A 96 point hide out was 3 factors... (a) Self preservation, (b) Tactical move (c) Both + Cats have a decent and working tactic against the Pies... (i judge their tactic (New coach's new scheme) as successful until Pies can beat them this season anyways)

 

[kevind]

4. The major concern for us, as so many have said, is the number of players coming in for the finals without too much game time. They are such good players that they can't be left out, but there are so many of them.

Amongst all the arrogance in this thread, you have addressed the issue of concern. Sure a loss was not going to be harmful, but an absolute drubbing, that's debatable. And looking at Eddie's face as he waited in the race after the final siren, there seems there could be lots of debate.

We have so many players who look to be struggling physically. Jolly is not a shadow of the player he was last year, ditto Wellingham, ditto Johnson, ditto Dawes, ditto Toovey. We are talking about bringing Maxwell back with a serious hand problem, Heath Shaw who hasn't played for months.Its just a terrible preparation for finals. How many times in the past has it been shown that you don't gamble with unfit players in finals???


Hopefully we just turn it all around on Saturday and we look fit, ready and in form for the next few weeks. We are definitely good enough to win it but the concerns that have been expressed in the above post are justified. We may have just run out of luck with injuries.

PS Why on earth did MM say he was praying it would rain the entire week. He might as well have said 'I don't think we'll win unless something unusual happens'???????