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Thompson issues 'savage' review
5:01:30 PM Wed 7 April, 2004
Samantha Lane
Sportal
Geelong coach Mark Thompson says he conducted a ‘savage’ review of his side’s round two belting by Carlton and expects a more committed performance against Sydney this Saturday night.
Thompson said his patience was wearing thin with his team’s fluctuating confidence. The Cats were narrowly defeated by St Kilda in the grand final of the Wizard Home Loans Cup, but have since been creamed by their opponents in the last fortnight.
“I’m almost getting tired of trying to pep their confidence up because it seems to be the first thing to go over a long period – four years. They’ve got to overcome it.”
“I think it’s a little bit about making mistakes and just moving on quicker from those mistakes and not putting any pressure on yourselves at all,” Thompson said before training on Wednesday.
“We’ve got sports psychs and everyone trying to work it all out, but ultimately it’s up to individuals.”
“Cameron Ling certainly doesn’t do it. He’s a very mentally tough type person, Matthew Scarlett certainly doesn’t do it, but we have a few boys that do.”
A review of Sunday’s match at Optus Oval, when the Cats managed just three goals after quarter time, was conducted with the playing group on Monday.
“It was pretty hard. It was play-by-play and it was pretty savage really. Everyone who did the wrong thing was pretty much shown.”
“I’ve been that savage a few times, but that was pretty much as bad as you’d want to get I’d say,” Thompson said.
“All we showed them is things that they did. And ultimately, if you can’t handle that and get over it and do better next time, there’s something really lacking in you as a person.”
Geelong’s plan for the in-form Swans at the SCG on Saturday is simple.
“It’s just to be harder to play against. Winning would be great, we have to play a lot better than we have,” Thompson said.
“I think you’ll see a pretty much different side this week. I think you’ll see a pretty committed side and you’ll see a side that plays much better than they did last week.”
Injured senior players Ben Graham (chest), Brenton Sanderson (calf), Peter Riccardi (groin) trained on Wednesday, but Thompson said it was too early to declare their fitness.
“They’re all very close,” he said.
Defender Darren Milburn (knee) did not train, and captain Steven King (ankle), David Loats (knee) and Steve Johnson (ankle) are still a number of weeks away from being available.
Gary Ablett will play in the VFL on the weekend after suffering a groin strain.
Thompson said Andrew Mackie, Cameron Thurley, Mark Blake and Tim Callan would all come into consideration for selection.
5:01:30 PM Wed 7 April, 2004
Samantha Lane
Sportal
Geelong coach Mark Thompson says he conducted a ‘savage’ review of his side’s round two belting by Carlton and expects a more committed performance against Sydney this Saturday night.
Thompson said his patience was wearing thin with his team’s fluctuating confidence. The Cats were narrowly defeated by St Kilda in the grand final of the Wizard Home Loans Cup, but have since been creamed by their opponents in the last fortnight.
“I’m almost getting tired of trying to pep their confidence up because it seems to be the first thing to go over a long period – four years. They’ve got to overcome it.”
“I think it’s a little bit about making mistakes and just moving on quicker from those mistakes and not putting any pressure on yourselves at all,” Thompson said before training on Wednesday.
“We’ve got sports psychs and everyone trying to work it all out, but ultimately it’s up to individuals.”
“Cameron Ling certainly doesn’t do it. He’s a very mentally tough type person, Matthew Scarlett certainly doesn’t do it, but we have a few boys that do.”
A review of Sunday’s match at Optus Oval, when the Cats managed just three goals after quarter time, was conducted with the playing group on Monday.
“It was pretty hard. It was play-by-play and it was pretty savage really. Everyone who did the wrong thing was pretty much shown.”
“I’ve been that savage a few times, but that was pretty much as bad as you’d want to get I’d say,” Thompson said.
“All we showed them is things that they did. And ultimately, if you can’t handle that and get over it and do better next time, there’s something really lacking in you as a person.”
Geelong’s plan for the in-form Swans at the SCG on Saturday is simple.
“It’s just to be harder to play against. Winning would be great, we have to play a lot better than we have,” Thompson said.
“I think you’ll see a pretty much different side this week. I think you’ll see a pretty committed side and you’ll see a side that plays much better than they did last week.”
Injured senior players Ben Graham (chest), Brenton Sanderson (calf), Peter Riccardi (groin) trained on Wednesday, but Thompson said it was too early to declare their fitness.
“They’re all very close,” he said.
Defender Darren Milburn (knee) did not train, and captain Steven King (ankle), David Loats (knee) and Steve Johnson (ankle) are still a number of weeks away from being available.
Gary Ablett will play in the VFL on the weekend after suffering a groin strain.
Thompson said Andrew Mackie, Cameron Thurley, Mark Blake and Tim Callan would all come into consideration for selection.
Yeh we all believe you Bomber...
