Craig's press conference?

[just maybe]

Can anyone give me the gist? How did he act? Did he take some responsibility?

Missed it unfortunately.

 

[jmorg1]

I missed a fair bit of it while running around the house with errands but a lot of it centred on positives from the first quarter.

 

[just maybe]

I missed a fair bit of it while running around the house with errands but a lot of it centred on positives from the first quarter.

Great...more deflection

 

[macca23]

He tried to talk up the positives of the first quarter, apart from the goal-shooting.

He continually said that was what they have been hoping to see - first quarter only - and that we have to build on that.

Stating the bleeding obvious really. We could have told him that.

He's obviously trying to keep the team's morale up. It doesn't appear to be working too well IMO.

 

[just maybe]

He tried to talk up the positives of the first quarter, apart from the goal-shooting.

He continually said that was what they have been hoping to see - first quarter only - and that we have to build on that.

Stating the bleeding obvious really. We could have told him that.

He's obviously trying to keep the team's morale up. It doesn't appear to be working too well IMO.

When is he going to address the other 75% of the game and take some responsibility for his outrageous coaching gaffes in recent weeks?

 

[maccas_no1]

When is he going to address the other 75% of the game and take some responsibility for his outrageous coaching gaffes in recent weeks?

Geez this is the another time Im agreeing with you

Cant just focus on the 1st 1/4 when the rest of the game was utter rubbish

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Disappointing comment from Craigy. The good things we did in the first quarter were more than negated by our shocking kicking at goal. If we had have kicked straight the game would have been over at quarter time.

 

[Crows_Chick]

Craigy surely has to take some responsibility and be proactive about rectifying the last few weeks efforts... BUT...

Just because he isn't publicly shaming the team's performance doesn't mean he isn't addressing it behind closed doors !

What could possibly be gained at this point of the year (two weeks out from finals) from openly crticising the team?? I'd say it's pretty obvious the players are down, why kick them further ???

What he says to the media is hardly going to be the same thing he's telling the players!!!

To suggest that Neil hasn't identified and moved to address the Crows issues is incredible!! A few weeks ago we were all backing this man to bring us a premiership, maybe we need to just show a bit of faith that he'll have the boys up and firing for the important games ahead !!

 

[just maybe]

Craigy surely has to take some responsibility and be proactive about rectifying the last few weeks efforts... BUT...

Just because he isn't publicly shaming the team's performance doesn't mean he isn't addressing it behind closed doors !

What could possibly be gained at this point of the year (two weeks out from finals) from openly crticising the team?? I'd say it's pretty obvious the players are down, why kick them further ???

What he says to the media is hardly going to be the same thing he's telling the players!!!

To suggest that Neil hasn't identified and moved to address the Crows issues is incredible!! A few weeks ago we were all backing this man to bring us a premiership, maybe we need to just show a bit of faith that he'll have the boys up and firing for the important games ahead !!

No it's about Craig not blaming the players and taking some responsibility himself.

 

[kimirocks]

Sounds more like he's playing FIFA06 Manager mode, than coaching a footy club.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

We got our defensive matchups completely wrong. Stiffy should not be playing on their most dangerous forward, as we need his rebound. Should have been a job for someone else to play on Ebert. Massie would normally have got the gig, but with the injury, should have been Torney ... but we are efectively playing 1 man short with Hart instead. When you get injuries like today & have other underdone players (such as Welsh & Perrie), it leaves us wide-open with too many passengers IMO.

 

[tredders16]

I saw him after the game, running down the Boulevard chasing some loose wheels.

 

[beartoo]

Should have been well inn front at quarter time. Missed so many sitters. Still think the main problem is the lack of run in the legs. We can't finish a game running. Overtrained early IMO. I was worried when we hit the ground so fit in the 1st pre-season game. This side hasn't lost its ability. It's temporarily lost its zip. Maybe with easy training the next few weeks we might get it back, but me, the eternal optimist, doesn't seel too confident right now.
Anyone heard how bad Roo's hammy is?

 

[WaynesWorld19]

We got our defensive matchups completely wrong. Stiffy should not be playing on their most dangerous forward, as we need his rebound. Should have been a job for someone else to play on Ebert. Massie would normally have got the gig, but with the injury, should have been Torney ... but we are efectively playing 1 man short with Hart instead. When you get injuries like today & have other underdone players (such as Welsh & Perrie), it leaves us wide-open with too many passengers IMO.

Think we lost the game at the selection table...I agree with your comments

 

[maccas_no1]

We got our defensive matchups completely wrong. Stiffy should not be playing on their most dangerous forward, as we need his rebound. Should have been a job for someone else to play on Ebert. Massie would normally have got the gig, but with the injury, should have been Torney ... but we are efectively playing 1 man short with Hart instead. When you get injuries like today & have other underdone players (such as Welsh & Perrie), it leaves us wide-open with too many passengers IMO.

Im still baffled with the selection of Knights and Douglas, not knocking the kids but this is the wrong time of the year to be playing younger players unless is is warrented.

Ins: Riccuito, Torney and Hudson

Outs: Hentschel(inj), Knights and Douglas

For game against the Demons.

 

[dA Crow]

I saw him after the game, running down the Boulevard chasing some loose wheels.

Probably some Port supporter had just stolen them

 

[lozstar]

When is he going to say "we ****ed up, and we need to make some changes"

It's not a secret that we are ****ed, and he's not the best match day coach.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I dont like the fact he keeps focusing on the positives, we were poor today and have been for weeks, why doesnt he state this.

He may be adressing all these weaknesses behind closed doors but as a supporter and member I want some sort of reassurance he will do this as he has not given any indication as of yet.

 

[tredders16]

Probably some Port supporter had just stolen them

They couldn't have, all of your cars were gone by the time we left the game.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

They couldn't have, all of your cars were gone by the time we left the game.

Sure, but we didn't take them home!

 

[crowsarethebest]

He needs to do something and fast. Also he on match days, when something isn't working he needs to find what the PROBLEM IS AND FIX IT QUICKLY. He's not doing that at the moment, his ultra uber super game plan round 1-15 is exposed and he's got no answer for this. Rounds 1-15 NC's tactic was working brilliantly but he has no back up plan that will win a game. Let's face it, we arn't the most talented team in the comp. Sydney last year showed that you don't have to have the best list to win a Grand Final. We need everything to go our way to win a Grand Final and relying on that isn't very smart. Adding to that is our form which is way down and we arn't as a close knit bunch as we were. Our players seem a lot more selfish now. We arn't playing as a team.

 

[Super Goalie]

4mths ago, Neil Craig was the best coach in the league, now he's a fool? Seem to be alot of AFL coaches on this board...

 

[jenny61_99]

Im still baffled with the selection of Knights and Douglas, not knocking the kids but this is the wrong time of the year to be playing younger players unless is is warrented.

Ins: Riccuito, Torney and Hudson

Outs: Hentschel(inj), Knights and Douglas

For game against the Demons.

I too had reservations about bringing Knights and Douglas in at this stage.

I agree with your ins and outs, although you havent accounted for the fact that both Bassett and Hart might also miss.

As for Neil Craig's "positiveness"... it is in fact what I like about the man. He is all for focussing on the positives and making them stick than highlighting the negatives and making people dwell on them. You can bet your ass he highlights where players could have done better with each individual player. The challenge is with each individual player not just the coach. From what I have seen in recent weeks, the fault lies fairly evenly with the playing group - the skills errors cannot be fixed with a move here or there. Our senior players (ala Edwards, Goodwin and Stiffy) whilst getting a **** load of the ball, are making momumental fundamental errors and the opposition are scoring goals as a direct result of this. How must this make the young blokes feel? How must this make Craig feel??? I know how I feel! This is a TEAM. A team of players and of coaching staff. They have to all work together to make a cohesive unit. Right now, we don't seem so cohesive... but I honestly have faith that this will return. Very difficult with the turning over of players through injury... an unsettled team down on confidence. BUT, we can do it, and I believe our boys will try their best. None of them deliberately go out there to play a bad game... but some of them need to address their commitment level, and soon.

 

[Crows_Chick]

I too had reservations about bringing Knights and Douglas in at this stage.

I agree with your ins and outs, although you havent accounted for the fact that both Bassett and Hart might also miss.

As for Neil Craig's "positiveness"... it is in fact what I like about the man. He is all for focussing on the positives and making them stick than highlighting the negatives and making people dwell on them. You can bet your ass he highlights where players could have done better with each individual player. The challenge is with each individual player not just the coach. From what I have seen in recent weeks, the fault lies fairly evenly with the playing group - the skills errors cannot be fixed with a move here or there. Our senior players (ala Edwards, Goodwin and Stiffy) whilst getting a **** load of the ball, are making momumental fundamental errors and the opposition are scoring goals as a direct result of this. How must this make the young blokes feel? How must this make Craig feel??? I know how I feel! This is a TEAM. A team of players and of coaching staff. They have to all work together to make a cohesive unit. Right now, we don't seem so cohesive... but I honestly have faith that this will return. Very difficult with the turning over of players through injury... an unsettled team down on confidence. BUT, we can do it, and I believe our boys will try their best. None of them deliberately go out there to play a bad game... but some of them need to address their commitment level, and soon.

valid points all round

 

[tribey]

4mths ago, Neil Craig was the best coach in the league, now he's a fool? Seem to be alot of AFL coaches on this board...

Four months ago we weren't getting pantsed by fellow finals aspirants and an injury-ravaged team in the middle of a heavy rebuilding phase.

Port went into today with 24 fit players to choose from apparently - and many of the ones that did play were kids with less than 30 games under their belt.