Jimmae
Brownlow Medallist
Dead set, I almost felt like crying as I listened today - and then it hit me: that's exactly how the boys feel. Exactly.
We have a team that is riddled with disillusioned, broken men. Bent into boys by vicious supporters, week-in-week-out insults from opposition teams and supporters (to be expected) and the media, like a ton of bricks, bringing out the paranoia in them all.
We need a team of sports psychologists to go down there and knock their heads in and generate some self-belief. We need to play more sides who we can beat and learn how to click up into that gear we haven't reached for so long.
I'm sick of writing all these emotionally charged pieces.
I'm going to write a letter to Denis and this will be it, verbatim:
Denis,
I have but little to say, but I can no longer withstand the need to deliver it to you, however futile an attempt it may be.
I do not question you, your motivations, or your game plan.
I do not question the list you've constructed, the way the cards have fell for the season or the quality of the opposition.
I raise little question over some of the training techniques used, and suggest a similar approach to St Kilda in pre-season as clearly it has made a difference.
But the point of my writing to you generates far greater a question of the club, and particularly, the playing list.
I know you have spoken of encouraging the players to believe in themselves and questioned their pride in the jumper, and to show belief in each other and not let in, but it appears to depart their thoughts very quickly. Perhaps it is just the media focus or some other psychological problem most of the players are experiencing.
Perhaps the game has surpased team pride and the pride wears on the individual. I believe this to be the case.
Something did fire up some of these players earlier in the season. A thirst to prove themselves as players who should be playing for the club and in AFL ranks. Bannister, Scotland, Johnson, Morrell, Deluca, Kenna and so on have demonstrated this at stages in the season. Teague still does (and to his credit demonstrates team pride also).
So, I believe you have to put a question to them as a group and it has to hurt them, it has to sting and you have to be angry; show something to them, show them it hurts you too.
Ask them this: What kind of man are you?
It might be a game, but it's their livelyhood and it defines their lives for the most part (at this stage anyway).
At the moment, with the exception of four or five, they are weak men. They give in because they can see they will lose. They drop their heads and they give into the struggle. I don't care how many marks they take with their back to the pack and following the flight of the ball or whatever else is defined as courage on the football field. The boys don't soldier on despite all in their way - they have no courage - they are weak men.
So I ask again on behalf of Carlton supporters everywhere, boys: What kind of men are you?
Thanking you kindly for your audience,
James Hassell
We have a team that is riddled with disillusioned, broken men. Bent into boys by vicious supporters, week-in-week-out insults from opposition teams and supporters (to be expected) and the media, like a ton of bricks, bringing out the paranoia in them all.
We need a team of sports psychologists to go down there and knock their heads in and generate some self-belief. We need to play more sides who we can beat and learn how to click up into that gear we haven't reached for so long.
I'm sick of writing all these emotionally charged pieces.
I'm going to write a letter to Denis and this will be it, verbatim:
Denis,
I have but little to say, but I can no longer withstand the need to deliver it to you, however futile an attempt it may be.
I do not question you, your motivations, or your game plan.
I do not question the list you've constructed, the way the cards have fell for the season or the quality of the opposition.
I raise little question over some of the training techniques used, and suggest a similar approach to St Kilda in pre-season as clearly it has made a difference.
But the point of my writing to you generates far greater a question of the club, and particularly, the playing list.
I know you have spoken of encouraging the players to believe in themselves and questioned their pride in the jumper, and to show belief in each other and not let in, but it appears to depart their thoughts very quickly. Perhaps it is just the media focus or some other psychological problem most of the players are experiencing.
Perhaps the game has surpased team pride and the pride wears on the individual. I believe this to be the case.
Something did fire up some of these players earlier in the season. A thirst to prove themselves as players who should be playing for the club and in AFL ranks. Bannister, Scotland, Johnson, Morrell, Deluca, Kenna and so on have demonstrated this at stages in the season. Teague still does (and to his credit demonstrates team pride also).
So, I believe you have to put a question to them as a group and it has to hurt them, it has to sting and you have to be angry; show something to them, show them it hurts you too.
Ask them this: What kind of man are you?
It might be a game, but it's their livelyhood and it defines their lives for the most part (at this stage anyway).
At the moment, with the exception of four or five, they are weak men. They give in because they can see they will lose. They drop their heads and they give into the struggle. I don't care how many marks they take with their back to the pack and following the flight of the ball or whatever else is defined as courage on the football field. The boys don't soldier on despite all in their way - they have no courage - they are weak men.
So I ask again on behalf of Carlton supporters everywhere, boys: What kind of men are you?
Thanking you kindly for your audience,
James Hassell
