Just relax

[JuddsABlue]

I think the most important thing we can do this week is not go into panic mode and throw away this years hard work

We lost two games to quality opposition which has showed us some leaks. We will build on those and implement them really well at the MCG where we play much better football. The bulldogs played well beyond what theyve shown this year, they wanted to beat us and did, good on em.

We'll probably give up top 4 next week, but we still have a good chance at getting it back later.

Some positives for today was Henderson seemed better in defence than last week and hopefully will continue to improve. Duigan was at his inspirational best and Bower will be better for the run

We'll see what we are capable of next week on the MCG agaisnt the best.

Just be cool, relax, its not season over.

 

[Poseidon]

I'd be less inclined to 'panic' if we weren't witnessing an exact replica of 2010 unfold before our eyes. 2nd half of the season fade-out.

Ratten has a lot of work to do and some of our key players need a kick up the arse.

 

[blues4flag]

Our midfield played well for the majority. Thought Murphy was the best player on the ground today, while Scotland and Simpson both battled hard all day. Judd very good and Robinson excellent with his endeavour.

Our forward line was smashed by the press but what was most disappointing was how easily their half backs rebounded the footy. Surely players with the speed and mobility we have down there should be more capable of locking down on their direct opponents?

Defence...playing from behind and not getting across to help one another out. We were caught out of position time and time again by the Bulldogs quick transfer out of defence.

Seems to be we had our defensive wall in far too deep and the Doggies were able to clear it far too easily.

 

[Corrosion]

Why wasn't Henderson moved forward and Bower to defence? ****ing horrible watching us kick into the forward 50. Laughable actually.

 

[goreds]

I'd be less inclined to 'panic' if we weren't witnessing an exact replica of 2010 unfold before our eyes. 2nd half of the season fade-out.

Ratten has a lot of work to do and some of our key players need a kick up the arse.

I think he needs to put his 'favored players' on notice...

His changes for this game were poor to say the least...

We got out run today and we left out Zac and brought in a tall as support for Waite who is a ****ing defender with no form...

Houli, Russell both played poorly, again...

 

[Close to 17]

8 of 10 wins from teams in the bottom half of the 8

Nothing has changed from last year

Things have to change for success to come

Ratten has not and will not bring this team success

 

[goreds]

Why wasn't Henderson moved forward and Bower to defence? ****ing horrible watching us kick into the forward 50. Laughable actually.

They moved T-bird forward and Bower back...

Both turned out poorly...

 

[JuddsABlue]

We have already met our expectations for this season, except a couple

Our overall performance has lifted tenfold, we have found some really good players and evened out our best 22. We've got some minor injury concerns but we can still plug them.

Winning a final is our main expectation and can only be achieved in September, not going 19-3 and making GF day.

Its a good time to lose some momentum and go flat, we'll get a kick in the ass next week which should kick us into gear. A strong showing there and a hunger to win a game can get us going into the final part of the season

Its not doomsday

 

[TNBT]

I didn't see the game today as I don't have cable, so I would love to know what went wrong at the end of the game? As I said, I didn't see the game so I can't comment on Ratten's gameplan, but I have to agree with the title of this thread. It is amazing how everyone has been kissing Ratten's ass all year, and now it changes suddenly after one loss. Lets give him the rest of the season before we start deciding whether to execute the guy or not.

 

[NAUGHT5]

Sorry JaB but pre Season expectations mean absolutely **** all.
We are better than many thought we were and today we were a long way off that. Who cares if were better placed than we thought pre season? Our expectations have risen for a good reason.

 

[CFC_JP]

I didn't see the game today as I don't have cable, so I would love to know what went wrong at the end of the game? As I said, I didn't see the game so I can't comment on Ratten's gameplan, but I have to agree with the title of this thread. It is amazing how everyone has been kissing Ratten's ass all year, and now it changes suddenly after one loss. Lets give him the rest of the season before we start deciding whether to execute the guy or not.

Their rebound out of defence really hurt us. Kruezer and Warnock were soundly beaten in the ruck and we showed nothing up front. You can probably add they were usually first to the ball and their tackles stuck. Pretty much sums it up.

 

[JuddsABlue]

I didn't see the game today as I don't have cable, so I would love to know what went wrong at the end of the game? As I said, I didn't see the game so I can't comment on Ratten's gameplan, but I have to agree with the title of this thread. It is amazing how everyone has been kissing Ratten's ass all year, and now it changes suddenly after one loss. Lets give him the rest of the season before we start deciding whether to execute the guy or not.

It was a loss, two teams play a game of football, 1 team wins and the other loses, today we lost. I dont think there is a magic key or exposed flaw to come out of today, the dogs played better than us and won the game. Their pressure was great, their press was great and we couldnt score against them. They were simply better than us

Sorry JaB but pre Season expectations mean absolutely **** all.
We are better than many thought we were and today we were a long way off that. Who cares if were better placed than we thought pre season? Our expectations have risen for a good reason.

Our expectations are to win a final, theyve never changed, Ratts has never said any differet in any press conference. We can only do that in September, all we can do now is bounce back

 

[TNBT]

I'm getting the impression from what has been said that we were just beaten for intensity? That was always a big danger for us, coming off such a huge win.

 

[Blue Bawls]

I'm getting the impression from what has been said that we were just beaten for intensity? That was always a big danger for us, coming off such a huge win.

Yeah, pretty much. They definitely wanted the ball more and their pressure in our forward line was better than WC. I think they learned from that match that without power forwards, we're susceptible there.

 

[HeziBarecket]

Remember the pressure now is on RATTEN. His KPI for re-signing is an open secret - WIN A FINAL.

He was outcoached today. Rocket Eade's head was on the chopping block a few weeks ago, he was going berko at players almost punching them in the head. Ratten pats them on the bum and only makes ordinary players accountable, not our supposed 'leaders'. If Betts plays shit next week he should be dropped like malthouse did to Davis, make him re-earn his spot. Houla and Joseph are VFL quality.

 

[NAUGHT5]

Our expectations are to win a final, theyve never changed, Ratts has never said any differet in any press conference. We can only do that in September, all we can do now is bounce back

The old '1 finals victory line' is really annoying me at the moment. If we put in another 6 or 7 performances like that and limp our way to the finals and then win 1, will that excuse all our bad performances that cost us a top 4 spot and a crack at Geelong or Collingwood? Because we're good enough. We might have beaten lower sides but we also beat Sydney in a tough one and pushed Geelong all the way. Our best is very good. We just left it at home against West Coast and the Dogs.

 

[Krooooze]

The old '1 finals victory line' is really annoying me at the moment. If we put in another 6 or 7 performances like that and limp our way to the finals and then win 1, will that excuse all our bad performances that cost us a top 4 spot and a crack at Geelong or Collingwood? Because we're good enough. We might have beaten lower sides but we also beat Sydney in a tough one and pushed Geelong all the way. Our best is very good. We just left it at home against West Coast and the Dogs.

Agreed, it's amazing how we were extra competitive against the Cats and played some excellent football against a tough Swans side yet we seemed non-competitive yest. The thing that concerns me is that those other teams fighting out for a top 4 spot easily accounted for the WB, yet they made us look shithouse yesterday. Just goes to show when our KPP go down we are going to struggle somewhat

 

[The Toad]

The bulldogs are getting some key players back in form at the moment. Cooney is just starting to find form ofter injury. Barry Hall is the same.

It is no coincidence that these 2 players are starting to play good footy and now the dogs have won 4 straight.

I didn't see the game so i can't comment but from what I've read it seems that Hoops is struggling and could be in trouble to retain his spot on the list come season's end.

 

[dumb]

we have some improvement in us but whether that is enough to save a top 4 spot is another thing. be hard to find another game where our small forwards + walker did so little.

 

[happydude]

Agreed, it's amazing how we were extra competitive against the Cats and played some excellent football against a tough Swans side yet we seemed non-competitive yest. The thing that concerns me is that those other teams fighting out for a top 4 spot easily accounted for the WB, yet they made us look shithouse yesterday. Just goes to show when our KPP go down we are going to struggle somewhat

i agree.

dare i say this is our version of the dreaded mid season form slump?


funny how everyone says they know we will drop another game or so then when we do they fly off the handle.

lets see how we go the rest of the season getting out of a mid season form slump is our next challenge

 

[jj1978]

we have some improvement in us but whether that is enough to save a top 4 spot is another thing. be hard to find another game where our small forwards + walker did so little.

On Twitter after the game:

"Andrew Walker had a bad case of food poisoning and was still throwing up this morning." #RattenPresser

 

[Corrosion]

On Twitter after the game:

"Andrew Walker had a bad case of food poisoning and was still throwing up this morning." #RattenPresser

And he played because.....FFS.

 

[Gus]

Agreed, it's amazing how we were extra competitive against the Cats and played some excellent football against a tough Swans side yet we seemed non-competitive yest. The thing that concerns me is that those other teams fighting out for a top 4 spot easily accounted for the WB, yet they made us look shithouse yesterday. Just goes to show when our KPP go down we are going to struggle somewhat

We played those teams with Cooney either playing injured or missing, Hall injured, Easton Wood missing after breaking his ankle round 1, Tom Williams playing injured. All were given a break and some had minor surgery, and surprise surprise when they have been back and fit we've been winning.

It's just unlucky for you that those teams played us when we were down, and you caught us on the up. We are definitely not the same team that lost to WCE by 123 points.

 

[blueboy25]

It's just unlucky for you that those teams played us when we were down, and you caught us on the up. We are definitely not the same team that lost to WCE by 123 points.

Totally agree with you Gus, I was at the eagles v dogs game and its been a big turnaround. Especially Tom Williams, he was shocking against the eagles.

A chance you boys can do us a favour and return the dose on the eagles in 3 weeks?

 

[The Toad]

We played those teams with Cooney either playing injured or missing, Hall injured, Easton Wood missing after breaking his ankle round 1, Tom Williams playing injured. All were given a break and some had minor surgery, and surprise surprise when they have been back and fit we've been winning.

It's just unlucky for you that those teams played us when we were down, and you caught us on the up. We are definitely not the same team that lost to WCE by 123 points.

Yep. See post #18.