It's hard not to get a tad dissapointed about last night's loss, but at the same time, one can't be anything but chuffed by the efforts of the team to push the Eagles all the way.
I had the misfortune of watching last week's game live, and to be honest, i was expecting nothing short of a giant fisting last night.
For two and half qtrs we were the equal of the best team in the land. We were running with confidence, attacking from defenece, and for the most part, hitting targets and making few skill errors.
Then, in the blink of an eye, with one turnover, the side seemed to loss it's way and revert back to the same rabble that ran out against the Roos last week.
First Rocca shanked a kick to Daisy in the middle of the ground, gifting the Weagles a goal, then it was Rhyce's turn and it was like watching dominos fall.
What baffles me most is the first part of the final qtr. what happened to all our run? the forward line became non-functional and then non-existant. Everytime we moved the ball across the middle, there was no targets.
Travis continually dropped the ball in marking contests and there were no crumbers, no midfielders streaming past the contests at all, they were all inside our defensive half, waiting back!!
It wasn't until the game was dead and west coast took the foot off the peddle that we started to run again with any purpose.
quick notes on players performaces:
Burns: Had it 21 times and gives us a chance to get the ball out of the middle everytime he's on the ball. Just as he did in the final qtr last week, he is just hard as nails, bum up and head over the ball all the time. Can't understand why he isn't always on the ball when he's on the ground.
Clement: Not Jimmy's best night. Foot skills were down, fumbled the ball and was rattled by a rookie and wirrpunda's verbal. Not sure if there was some underlying factors going against jimmy, but he didn't seem himself at all.
Cloke: Showed glimpses of what he can do and what he should be doing all the time, but he just goes missing too much at the minute. His goal-kicking is a worry, 17-28 in just over 2 seasons isn't good enough for a forward. Missed a crucial goal he should've kicked in final qtr and spills too many marks.
Davis: When he's hot, he's hot. Once again kicked three in a qtr, but then is not sighted for large parts of the game. Needs to work more on the ball to get involved, his ball skills are first class.
Fraser: What's up with Josh? Didn't get near it all night. They had him down for 19 hitouts, but most of them were inefectual at best. Not sure if he's 100%, but he looks underdone and sometimes uninterested.
Licuria: Gave away 6 free kicks and was having a shocker. Seems to be too old and can't adjust to the pace of the game. Was stiff a couple of times, but it's fair to say that his best is well past him.
Lockyer: Once again, hard to fault him too much. Didn't do alot wrong, missed two goals he would've kicked back in '02, but other than that was ok. Didn't do anything that stood out either.
Maxwell: I like Maxy, he has a redhot go. Has improved heaps. Was outpointed a couple of times, but was pretty solid across halfback for most of the night.
Nicholls: Hmmm.... 3 touches and 4 frees agasint. Not a great debut. Showed none of the pace he has been touted for and really, really struggled. Won't play next week, or perhaps again for a long time.
O'Bree: Got plenty of it but rarely hurts you with his use of the ball. Has become very crab-like and just won't go direct.
Harry: Seem a little lost at times and didn't seem to run with the ball with any confidence. There was no evasiveness on show as there was last week.
Pendlebury: 21 touches and most of them were used well. His field-kicking is still a working in progress but the confidene he displays when he has the ball in his hands is impressive. Was a great linking player through the middle and took 10 grabs.
Presti: Did a pretty good job on Lynch. Hard to stop a man that is so big and mobile when the ball is coming in so fast and direct. Solid in defence as usual.
Richards: Had more of it that Josh and was more effective in the ruck contests. Still lacks and presence around the ground and backs back into packs like he's about to get reemed in a prison shower.
Rocca: Tried hard all night and thank god for his right leg. The guy monstered the ball through the goals twice from a long, long way out. Was good to see him crashing the packs and taking contested marks. Not sure about his report, seemed to be nothing in it, but with the crackdown on high contact, it's very hard to guage which way the tribunal will go. If he gets rubbed out, we are in licorice all sorts.
H Shaw: Glad i've got this bloke in my dream team. Just gets the ball and backs himself. Saved our asses numerous times with his willingness to run and put his body on the line. Turned the ball over a couple of times, but he was under the pump most times and this will get better as he gets older.
R Shaw: Field-kikcing still a concern. Running with more confidence and no longer seems afraid of getting hurt. Needs to improve though if we are going to make finals.
Swan: Again, had plenty of it, but seemed slow by his standards last night. Needs to kick more goals like he did last year.
Thomas: Dale was ok at times, but seemed to go in and out of game a bit too much. Great work rate with his defensive work and laid plently of strong tackles for a ethiopian.
Wakes: He's past it. He is terrible below his knees, just looks to old and slow.
Medhurst: Didn't do enough and expected more from him at Subi. Not sure if our game style suits him. Need to get him more one out on fast leads from goal square.
Johnson: Thought he'd snapped his achillies when he went down. Was much better than last week, but still needs to do a lot more to cover slack of no bucks, dids and dutchy
I had the misfortune of watching last week's game live, and to be honest, i was expecting nothing short of a giant fisting last night.
For two and half qtrs we were the equal of the best team in the land. We were running with confidence, attacking from defenece, and for the most part, hitting targets and making few skill errors.
Then, in the blink of an eye, with one turnover, the side seemed to loss it's way and revert back to the same rabble that ran out against the Roos last week.
First Rocca shanked a kick to Daisy in the middle of the ground, gifting the Weagles a goal, then it was Rhyce's turn and it was like watching dominos fall.
What baffles me most is the first part of the final qtr. what happened to all our run? the forward line became non-functional and then non-existant. Everytime we moved the ball across the middle, there was no targets.
Travis continually dropped the ball in marking contests and there were no crumbers, no midfielders streaming past the contests at all, they were all inside our defensive half, waiting back!!
It wasn't until the game was dead and west coast took the foot off the peddle that we started to run again with any purpose.
quick notes on players performaces:
Burns: Had it 21 times and gives us a chance to get the ball out of the middle everytime he's on the ball. Just as he did in the final qtr last week, he is just hard as nails, bum up and head over the ball all the time. Can't understand why he isn't always on the ball when he's on the ground.
Clement: Not Jimmy's best night. Foot skills were down, fumbled the ball and was rattled by a rookie and wirrpunda's verbal. Not sure if there was some underlying factors going against jimmy, but he didn't seem himself at all.
Cloke: Showed glimpses of what he can do and what he should be doing all the time, but he just goes missing too much at the minute. His goal-kicking is a worry, 17-28 in just over 2 seasons isn't good enough for a forward. Missed a crucial goal he should've kicked in final qtr and spills too many marks.
Davis: When he's hot, he's hot. Once again kicked three in a qtr, but then is not sighted for large parts of the game. Needs to work more on the ball to get involved, his ball skills are first class.
Fraser: What's up with Josh? Didn't get near it all night. They had him down for 19 hitouts, but most of them were inefectual at best. Not sure if he's 100%, but he looks underdone and sometimes uninterested.
Licuria: Gave away 6 free kicks and was having a shocker. Seems to be too old and can't adjust to the pace of the game. Was stiff a couple of times, but it's fair to say that his best is well past him.
Lockyer: Once again, hard to fault him too much. Didn't do alot wrong, missed two goals he would've kicked back in '02, but other than that was ok. Didn't do anything that stood out either.
Maxwell: I like Maxy, he has a redhot go. Has improved heaps. Was outpointed a couple of times, but was pretty solid across halfback for most of the night.
Nicholls: Hmmm.... 3 touches and 4 frees agasint. Not a great debut. Showed none of the pace he has been touted for and really, really struggled. Won't play next week, or perhaps again for a long time.
O'Bree: Got plenty of it but rarely hurts you with his use of the ball. Has become very crab-like and just won't go direct.
Harry: Seem a little lost at times and didn't seem to run with the ball with any confidence. There was no evasiveness on show as there was last week.
Pendlebury: 21 touches and most of them were used well. His field-kicking is still a working in progress but the confidene he displays when he has the ball in his hands is impressive. Was a great linking player through the middle and took 10 grabs.
Presti: Did a pretty good job on Lynch. Hard to stop a man that is so big and mobile when the ball is coming in so fast and direct. Solid in defence as usual.
Richards: Had more of it that Josh and was more effective in the ruck contests. Still lacks and presence around the ground and backs back into packs like he's about to get reemed in a prison shower.
Rocca: Tried hard all night and thank god for his right leg. The guy monstered the ball through the goals twice from a long, long way out. Was good to see him crashing the packs and taking contested marks. Not sure about his report, seemed to be nothing in it, but with the crackdown on high contact, it's very hard to guage which way the tribunal will go. If he gets rubbed out, we are in licorice all sorts.
H Shaw: Glad i've got this bloke in my dream team. Just gets the ball and backs himself. Saved our asses numerous times with his willingness to run and put his body on the line. Turned the ball over a couple of times, but he was under the pump most times and this will get better as he gets older.
R Shaw: Field-kikcing still a concern. Running with more confidence and no longer seems afraid of getting hurt. Needs to improve though if we are going to make finals.
Swan: Again, had plenty of it, but seemed slow by his standards last night. Needs to kick more goals like he did last year.
Thomas: Dale was ok at times, but seemed to go in and out of game a bit too much. Great work rate with his defensive work and laid plently of strong tackles for a ethiopian.
Wakes: He's past it. He is terrible below his knees, just looks to old and slow.
Medhurst: Didn't do enough and expected more from him at Subi. Not sure if our game style suits him. Need to get him more one out on fast leads from goal square.
Johnson: Thought he'd snapped his achillies when he went down. Was much better than last week, but still needs to do a lot more to cover slack of no bucks, dids and dutchy
