Toast Playing for the supporters

[bombard]

Hi all,

First time I've kicked off a thread, so apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

Ignoring the result itself on Friday, which was great (despite our general crapness all night), there's something else that was nice to watch: the way the boys embraced the crowd.

Maybe this is all in hindsight with what we now know about the off-field stuff of 05-07, but, it's worth asking: is it fair to say this crop of Eagles are far more open with their supporters?

I couldn't help but feel the Cousins/Judd/Chick era was in some ways defined by an aloofness from a lot of the players.

Don't get me wrong - I loved those watching those games as much as any other supporter, but, the way Nicnat - and the whole team, really - embraced the crowd and each other, was probably the best bit of the whole night for me. There is connectivity that wasn't there in years gone by.

Thoughts?

 

[WCE_Phill]

Agree completly.

I feel that this crop of players have a better team culture.

They show passion on the field, when big crutch goals are kicked they tend to get around each other and also tend to remonstrate/shop agression when a player has been cleaned up (not like when Hall knocked out Staker)

It's good to see.

Even though 2004-2007 we played some great football - there didn't seem to have a good comradery. It just seemed like a job to them.

 

[Spooky17]

Hi all,

First time I've kicked off a thread, so apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

Ignoring the result itself on Friday, which was great (despite our general crapness all night), there's something else that was nice to watch: the way the boys embraced the crowd.

Maybe this is all in hindsight with what we now know about the off-field stuff of 05-07, but, it's worth asking: is it fair to say this crop of Eagles are far more open with their supporters?

I couldn't help but feel the Cousins/Judd/Chick era was in some ways defined by an aloofness from a lot of the players.

Don't get me wrong - I loved those watching those games as much as any other supporter, but, the way Nicnat - and the whole team, really - embraced the crowd and each other, was probably the best bit of the whole night for me. There is connectivity that wasn't there in years gone by.

Thoughts?

Agreed, though social media has really enhanced the fan-players connection too

 

[flamingEMBERS]

I'd prefer it if they started playing for each other and put on some blocks, chased hard and kept possession rather than kicking it blindly!

 

[East coast eagle]

Agreed, was good to see them sing the song with a bit more gusto too..