RANT: Dear Knee-Jerkers

[The Falcon Strike]

Nothing has changed mate, there are many of us out there that have not rated Woosha since day dot and not just recently. that tune will not change with those people.

Many people predicted the GFC as well - however they had been predicting it for 15years - hence their claims of genius are nought more than predicting winter.

The reality is - No one knows what happpens on the inner sanctum - as outsiders we can only largely judge a coach on results.

His results stack up so far - at some stage into the future his time will come - then all those that want him gone will say i told you so.

In a performance based role, his performances stack up - it's why the calls for his head are premature.

Did you enjoy the 2006 flag? Could you guarantee that Neil Craig would have delivered it?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Don't be fooled by the Hawthorn game, we played well for 3qtrs. Let's not forget the hawks had no buddy and mitchell, if those to played we would of lost. Kicking skills had improved which was good however we still only won the last qtr by a point.

Which was the poor quarter in your opinion?

 

[ziad]

Don't be fooled by the Hawthorn game, we played well for 3qtrs. Let's not forget the hawks had no buddy and mitchell, if those to played we would of lost. Kicking skills had improved which was good however we still only won the last qtr by a point.

no kerr, emberley, masten and shuey + a few others

 

[r dub 19]

Which was the poor quarter in your opinion?

The third, we should have finished them off but we left the door open.

Actually we did ok in each qtr but I think half of the third and half of the 4th were bad. It's a real worry the only qtr we have won is by 1 point. I thought our fitness was "off the charts" this preseason

no kerr, emberley, masten and shuey + a few others

If you really want to get into it....

Buddy, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gibson, Taylor, Osbourne, Cryil has OP.

Buddy alone would have won them the game anyway.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

The third, we should have finished them off but we left the door open.

Actually we did ok in each qtr but I think half of the third and half of the 4th were bad. It's a real worry the only qtr we have won is by 1 point. I thought our fitness was "off the charts" this preseason

We were outscored in the 3rd - but our biggest failing for a few years has been allowing clubs to bang on 6 goals very quickly and take the game away from us.

This didn't happen - with the closest being Roughy getting some consolation goals at the end of the game.

In terms of fitness, if you spot up a target, you don't spend much energy. You kick it to a contest and you have to scrap for it - it wears you out quicker.

The more weary you get - the worse your skills get

It's a chicken and egg scenario.

 

[r dub 19]

We were outscored in the 3rd - but our biggest failing for a few years has been allowing clubs to bang on 6 goals very quickly and take the game away from us.

This didn't happen - with the closest being Roughy getting some consolation goals at the end of the game.

In terms of fitness, if you spot up a target, you don't spend much energy. You kick it to a contest and you have to scrap for it - it wears you out quicker.

The more weary you get - the worse your skills get

It's a chicken and egg scenario.

We have always struggled to thump teams even in our hey day. Not sure when this will change.

Agree on kicking skills/fitness issue.

 

[bigburger]

Agreed with this. I think Worsfolds coaching style has always held us back in terms of this. He will always rest the key players involved in the win when its a full gone conclusion. Something I have never agreed with.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Many people predicted the GFC as well - however they had been predicting it for 15years - hence their claims of genius are nought more than predicting winter.

The reality is - No one knows what happpens on the inner sanctum - as outsiders we can only largely judge a coach on results.

His results stack up so far - at some stage into the future his time will come - then all those that want him gone will say i told you so.

In a performance based role, his performances stack up - it's why the calls for his head are premature.

Did you enjoy the 2006 flag? Could you guarantee that Neil Craig would have delivered it?

Of course I enjoyed the 2006 flag Falcon, and of course as coach John deserves credit for that and rightfully got it.

Now on the back of results in 2008-09-10 he also deserves to be heavily criticized as he is currently being. That is the territory which comes with being a coach of an afl club.

I guess also the difference is that John is a favourite son at our club and that makes it harder for the members and spectators to judge him or have a view on him.

Go on to the Adelaide board where their is also posts on removing Neil Craig yet there is no posts on removing his assistants. No trying to pass the buck onto someone else. The buck stops with the coach at all clubs yet ours is different because of the favourite son thing if you know what I mean.

You can only judge as you see it, I could make a case that with another coach we would have won both 05-06 comfortably but what is the point on hypotheticals.
Yes the runs are on the board for Woosha, but 2007 is quite a long time ago now especially in the AFL world.

There is no sign in my opinion we are going anywhere quickly or even slowly and hence why we form opinions.

The inner sanctum we will never know about and that is why we have these public forums to speculate.

Deep down I know the club will continue with John rightly or wrongly.

 

[leroyeagle]

Very happy we won this week. However, unfortunately I am beginning to think more and more that Woosha is the problem and needs to go. We should have belted the Hawks on Saturday and I have no idea why we didn't but if someone could enlighten please do.

How about Ben & Quinten missing 4 goals between them right in front, Ebert 15 out & kicking OOF, Waters giving away 2 50m & 2 easy goals to the Hawks etc etc. Quite simple really, stupid mistakes & poor skill errors! But we are getting better & need to stick with them otherwise we might as well take ourselves off this board & follow someone else. Hey the Dockers are developing a pretty big bandwagon! Try them.

 

[dynamite kid]

Skills coach still needs to be sacked.

Lynch Mckinley cant play in the same team together with JFK. One of them needs to be dropped.

I will say the same next week win or lose.... unless we register a kicking efficiency of 85% and Lynch-Mckinley kick 5 each

 

[Masto]

Dear Knee-Jerkers,

Where are you this week? Where are all the calls to sack our entire coaching, recruiting and playing staff?

We played just as poorly against Hawthorn, as we did against the Dockers, we were merely playing a lesser team.

Are you now happy with the way things are going or are you waiting for our next loss, before you hit the threads again?

Worsfold himself is to blame for false expectations. He can't keep talking about imminent premierships and then expect no fan criticism when the team is 1-5. He should just be honest and say we have hit rock bottom and it will be a slow and gradual climb back up the ladder - because that is what it will be. If Worsfold is feeling the heat its because he set the bar too high for himself.

 

[Cuzz09]

I picked us to win Vs Hawthorn (even before Buddy and Mitchell were out) only because it was at Subi and the Hawks are down on form and the fact we had NicNat/Cox V Renouf.... We won, all good... could've won by more yes but a wins a win for us.

This week vs Melbourne I give us close to no chance of winning... I can actually see Melbourne bringing in Jack Watts and he kicks 3 or 4 in a feel good story for them...

Reasons:

1. Its away
2. Its at the MCG
3. Dees are playing good footy
4. Our skills are poor to shocking

No knee jerk reaction, just opinion.

Melbourne by 27 points.

 

[bigburger]

I picked us to win Vs Hawthorn (even before Buddy and Mitchell were out) only because it was at Subi and the Hawks are down on form and the fact we had NicNat/Cox V Renouf.... We won, all good... could've won by more yes but a wins a win for us.

This week vs Melbourne I give us close to no chance of winning... I can actually see Melbourne bringing in Jack Watts and he kicks 3 or 4 in a feel good story for them...

Reasons:

1. Its away
2. Its at the MCG
3. Dees are playing good footy
4. Our skills are poor to shocking

No knee jerk reaction, just opinion.

Melbourne by 27 points.

I must hand it to you Cuzz, you're definately no knee jerker. You're just always a pessimist.

 

[bigburger]

How about Ben & Quinten missing 4 goals between them right in front, Ebert 15 out & kicking OOF, Waters giving away 2 50m & 2 easy goals to the Hawks etc etc. Quite simple really, stupid mistakes & poor skill errors! But we are getting better & need to stick with them otherwise we might as well take ourselves off this board & follow someone else. Hey the Dockers are developing a pretty big bandwagon! Try them.

Accusing me of being a bandwagoner? You cannot be serious...surely?

 

[Cuzz09]

I must hand it to you Cuzz, you're definately no knee jerker. You're just always a pessimist.

not always but yeah I definately dont over-rate us thats for sure

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Of course I enjoyed the 2006 flag Falcon, and of course as coach John deserves credit for that and rightfully got it.

Now on the back of results in 2008-09-10 he also deserves to be heavily criticized as he is currently being. That is the territory which comes with being a coach of an afl club.

I guess also the difference is that John is a favourite son at our club and that makes it harder for the members and spectators to judge him or have a view on him.

Go on to the Adelaide board where their is also posts on removing Neil Craig yet there is no posts on removing his assistants. No trying to pass the buck onto someone else. The buck stops with the coach at all clubs yet ours is different because of the favourite son thing if you know what I mean.

You can only judge as you see it, I could make a case that with another coach we would have won both 05-06 comfortably but what is the point on hypotheticals.
Yes the runs are on the board for Woosha, but 2007 is quite a long time ago now especially in the AFL world.

There is no sign in my opinion we are going anywhere quickly or even slowly and hence why we form opinions.

The inner sanctum we will never know about and that is why we have these public forums to speculate.

Deep down I know the club will continue with John rightly or wrongly.

I don't love him because he is a favourite son - i love him because he delivered us the ultimate.

I have no doubt his time will come at some stage. I just think right now it's too premature. If he isn't delivering - he has to go.

All in all - this is his worst season since he started - the last 2 were somewhat diabolical - but also a major change of personnel. This was the year to grow - we haven't done so as we would have liked - but 7 rounds in, 2 games out of the finals - it's not desperation stakes yet.

 

[thecoastingcoaster]

The problem is the simpletons who actually believe Priddis, Selwood, Dalziel and Rosa will be our midfield going into the future, when it's clear all will be weeded out at some stage. Eventually our midfield will comprise of the likes of Swift, Shuey, Masten, Ebert, Sheppard, Stevens and Lecras. Absolute quality. All players possess pace, except for Ebert( Stevens is more like Joel Selwood pace), all inside and outside players with plenty of class, and I believe all are/will be nice kicks in the future. A top notch midfield I’m sure you’ll agree.

Hopefully the coaching issues will be sorted by next year, with the likes of Broadbridge, Sumich and Co sent packing. I would think that will ensure our kicking skills and young player development improve dramatically, and with plenty of cash to splash around, there is no reason why we can't have a quality coaching roster for 2011.

West Coast Premiers 2013. Bookmark it.

 

[Splinter Cell]

it's not desperation stakes yet.

 

[Seadog]

Of course I enjoyed the 2006 flag Falcon, and of course as coach John deserves credit for that and rightfully got it.

Now on the back of results in 2008-09-10 he also deserves to be heavily criticized as he is currently being. That is the territory which comes with being a coach of an afl club.

I guess also the difference is that John is a favourite son at our club and that makes it harder for the members and spectators to judge him or have a view on him.

Go on to the Adelaide board where their is also posts on removing Neil Craig yet there is no posts on removing his assistants. No trying to pass the buck onto someone else. The buck stops with the coach at all clubs yet ours is different because of the favourite son thing if you know what I mean.

You can only judge as you see it, I could make a case that with another coach we would have won both 05-06 comfortably but what is the point on hypotheticals.
Yes the runs are on the board for Woosha, but 2007 is quite a long time ago now especially in the AFL world.

There is no sign in my opinion we are going anywhere quickly or even slowly and hence why we form opinions.

The inner sanctum we will never know about and that is why we have these public forums to speculate.

Deep down I know the club will continue with John rightly or wrongly.

I agree with with a lot of what you say, however I think it is possible for an average coach to get good results if he surrounds himself with the right people. Mark Harvey imo is a good example of this, though it is still early days.
If we haven't improved at all by years end I'd say Woosha is on shaky ground but the club may give him one more chance with different help.

 

[Bacchus]

Very happy we won this week. However, unfortunately I am beginning to think more and more that Woosha is the problem and needs to go. We should have belted the Hawks on Saturday and I have no idea why we didn't but if someone could enlighten please do.

Taking the question at face value, we had a pop gun midfield and were lucky to win at all. It was good to win, but there wasn't a lot to get excited about. On the positive side, a few tactical moves were made which assisted in the win, some of the field kicking was good, right players in the forward line, some of the players showed glimpes of ability.

 

[dajesmac]

last time I looked we were only 2 games out of the 8 and our CHF is only 4 goals of the Coleman medal.

2 games out of the eight is alot after 7 rounds, particularly considering we've only WON two games.

Well thought through though

 

[Monkey Worshipper]

Dear Knee-Jerkers,

Where are you this week? Where are all the calls to sack our entire coaching, recruiting and playing staff?

We played just as poorly against Hawthorn, as we did against the Dockers, we were merely playing a lesser team.

Are you now happy with the way things are going or are you waiting for our next loss, before you hit the threads again?

Turn it up

On a scale of shitiness, where Riccmond are 12/10 and we are 9/10, Hawks are 10/10.

A win is a win, but Hawthorn are a rabble.

I guess you're easily pleased, I'll send you a voucher for a $2 hooker.

 

[W3llsy]

Too many kneejerk reactions around all the time. Including 'sack Woosha', 'Trade player x', 'Drop Player y who has been fine all year but no so good on the weekend'.

See Freo fans talking of premiership success, thinking young bodies will hold up all year without fatigue and injury and that very experienced finals teams will just fall over at the business end of the season.

As all these kneejerk threads are wrong, so are any comments claiming our season is back on track. If we get flogged by Melbourne this week it will be a huge reality check. We are not that good - at the moment. I am confident we will finish well as we did last year as more kids get a go and the game plan comes together.

Let the season play out. We have been out-coached many times and our selections have been poor. In recent weeks that has improved. Senior players in Embley, Kerr, Butler, Hurn have not contributed at times for different reasons. Let's hope Kerr gets fit and Embley finds form. Let's hope Masten gets both.

However we have 3 debutants so far, give them another 10 games and they will be much improved. Glass gets over his injury and our backline is a bit better. Lynch/Hansen actually take a position by the scruff, aided by some decent (5-10% better) delivery, and suddenly our forward line looks much better with less reliance on LeCras and JK. Even better if B-Mac regains his WAFL kicking. Get back Shuey, Houlihan and debut Stevens, Strijk.

MOST of the above should occur before seasons end. Sure, it won't all turn out okay but other players will step up. Similarly bad injuries will rule players out for long periods.

Getting angry or excited on a week to week basis is pointless - Assess the season as any club would - after 6 games, after 11 games, after 16 games and after 22 for example. Players don't find fitness or form, or lose fitness or form, in 1 or 2 weeks.

So I agree with the OP - a bit of patience, composure and sense is needed throughout 2010.

 

[W3llsy]

2 games out of the eight is alot after 7 rounds, particularly considering we've only WON two games.

Well thought through though

Dude, have some compassion for the dyslexics amongst us !!

 

[Eastern Rangers]

A win makes everything look great. In truth we are only a few years from becoming a decent side again, but to become a premiership threat we need to make more changes and quicker. Wouldn't mind turning over a few players inspite of the compromised draft this year.

Football isn't that complicated, we will come good.