rant thread

[chinggis77]

The disappointing thing about this year has been, not just the injuries, but the fall in form of a number of players that have not been injured and the fact that pretty much none of our draftees from last year have been able to contribute and many of our younger guys haven't stepped up (apart from Fyfe):

1. Duffield - massive slide
2. Palmer - expected to be back to near his best after showing signs last year (remember the 30 plus possession game)
3. Johnson - horrible. What happened to the form he showed in the finals last year?
4. Roberton - was good to servicable last year but has really struggled this year.
5. Mcphee - when playing he has given us hardly anything.
6. Pav - still among our best, but not the Pav of old. To be expected given his age.
7. Faulks, Anthony, Mzungu - mature picks who were expected to strengthen us straight away. Faulks was seriously underdone when he rocked up. Anthony's head isn't right and has been stuffed around by the selection committee. Mzungu gets the pill but butchers it.
8. Pitt - a few years off having an impact.
9. Crichton - showed signs last year, this was his year with so many opportunities due to injuries, but has really dropped off.

Injuries are one thing. But when combined with a drop off in form and the non-emergence/contribution of other fit players, it is hard for the team to keep performing.

I have been bewildered at some of the team selections also. Anthony gets a shot, both times in atrocious conditions for a forward (i.e. record low entries to the F50). First time he got the sack. Lets hope he gets a chance this second time. Kepler falling out of favour is bewildering also given Johnno gets so many chances. At least Kep gives 100% all the time. Mcphee for Mellington? Mello showed a heap of agro that we really need out there and showed great skills kicking into the F50. Mcphumbles leapfrogs him though?

 

[CamTinley]

What a difference in Clarkson's post game message ...

He said ...

"Sure we've had injuries, but each injury gives a chance to a new kid and every time they have stepped up to the mark"

Compare that to ...

"We just can't wait till the cavalry arrives", "did someone kick a black cat", "with all these injuries", "we're not making excuses, but ..."

 

[apuchar]

I think you are missing the point.

If one player is stupid its the players fault.
If the whole team is stupid its the coaches fault.

You can guarantee everytime a game is played in the wet, the commentators say just get the ball forward, don't try to do any thing fancy. And I feel like saying shut up I know already. But our players don't???

 

[apuchar]

The disappointing thing about this year has been, not just the injuries, but the fall in form of a number of players that have not been injured and the fact that pretty much none of our draftees from last year have been able to contribute and many of our younger guys haven't stepped up (apart from Fyfe):

1. Duffield - massive slide
2. Palmer - expected to be back to near his best after showing signs last year (remember the 30 plus possession game)
3. Johnson - horrible. What happened to the form he showed in the finals last year?
4. Roberton - was good to servicable last year but has really struggled this year.
5. Mcphee - when playing he has given us hardly anything.
6. Pav - still among our best, but not the Pav of old. To be expected given his age.
7. Faulks, Anthony, Mzungu - mature picks who were expected to strengthen us straight away. Faulks was seriously underdone when he rocked up. Anthony's head isn't right and has been stuffed around by the selection committee. Mzungu gets the pill but butchers it.
8. Pitt - a few years off having an impact.
9. Crichton - showed signs last year, this was his year with so many opportunities due to injuries, but has really dropped off.

Injuries are one thing. But when combined with a drop off in form and the non-emergence/contribution of other fit players, it is hard for the team to keep performing.

I have been bewildered at some of the team selections also. Anthony gets a shot, both times in atrocious conditions for a forward (i.e. record low entries to the F50). First time he got the sack. Lets hope he gets a chance this second time. Kepler falling out of favour is bewildering also given Johnno gets so many chances. At least Kep gives 100% all the time. Mcphee for Mellington? Mello showed a heap of agro that we really need out there and showed great skills kicking into the F50. Mcphumbles leapfrogs him though?

Very good summation

 

[CamTinley]

You can guarantee everytime a game is played in the wet, the commentators say just get the ball forward, don't try to do any thing fancy. And I feel like saying shut up I know already. But our players don't???

It's not a bad strategy when it's dry either.

 

[Clay Davis]

Quote from Harvey....

"We appear to have struck a patch in the draw where it's delivering all these top sides. So you have to ask the AFL about that."

Maybe his head was a little water logged after the game......that is some weird stuff to say

Clearer evidence that he isn't up to it. Starting to become Cuddles mkII

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Clearer evidence that he isn't up to it. Starting to become Cuddles mkII

thats going a bit far, but the excuses need to stop, we needed a much better effort than the rubbish of last night in a game we needed to give us a realistic shot at finals given our run home

 

[Clay Davis]

thats going a bit far, but the excuses need to stop, we needed a much better effort than the rubbish of last night in a game we needed to give us a realistic shot at finals given our run home

Not far at all. Cuddles made similar weak excuses.

Although, excuse making has basically been par for the course at Freo for years. Maybe it's a culture thing?

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Not far at all. Cuddles made similar weak excuses.

Although, excuse making has basically been par for the course at Freo for years. Maybe it's a culture thing?

maybe, maybe not, harves has given out the excuses the last few weeks, connolly did it for years. i dont think we have ever had a coach apologise to its supporters for an insipid performance like some other coaches have over the years. last nights effort was at that level. not that i want an apology, just a little bit of ownership from the coaches and players, rather than the cliche' rubbish we cop at times.

i was prepared to give a little leway at the start of the year, especially in games when we had all of sandi, barlow and mundy out. but last night was simply unacceptable

 

[apuchar]

It's not a bad strategy when it's dry either.

 

[Clay Davis]

maybe, maybe not, harves has given out the excuses the last few weeks, connolly did it for years. i dont think we have ever had a coach apologise to its supporters for an insipid performance like some other coaches have over the years. last nights effort was at that level. not that i want an apology, just a little bit of ownership from the coaches and players, rather than the cliche' rubbish we cop at times.

i was prepared to give a little leway at the start of the year, especially in games when we had all of sandi, barlow and mundy out. but last night was simply unacceptable

Harvey was using the young side excuse in 2009 when we lost to opponents who were younger.

 

[yakka man]

maybe, maybe not, harves has given out the excuses the last few weeks, connolly did it for years. i dont think we have ever had a coach apologise to its supporters for an insipid performance like some other coaches have over the years. last nights effort was at that level. not that i want an apology, just a little bit of ownership from the coaches and players, rather than the cliche' rubbish we cop at times.

i was prepared to give a little leway at the start of the year, especially in games when we had all of sandi, barlow and mundy out. but last night was simply unacceptable

I was thinking that the other day. Our coaches never take ownership of a terrible performance like other coaches do. Some of Harvey's post game media conferenes actually embarass and shame the club. It is good that he sticks it too the AFL for travel, the draw etc but he makes way too many excuses. I'm getting really sick of it all.

Harvey always wants to blame it on the young and inexperienced players but a lot of the senior players are too blame. Mcphee, Crowley, Johnson and Duffield this year aswell. Mcphee is one of the dumbest players I have ever seen. And for all his perceived toughness he is actually a bit of a coward. He always goes for the man instead of the footy, he fumbles, turns it over and gives away a lot of free kicks.

Harve's never wants to drop the players that deserve to be dropped

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Harvey was using the young side excuse in 2009 when we lost to opponents who were younger.

maybe younger by age, lets not forget we recruited mature aged players. i look more at averaged games played than direct age as an indicator. never the less. the thing that was most disappointing other than the effort was the fact that the hawks have a much longer injury list at this point. we cant use injuries as an excuse this time

 

[Clay Davis]

maybe younger by age, lets not forget we recruited mature aged players. i look more at averaged games played than direct age as an indicator. never the less. the thing that was most disappointing other than the effort was the fact that the hawks have a much longer injury list at this point. we cant use injuries as an excuse this time

Nope. We were older in terms of games played and age.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Nope. We were older in terms of games played and age.

take your word for it. i dont remember too many games which harvey made excuses for in which he directly blamed youth and games played against a side that was less experienced

 

[Bender_]

Hey guys, what's the deal with Kepler? Is he sore, out of favour with the selection committee or something else?

Just thought it was a bit odd he was dropped being Freo's leading goal scorer and now is struggling to get a look in. Heard he had a top game in the WAFL last weekend too.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Hey guys, what's the deal with Kepler? Is he sore, out of favour with the selection committee or something else?

Just thought it was a bit odd he was dropped being Freo's leading goal scorer and now is struggling to get a look in. Heard he had a top game in the WAFL last weekend too.

if you find out let us all know

 

[Freo4life]

Any serious footy follower would take the opinions of the most vocal ranters on here with a pinch of salt.
Going by the times that they post on the game thread they havent got the fortitude to turn up at the game and watch the whole game unfold and not just the close ups that is the television coverage
Its impossible to judge game plans and players form from watching the game on TV or listening to the sometime biased commentary
If these soft **** armchair critics want to be taken seriously get along to the game

 

[Bradesmaen]

thats going a bit far, but the excuses need to stop, we needed a much better effort than the rubbish of last night in a game we needed to give us a realistic shot at finals given our run home

He never made an excuse, someone in the media pack asked him about the tought draw and that was his response

God some people on this site really irritate me with their assumptions that are completely wrong, basically bagging someone without knowing the entire story - time after time.

 

[Freo4life]

What a difference in Clarkson's post game message ...

He said ...

"Sure we've had injuries, but each injury gives a chance to a new kid and every time they have stepped up to the mark"

Compare that to ...

"We just can't wait till the cavalry arrives", "did someone kick a black cat", "with all these injuries", "we're not making excuses, but ..."

Thats just it, the kids that have come in have largely not stepped up to the mark. That is the difference between how we and other teams cope with injuries. Combine that with playing older crabs ahead of more promising players (e.g Kepler) and you get this year. Hopefully this years post season analysis forces Harvs to choose teams that aren't just "his" best 22, dropping players, especially older ones that play like **** to come up with the best 22 that we can muster, with room for developing players (i.e gtfo crowley, johnson etc.)

 

[Shaymuhz]

Mayne was awful.
Johnson is just a shit footballer. Classic Johnson tonight: cough the ball up then start pointing. Just **** off.
Ibbotson: gtfo. Regularly 2-3 brain farts which cost us big time.
Tendai had a bad night.

They have no idea how to protect the space for someone going for a mark. I lost count of the amount of times we spoilt our own players.
Felt sorry for Jack. He tried. Broughton got a knock and is sore. Deboer has a knee and Rhys a broken leg.
FOL

this is almost what shits me the most. its under 12's stuff and the sign of poor teamwork and morale.

i've been positive all year (for the last ****ing 15 years) but its at that time again where i have to suck it in and admit we wont make finals. hopefully we can get a semi-decent pick out of it at least

 

[summerthebat]

My issue is the amount of players in our side that will lose more contests than they will win over the course of a season.

I cant understand any side will carry these types of players, but in my opinion we have too many. Can anyone HONESTLY tell me that these players would come out on top on their respective opponents over the course of an entire season?

McPhee
Crowley
Johnson
Roberton (obviously allowed to develop)
Mayne (reluctantly, hardly been given good service from the midfield)

Before every game, I know these players will be beaten by their opponents, and I'd love to think that these players are only in because of injuries, but it appears the selection of McPhee, Crowley and Johnson is unconditional.

Maybe we're just not as good as I thought we were, but no team in the AFL packs it in more than we do. Nothing has changed, piss weak at the true core.

 

[apuchar]

this is almost what shits me the most. its under 12's stuff and the sign of poor teamwork and morale.

i've been positive all year (for the last ****ing 15 years) but its at the time again where i have to suck it in and admit we wont make finals. hopefully we can get a semi-decent pick out of it at least

I have lost count of how many times our smaller players have gone up for the mark against Clarke

 

[tacopavlich]

Not far at all. Cuddles made similar weak excuses.

Although, excuse making has basically been par for the course at Freo for years. Maybe it's a culture thing?

if you actually read the conferance, he addresses why we lost, as in "players didn't stick to structures" and basically looked like headless chooks trying to get the ball out of our defensive 50. that is much more productive from a coach than some weak apology. ask hardwick how his apology has worked for him.

 

[apuchar]

if you actually read the conferance, he addresses why we lost, as in "players didn't stick to structures" and basically looked like headless chooks trying to get the ball out of our defensive 50. that is much more productive from a coach than some weak apology. ask hardwick how his apology has worked for him.

Doesn't it concern you that the players don't do what the coach tells them to do. what sort of future is there in that?