3:40 of the Ratts interview on the official website.
"Yeah we did go small against West Coast and we did pay a bit of a price for it, but some of our organisation behind the ball let us down as well. We had smalls on talls, and talls on smalls, and that's not the way to go about it"
Can I ask, whose fault is that? The coaching staff? The runners not getting messages of positional changes to the players quick enough? Or the on-field leadership (given we are talking about our defence - Geary?) not being vocal to switch players around?
Very well put mate.It might also be possible that with being in hub life 24/7, people's inability to get away from Jake outside of normal football commitments is giving some of them them the serious sh1ts.
And in Jake's defense, he'd be accustomed to holding himself together and getting his release within his personal time.
The guy has got a baby due, and who knows where his Mrs is at the moment, and there's nowhere for him to go and be an f***wit and blow off steam.
The club hasn't yet entertained contract talks, and he'll know he's in for a 6 figure pay cut no matter what.
He'd also be aware that he might have to move clubs again right at the time StKilda is showing promise for the future.
I reckon for guy with known issues, he'd be under the most stress of his life right now. Others in the same situation might have even chosen to leave the hub.
The club had dealt with it. We should probably move on too...
I am a Jake fan. No point hiding that.
I also can really relate the the above. I did one year of 9-5 in an office. Hated every minute. Completely understand how people go insane in that lifestyle. The pandemic for me in Melbourne has been a real challenge, as it curbs a lot of my normal routines and lifestyle.
People say Jakes attitude is a problem. I have absolutely no idea if that is true or not. However, consider the following:
- We reportedly shopped him last year against his will
- Is 'dropped' based on 'matchups' for the West Coast game (Blind Freddy could see that is a ridiculous decision and the reasoning absolutely smells)
- Spent 4 weeks watching on the side-lines, while the team played mostly garbage
- Sees the backline and matchups reshuffled to fit in Geary (who is clearly not best 22 ahead of him), while you miss out
- Coach goes from a progressive attacking game-plan (which he thrived under) to something closer to Richo's conservative 'don't lose' approach (see point above)
- Has a pregnant Mrs in a different state due sometime pretty soon
- Has taken a pay cut with Covid
- Is living 24/7 with what is essentially his bosses and workmates
- Has no contract offer in front of him for next year, despite playing good football for a number of years (often as a lone hand down back)
- Has no idea where he will be living / working next year, but knows it will be on less $$ and with a new baby (who you may miss the birth of for work)
Tell me, how would your attitude be?
I am sure plenty of the more senior generations will just say suck it up. Have a cup of concrete and 'harden the f**k' up. But its not 1975. People's mental health and wellbeing actually matter now. Put in the same position, I reckon my attitude would suck too.
If the club cant find a way to get the best out of a talent like Jake, that is just as much on the club as the player. Just my 2 cents
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