Shirking the contest.

[King Elvis]

Can't remember the last time I saw so many Crows players take a half step or change their line to avoid a contest.

 

[Briggzy]

Symes was in particular, gutless in several contests.

 

[King Elvis]

So was VB.

Hendo shirked too, but I'll forgive that one.

 

[rooboy]

Can't remember the last time I saw so many Crows players take a half step or change their line to avoid a contest.

There were Crows players who allowed Port players to get to the ball first, due to not going hard enough at it.
Thommo was going flat strap and a couple of others as well, but there were a few of our boys who didn't put the body on the line.
Maybe they took the spoons as well, thinking it would be easy.

 

[Bicks]

Being a big fan of Ricky Henderson I was particularly disapointed in one of his questionable efforts, clearly didn't go when his turn to go came when confronted by Brogan in a contest, went off the line and merely stuck a hand out, the result cost us a goal in that passage of play. He had been "crunched" in a tackle by Thomas just prior so maybe he was still hurting but it wasn't a good look that's for sure. Hopefully the coaching staff will show him the video and highlight it to him.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Plus there was a couple of times when "a" thought "b" was gonna get the pill and vice versa.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

Can't remember the last time I saw so many Crows players take a half step or change their line to avoid a contest.

absolutely agree

too much coming of the line and attempting one handed paddles, in particularly VB, Jaensch, Symes, Armstrong and unfortunately I hate to say it Henderson

 

[TDRP]

Was at that end in the 3rd quarter with Hendo's effort... was not a good look. Atleast he's honest enough to say he's coming to terms with the physicality of the game still. After that effort there can be no doubt.

Too much love for what he's done outside of that effort to not still be excited about the moments of magic we're gonna see from this kid over the next few seasons. He's really in the top tier for genetic attributes required by a modern AFL footballer. It's one thing to see him on TV but when you're live and he hits the turbo he is absolute lightning...

 

[MelbourneCrow]

Noticed this too. That's another reason I want rid of Craig. We need a coach who instills in the players that 100% commitment 100% of the time is A GIVEN. Even in our quite good recent seasons we would often only play for 2½ quarters in some important games.

So gutted after yesterday - HTF can we lose to that team with half our talent twice this season?

 

[jumpman23]

Being a big fan of Ricky Henderson I was particularly disapointed in one of his questionable efforts, clearly didn't go when his turn to go came when confronted by Brogan in a contest, went off the line and merely stuck a hand out, the result cost us a goal in that passage of play. He had been "crunched" in a tackle by Thomas just prior so maybe he was still hurting but it wasn't a good look that's for sure. Hopefully the coaching staff will show him the video and highlight it to him.

One thing we all have to remember is that ricky has only been playing this game for 18 months and has probably fced that situation only a handful of times. Not to mention facing off with Brogan. Im sure he'll be shown and learn from it, but not ringing alarm bells for me.

 

[Crow_68]

absolutely agree

too much coming of the line and attempting one handed paddles, in particularly VB, Jaensch, Symes, Armstrong and unfortunately I hate to say it Henderson

Porps has been an expert in this for the past couple of seasons.

 

[King Elvis]

Noticed this too. That's another reason I want rid of Craig. We need a coach who instills in the players that 100% commitment 100% of the time is A GIVEN. Even in our quite good recent seasons we would often only play for 2½ quarters in some important games.

So gutted after yesterday - HTF can we lose to that team with half our talent twice this season?

To be fair, the reason it stood out yesterday was due to how uncharacteristic it was; our players rarely ever shirk.

Crow_68 - A lot of that can be explained by the fragile shoulder he had for such a long time; no point getting crunched and putting his shoulder out at every contest.

 

[PortBrillance]

Noticed this too. That's another reason I want rid of Craig. We need a coach who instills in the players that 100% commitment 100% of the time is A GIVEN. Even in our quite good recent seasons we would often only play for 2½ quarters in some important games.

So gutted after yesterday - HTF can we lose to that team with half our talent twice this season?

you do realise that you have won only 1 more game than us on the ladder don't you?

 

[King Elvis]

Brillant post brah.

 

[Groove]

I was very suprised, not used to seeing the crows act in that way. I know they arent a 'physically agressive' team, but I've never seen players consecutively shirk the contest like that. Definitely needs stamping out.

 

[SebastianVettel]

I was very suprised, not used to seeing the crows act in that way. I know they arent a 'physically agressive' team, but I've never seen players consecutively shirk the contest like that. Definitely needs stamping out.

That's the thing that's so disappointing.

Of course we haven't got a reputation of being a hard, tough-nosed team, but it's been very rare that we've ever had players blatantly shirking contests as consistently as was the case yesterday.

One thing that we can say, is that we've generally had players who went when it was their time to put their head over the ball.

You really hope it's just a mindset thing, because once that type of football starts to creep in, it can be hard to shake.

It's about having pride in your efforts as a footballer I think. I was never any great footballer, in fact I was shit, but I like to think that when I had to go, I did.

I think, or I hope at least, that quite a few of our players will be embarrassed with some of the 'efforts' they saw, or will see, during the game review, because it was unacceptable.

 

[Allefgib]

You know who doesn't shirk a contest don't you...

yep...

Philthy Phil Davis.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Not only did he get a game from the tribunal but I also heard a rumour that the "Leadership" Group has fined Graham Johncock 2 games by breaking team rules for showing aggression.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

You know who doesn't shirk a contest don't you...

yep...

Philthy Phil Davis.

and Petrenko.

 

[relapse]

I thankfully didnt end up going, but even on TV it was very noticable that so many of our players weren't going in for the contested ball and standing back waiting for someone else to go in there.

I found it really strange and totally uncharactaristic.

 

[noddy]

Can't remember the last time I saw so many Crows players take a half step or change their line to avoid a contest.

Well done for having the right stuff to start this thread mate as i was very tempted to do one on sunday night but wimped out.

It's as if half the bloody team was scared stiff about getting any injuries & missing out on finals.

At least three youngish & two mature players took a backward step or two that i could remember.

 

[noddy]

You know who doesn't shirk a contest don't you...

yep...

Philthy Phil Davis.

Lol you beat me to it.

But he has to wait his turn until one of Bock, Rutten or Stevens goes out with an injury & on last sundays performance that is now very unlikely.

 

[rooboy]

Lol you beat me to it.

But he has to wait his turn until one of Bock, Rutten or Stevens goes out with an injury & on last sundays performance that is now very unlikely.

Noddy, I don't think Davis should have to wait for injury to Bock or Stevens to take their place. Davis was playing better footy than both of them have all year.

But you are probably right.

Personally I wouldn't mind seeing two of Smack, Sellar, Davis come in for Stevens and Bock for the rest of the year.

 

[Allefgib]

Lol you beat me to it.

But he has to wait his turn until one of Bock, Rutten or Stevens goes out with an injury & on last sundays performance that is now very unlikely.

Maybe that's why we are shirking contests? Worried about getting injured and having young upstarts take a place in the side???

 

[Baron Winds]

I found it really strange and totally uncharactaristic.

Neil Craig: Look… I still don’t understand why making the finals is a bad thing. It doesn’t make any sense.

Stephen Trigg: Neil, we cancelled all our September flights and hotel bookings remember? We’ll pay through the roof if we re-book now. Financially we’d be a lot better off if we don’t make the finals. Not to mention the extra match payments.

David Burtenshaw: And let’s face it, Neil. The one knock on you as a coach is your finals record. Why scramble to finish 8th only to get wiped off the field again? You’ll only have Rucci and his pack of vultures dredging up the same articles all over again. Publicity-wise it would be a lot better if we didn’t make the finals.

Neil Craig: I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Are we a football club? Surely a football club is in the business of winning football games.

Phil Harper: You really are old fashioned, Neil.

Tanking?