- Joined
- Jul 20, 2002
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- Alberton, the chosen land
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- Port Adelaide
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#1
I was watching my video of Showdown 8 the other day. That was the one where we led by 53 points after the first quarter and won by 47. And our run of dominance started. What impressed most was that everyone, including last years' culprits in slowing down the game, were moving the ball on crisply and long. And although the Cows came back in the middle quarters that was not caused by unlucky turnovers but more the fact they lifted in those periods. Given that Francou and Primus were playing, and we had a fit and in-form Lockwood the question remains why did we slow the game down so often this year when we have first-hand experience of what works?
My theory on this is exactly what seems to be plaguing all types of jobs at the moment. Everyone is under such scrutiny they are terrified of making a mistake, and would sooner do nothing. I know that I have more than once been hauled over the coals at work for doing the right thing in a way that is not accepted. Umpires have this pressure too; I once saw a scorecard that is filled out after a game on an umpires' performance, it showed that if an umpire makes a 50/50 decision that may be wrong they are scored down, whereas if they make no decision at all points are unlikely to be lost.
Surely when Mark Williams is in the coaches box he should be able to focus totally on winning the game, and not whether his performance may lose him his job? I couldn't care less if Mark Williams makes every wrong move in the book and plays young blokes too green for the AFL if a premiership comes our way in the end. Unfortunately the current directive seems to be keeping the fans happy during the minor round and winning home games. After all, Port are the ones who profit financially from the minor round. It may be distasteful, but priorities appear to be misplaced, because finals do not give much of a return to the club.
But I hope I'm wrong.
My theory on this is exactly what seems to be plaguing all types of jobs at the moment. Everyone is under such scrutiny they are terrified of making a mistake, and would sooner do nothing. I know that I have more than once been hauled over the coals at work for doing the right thing in a way that is not accepted. Umpires have this pressure too; I once saw a scorecard that is filled out after a game on an umpires' performance, it showed that if an umpire makes a 50/50 decision that may be wrong they are scored down, whereas if they make no decision at all points are unlikely to be lost.
Surely when Mark Williams is in the coaches box he should be able to focus totally on winning the game, and not whether his performance may lose him his job? I couldn't care less if Mark Williams makes every wrong move in the book and plays young blokes too green for the AFL if a premiership comes our way in the end. Unfortunately the current directive seems to be keeping the fans happy during the minor round and winning home games. After all, Port are the ones who profit financially from the minor round. It may be distasteful, but priorities appear to be misplaced, because finals do not give much of a return to the club.
But I hope I'm wrong.

