Stupidity and Spirit

[DJ75]

Two thoughts occured to me after the game (and not "how the hell did we win that?")
1. Are we the stupidest team ever?
I mean we seem to make some of the dumbest decisions possible. Scott Stevens battled hard, but handed out 3 goals for Port (ok so I've got 3 of my teammates in prime position to mark the ball, but I'll just give Motlop a big hug in the goalsquare anyway??!)
Massie, Welsh (I've just been sheparded by 3 of my teammates and am 10 m out from goal on my left, but I'll try and run back onto my right??!), Mattner (I'll slide in and collect the ball on my side directly in front of goal...no-one is going to tackle me!), Thomson (I have to get caught holding the ball at least 3 times a game) etc..
We just seem to have so many players who have brain explosions in the game.

2. On the other hand, since Craig tookover, I think Crows supporters deserve to be the most proud of any club in the league. I don't care what anyone says, we have an average list. And yet, our players are almost always competitive. It is very rare that we give up and don't try and come back in a game. We don't always win, but by God we give it a go. Even when we play crap we manage to keep the game close.

Oh and I think that even if Craigy's Crows don't win a flag for the next 10 years, he should remain the Coach. At least we will always beat Port!!

 

[ThePeckers]

Two thoughts occured to me after the game (and not "how the hell did we win that?")
1. Are we the stupidest team ever?
I mean we seem to make some of the dumbest decisions possible. Scott Stevens battled hard, but handed out 3 goals for Port (ok so I've got 3 of my teammates in prime position to mark the ball, but I'll just give Motlop a big hug in the goalsquare anyway??!)
Massie, Welsh (I've just been sheparded by 3 of my teammates and am 10 m out from goal on my left, but I'll try and run back onto my right??!), Mattner (I'll slide in and collect the ball on my side directly in front of goal...no-one is going to tackle me!), Thomson (I have to get caught holding the ball at least 3 times a game) etc..
We just seem to have so many players who have brain explosions in the game.

2. On the other hand, since Craig tookover, I think Crows supporters deserve to be the most proud of any club in the league. I don't care what anyone says, we have an average list. And yet, our players are almost always competitive. It is very rare that we give up and don't try and come back in a game. We don't always win, but by God we give it a go. Even when we play crap we manage to keep the game close.

Oh and I think that even if Craigy's Crows don't win a flag for the next 10 years, he should remain the Coach. At least we will always beat Port!!

Wow I thought stevens did really well. Every team makes mistakes, its just a fact of life.

However I agree, we all should be proud, because Craig , the AFC and the players have done so well over the last 3 years. Battled hard with a team that isn't packed with stars. IMO Adelaide + Kangaroos play some of the best team footy at the moment.

 

[swanfan]

I tend to get stuck into Stevens but he stood up when it counted last night. Without Rutten and Bassett, he did a sterling job.

 

[- PC -]

I texted my brother , not so much on the highlighted examples, but on why our skills are so poor when we are NOT under pressure.

We dropped marks, fumbled handballs and kicked poorly when there was no immediate pressure. Just frustrating as all hell

 

[swanfan]

I texted my brother , not so much on the highlighted examples, but on why our skills are so poor when we are NOT under pressure.

We dropped marks, fumbled handballs and kicked poorly when there was no immediate pressure. Just frustrating as all hell

Funny you say that PC. I had a fellow supporter get stuck into me when I raised the point via my lungs we were making silly mistakes under no pressure. Its frustrating to watch week in, week out I told this bloke and I hope we turn it around in the second half. Thank goodness we did or the PAPS in front of me would have had me for dinner afterwards.

 

[macca23]

I texted my brother , not so much on the highlighted examples, but on why our skills are so poor when we are NOT under pressure.

We dropped marks, fumbled handballs and kicked poorly when there was no immediate pressure. Just frustrating as all hell

Our execution and skills were atrocious in the first quarter in particular - not within a bull's roar of acceptable AFL standards.

Effort and commitment first class - execution and skills bottom of the barrel.

What the hell is going on in this area this year? We have gone from crowbots to crowbutts in terms of skill.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Our execution and skills were atrocious in the first quarter in particular - not within a bull's roar of acceptable AFL standards.

Effort and commitment first class - execution and skills bottom of the barrel.

What the hell is going on in this area this year? We have gone from crowbots to crowbutts in terms of skill.

You wonder how players can lose their skill which they were displaying last year. Has to be a mental thing.

At least we got the desperation back, which overcame the errors.

However, against the Cats we will need to both desperate & skillful.

 

[-CG-]

One piece of play which really stood out was in the firat quarter on the wing. There were about three or four crows players running with the ball, handballing, and none of them sheparded each other. Also, I thought we could've played better 'wet weather footy'. Just kick it long etc.

 

[NikkiNoo]

One piece of play which really stood out was in the firat quarter on the wing. There were about three or four crows players running with the ball, handballing, and none of them sheparded each other. Also, I thought we could've played better 'wet weather footy'. Just kick it long etc.

If we did that Crow Girl it would have been the height of stupidity. Williams showed his hand from the first bounce that he was going to flood our forward line. If we had of banged it long like normal tactics in wet weather, it would have played into port's hands as they had at least 3 free players camped in our forward line to pick off these long kicks. We had to be clever about our entries and couldn't just bang it in otherwise they would have turned it over and run it out easily.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Our execution and skills were atrocious in the first quarter in particular - not within a bull's roar of acceptable AFL standards.

Effort and commitment first class - execution and skills bottom of the barrel.

What the hell is going on in this area this year? We have gone from crowbots to crowbutts in terms of skill.

Craig has said it is the inexperienced group that have not got their skills up to an acceptable standard.

So in your opinions ......who was unacceptable ?

You already know my thoughts

 

[macca23]

Craig has said it is the inexperienced group that have not got their skills up to an acceptable standard.

So in your opinions ......who was unacceptable ?

You already know my thoughts

I wouldn't narrow it down to individuals WW because IMO the senior players were equally as bad in that first quarter or so.

It was a team effort in all the wrong areas.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I wouldn't narrow it down to individuals WW because IMO the senior players were equally as bad in that first quarter or so.

It was a team effort in all the wrong areas.

Look I know your a pro Knights supporter and I do like him as well.

However I have watched footy about as long as you and most of the very good players I have seen at the start of their careers have had skills that have made you sit up and take notice.

Macleod in his first season .....overweight average pace but kicked a goal from the forward pocket under severe pressure which said "here's something"

Goodwin who in his first season was one grabbing balls under real pressure like a veteran.

Vince and Porplyzia who have exquisite hands and footy brains and will make it.

Now I know the difference these days is that they are full time and can work on skill defficiencies but Knights use of the ball does not inspire me:

- He kicks around corners too much for my liking instead of using his pace to hit the goal front

- He has a ball drop issue which under pressure means he sprays the ball like he did on his 2 shots for gaol last night.

- He gives the ball off to players in worse positions than he and often takes us out of the corridor ......as I have said very much the way Cameron Ling has played the game the last two seasons.

- His defensive action and tackling is poor ....his tackling in particular very easy to braek because he reaches for players.

Now I know that you'll say that he gets heaps of the ball and that's first priority ....granted .....but if you can't be damaging with those possessions or your indirec or wasteful ...what value?

As I said full time players now may be able to be taught to change .....but history has shown me that those successful cases a few and far between.

Surely Macca use of possessions is just as important as getting them? ....as isn't todays most damaging stat in AFL turnovers???

 

[macca23]

Look I know your a pro Knights supporter and I do like him as well.

However I have watched footy about as long as you and most of the very good players I have seen at the start of their careers have had skills that have made you sit up and take notice.

Knights will come back to bite you on the bum WW.

It's not as if he stuffs up every kick or handball, which is how you make it sound. There are areas in which his disposal can improve, and I'm 100% confident that it will.

His disposal has improved each year he has been with us and will continue to do so just like a former great of the club.

Mark Bickley.

Started life in footy with average disposal and ended up with excellent disposal.

Just be grateful we have a young star of the future in Knights (and he will be) and enjoy it WW. The cup is half full, not half empty.

 

[Pride of SA]

WW its a lot easier to teach someone how to dispose of the ball or work that out with 40 games experience than it is to go and find it 25+ times a game. That sort of footy brain cant be taught.

As for young Goodwin/Mcleods etc, I also remember a young Tyson Edwards. He was in and out of the side and looked pretty ordinary back in the late 90`s at times. Now I`d say over the last 3-4 years hes been probably first or 2nd in most important players to the team in his linkage work. He knew how to find the ball, just not what to do with it back then.

Knights will probably be our replacement Edwards or Bickley. A tough as nuts ballwinner who probably doesnt poll too many Brownlow votes but in the next 3-4 years will probably be constantly in the first couple picked every game.

 

[fightingdreamer88]

Knights is still only 20. He has AGES ahead of him, certainly plenty of development to come. Will be a gun.

 

[asdfasd]

Was great to see us playing with some real spirit and desperation in the last quarter. This year I think that's what we've really been missing - that sense of belief and desperation which we've always had in the past...