It's fair to say coaches have their own strengths and weaknesses. FWIW I didn't think MM was a great game day technician (in fact I think his coaching cost us the 2011 GF). However, there is little doubt MM assumed the 'father-figure' role and was able to get the best out of players with limited ability. We played in 2 GF against the mighty Lions with a team that was very limited. Malthouse also brought guys into the club who performed their roles very well. So is that motivation? I'm not sure, but obviously the role of the coach is to take the time to know their players and what works for each one. I think our guys played for MM because they liked him and were eager to please him
Mate seriously get with the program how many teams have beaten Geel, WC, GWS and but for bad luck would have beaten WB
WC at MCG is a totally different team. No way top 8 calibre. Geelong and GWS wins were great. I don't know we would beat them if we played next week though. Both teams obviously took us lightly and we have always had the wood on both.
We beat these teams last year. To base improvement on beating them again is very narrow minded. We were compressively beaten by Melbourne twice and St Kilda who had Riewoldt and McCartin out for half the game. We looked so far behind both teams.
Carlton beat us the first time and we scraped through the second time.
Sydney destroyed us. Port destroyed us. WC destroyed us in Perth. Adelaide just too good and North completely outplayed us. Richmond with all their issues beat us (probably should have been twice). I can't see how you can hang your hat on 3 wins against top 8 teams as suggesting we are heading in the right direction.
To win we need absolutely everything to go right for us - midfield need to win out of the centre, forward line needs to be on fire, and defense needs to be solid.
I understand inconsistencies with this team, but seriously, to discount the games you should be expected to win is not right. And it's not even just about losing these games, it's about how poor we have been during these matches.
And Doggies has their own injury concerns when we played them.
We have got a good midfield. When they are on they are pretty hard to stop. They have shown they can dominate clearances. So we will win games on the back of that. But we also get smashed there as well. The midfield has been fairly stable all year in terms of injury with Adams really the only one (and he has been spending as much time at half back). They should be winning a lot more than they have.