- Nov 27, 2016
- 17,542
- 33,928
- AFL Club
- Carlton
It's mental toughness not physical that is the issue.I really don't get the criticism of LOB's "hard-at-it-ness". Whenever he's played, I've seen him wear contact without a short-step, seen him tackle with genuine intent, seen him desperately try to win the ball in dispute. For me, his hardness isn't in question at all, especially when you compare him with other outside mids across the comp.
It's his composure. He's prone to making unforced errors, and when he does it's often when he's in space and streaming forward, which means the rest of the side is streaming forward too. Miskick, turnover, everyone out of position, opposition score - possibly a 12pt swing.
But composure is one of those ones that is so hard to learn. You can't really do it at the lower level because when you step up the intensity does too, but a club won't tolerate poor composure in the seniors for long when it causes breakdowns in play that can cost games.
LOB got his chance this year, and may have bottled it in that one dropped uncontested mark followed by a panicked miskick and turnover.