The Message

[Axl the great]

While last nights loss was hard to take for us fans and a real disappointment for the players it could have have positive effect on the entire playing list.

Those players such as Fraser, Brown, Lockyer and Presti and even guys like Barham must be licking their lips at the prospect of a recall to the side.
It is no secret that the competition for spots is as hot as it has ever been under Malthouse and this year there seems to be a more ruthless approach as to who plays and who does not.

These players if selected will come in as hungry as they have ever been at any stage of their career, they will be aware to not perform again and be dropped for the secong time could spell curtains considering their respective ages.

Some complacency may have crept in for a couple of players who played last night and it will be interesting to see just how ruthless the club is with selections for next weeks game.

The selection commitee must set an example and reward good performers in the VFL and make very hard calls on a couple of players who have not cut it for a couple of weeks now.
It may sound a little harsh but every player in the squad has to be under constant pressure to perform or they know they will be replaced not think maybe i will survive this week.

I am in no way calling for wholesale changes or demanding guys are dropped willy nilly but the club needs to keep setting the example by being hard on guys that have been down and putting faith in other guys who are performing in the VFL and saying to them "well your back in what have you got?"

One thing we have not done well before this year is reward good form in the VFL or make hard calls on guys not playing well in the seniors, this year that seems to have changed a bit and that is part of the reason why not too many blokes play 2 shockers in a row.

This needs to continue because there is no place for sentiment in this game or our side and nobody is entitled to a free ride regardless of who you are.

 

[Alexander323bc]

Hear hear

 

[coldpieswarmbeer]

mother nature feeds all.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

The loss could have a positive effect on the entire playing list, but there's only so many "lessons" the team can learn before;
a) we aren't winning any games that matter, and
b) our confidence is completely shot against any opponent of merit.

I hope we learn from the loss and improve, but the "learning lessons" angle sounds too recycled nowadays for it to give me even one iota of consolation.

 

[Axl the great]

The loss could have a positive effect on the entire playing list, but there's only so many "lessons" the team can learn before;
a) we aren't winning any games that matter, and
b) our confidence is completely shot against any opponent of merit.

I hope we learn from the loss and improve, but the "learning lessons" angle sounds too recycled nowadays for it to give me even one iota of consolation.

Yes and no, my real point is only certain players have been previously held really accountable for below par performances while others were free to coast along and had much more leniency than others.
As stated it seems to have changed this year and now the previously undroppable have been dumped and form is seemingly rewarded.
It will be interesting to see how Lockyer, Fraser, Brown, Presti and the fringe guys go given another chance.
The way we are going you sure as hell dont want to be on the outer this year and we will either see a massive lift in form from these guys or the status quo which could result in some having thier papers stamped.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

That's true, although it shouldn't be taken for granted that all of those guys will get a second chance. The aim of exposing these young fellas to AFL-standard football is that hopefully they make the grade. I don't want Reid, Brown, Dawes, Sidebottom, Beams, Wellingham, Wood, Toovey and MacAffer to be merely in there warming a seat for the old stagers who are known quantities...

... particularly L Brown who is probably a good bloke but has very little upside.