The Strange Case of...

[Kimbo]

Reflecting on the first of B2B's 10 questions (Are you happy with 6-4 win/loss?) it stood out just how stark the so-called Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde attitude has been for us this year. While arguably this metaphor might be applied to any team that is inconsistent, the particular relevance for us, I realised is that we have not, so far, lost a game when we've been switched on.

Never has the cliché about "the game being played above the shoulders" been more true.

In fact, we've beaten the Dogs, Power, Swans, and the two WA franchises because we were focused and aggressive from the start, or at least didn't lose sight of our capacity to turn things around if we work hard. Our wins have included top teams at interstate grounds. (In addition, we also beat the Lions which we didn't need to be switched on for.) And yes, equally, we've been badly beaten when not switched on but that's not what I want to highlight.

I want to highlight that, unlike years gone by, the evidence so far this year is that IF we bring the right attitude and intensity ("on our day") we CAN beat anyone. Arguably the second half against Geelong highlighted this too. In the past I don't think we could have laid claim to this assertion. On our day, we really can beat anyone, and that's not to say we can't improve either because clearly we can.

In the meantime, however, it's time to believe guys!

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

Time to Bolieve in the Bon.

 

[CBSlogger]

Yeah RoCo's article on Monday highlighted this point well, in the form of contested possessions.

Our contested possession differential between wins and losses contrasts more wildly than any other team.

In our wins we are +14.7 (#1)
In our losses we are -18.8 (#18)

It really is that simple. When we 'turn up to play' & hunt the footy and the man, we can beat anyone. When we don't, we really can lose to anyone. The same rule applies to most clubs this year given the closeness of the comp, but none more so than us.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...bournes-pleasure-and-pain-20140602-zrvdy.html

 

[Twinkletoes]

We can usually tell in the first five minutes if we're "ON" too, bar the Freo game when they kicked the first four goals only to see us take hold of the game from there. I'm sure we'll all be hoping to see us get off to a flyer this Sunday night. I think centre clearances have always had a big say in our fortunes as well BTW.

 

[LT Smash]

We can usually tell in the first five minutes if we're "ON" too, bar the Freo game when they kicked the first four goals only to see us take hold of the game from there. I'm sure we'll all be hoping to see us get off to a flyer this Sunday night. I think centre clearances have always had a big say in our fortunes as well BTW.

Even when Freo kicked 4 goals, I felt we were competing for the ball and suffered some misfortune as well as some absolutely criminal umpiring decisions. On the other hand the games against Gold Coast and Essendon, we were standing back and waiting for an opponent to take possession of the ball, and gave up a lot of space and uncontested possession. There was nothing ferocious about either game. From here on, I would like to see our opening bounce set up be Spitta, Levi, Ben10 and Maj. No silk necessarily in there but an absolute determination to pile drive any opponent who dares to touch the ball first. It's just a statement of intent for the rest of the game.

 

[Mav]

I think you will find Port, Sydney and Freo weren't switched on when we played them.

its all perspective.

 

[TooUglyForFugly]

I think you will find Port, Sydney and Freo weren't switched on when we played them.

its all perspective.

Must be nice for people to think we can only ever be shit.

 

[Mav]

Must be nice for people to think we can only ever be shit.

who thinks that? I for one think we SHOULD be top 4!

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

I think you will find Port, Sydney and Freo weren't switched on when we played them.

its all perspective.

I don't agree with that. Port came out and blew us away in the opening stages of the first quarter. Sydney and Freo were both competitive in the first quarter too. In all cases our pressure game bore fruit and we were able to run away with the game after half time. In other games where things haven't gone our way I feel the players (or some anyway) drop their heads and start to lose a bit of heart.

In the case of Sydney and Freo, I think they had significant outs which affected their game. (Freo in particular badly missed Barlow, Ballantyne and Walters.) I don't think they would want to use that as an excuse though because in both games our missing players were probably even more crucial. We just covered them better.

 

[Event Horizon]

We can usually tell in the first five minutes if we're "ON" too, bar the Freo game when they kicked the first four goals only to see us take hold of the game from there. I'm sure we'll all be hoping to see us get off to a flyer this Sunday night. I think centre clearances have always had a big say in our fortunes as well BTW.

Port Adelaide game also had a 0:20 start

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

I just want to confirm Bon, have we fixed those little things?

 

[Kimbo]

I just want to confirm Bon, have we fixed those little things?

C'mon Brains, stop teasing us.

 

[Higgins2Waite]

 

[ShinbonerBaz]