Us and Pressure

[Duskfire]

One thing that seems to be mentioned constantly on the main board is how we cant handle pressure, how the players just dont play well when heaps of pressure is applied. Maybe someone could explain to me what the heck that means exactly. Do the boys handle pressure worst then any other team in the competition? is it something I am missing?

It seems to me we win more close games then lose. In fact, the majority of the games we have lost oiver the past three seasons haven't been all that close at all. That tells me we handle pressure just fine.

 

[bulletproof]

I think you’ll find most of what is written about Geelong is hyperbole at the moment.

We may have dropped off in a few areas this year but one area we have definitely shown an enormous improvement is, handling the tight situations.

Joel Selwood, Chapman, Corey and Ablett in particular thrive when things get tight. They go into overdrive. It is actually thrilling to watch when they start hunting the ball in packs, pilling in one after the other and they all run themselves ragged. It is the most gut churning and most exhilarating thing to watch as a Geelong supporter.

This has been something I have only really noticed this year. It was superb against St Kilda, Hawthorn and to a lesser extent Adelaide.

 

[BlueOyster]

i would say the opposite, we have won all close games under pressure except for st kilda and we have gotten closer to them than any other team. the games we have lost has been through our own lack of pressure on the opposition. both brisbane and carlton losses we didnt look to interested in the team things which does make the st kilda win over the hawks on the weekend all the more better. but i also think the the hawks had come off 3 tough games before that and were a little underdone.

 

[CF]

Just watch our game against Hawthorn recently and see how we handle pressure. Some people work on the principle the more you repeat something, regardless of it being bollocks, the more true it must seem.

Sure we stuffed a few games that were pressure cookers too, but geesus the lads are only human. The same could be said for any club at the moment with the exception of the Saints obviously.

Another example of this was people last year saying we were arrogant. The team has never been arrogant but the more some media people said it then everyone started saying it without even knowing the facts.

it's like chinese whispers

 

[Copernicus]

All that talk is indicative of is that people are either a) full of crap or b) don't watch Geelong play.

Our record in 'pressure' games is exemplary. We've won far more than we've lost in the close ones.

 

[hamG]

Any team who is put under more pressure than they can handle struggles, its all relative. That be why St Kilda are dominating, they put teams under more pressure than they can handle.

 

[Cats Eye]

Any team who is put under more pressure than they can handle struggles, its all relative. That be why St Kilda are dominating, they put teams under more pressure than they can handle.

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. If a team is under pressure, then that means as a result they will struggle.

 

[OldStyle2007]

In general the Cats have won a lot of tight games since the 2007. So I'd say the cats are very good at handling pressure and close games (e.g. Collingwood 2007 PF, Bulldogs 2008 PF)

But last year's GF will always be a black mark against the side and I don't think the cats can be considered 'great' because of that match. 'Great' teams don't lose games like that

 

[Claude Balls]

You're mistaking the pressure of a close finish on the scoreboard and the physical pressure exerted throughout an entire game by the opposition.

People generally refer to the latter with respect to Geelong. And they're not altogether wrong in the sense that extreme tackling pressure does counteract the style of footy we have excelled at over the last 3 years (i.e. hard running and receiving which results on little pressure delivering inside 50). Last year's GF and the Collingwood prelim in '07 are prime examples of this.

So while I wouldn't say "we can't handle pressure", I'd say we struggle to play our best football when the oppo puts us under physical pressure throughout a match.

 

[CF]

Any team who is put under more pressure than they can handle struggles, its all relative. That be why St Kilda are dominating, they put teams under more pressure than they can handle.

great post.


I think if you look at our game against St Kilda you can see we were put under tremendous pressure by them. But we came from a 5 goal head start to them to lose by a goal. That tells me we can handle pressure. Next time we don't give them a head start.

 

[Turbocat]

To my mind , there is Internal Pressure and External Pressure

Internal is self imposed. Its about performing to ones expectations , about thinking about results rather than the (i hate the word) process. A good example would be our setshot goal shooting. When Cam or whoever has lost believe in ones self and doesn't want to take shots that creates internal pressure , which can than make performing even more difficult. How often have we seen an ordinary Setshot shooter get the goal from the boundary or from outside 50? Less expectation can allow them to perform better. A relaxed athlete will usually perform better than one who is tight. On the other hand some never doubt themselves and more often than not perform well in big game situations. Think Acker, Think Shane Warne , Think Tiger Woods. A huge confidence in their ability to beat their opponent.

In a way, its the same in big games ,If a team wins big games it creates a confidence however if a team continually looses big games , Gf's whatever, that creates an internal pressure. Imagine if Geelong had lost to Collingwood in that Preliminary in 07, I think we really would be accused of being vulnerable to internal pressure. As a person who was there thru the 90's , I can tell you by 95 we felt Internal Pressure trying to overcome those GF defeats.

External Pressure can be like the Saints or us when we pressure lesser players/teams beyond there ability to cope. Really its more about depth of talent and skill. Earlier this year when Ess got great reviews we gave them the full Ext. Pressure and they collapsed. Sometimes this can flow on and create Internal Pressure. Some say the Pies have Ext pressured us , showing we are vulnerable to their game but do the players believe it. Do they feel under more internal pressure going in against the Pies.

On the whole , I think this group has a very good underlining confidence. Its why if we can get some form back , I think we can still win it.I think there is internal pressure to perform but not an overwhelming one, the one that actually motivates. As far as external pressure goes , we are now almost have been written off and the Saints are the front runners.

 

[witsend]

To my mind , there is Internal Pressure and External Pressure

Internal is self imposed. Its about performing to ones expectations , about thinking about results rather than the (i hate the word) process. A good example would be our setshot goal shooting. When Cam or whoever has lost believe in ones self and doesn't want to take shots that creates internal pressure , which can than make performing even more difficult. How often have we seen an ordinary Setshot shooter get the goal from the boundary or from outside 50? Less expectation can allow them to perform better. A relaxed athlete will usually perform better than one who is tight. On the other hand some never doubt themselves and more often than not perform well in big game situations. Think Acker, Think Shane Warne , Think Tiger Woods. A huge confidence in their ability to beat their opponent.

In a way, its the same in big games ,If a team wins big games it creates a confidence however if a team continually looses big games , Gf's whatever, that creates an internal pressure. Imagine if Geelong had lost to Collingwood in that Preliminary in 07, I think we really would be accused of being vulnerable to internal pressure. As a person who was there thru the 90's , I can tell you by 95 we felt Internal Pressure trying to overcome those GF defeats.

External Pressure can be like the Saints or us when we pressure lesser players/teams beyond there ability to cope. Really its more about depth of talent and skill. Earlier this year when Ess got great reviews we gave them the full Ext. Pressure and they collapsed. Sometimes this can flow on and create Internal Pressure. Some say the Pies have Ext pressured us , showing we are vulnerable to their game but do the players believe it. Do they feel under more internal pressure going in against the Pies.

On the whole , I think this group has a very good underlining confidence. Its why if we can get some form back , I think we can still win it.I think there is internal pressure to perform but not an overwhelming one, the one that actually motivates. As far as external pressure goes , we are now almost have been written off and the Saints are the front runners.

Kobe Bryant is my fav example of this. He may not make every buzzer beater shot to win, but he sure as hell wants to take it. Just pure self-belief in the fact that he thinks he will make that shot. Must be like gambling addicts who always believe the next bet will be a winner, in a way.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

You're mistaking the pressure of a close finish on the scoreboard and the physical pressure exerted throughout an entire game by the opposition.

People generally refer to the latter with respect to Geelong. And they're not altogether wrong in the sense that extreme tackling pressure does counteract the style of footy we have excelled at over the last 3 years (i.e. hard running and receiving which results on little pressure delivering inside 50). Last year's GF and the Collingwood prelim in '07 are prime examples of this.

So while I wouldn't say "we can't handle pressure", I'd say we struggle to play our best football when the oppo puts us under physical pressure throughout a match.

If we took the entire Thompson period, lets say from 2004-present I would say we have wilted under pressure more than other sides with comparative success.

For my mind, our best win in this whole period was the 2007 prelim, because there were certainly stages in that game where Collingwood applied physcial and scoreboard pressure and we won. But even then it almost came unstuck.

I actually think Thompson can be out-coached in these situations. Last year the five goal barrage by Hawthorn in the 3rd quarter was unforgivable. We should have shut the game down and played posession or at least numbers behind the ball for a time. Same can be said for the 2005 semi against Sydney.

Ultimately, I trust our players in the clinches. We are one of the most physical and skilful teams going around. I think most players on our list as individuals have shown they can deliver when the pressure is on. Whats important is that when the game gets tough we have the right structures in place to get us through. I would trust the players to carry out these instructions 9 out 10 times.

But when things havent gone to plan the confidence of some of our players disintegrates, I'm not sure they know what to do because they aren't prepared.

 

[TheYid]

The pressure argument is nonsense.

Can anyone name any team that can always handle the kind of pressure that teams exert on Geelong? I don't think they would handle nearly as good as we do.

We have had a few come-from-behind wins this year and have been in a lot of close ones. Anyone who watches the Cats knows that when the pressure is on the team tends to answer. Teams tend to try to tackle us to stop our run, but the fact is that every team since 2007 has tried this- and our record stands as the best in the league in that period.

I'm really sick of this "pressure" argument. It's a load of bullocks. The funny thing is that the people that use the pressure argument are almost always punters from teams who we thrash, or tv presenters looking for explanations as to why we don't beat teams by 10 goals this year.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

pressure affects results of games?!!?

surely not!

oh noes!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

pressure affects results of games?!!?

surely not!

oh noes!

Why did you bother writing that?