What is it going to take?

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Kimbo

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#54
Personally, I think it comes down to confidence. Lot of people here talk about workrate and so on, but what I see is the failings of nerves - poor decision-making, skill errors and so on. It seems at its worst when expectations are highest. Friday night was being talked up as a big chance to knock off the cats at home (Stevie J out, 6 day break from perth) and our boys looked tight, fumbly and just generally off in the first half. Ditto with Collingwood. With Gold Coast there was the expectation of the win, the fact that it would lock us in to top 4.

What will it take to change? A run of wins I think, and I reckon it might start this weekend. I'm on record as thinking we'll win 11 more for the year on the assumption that this confidence will come.
11/13?!

 
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#55
Its come from Scott dropping the Shinboner spirit. We don't play with spirit.
In the high performance culture, and all that junk we've lost the heart, the soul and the fabric of playing in the royal blue and white.
7 years ago, when we played finals under laidley, we didn't have half as talented side as what we do now. The difference was, that when those old school players put the roos top on they were willing to put everything on the line and get the best out of themselves week in week out because they knew that they were doing it for their teammates. I don't see that in this crop, they may be all mates, but they don't have that instinct and that drive to get the best out of themselves. I don't what it is, but somewhere along the way that spirit has diminished.
Some truth to this, new age players don't seem to care nearly as much, more about the dollars, selfies, tweets, smartphones, lifestyle etc etc than doing 'whatever it takes' to make the club successful, B.Scott not blameless either wasting his time on altitude training, USA recruits, sports science sh*t etc etc.....the guy takes training with a laptop ffs:thumbsdown:
 

scooby1279

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#56
Some truth to this, new age players don't seem to care nearly as much, more about the dollars, selfies, tweets, smartphones, lifestyle etc etc than doing 'whatever it takes' to make the club successful, B.Scott not blameless either wasting his time on altitude training, USA recruits, sports science sh*t etc etc.....the guy takes training with a laptop ffs:thumbsdown:
agree, however Collingwood have shown a lot of character so far this season. It's just the desire to WANT to win all the time and the hatred in losing, some of our players dont seem hungry enough.
 
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Moderator #57
agree, however Collingwood have shown a lot of character so far this season. It's just the desire to WANT to win all the time and the hatred in losing, some of our players dont seem hungry enough.
They are a great example unfortunately.

I don't particularly rate their talent pound for pound and had written off Nafan as a joke with poor interpersonal skills

But they are playing like a team who gives a toss about winning.
 

LB2Snake

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#59
agree, however Collingwood have shown a lot of character so far this season. It's just the desire to WANT to win all the time and the hatred in losing, some of our players dont seem hungry enough.
Apparently we just need to execute better says Scott. Insightful stuff.
This type of stuff is astounding isn't it. WTF is going on down there? They don't WANT it. Have no desire. Are confused. Lack leadership.
Massive massive concerns about our football department. Clueless.
 
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#61
I would usually say drop a few senior players to send a msg, but i honestly dont think any of the players would give a sh*t. They would be happy that they get to watch the game from the grandstand instead of watching the game from the field.

Ive followed the Roos since the 80's and i dont think ive ever disliked a group as much as i do this bunch.
 

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#62
All I can say is that the season that has promised so much and we've all awaited with such excitement is on the verge of being over, to put it bluntly. Of course we can still make the finals, even if we lose to the Eagles, given we are not yet at half way mark and our "easy" draw in the second half of the season has been well documented here. However, as supporters that have been waiting for a "real" crack at top 4 and a dynasty in the waiting, our expectations aren't that small. We aren't St Kilda or Bulldogs - we are used to certain standards, despite being a small club. We know that effort is NOT negotiable at North. If there is no talent, we fight for every meter, but may lose the game. When we do have talent however, which doesn't happen often in this competition, we win flags.

Let's be honest - we have been waiting for 2014 not to make the finals. We have been waiting to prove once and for all, whether this team was good enough to take us into another era of success. The signs were there over the last few seasons and drafts. However, this year was meant to be it. Not to win the flag, but to arrive. And arrive for some serious business in seasons to come.

Based on what we've seen thus far, this team is nowhere near it. Simple as that. And if that is indeed the case, the season is nearly over for me. It's simply another groundhog day. Yes I will attend games, but I am about to give up on the "we are coming" idea. Hope I am proven wrong.
Totally agree with this. I don't remember having as much anticipation and excitement prior to the start of a season, as I did this year. And I have been following this side for 37 years..

What I have observed in 2014 thus far is a side with definitely more "fitness", but which seems to lack genuine "leg speed", when compared to our opponents. Being slower than your opposition means you are always under pressure when in possession (because they are quicker and are onto us without any time to think), and watch them race off in the opposite direction when the ball is turned over.

This is very noticeable at the start of games when both teams are fresh, but tends to look less noticeable in later quarters when our improved "fitness" kicks in and the opposition slows down a little.

The loss of Wellsy has made this even more noticeable in the last month. We simply lack depth when it comes to genuine leg speed.

In any case, I hope I am only delusional and am imagining this all in my head. I mean, we didn't look slow last year? Just don't know why all of a sudden we seem to be under siege and slower than our opponents. Just don't get it..
 

Event Horizon

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#63
Totally agree with this. I don't remember having as much anticipation and excitement prior to the start of a season, as I did this year. And I have been following this side for 37 years..

What I have observed in 2014 thus far is a side with definitely more "fitness", but which seems to lack genuine "leg speed", when compared to our opponents. Being slower than your opposition means you are always under pressure when in possession (because they are quicker and are onto us without any time to think), and watch them race off in the opposite direction when the ball is turned over.

This is very noticeable at the start of games when both teams are fresh, but tends to look less noticeable in later quarters when our improved "fitness" kicks in and the opposition slows down a little.

The loss of Wellsy has made this even more noticeable in the last month. We simply lack depth when it comes to genuine leg speed.

In any case, I hope I am only delusional and am imagining this all in my head. I mean, we didn't look slow last year? Just don't know why all of a sudden we seem to be under siege and slower than our opponents. Just don't get it..
Reasonable points made here. However, we all know that when the team is not working hard enough, it always looks slow. It happened to us during Pagan era when we were one of the best teams in it. Some days we looked slow, other days were were flying.

Geelong looked fast as a sports car against us in the first half last week. But they looked slow and always under pressure last night.
 
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#64
Reasonable points made here. However, we all know that when the team is not working hard enough, it always looks slow. It happened to us during Pagan era when we were one of the best teams in it. Some days we looked slow, other days were were flying.

Geelong looked fast as a sports car against us in the first half last week. But they looked slow and always under pressure last night.
Fair call. I hope this is the case and that we can go back to that fast moving, exciting brand of footy we played last year.
 
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