Where we lost it.

[southjoy]

I've spent a few moments reading some of the posts and agree in part with some and can't understand the reasoning behind others.

Firstly there is no point in speaking about if we had got this person or that. It just isn't that easy. Guys like Rawlings, Richo,Brown,etc didn't want to come to us. If there is a possible person who WANTS to come then we have to find a suitable trade. Which often means giving up a Wirra, Judd, Cox,etc. All of these are required players. And more importantly we have drafted kpp's and to my reckoning we are playing them in Lynch and McDougal- you can't play them all.

Secondly the talk about our forwards. Yes it would be great to have more system with a key tall forward but we have a goal kicking team( 22 and 17goals) and one of the best offensive teams last year. So this is not our real, main focus problem.

Our Midfield is Fab with good rotations and plenty of options.

Backline; once again I wish we had more kpp or more experince in our backline. We don't! BUT i still think that this is where we are getting killed.
REASON: Our decision making is extremely poor under pressure. Players want to block when they should receive. Receivers come to close for the receive. Our handball when tackled is to the ground or to the oppo. WHAT is wrong in holding the ball up and having a restart. Our kicks are 5m in front of their teammates.
We need to train these players under great pressure and teach them to stand up in a tackle, handball and hit a target or simply cause a restart( boundary or ball up).
The only backline player who is faultless in these areas is Wirra.

We should match our mids on our backline with the ball being thrust forward and train these kids not to panic.
I recon we gave Port about 7 gift goals from errors. Don't worry about our 3 posters but more about handling pressure in the back half.

I haven't made comment about Lynch on Tredrea or Carrol on Thurstons as this still wasn't the cause of our loss. look at how cool and how precise Port were in their backline.
Maybe time to look at Nicoski or Waters as I don't think that Humm or Green are the answers. (these two were not on their own either)

 

[dasler]

Agree southjoy, I haven't been a fan of Humm since he was drafted.

 

[Belgarion]

I agree with most of what you say Killjoy.

I think that the best of the KPP that we drafted in the last 2-3 years is Travis Gaspar, unfortunately he is quite injury prone. It would be a pity is so much talent is wated because of injury.

I feel a bit disappointed with Mc Dougall. I know that he had some injury concerns early on, but since he debuted last year he was showing a lot of promise but now he seems to be stagnating. I get the feeling that he doesn't make enough of an effort and relies in talent alone; and in my opinion it's better to have an A1 effort and average talent than A1 talent and average effort.

I think we need to be patient with Lynch as he's still learning the game, and let us not forget he started playing as FF.

I think the only reason we lost the game this week is because Port had good KPP in Cornes, Tredrea and Thurston and we only had an inexperienced Lynch and McDougall for a short time and 0 possessions.

Perhaps, it may be better for us to blood people like Johnston, and others and give them experience this year and see if they come up and perhaps challenge for a premiership next year or the year after. As we are now, we'll probably play finals but more than likely will be making up the numbers without threatening anyone.

Belgarion

 

[HATS]

Totally agree
but believe that our decision making is poor all over the ground and not just in the back half
Our handballing in particular is pathetic..

 

[nearlyblonde]

Heartily agree, the decision making, and I don`t think just of the defence, witness Kerr over and over, sucks bigtime.

However, is it possible to teach it, surely it`s an instictive thing?

 

[PAfolwr]

I thought Lynch did as good a job on Tredrea as I have seen. Personally I was impressed by that.
Tredrea seems to have gone up another notch, and would probably have slaughtered anyone else given the mood he was in.

Definitely one to keep.

ps Bad luck on the game, you probably would have "stolen" it if it wasn't for those posts. It was a good game to watch, not only for "us", but also for neutral fans.

 

[PortProudWA]

A good place to start looking would be on the scoreboard!!

 

[jess-jess]

such a useful comment.

i can't believe any of us didn't think of doing that first!

thanks for setting us straight.

 

[The Passenger]

agreed.

we are in desperate need of a KP defender at the end of this season if Lynch doen't step up, and Gaspar doesn't get over his injuries (although his ultimate destination will be at CHF, not CHB anyway).

Glass is a solid FB, and we just need a solid to good CHB to go along with him. I wouldn't have to many problems with getting rid of a midfielder and/or draft pick(s) for a good CHB.

 

[jod23]

A fit Glass and Gaspar would take us a long way!

Cant wait for one or both to get back in the side.

 

[smilingassassin]

Bring Hunter back

Can't believe no one is calling for Hunter to be rushed back. He will be and he will be better than last year when he was more than serviceable. Give me Hunter over Kasey any day.

WHADDAYAREKUN

 

[ClintEastwood]

Judd was fantastic. Haven't seen him for a long time, but Jesus he can play!!

What about Jako's goal

I love Jako - nearly ****ed myself laughing when he winded Chick with a big blow to the solar plexus