Just when the team gives you some hope with that display down at Moss St we are quickly brought back to the realisation that like that performance, our history of promising the world and delivering an atlas is much the same.
Many who went to Steel Blue last week with optimism of another upset to send off one of the greats, off the back of a good win, quickly became aware that the tactics being employed were not going to bring the desired result.
The feeling and build up in the rooms before the game with several past players present had the boys frothing. But when you get that type of hype you can’t then come out and play slow, laborious and negative football! You must take the game on, you must play fwd football and embrace the chaos and hunt. Instead we go backwards and sideways, over use the ball which is a pattern, not an event.
Within minutes of the opening bounce we deployed a spare, not at the stoppage to negate Jones influence and give us an extra runner to chain out but behind the ball. And for 3 qtrs we played one of our best players in Clarke down back. Most disappointing though was Notte playing down back until 5 minutes left in the game.
Now imagine if he starts fwd, we play with chaos, hunger and desire and the great man gets in the board early, what kind of enthusiasm could’ve that generated through the team and the crowd. Instead we were left to witness one of the worst games of footy I’ve seen in recent times.
The 3/4 time address was pathetic! There was no mention of taking the game on, playing with speed and dare and astonishingly there was no riling of the troops to get it done for our games record holder. I couldn’t believe how passive and uninspiring it was. Instead all Pruyn did was talk about getting the ball to Kohlman and we needed to be better at it because he often had 3 players in front of him, go figure.
For the little bit of hope we got from the Feeo trip we were quickly reminded that this club needs significant change and that our coach really isn’t up to it! Unlike the West Perth players who spoke up and weren’t happy with their direction, a lot of our players, led by the captain, are all too happy to go unchallenged.and play with little to no consequence while other players cop the wrath.
So now we turn to this week and for not the first time selection integrity comes into question again. Why is Doc Blakely even listed in the 25? Unless it’s to have a send off game then it again makes little sense as last week would’ve been the time to play 2 rucks. Now that the season is done it’d be far better Evan Smith partnering Tom so they could work in tandem but also try get some fwd craft. The fwd craft though would mean that Kohlman would have to play an unselfish game (harsh because it’s actually on the coach) and play with a more modern structure. Cartwright should also get a block of games to see if he can actually play.
But what should be happening this week, and the heat should be coming from above, is that the coach should be told to play a more aggressive and modern style/system for the remainder of the season. If he can’t when there’s no pressure then he’s a goner!!!
P.s How good was it to see our old coach back as the runner last week, he’s never too far away when we need him.