sigh
It’s been 5,479 days since a finals win and looks like it’s going to be another 365 days added to that (Provided we make finals in 2020).
Add the statistic over the past 50 years in finals, only Kevin Sheed has coached us to a win (23 Wins & 20 Losses). Every other coach has tried 7 times (Make that 8 after tonight?) and lost them all.
Not only lost every final attempted, but have been destroyed and embarrassed.
Tonight’s game was no exception. It all started in the ruck with Nic Naitanui & Bellchambers. Our ruck situation is nothing short of terrible. Big Bellchambers is finished and Drapers time in the saddle can’t come soon enough.
There are lot of sore players out there tonight… Hurley, Hooker, Fantasia etc. and it clearly shows.
The players that stood out to me tonight were McGrath (was everywhere early), Saad (Tried all night and took the game on) and Francis (Looked confident down back).
I reckon Redman & Snelling had a real crack too.
Heppell & Merrett racked up a few disposals but just weren’t damaging enough IMO, likewise Parish who seemed to have an off night, turned it over quite a bit. Ambrose did his job without sparkling.
Hooker, McKernan & Brown were terrible, it just wasn’t their night at all.
It was a quiet night for far too many players. The package was wet, soggy and undeliverable. Return to sender and try again next yeR. Tippa was invisible. Ham tried but his body just isn’t ready for finals footy. Lav, Langford, McKenna, good in patches but need to lift another couple of levels. Shiel appeared to try but was under pressure each and every touch.
Overall, I’m disappointed.
The gameplan sucked. I don’t know who writes it up but it’s stagnant, it stinks, it’s ugly and it doesn’t work.
There is no plan B.
Another year is gone and we desperately need to mend the forward line. Daniher is needed BIG TIME and The return of Smith would be handy. But we return to the fact that it’s the inside 50 entries that really hurt our club.
For 2020 I really hope we dig deep and have a crack. We need to lift the intensity and become a tough team that the opposition fears.
Right now, we are a laughing stock.
