The loss - honourable?

[Cards13 9,117]

Juice just can't keep his feet in contested situations. His opponent usually just had to bring it to ground then Juice would fall over or dive at the ball then North would take it away ith ease.

[deanox 9,901]

And what price Bradley Miller for the All-Australian CHF spot?

im not sure. 5 disposals for 3 goals? not exactly an AA game...

[mauriesy 7,261]

Throw Rivers/Petterd in for Bell. Drop Newton for Watts. And I think we would have been a couple of goals closer to them at least.

Can we do that for next week?

[H_T 3,043]

Disappointing performance overall yesterday. The margin should of been greater to the Kangaroos. Having said that, the Kangaroos will go no where this season.

The positives: - S.Buckley, P.Johnson, C.Johnson (again- someone has definitely flicked his switch to ON), B.Miller, S.Martin, S.Valenti, N.Jones.

I liked what I saw in C.Sylvia in the 'last quarter'. But I want to see much more of that determination within him consistently.

I saw spirit in the last quarter too between alot of the boys. I want to see more of that, take the game on type spirit.

[mauriesy 7,261]

We were lazy, we lacked intensity, our lack of tackling was pathetic, our ability to win clearances was non-existant, we couldn't hit a target by hand or by foot, and we played incredibly dumb (sometimes selfish) football.

I agree with all you say. In the first quarter there was no pressure and tackling whatsoever, and while that improved a bit after quarter time, the skills and decision making was really sub-standard. But while a lot of people here continually call for heads to roll, particularly amongst the younger players, I hope everyone just realises what an inexperienced team we are fielding at the moment.

The breakdown when they ran out on Sunday was:

200 or more games: McDonald (211)

150-199 games: Bruce (178)

100-149 games: Whelan (134), Miller (106)

50-99 games: Davey (95), Sylvia (64), Bell (58), Jamar (62)

20-49 games: Jones (45), Bate (43), P Johnson (39), Bartram (38), Dunn (35), C Johnson (28)

0-19 games: Buckley (14), Newton (13), Morton (13), Valenti (5), Martin (3), Maric (0)

When 55% of your team has played less than 50 games, and 30% less than 15 games, you are going to get poor decision-making under pressure and a lack of physical presence.

None of the 50+ players are big-bodied KPPs, with the exception of Miller (and Jamar as a ruckman). So not only are we calling on young inexperienced players to show skills they are still developing, we're also calling on them to try to be "hard". It's a big ask so early in their careers.

[stretch marks 2]

...Sylvia (64), Bell (58), Jamar (62)..

how many of those 184 would have been at an acceptable standard?

[mauriesy 7,261]

how many of those 184 would have been at an acceptable standard?

Not many, but that only heightens the load and expectations placed on the large number of under-50 game players.

[mauriesy 7,261]

Interesting comparing the Kangaroos as a side "in the window" (but not particularly likely to win a premiership):

200 or more games: Grant (294), Simpson (283), Harvey (257)

150-199 games: Rawlings (174)

100-149 games: Petrie (147), Watt (145), Jones (139), Harris (132), Wells (116), Harding (104)

50-99 games: Power (99), Firrito (98), Hale (94), Pratt (77)

20-49 games: Gibson (36), Campbell (29), Thomas (28), McMahon (22)

0-19 games: Grima (13), Urquhart (7), Hansen (7), Goldstein (2)

60% of their side has 94+ games.

[rusty_kingswood 0]

I am a bit sick of hearing people say things like, 'considering the point margin at qtr time' or 'after half time' etc etc.

We shouldnt be getting ourselfs into these situations in the first place. Yes we have a young squad, yes we have alot of injuries, but its unexceptable to be getting ourselfs in these situations and then coming out the other side saying that it was honourable or a good loss etc.

When I see the boys play like I know they can and dont give up , not being lazy and non- accountable, without poor silly turnovers, and we loose...thats when it can be considered a honourable loss.

[H_T 3,043]

Interesting comparing the Kangaroos as a side "in the window" (but not particularly likely to win a premiership):

200 or more games: Grant (294), Simpson (283), Harvey (257)

150-199 games: Rawlings (174)

100-149 games: Petrie (147), Watt (145), Jones (139), Harris (132), Wells (116), Harding (104)

50-99 games: Power (99), Firrito (98), Hale (94), Pratt (77)

20-49 games: Gibson (36), Campbell (29), Thomas (28), McMahon (22)

0-19 games: Grima (13), Urquhart (7), Hansen (7), Goldstein (2)

60% of their side has 94+ games.

Thanks Maurie for the stats breakdown on both sides, sometimes people need a reality check, and I think you provided the detail for those attacking our youth at mfc. The team got within 3 goals in the last quarter which wasn't a bad effort from inexperienced players considering the poor start - still disappointing though....

[mauriesy 7,261]

sometimes people need a reality check, and I think you provided the detail for those attacking our youth at mfc.

I don't want to use "youth" as an excuse though.

But in regard to young players, I can excuse skill errors, failure to read the play and hasty decision-making under pressure more than I can excuse not trying, not putting in or putting your head over the ball. I see our lack of experience as an explanation rather than an excuse, if that makes sense.

And they are not being shown the way particularly well by our experienced players ... or what is left of them.

[Jaded No More 68,867]

I agree with all you say. In the first quarter there was no pressure and tackling whatsoever, and while that improved a bit after quarter time, the skills and decision making was really sub-standard. But while a lot of people here continually call for heads to roll, particularly amongst the younger players, I hope everyone just realises what an inexperienced team we are fielding at the moment.

I'm certainly not someone who gets stuck into younger players, I'm all for playing them in fact.

But as you've mentioned, a lack of intensity and pressure is not acceptable no matter how inexperienced you are. That's what disappointed me most about yesterday. It felt like the players are already thinking about their holidays in September.

Shame our senior players are not pulling their weight in that regard. Green is desperately needed there!

[Hards 2]

Interesting comparing the Kangaroos as a side "in the window" (but not particularly likely to win a premiership):

200 or more games: Grant (294), Simpson (283), Harvey (257)

150-199 games: Rawlings (174)

100-149 games: Petrie (147), Watt (145), Jones (139), Harris (132), Wells (116), Harding (104)

50-99 games: Power (99), Firrito (98), Hale (94), Pratt (77)

20-49 games: Gibson (36), Campbell (29), Thomas (28), McMahon (22)

0-19 games: Grima (13), Urquhart (7), Hansen (7), Goldstein (2)

60% of their side has 94+ games.

Interesting stats - but then again we're at the bottom of the ladder in fully fledged development mode and had the same number of debutants in 2008 as the Roos (6) - stats can show anything.

For the record regarding the original post, there's no such thing as an honourable loss. IMO its a loser attitude, aiming too low.