http://www.theage.co...0526-1f6dl.html

Say what you want about Robert Walls, he's not everyones cup of tea. States the bleeding obvious and calls it analysis most of the time.

But in this article, he really hit the mark. Talked about Richmond and where they're going as a club under Hardwick. Talked about players like Jake King and Dan Jackson who fight for the footy like a rabid dog scrapping for the last bone on earth. Talked about Angus Graham getting the flick because he didn't show enough commitment and bringing in young ruckman Andrew Browne.

Read on ...

Last week, raw, inexperienced Andrew Browne was selected over regular ruckman Angus Graham. Browne has nowhere near the talents and mobility of Graham, but he got the nod. Why? I believe it's because Graham let himself and his teammates down by continually taking his eyes of the ball at centre bounces. Hardwick opted for Browne because he knew he would get 100 per cent effort, something the coach values above all else. Evidently, Browne promised his teammates pre-game that he would give his all. And he did, against three quality Essendon ruckmen. The big Tiger contested until he dropped, which was late in the final quarter, and was covered in blood and bruises when he slumped to the bench. While his body ached he should have glowed with pride, because in front of 83,000 people he earned respect.

How many players in our side last night or for most of this season to date can we say show that sort of commitment to the cause? When was the last time we saw Jamie Bennell, Cale Morton, Nev Jetta or Ricky Petterd (to single out four) walk off the field bloodied and bruised? Where is the aggro in this mob, the willingness to belt and get belted in return. They love it when it's nice and downhill against Adelaide and the Gold Coast but go to absolute water when pressure is applied. We are undermanned, yes, but that does not excuse the palpable lack of fighting qualities in this group of players. A few are prepared to get down and dirty, often the less skillful players like MacDonald and Jones. Sylvia and Moloney are a bit inconsistent but they have a crack. Watts and a couple of the kids have shown a bit of late but that's about it.

To me, we play like the coach. Measured, calm, dull and spiritless. Enough is enough, get this nice fella Bailey out and bring in someone hard and tough like Hardwick who can instil fear and respect in these deadset prima donna footballers we have running around.

Make it an honour to wear the red and blue once again. And [censored] anyone off who isn't prepared to bleed for the cause.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:14, Range Rover said:

http://www.theage.co...0526-1f6dl.html

Say what you want about Robert Walls, he's not everyones cup of tea. States the bleeding obvious and calls it analysis most of the time.

But in this article, he really hit the mark. Talked about Richmond and where they're going as a club under Hardwick. Talked about players like Jake King and Dan Jackson who fight for the footy like a rabid dog scrapping for the last bone on earth. Talked about Angus Graham getting the flick because he didn't show enough commitment and bringing in young ruckman Andrew Browne.

Read on ...

Last week, raw, inexperienced Andrew Browne was selected over regular ruckman Angus Graham. Browne has nowhere near the talents and mobility of Graham, but he got the nod. Why? I believe it's because Graham let himself and his teammates down by continually taking his eyes of the ball at centre bounces. Hardwick opted for Browne because he knew he would get 100 per cent effort, something the coach values above all else. Evidently, Browne promised his teammates pre-game that he would give his all. And he did, against three quality Essendon ruckmen. The big Tiger contested until he dropped, which was late in the final quarter, and was covered in blood and bruises when he slumped to the bench. While his body ached he should have glowed with pride, because in front of 83,000 people he earned respect.

How many players in our side last night or for most of this season to date can we say show that sort of commitment to the cause? When was the last time we saw Jamie Bennell, Cale Morton, Nev Jetta or Ricky Petterd (to single out four) walk off the field bloodied and bruised? Where is the aggro in this mob, the willingness to belt and get belted in return. They love it when it's nice and downhill against Adelaide and the Gold Coast but go to absoulte water when pressure is applied. We are undermanned, yes, but that does not excuse the palpable lack of fighting qualities in this group of players. A few are prepared to get down and dirty, often the less skillful players like MacDonald and Jones. Sylvia and Moloney are a bit inconsistent but they have a crack. Watts and a couple of the kids have shown a bit of late but that's about it.

To me, we play like the coach. Measured, calm, dull and spiritless. Enough is enough, get this nice fella Bailey out and bring in someone hard and tough like Hardwick who can instil fear and respect in these deadset prima donna footballers we have running around.

Make it an honour to wear the red and blue once again. And [censored] anyone off who isn't prepared to bleed for the cause.

If you would rather be Richmond, I think you should come out of the woordwork and join them.

I am not sold on Bailey at all, but to say that he is dull and dispassionate is untrue. What you are actually saying is "I know nothing about Bailey, but he is calm in his press conferences and I want him to be breathing fire to satisfy my needs". You clearly don't know how he is around the club.

Last night, we actually competed well. Contested possessions, hard ball gets, tackles, clearances were all OK. That doesn't match what you're saying.

We matched Carlton in the endeavour stakes, despite being 11 players short of our best.

We have no pressure on spots - compare to King who was almost delisted and is playing for his footy life and in a side that has hardly any injuries.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:20, Choko said:

If you would rather be Richmond, I think you should come out of the woordwork and join them.

I am not sold on Bailey at all, but to say that he is dull and dispassionate is untrue. What you are actually saying is "I know nothing about Bailey, but he is calm in his press conferences and I want him to be breathing fire to satisfy my needs". You clearly don't know how he is around the club.

Last night, we actually competed well. Contested possessions, hard ball gets, tackles, clearances were all OK. That doesn't match what you're saying.

We matched Carlton in the endeavour stakes, despite being 11 players short of our best.

We have no pressure on spots - compare to King who was almost delisted and is playing for his footy life and in a side that has hardly any injuries.

Continue rolling out the excuses Choko. See how much sympathy you get from the other clubs.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:31, Range Rover said:

Continue rolling out the excuses Choko. See how much sympathy you get from the other clubs.

Haha. Ignore the post. Talk crap. You should be a tiger.

Juice & Bennell not operating with the head over the ball (two goals) , following on from Davey last week (another goal) is spiritless and very frustrating.You want to make excuses for them, but you just cant.Shouldn't happen at AFL level.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:40, Dockett 32 said:

Juice & Bennell not operating with the head over the ball (two goals) , following on from Davey last week (another goal) is spiritless and very frustrating.You want to make excuses for them, but you just cant.Shouldn't happen at AFL level.

That is our problem. Juice and Bennell are only in the side bc of injury. Bennell hasn't even come close to earning a spot, and Juice isn't AFL standard.

Davey was just shocking in his effort last week - no excuses. He was "injured" last night.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:20, Choko said:

If you would rather be Richmond, I think you should come out of the woordwork and join them.

Last night, we actually competed well. Contested possessions, hard ball gets, tackles, clearances were all OK. That doesn't match what you're saying.

Choko - there was 2 areas we did not compete well at all and it needs to be said

1. Tackles in the forward line - Carlton were escorted out of defence most of the game and it is effectively irrelevant in modern football to break even in the contested ball stakes in the midfield if the ball is going to be let out easily of the forward line.

2. Running to space - Carlton players were gut running and linking up, most of our guys did not have that ability/desire etc.

I am not one for overreacting, but those 2 points alone were worth a significant difference on the scoreboard.

As for the Tigers – I am watching them a fair bit this year and the difference in passion at the moment is clearly evident. We shall see if that remains when we get Scully, Trengove, Davey etc back.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:52, Waltham33 said:

Choko - there was 2 areas we did not compete well at all and it needs to be said

1. Tackles in the forward line - Carlton were escorted out of defence most of the game and it is effectively irrelevant in modern football to break even in the contested ball stakes in the midfield if the ball is going to be let out easily of the forward line.

2. Running to space - Carlton players were gut running and linking up, most of our guys did not have that ability/desire etc.

I am not one for overreacting, but those 2 points alone were worth a significant difference on the scoreboard.

As for the Tigers – I am watching them a fair bit this year and the difference in passion at the moment is clearly evident. We shall see if that remains when we get Scully, Trengove, Davey etc back.

Entirely agree. Our inability to lay tackles in our forward 50 is a massive issue. I actually think that is clearly one we can blame Bailey for. He keeps picking blokes who are not defensively minded in the forward half. Bennell hasn't become the defensive forward Bailey was trying to make him. He doesn't play Davey down there.

Spread requires personnel.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:33, Choko said:

Haha. Ignore the post. Talk crap. You should be a tiger.

Frustrating isn't it? You try to present facts and get dismissed with "this is just excuses". I've never come as close to actually physically driving my forehead through my screen as I have when reading some of the garbage people post when we lose.

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:14, Range Rover said:

How many players in our side last night or for most of this season to date can we say show that sort of commitment to the cause? When was the last time we saw Jamie Bennell, Cale Morton, Nev Jetta or Ricky Petterd (to single out four) walk off the field bloodied and bruised? Where is the aggro in this mob, the willingness to belt and get belted in return. They love it when it's nice and downhill against Adelaide and the Gold Coast but go to absolute water when pressure is applied. We are undermanned, yes, but that does not excuse the palpable lack of fighting qualities in this group of players. A few are prepared to get down and dirty, often the less skillful players like MacDonald and Jones. Sylvia and Moloney are a bit inconsistent but they have a crack. Watts and a couple of the kids have shown a bit of late but that's about it.

To include Nev Jetta as an example is just plain wrong

  On 27/05/2011 at 23:52, Waltham33 said:

Choko - there was 2 areas we did not compete well at all and it needs to be said

1. Tackles in the forward line - Carlton were escorted out of defence most of the game and it is effectively irrelevant in modern football to break even in the contested ball stakes in the midfield if the ball is going to be let out easily of the forward line.

2. Running to space - Carlton players were gut running and linking up, most of our guys did not have that ability/desire etc.

I am not one for overreacting, but those 2 points alone were worth a significant difference on the scoreboard.

As for the Tigers – I am watching them a fair bit this year and the difference in passion at the moment is clearly evident. We shall see if that remains when we get Scully, Trengove, Davey etc back.

Shhhh !! careful...they might hear you you'll be labeled a torch bearer, teh apologists simply wont have this. Its all down to the lack of cattle..yada yadda yadda !!

I enjoy watching the games whether live or the box when with mates who arent always Dees. They often offer up interesting , non-biased, insights.

A glaringly obvious one you touch upon is your point 2) A reason Judd often looks so damn good ( besides being so ) is that many of his kicks and /or especially handballs are flicjed out to what could be seen as a dumb empty space...but before you can verify that a Carlton player has assumed that void and received yet another inspirational Judd disposal. Yes they run hard. They run relentlessly. They know they are expected to either provide the options or be on teh receiving end , just like the drills at training.

Then theres us...."oh the shame !! " Yes we looky mighty pretty at training, but we dont do it when it counts.

All I can say is theres lots of Red and Blue passenger trains in Melbourne...and they dont all run on tracks !!!