The only problem 'Nasher' is that last weeks game mirrored some of our NAB form.

In a sample of 5 games we had 3 good q's against Freo, 2 against the Dogs, I against Ess, an even performance but with some down periods (pretty normal in footy) against GCS and a q and 1/2 against GWS.

If we are not switched on for the whole game we are not good enough to win. We can't afford to coast at any time.

Agreed. The Bulldogs pre-season game suddenly isn't looking like such an anomaly. Dominant in the first half. Completely roll over in the second. The only difference was GWS had the quality on the field to take full advantage.

All I want to see against Adelaide is a four quarter effort. If there is sustained effort then the side is good enough to be competitive.

Agreed. The Bulldogs pre-season game suddenly isn't looking like such an anomaly. Dominant in the first half. Completely roll over in the second. The only difference was GWS had the quality on the field to take full advantage.

All I want to see against Adelaide is a four quarter effort. If there is sustained effort then the side is good enough to be competitive.

Yep. It's really like watching children go at a task that needs a big investment in time. They can only sustain effort and concentration for short periods, and the rest is a boondoggle. To some extent, the age of our list supports this idea, but it seems we completely switch off en masse. It makes me wonder about on field leadership, or lack of it, a la North Melbourne?

Yep. It's really like watching children go at a task that needs a big investment in time. They can only sustain effort and concentration for short periods, and the rest is a boondoggle. To some extent, the age of our list supports this idea, but it seems we completely switch off en masse. It makes me wonder about on field leadership, or lack of it, a la North Melbourne?

There's little doubt there is an on field leadership void, at times. The "here we go again" mentality will take a while to weed out of the club. In the third quarter the Giants were hitting every target, taking every contested mark, and finishing evey goal no matter how absurd the likelihood. I sensed the players eventually figured it just wasn't their day, which is what turned 5 or 6 goals in a row into 14 in a row.

It's what made Lumumba's goal against GC such a crucial act. It was an act of defiance and leadership when it looked like the worm was turning. It arrested momentum. We need more of that.

There's little doubt there is an on field leadership void, at times. The "here we go again" mentality will take a while to weed out of the club. In the third quarter the Giants were hitting every target, taking every contested mark, and finishing evey goal no matter how absurd the likelihood. I sensed the players eventually figured it just wasn't their day, which is what turned 5 or 6 goals in a row into 14 in a row.

It's what made Lumumba's goal against GC such a crucial act. It was an act of defiance and leadership when it looked like the worm was turning. It arrested momentum. We need more of that.

There is that battered psyche again...

Lumumba gets angry when things go against him - our tenured senior players get forlorn. Anger is more useful, changing that mindset is one of Roos' main jobs in his last 42 games.

Miller went on to be quite an asset for the Tiges if I remember correctly

Miller would have been just the player Roosy would take & mold into a beaut player.

In respect to this weeks game and Adelaide's form and massive crowd advantage, what we do at selection is just shifting deckchairs. I fear a mighty thumping on its way, and a further slide back into the abyss. The last half on Saturday was the worst football played by any club this year, and indicative of our fragility. The Adelaide game looks very scary! Then again, Footy's a funny old game, particularly this year.

Yeah , its looking daunting to face them now, the sleeping gaint of the comp in recent years. lets hope we come out full of run & vigor.

Its the mids.

It has been for 8 years.

Agreed, and the first 2 rounds of the AFL this year are a very odd series of contradictory results. However, our worst is THE worst in the league, and indicates a weakness which is as comprehensive as you'll see. The best teams are the most skilled at exposing it. I've seen our improvement, and it's game winning at its best. Our worst is like an avalanche of ineptitude, and still more likely. That's the fear.

and this may be the issue. fear gets into the crevices of the mind eating away at faith & confidence in ability to fight & win.

No change.

Show some metal. If they can respond as a group, then it will be a huge positive.

If we make wholesale changes and still get pumped, what then? Bring Dawes back in.

No change! Believe in the process.

I agree.

Back the same team for Adelaide.

"Over to you boys"..

I agree.

Back the same team for Adelaide.

"Over to you boys"..

Yep. This.

Makes no difference what the changes are

We conceded 14 of the last 15 goals against a below average side

That's a message right in your face that you are nowhere near good enough

It's going to shatter their confidence to smithereens

And when the crows get away early the heads will dip

Zero ticker at this club, another big belting coming up

Yep. This.

Third it.

Makes no difference what the changes are

We conceded 14 of the last 15 goals against a below average side

That's a message right in your face that you are nowhere near good enough

It's going to shatter their confidence to smithereens

And when the crows get away early the heads will dip

Zero ticker at this club, another big belting coming up

So our players are expected to push through self doubt? They are still humans with feelings and emotions like everyone else. How long will it take us to believe, when they start playing consistently, that it's for real and the past has finally gone?

How long will it take us to believe, when they start playing consistently, that it's for real and the past has finally gone?

I'm actually fearful that will never happen.

I mean, in the 90s, even during parts of the 00s, there was always light at the end of the tunnel for poor teams.

These days, it's much harder.

This club hasn't just needed to rebuild a *team*, it's needed to change the entire fabric of the club. A new organisation may as well have been started!

Last Saturday reminded me that maybe, just maybe, the wooden spoon is still a very real possibility this year.

The only change I'd consider is Dawes for JK.

So our players are expected to push through self doubt? They are still humans with feelings and emotions like everyone else. How long will it take us to believe, when they start playing consistently, that it's for real and the past has finally gone?

It hasn't happened yet. Not even close. Like most level headed people said last week, while recognising our opponent on the day was pretty ordinary at best, it was just one game of football. I was very worried about the GWS game but I am still in shock that we went up there and put on a Neeld-esque performance. I just can;t believe I saw that same weak effort again with my own eyes. We haven't put together two wins on the trot for 3.5 years. That is an utter disgrace. Even if some miracle happens in Adelaide this week are we to expect them to come out and get flogged by the tigers the week after? I am sick to death of it. We are paying 7.25 this week FCS. How much longer must we endure having matches upcoming for which we have practically zero chance of winning? How many more years? We have supposedly the best coach in the game and a list that hes been fed high draft picks for NINE years, including EIGHT players from the top 5 of the draft (inc Hogan and Tyson) just in the course of 7 years! We should have built a premiership core with that advantage but alas, no, we have to look down the barrel of a bottom 4 finish YET AGAIN and suffer the pain and indignity of days like last Saturday. Meanwhile, the focus inevitably turns to the next trade/draft period and wonder how many years away is the dream of stringing two wins together. Grrrrr.

Do you realise that in 2007, when we bombed out, sacked Daniher and began collecting picks for a rebuild, all of Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong were up and about the top of the ladder. They have all stayed there in the 7 years since, despite having zero draft assistance (yeah OK Geelong might be done now after 3 flags). We have not moved an INCH, with all the players they can throw at us. What in the name of God is the fundamental difference between our dysfunctional club and the competition leaders? Why do we make sweeping changes to the list, coaching staff, admin, training venues etc etc etc and nothing even moves the needle. What is it going to take for us to put 22 players on a field that actually give a stuff about being out there? We've almost swapped the old 22 for an entirely new one and nothing has changed! I have just about had the sword, I tell you what, no supporter should have to endure this torture. /end rant

Is there anyone else expecting a really close game? I reckont the game should be a ripper, because we should bounce back this week.

Is there anyone else expecting a really close game? I reckont the game should be a ripper, because we should bounce back this week.

I sort of have that hope in the back of my head, but i feel we aren't that reliable yet..

Bleachers.

Walking down the bleachers looking at the pleaches

You're an unusual campaigner.

It's OK for Heeney to be playing (and countless others every year), but somehow Brayshaw at 19 isn't ready.

There are some strange views emanating from the bleaches.

that comment has no relationship to what I actually said

It hasn't happened yet. Not even close. Like most level headed people said last week, while recognising our opponent on the day was pretty ordinary at best, it was just one game of football. I was very worried about the GWS game but I am still in shock that we went up there and put on a Neeld-esque performance. I just can;t believe I saw that same weak effort again with my own eyes. We haven't put together two wins on the trot for 3.5 years. That is an utter disgrace. Even if some miracle happens in Adelaide this week are we to expect them to come out and get flogged by the tigers the week after? I am sick to death of it. We are paying 7.25 this week FCS. How much longer must we endure having matches upcoming for which we have practically zero chance of winning? How many more years? We have supposedly the best coach in the game and a list that hes been fed high draft picks for NINE years, including EIGHT players from the top 5 of the draft (inc Hogan and Tyson) just in the course of 7 years! We should have built a premiership core with that advantage but alas, no, we have to look down the barrel of a bottom 4 finish YET AGAIN and suffer the pain and indignity of days like last Saturday. Meanwhile, the focus inevitably turns to the next trade/draft period and wonder how many years away is the dream of stringing two wins together. Grrrrr.

Do you realise that in 2007, when we bombed out, sacked Daniher and began collecting picks for a rebuild, all of Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong were up and about the top of the ladder. They have all stayed there in the 7 years since, despite having zero draft assistance (yeah OK Geelong might be done now after 3 flags). We have not moved an INCH, with all the players they can throw at us. What in the name of God is the fundamental difference between our dysfunctional club and the competition leaders? Why do we make sweeping changes to the list, coaching staff, admin, training venues etc etc etc and nothing even moves the needle. What is it going to take for us to put 22 players on a field that actually give a stuff about being out there? We've almost swapped the old 22 for an entirely new one and nothing has changed! I have just about had the sword, I tell you what, no supporter should have to endure this torture. /end rant

feel better curry? I don't like reading this stuff but you are stating what most of us feel. Not sure whether it or not but that second half performance was soul destroying. What are the positives? We have only played two games, we have a stronger list than last year and we at least have 1 win out of 2. We also see weaknesses in our team that is going to make it a rocky ride.

So our players are expected to push through self doubt? They are still humans with feelings and emotions like everyone else. How long will it take us to believe, when they start playing consistently, that it's for real and the past has finally gone?

Yes, our players are supposed to push through self-doubt. It's like asking if they should get up if they feel like a sleep in.

Walking down the bleachers looking at the pleaches

My favourite song at the moment. Just can't get the bass riff at the start out of my head.

It hasn't happened yet. Not even close. Like most level headed people said last week, while recognising our opponent on the day was pretty ordinary at best, it was just one game of football. I was very worried about the GWS game but I am still in shock that we went up there and put on a Neeld-esque performance. I just can;t believe I saw that same weak effort again with my own eyes. We haven't put together two wins on the trot for 3.5 years. That is an utter disgrace. Even if some miracle happens in Adelaide this week are we to expect them to come out and get flogged by the tigers the week after? I am sick to death of it. We are paying 7.25 this week FCS. How much longer must we endure having matches upcoming for which we have practically zero chance of winning? How many more years? We have supposedly the best coach in the game and a list that hes been fed high draft picks for NINE years, including EIGHT players from the top 5 of the draft (inc Hogan and Tyson) just in the course of 7 years! We should have built a premiership core with that advantage but alas, no, we have to look down the barrel of a bottom 4 finish YET AGAIN and suffer the pain and indignity of days like last Saturday. Meanwhile, the focus inevitably turns to the next trade/draft period and wonder how many years away is the dream of stringing two wins together. Grrrrr.

Do you realise that in 2007, when we bombed out, sacked Daniher and began collecting picks for a rebuild, all of Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong were up and about the top of the ladder. They have all stayed there in the 7 years since, despite having zero draft assistance (yeah OK Geelong might be done now after 3 flags). We have not moved an INCH, with all the players they can throw at us. What in the name of God is the fundamental difference between our dysfunctional club and the competition leaders? Why do we make sweeping changes to the list, coaching staff, admin, training venues etc etc etc and nothing even moves the needle. What is it going to take for us to put 22 players on a field that actually give a stuff about being out there? We've almost swapped the old 22 for an entirely new one and nothing has changed! I have just about had the sword, I tell you what, no supporter should have to endure this torture. /end rant

I feel that.

It is difficult to support a club that stinks as badly as we do. In simple terms we lost how to be a footy club and we have not re-discovered it.

Miller went on to be quite an asset for the Tiges if I remember correctly

In the recent Neitz interview, they were talking about the lack of leadership over a number of years, and as well as Junior, he highlighted Brad as a player who should never have been pushed out/on.

It's not always all about the stats sheet.

It hasn't happened yet. Not even close. Like most level headed people said last week, while recognising our opponent on the day was pretty ordinary at best, it was just one game of football. I was very worried about the GWS game but I am still in shock that we went up there and put on a Neeld-esque performance. I just can;t believe I saw that same weak effort again with my own eyes. We haven't put together two wins on the trot for 3.5 years. That is an utter disgrace. Even if some miracle happens in Adelaide this week are we to expect them to come out and get flogged by the tigers the week after? I am sick to death of it. We are paying 7.25 this week FCS. How much longer must we endure having matches upcoming for which we have practically zero chance of winning? How many more years? We have supposedly the best coach in the game and a list that hes been fed high draft picks for NINE years, including EIGHT players from the top 5 of the draft (inc Hogan and Tyson) just in the course of 7 years! We should have built a premiership core with that advantage but alas, no, we have to look down the barrel of a bottom 4 finish YET AGAIN and suffer the pain and indignity of days like last Saturday. Meanwhile, the focus inevitably turns to the next trade/draft period and wonder how many years away is the dream of stringing two wins together. Grrrrr.

Do you realise that in 2007, when we bombed out, sacked Daniher and began collecting picks for a rebuild, all of Hawthorn, Sydney and Geelong were up and about the top of the ladder. They have all stayed there in the 7 years since, despite having zero draft assistance (yeah OK Geelong might be done now after 3 flags). We have not moved an INCH, with all the players they can throw at us. What in the name of God is the fundamental difference between our dysfunctional club and the competition leaders? Why do we make sweeping changes to the list, coaching staff, admin, training venues etc etc etc and nothing even moves the needle. What is it going to take for us to put 22 players on a field that actually give a stuff about being out there? We've almost swapped the old 22 for an entirely new one and nothing has changed! I have just about had the sword, I tell you what, no supporter should have to endure this torture. /end rant

Yep, and soon after the expansion teams came in and with all our shite drafting and recruiting, we're still at the bottom of the pile.