We have a team that is physically tough at it - no doubt. No short steps at the contest. At least we can be happy with that.

Emotional timidness is the inability to stick with the game plan under all manner of pressure and stress. It was evident for large periods of time against Collingwood. Late in the game against the Lions we had them on toast and should have put then away by 40/50 points. Its responsible for those dammed costly momentum swings and failure to put the opposition to the sword when on top.

How many times did we hear Roos say the consistently top teams performance does not vary much. They just keep doing the same things every minute of the game.

The good news is emotional strength mostly comes with age and games under the belt and an inbuilt competitive spirit - coaches need to nurture it, recruiters need to find kids who are strong in that area. It also develops quicker in young players when they have leaders who are mentally very strong and keep it together under all manner of duress.

That is why we recruited Lewis. There are plenty of players just as good. But he can hold it together 'up top'  better than most. Can't underestimate how much we miss Viney in that area when he is out or not at his best. More good news is that it is contagious if the teams leaders display it over and over and over again. If the teams leaders cannot do this???.

The hardest skill in football to learn is total 100% adherence to the game plan under all sorts of adversity. Even harder than that is the Coaching teams task of getting 22 players doing it at the same time.

As I said the good news is that it will come in time - hopefully not to far away. 

 

Leadership and Mental Toughness is still lacking. 

It has improved, but still a long long way to go....

I think part of it is the game plan which requires a lot of players around the ball and therefore a lot of running. 

As a result, it's difficult for us to maintain our intensity and pressure for the entire game.

This is also partly why we handpass so often because we have so many players around the ball and very few to kick it to outside of the contest.

 

Brittle, brittle, brittle.

Puts a dampener on the draft and trade period in a way - we all know that the only thin really missing is a mental edge.

Then again, knowing that fact, knowing that no great new player or exciting kid is going to be what turns us around, might just focus a few minds on the task at hand.