My Bye Round Preview and Prediction

11-2

13 Rounds played…..11 wins….. still only 44 points in the premiership bank after a loss to The Pies. A game clear at the top of the ladder that may or may not survive the next weekend. I hope the Cats can do the dirty on the Bulldogs.

Well, I had a stress-free weekend in the delusional belief that we would perform well on Monday. That game has meant that I have been in an ordinary mood since the first bounce.

It is all a matter of perspective, so my therapist is fond of saying. It is not the end of the world to have lost last weekend, it just felt like it. Losing to that mob while top of the ladder and 15 places above them. We are at the bye and have lost just 2 matches. Lets be honest, all of us would have taken that at the beginning of the season.

But still…… bloody Pies, of all the ratbag teams to loose to this season!

And so, to the Bye.  Really, this time it is the bye round for us. No footy next weekend for us. A bit of R&R for the players and coaches. A bit of time to reflect on what has happened and to look into the future….. Yeah, yeah…. One game at a time and all that but I am sure that MFC will look at what they want to do in September. Only natural.

For me, I am very happy with the first half of the season (thanks to my therapist), there have been a number of players that have developed well this season. The experienced players in Oliver, Petracca and Salem have all advanced their skills and in-game performance. Players like Spargo and ANB have stepped up and look to have a bit more in them and the young/inexperienced players Jackson, Pickett, Rivers, Jordon and Sparrow have developed nicely and look to be long term first 22 in the future. The defenders as a team within a team are very, very good. All good from my point of view.

For the second half of the season, I want to see a re-set for the team and I want to see the players build on what they have done so far this season. I want to see real belief from the players. I think that they do have the confidence in their abilities, but I just want to see them carry that through the last 10 weeks of the season to ensure that we are in the best position come September. I would not mind seeing them hand out a couple of beltings to a couple of teams…… I am looking at the Bombers.

The facts:

We have the weekend off – lovely, no loss this week. Stress free

Problem areas of the game for us. Looks like it is playing rubbish teams….

Our defence looked ordinary. Half a pace behind the pies forwards and not very well organised. Calm heads required and some thoughtful work to go into what is required in the future games.

That is as bad as I have seen our midfield play so far this year. Lack of pressure bad, reactionary disposals.

Now for the forwards…….

The good; There was no ‘good’ …… there were no forwards

The bad; all of it

The ugly; my language watching that rubbish

This break should give the coaches a chance to re-work the forward structure to make sure we have some firepower in the forward 50. It is an easy way out to blame the delivery but that is to cover the cracks and ignore the structural deficiencies. Sort it out!

The Bathwater Express is in for servicing and to have the wheels put back on. It seems a if we can remove a few of the seats as it looks like a few are ready to jump off. Never mind, TBE will be back better than every come the Bombers.

My prediction last week was nowhere near the mark….. this week I predict we will see nothing.