Are we possible the most poorly skilled team in the competition?

I watched Richmond V Collingwood on friday night and frankly, even Richmond use the ball far better than our players. As much as I like Bruce, watching him stroll to 50, kick inside and completely miss a player in space is staggering, TJ is an enigma, we know this but in the last 12 months I fear every time he gets the pill, we all know the once wonderful Adem simply doesn't have a decent boot anymore.

The problem is though, Bate, Jones and Bell, the current youngsters in our side don't appear to be the most highly skilled, sure they can spot up a target but it isn't consistant.... at all, they simply can't adapt to pressure football at this stage and are getting found out, Jones on numerous occasions today, took possession and instantly bombed away, either around the body or simply pumped it as far as he could, this is where the leadership aspect comes in, panic sets in and there is no-one to set the example for these kids.

The biggest fear I have is that this wonderful batch of youngsters are going to contract the same cancer that has dogged this club since our last flag, we try and iron over the cracks, yet at the first sign of pressure we split open like a drunken pugs eyebrow.

If anyone can tell me they don't have concerns with the lack of skill in our side, I'd be highly surprised, watching Carroll, Holland, Ward and Nathan Brown run the ball from defence makes me cry. Watching us try to clear the ball when it hit the ground today was like watching the little league kids run about, it is really scary and I can't see an out at this stage.

I can be critical of this side, sometimes maybe a little harshly but the first 3 weeks of this season and our end to last season concerns me greatly, the problem is, I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel for our mob.

Are we possible the most poorly skilled team in the competition?

I watched Richmond V Collingwood on friday night and frankly, even Richmond use the ball far better than our players. As much as I like Bruce, watching him stroll to 50, kick inside and completely miss a player in space is staggering, TJ is an enigma, we know this but in the last 12 months I fear every time he gets the pill, we all know the once wonderful Adem simply doesn't have a decent boot anymore.

The problem is though, Bate, Jones and Bell, the current youngsters in our side don't appear to be the most highly skilled, sure they can spot up a target but it isn't consistant.... at all, they simply can't adapt to pressure football at this stage and are getting found out, Jones on numerous occasions today, took possession and instantly bombed away, either around the body or simply pumped it as far as he could, this is where the leadership aspect comes in, panic sets in and there is no-one to set the example for these kids.

The biggest fear I have is that this wonderful batch of youngsters are going to contract the same cancer that has dogged this club since our last flag, we try and iron over the cracks, yet at the first sign of pressure we split open like a drunken pugs eyebrow.

If anyone can tell me they don't have concerns with the lack of skill in our side, I'd be highly surprised, watching Carroll, Holland, Ward and Nathan Brown run the ball from defence makes me cry. Watching us try to clear the ball when it hit the ground today was like watching the little league kids run about, it is really scary and I can't see an out at this stage.

I can be critical of this side, sometimes maybe a little harshly but the first 3 weeks of this season and our end to last season concerns me greatly, the problem is, I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel for our mob.

Jones and Belly are alright, and you add that with Brock, Col Slyvia, Bartram, Moloney, Chris Johnson- these boys are the future. Hopefully we'll develop a few of the younger sandy boys. I'm not too sure about Bate, he seems to me like a bit of a nomad- can get an easy kick in a side winning (us last year) but doesnt want to go in and get it this year. Holland isn't an AFL player. Whelan is out of sorts completely- Our defence just needs settling. once Rivers gets back down there with nath Carroll, Belly and Chris Johnson play every week, and bartram can get back, then we look alright.

There are two separate issues here:

The first is that yes, we are seriously lacking in skills. Kicking is awful, as is handballing to stationary players.

The other issue is that nobody, with the exception of Miller, presents or makes the hard lead.

A lot of the time, players will stand there and have no clear winner to kick to. So we kick to a one-on-one contest (at the best of times, sometimes three-on-one), and we lose most of those because a lot of our players can't take a contested mark.

So that's three issues really, which are further accentuated by this game-plan, that I cannot for the life of me work out. Are we running and carrying? are we kicking long? or are we flooding and playing tempo footy?

It's all very confusing and mysterious.

we have to stop chipping around the boundary, stop the happy handball and just kick LONG into our 50 to a one on one quickly- u kick it quickly..and the defense wont get back in time to create a 1 on 3. even if we lose the contest..its getting them used to contested ball.

There are two separate issues here:

The first is that yes, we are seriously lacking in skills. Kicking is awful, as is handballing to stationary players.

The other issue is that nobody, with the exception of Miller, presents or makes the hard lead.

A lot of the time, players will stand there and have no clear winner to kick to. So we kick to a one-on-one contest (at the best of times, sometimes three-on-one), and we lose most of those because a lot of our players can't take a contested mark.

So that's three issues really, which are further accentuated by this game-plan, that I cannot for the life of me work out. Are we running and carrying? are we kicking long? or are we flooding and playing tempo footy?

It's all very confusing and mysterious.

Jaded, this comes back to leadership, its our leaders, the TJ's, The Bruce's, The Yze's and The White's that need to lead by example. You can't expect kids still learning the craft to simply develop themselves, they learn from the leaders of the club and frankly, there isn't any leadership right now.

and frankly, there isn't any leadership right now.

Which is further proof that none of our senior players are capable of taking over the captaincy from Neita.

A sad and worrying sign, but one we've known about for a long time.

I remember people complaining about a lack of leadership in 03 as well.

Thank god for Brock McLean!

There are two separate issues here:

The other issue is that nobody, with the exception of Miller, presents or makes the hard lead.

A lot of the time, players will stand there and have no clear winner to kick to. So we kick to a one-on-one contest (at the best of times, sometimes three-on-one), and we lose most of those because a lot of our players can't take a contested mark.

The problem is before the lead.

Its winning the hard ball and making a contest. All the hard efforts and progress we made in that area has been well and truly blown away. Miller can only get it on a hard lead and repeatedly he cant win a contested ball in against his own opponent.

Which is further proof that none of our senior players are capable of taking over the captaincy from Neita.

A sad and worrying sign, but one we've known about for a long time.

I remember people complaining about a lack of leadership in 03 as well.

Thank god for Brock McLean!

Correct. But his fitness is a worry. Seriously.

Correct. But his fitness is a worry. Seriously.

I know it is.

I'm hoping like hell that as he matures, so does his body.

The foot injury was just a stupid freak accident. The soft tissue injuries on the other hand...

But lets not talk about that. He's the only hope I got left

Jaded, this comes back to leadership, its our leaders, the TJ's, The Bruce's, The Yze's and The White's that need to lead by example. You can't expect kids still learning the craft to simply develop themselves, they learn from the leaders of the club and frankly, there isn't any leadership right now.

Gee that's harsh on Bruce, his workrate is much better than the other three. His kicking has dropped right off, but at least he wins contested ball and works hard both ways. Along with Brock and TJ he is the best reader of the play we have and gets to the right spots. Unfortunately a lot of our other midfielders aren't necessarily good decision makers.

I'll continue to push for Bell to be included in the midfield, because I think we are seriously lacking in pace and accountability through the middle and he could address that problem for us right now.

Gee that's harsh on Bruce, his workrate is much better than the other three. His kicking has dropped right off, but at least he wins contested ball and works hard both ways. Along with Brock and TJ he is the best reader of the play we have and gets to the right spots. Unfortunately a lot of our other midfielders aren't necessarily good decision makers.

I'll continue to push for Bell to be included in the midfield, because I think we are seriously lacking in pace and accountability through the middle and he could address that problem for us right now.

Grazman it isn't an attack on Bruce's workrate, I think he is working as hard as he can but his skills have gone completely south.

Unfortunately I could not make the game yesterday but listened to MMM and liked David King's comments - some of them were: -

Daniel Ward has to know his role in this team - that he is not a designated kicker, the same with Ben Holland.... they need to get the ball into the hands of the more skilled players, which there are plenty of...

i also do not understand our game plan - we are trying to play a higher skilled plan than our players can cope with!!

in the preseason did we practice our kicking or skills or did we just work on our running technique??

The first is that yes, we are seriously lacking in skills. Kicking is awful, as is handballing to stationary players.

The other issue is that nobody, with the exception of Miller, presents or makes the hard lead.

A lot of the time, players will stand there and have no clear winner to kick to. So we kick to a one-on-one contest (at the best of times, sometimes three-on-one), and we lose most of those because a lot of our players can't take a contested mark.

Are these issues a direct result from poor coaching or poor leadership?

Daniher needs to be more accountable for poor skills. Our players obvioulsy have the skills otherwise they wouldn't be at AFL level.