How big a factor is confidence?

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Predictably many recents posts have focused on gameplan, injuries, leadership, coaching and obviously playing personnel. I'd place the loss of confidence as the over-riding reason for our poor form. We're constantly told that footy these days is more and more played in the mind. My point is pretty simple. Are we one game away from turning our season around - potentially one blistering quarter of footy away from a massive form reversal? In my desperate attempt to view this season through rose coloured glasses and not rose coloured glasses of wine (again apologies to the Lucksmiths) I'd like to see how many of you think our problems are genuinely terminal and which of you think that it's still to early to write off 2007. A plethora of examples can be found of teams struggling, low in confidence going from boiled lollies to chocolates. Let's face it Melbourne are pretty good at doing this three or four times a season and sometimes within a single afternoon. Could a 10 goal freight train finish against Freo at the 'G' prove to be the stimulus for another barnstorming run? What are the odds that in four weeks we'll be reflecting on the fickle nature of this game as Neitz, McLean and Robbo are all pending inclusions ready to bolster a team riding on the crest of new-found confidence and the excitement of a couple of youngsters? Is it possible that from adversity comes Northeyesque 'character' that we didn't know existed. Could Jones, Bate and a fresh Sylvia click, take that all important step and rejuvenate our midfield giving our celebrated receivers first use of the pill? Could the cracks in our defence be overcome with the lessening of pressure and the return of a fit Jared Rivers? Could one of Dunn, Newton or Garland emerge in the same way as Garry Lion did all those years ago? Some might say that I'm a dreamer but I sincerely hope I not the only one.

Confidence is the key. Remember our Robbo inspired win over West Coast in 1998? Injury-plagued and considered little to no chance - an against the odds victory drove us all the way to the second last week of September. Why not again this Sunday against Freo? Confidence can come and go in the blink of an eye. I offer you our opponents this week Freo as a classic example. Carlton is another - flogged one week, played the most scintillating half of footy I've seen in a long while, one week later.

When confidence is low it spreads like a plague but the good news is it works both ways. We'll definitely turn it around at some point this year and record some good performances. The real question is whether we can do it whilst depleted in number and before the season has slipped away.

[Dreamin' Demon 10]

I'd place the loss of confidence as the over-riding reason for our poor form.

I agree, especially when you look at the talent of our list on the weekend. Our injuries are dire, but the players that played on the weekend had no excuse for the poor showing on display. It must be confidence.

Unfortunately, a few bad decisions & poor judgement can send you back into the quagmire & the hole becomes deeper & harder to get out of.

What we need is a good win against Fremantle, confidence will build & I reckon they will then snap out of their slumber.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

And there's alot of different types of confidence. How confident is Moloney to push his body for an entire game? Does Travis have the confidence of his coach? Does Bate truly believe he belongs in elite company yet? What has the centre circle rule done to the confidence of Jeff White? Do C Johnson, D Bell, P Wheatley and D Ward feel safe and secure in the team and as a consequence have the confidence to leave their direct opponent in the backline to help out a mate? Does Daniher have enough confidence in his young key position prospects to try them for long periods of time?

[beelzebub 23,311]

confidence is a qualifying factor...it sort of colours things.

player A can kick a ball....that is a skill. How he uses that skill or its effectiveness comes down to a number of things.

1) what is going on around him 2) what he thinks he can do 3) what he has been told he can do. 3) what he actually can do 4) confidence to execute

any one of these things will interact with the others.

but strangely the only one that is contagious...is confidence.

i rate confidence highly...we have zilch...we try and fake it...but its exposed.

[kieranbj 111]

n my desperate attempt to view this season through rose coloured glasses and not rose coloured glasses of wine (again apologies to the Lucksmiths)

wow i am so impressed the Lucksmiths have been quoted on Demonland!

[Goodvibes 3,596]

wow i am so impressed the Lucksmiths have been quoted on Demonland!

Kieranbj, I'm leaving to go on my honeymoon in a month and am seriously contemplating leaving half way through to get back in town for the Luckies concert. My love of the Dees is almost matched by my commitment to the Luckies!!

And as an aside, it seems that almost 24 hours after my original post that I am indeed the only dreamer . . .

[Pinball Wizard 313]

Kieranbj, I'm leaving to go on my honeymoon in a month and am seriously contemplating leaving half way through to get back in town for the Luckies concert. My love of the Dees is almost matched by my commitment to the Luckies!!

And as an aside, it seems that almost 24 hours after my original post that I am indeed the only dreamer . . .

Who are the Lucksmiths for the uninitiated?

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Who are the Lucksmiths for the uninitiated?

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea...iendid=45103390

http://www.thelucksmiths.com.au/

Sorry to the mods - this should probably appear somewhere else now. Pity my attempts at optimism have failed miserably - back to Headland's 6 y.o