We Are the Unfittest Side in the Competition

[w00dy 146]

Our players can't cover the field like other sides can. We flood back, and have no one presenting across half forward, and turn the ball over due to this. Or when we do run hard to give options across half forward, if there is a turnover we're not willing to run hard enough back and the opposition forward line is completely open.

Other sides run hard enough to get numbers back when the opposition have the ball, and present options forward when in possession themselves. Hawthorn were the perfect example of this when they played us. Brisbane are doing the same thing today.

You know what else happens when you're an unfit football team, your skills fall away, because you're tired when you dispose of the ball.

[jez 0]

Our players can't cover the field like other sides can. We flood back, and have no one presenting across half forward, and turn the ball over due to this. Or when we do run hard to give options across half forward, if there is a turnover we're not willing to run hard enough back and the opposition forward line is completely open.

Other sides run hard enough to get numbers back when the opposition have the ball, and present options forward when in possession themselves. Hawthorn were the perfect example of this when they played us. Brisbane are doing the same thing today.

You know what else happens when you're an unfit football team, your skills fall away, because you're tired when you dispose of the ball.

they certainly seem unfit

but its more a case of lack of desire, and [censored] weak effort

not doing the selfless things for the team and no confidence

too many players with their hand on their hips while the opposition run it straight down the middle

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

I've been thinking this all year, looking at the Cats and Freo stampede across the longest ground around...

I don't like people reacting the Bohdan's bad press, and the injuries seem to have diminished... But the proof is in the pudding. If they seem unfit, or unable to handle the physical pressure, then Bohdan's doing something wrong.

They seem ok when the game winds down, running with more freshness last week and the week before than their opponents... but it's the previous 3 quarters I'm worried about...

[Redleg 37,571]

You know what else happens when you're an unfit football team, your skills fall away, because you're tired when you dispose of the ball.

That explains why we can't dispose of the ball early in the game and have won three last quarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Geddy Lee 582]

I don't think Bohdan can be blamed for Bartram and co. (including Brogan McBogan) handballing to stationary guys about to be tackled.

[w00dy 146]

That explains why we can't dispose of the ball early in the game and have won three last quarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well that's the anomoly i can't work out... maybe interchange the word unfittest with laziest? i just don't understand why our players don't present like they should...

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I don't think Bohdan can be blamed for Bartram and co. (including Brogan McBogan) handballing to stationary guys about to be tackled.

I think fitness can be blamed for this (or lack of effort, or both), because our players not in possession do not run hard enough to give options either nearby by hand, or downfield by foot. Often players were left with no other option but to pop a handball to a guy standing there about to be tackled.

We have two MASSIVE problems:

1) We either are not fit enough, or dont care enough, to work hard enough to provide options and chase back the other way

2) Our skills are deplorable. We will not win a game this year if we continue to turn the ball over with basic errors

[Jaded No More 57,810]

That explains why we can't dispose of the ball early in the game and have won three last quarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly.

Maybe it just takes us 3 quarters to switch on? We all now that as a team, we are not the most mentally stable one going around.

Perhaps it's not until we are getting smashed that we realise, 'oh hang on, this is football, where the aim of the game is to score more than your opponent'

[Geddy Lee 582]

I think fitness can be blamed for this (or lack of effort, or both), because our players not in possession do not run hard enough to give options either nearby by hand, or downfield by foot. Often players were left with no other option but to pop a handball to a guy standing there about to be tackled.

We have two MASSIVE problems:

1) We either are not fit enough, or dont care enough, to work hard enough to provide options and chase back the other way

2) Our skills are deplorable. We will not win a game this year if we continue to turn the ball over with basic errors

Okay but in the second quarter for example McLean handballs to Sylvia who is running full flight but is about to be tackled anyway . . . dumb decision making -> dumb coaching? or dumb footballers? well bit of both I think but Bohdan is not in the firing line . . . it was 31 degrees today and of course our players were going to be tired but I mean they are the Brisbane Lions and we outran them in the last quarter on their home turf in their home conditions which they are used to! I think that suggests that our fitness is above average or perhaps our players didn't go hard enough the first quarters . . . and that's their fault, not Bohdans.

This is coming from a guy who wants Bohdan gone.

[Adzman 2,085]

We have never really been a lightning quick team. Our fitness is a concern, we do not seem to burst he game open, nor do we shut our opponents down when they turn up the intensity. Why can't we lift a gear?

Players?

Fintess?

Footy Smarts?

I have no idea what is going on, but this is the youngest demons list we have had in a while, and we should be much fitter/quicker than an ageing lions team. Not the case!

[w00dy 146]

Okay but in the second quarter for example McLean handballs to Sylvia who is running full flight but is about to be tackled anyway . . . dumb decision making -> dumb coaching? or dumb footballers?

the point i'm making is if our other players were running hard enough to give an option, mclean wouldn't have to make a handball which puts sylvia under the pump in the first place, he would have an open team mate who he can give the ball to instead...

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Okay but in the second quarter for example McLean handballs to Sylvia who is running full flight but is about to be tackled anyway . . . dumb decision making -> dumb coaching? or dumb footballers? well bit of both I think but Bohdan is not in the firing line . . . it was 31 degrees today and of course our players were going to be tired but I mean they are the Brisbane Lions and we outran them in the last quarter on their home turf in their home conditions which they are used to! I think that suggests that our fitness is above average or perhaps our players didn't go hard enough the first quarters . . . and that's their fault, not Bohdans.

This is coming from a guy who wants Bohdan gone.

Yeah, you could prob add poor decision making, woeful gameplan, no forward line structure, slow midfield, undersized defence and an infinite other number of problems to my couple listed above. We are all finding it hard to pinpoint whats going wrong when everything is such a shambles. But in saying that, living in Brisbane today was my first live game for the season, and I noticed that our lack of run and chase and [censored] skills were the two things that jumped at me as our biggest concerns. Things certainly are looking terrible.

[Waltham33 409]

Unfit, confused and a complete lack of discipline on the weights (though that is nothing new).

[gOLLy 401]

We have no movement upfield. Nobody makes space and puts their hand and says "Pass the ball to me."

This is our biggest problem.

[Swampfox 190]

We have no movement upfield. Nobody makes space and puts their hand and says "Pass the ball to me."

This is our biggest problem.

No argument from me

I see lots of players NOT blocking so at least you have a better lead option for the guy who needs to deliver the ball

its disheartening when it does happen he kicks poorly

Fitness isnt the problem

As for that guernsey well the least thats worn the better

[Kit Walker 207]

well that's the anomoly i can't work out... maybe interchange the word unfittest with laziest? i just don't understand why our players don't present like they should...

Nail ---> Head

Can't blame fitness when the problem arises from the 60 second mark of the first quarter. There are two main groups of players who aren't running to make position.

Group 1 - Those who aren't running hard enough. They don't get away from their opponents straight away and give up.

Group 2 - Those who are worried about running hard to make position because when a kick misses them by 20 metres, it sails back over their head to their now-unmarked opponent. Shell-shocked defenders make up most of this group.

[Mono 454]

We have no movement upfield. Nobody makes space and puts their hand and says "Pass the ball to me."

This is our biggest problem.

I was listening (some) on the radio - ABC. After one period, commentator mentioned that 4 players made gut busting runs, to lead to one side (they then said: why would 4 players lead to the same spot)". They leads were ignored. The kick went to an uneven contest and a turn over!

I am telling you, this is earth shattering bad; a modest list with a coaching team WITH NO IDEA.

REPEAT: NO IDEA!@!

[Redleg 37,571]

well that's the anomoly i can't work out... maybe interchange the word unfittest with laziest? i just don't understand why our players don't present like they should...

The setup is clearly wrong. As players run with the ball they look up see no options and look back to handball or kick sideways or behind them.

We kicked out long three times today, straight down the middle and guess what, we kicked three goals. Gotta hate that basic football, where you get it into the forward line as quick as possible.

[Swampfox 190]

I was listening (some) on the radio - ABC. After one period, commentator mentioned that 4 players made gut busting runs, to lead to one side (they then said: why would 4 players lead to the same spot)". They leads were ignored. The kick went to an uneven contest and a turn over!

I am telling you, this is earth shattering bad; a modest list with a coaching team WITH NO IDEA.

REPEAT: NO IDEA!@!

So in your analysis based on what you heard was Player with the ball kicks to player with more than 2 opposing players rather than 4 team mates and basically no opponets ?

This is the PLAYERS DECISION not the COACHES

Players sometimes put so much pressure on themselves because they are scared of making mistakes and take the SECOND OPTION as thats there only choice when about to be tackled or ordered to kick

THIS is what causes SLOW BALL MOVEMENT from defence into attack

SLOW BALL MOVEMENT is easier to defend

It is amazing how many times a players first option would have been better BUT thats what I want to see in round 7 going forward and who cares about a mistakes

when it comes off it looks GREAT to his team mates and us supporters

It breeds confidence and team spirit and i guarratee it improves the FORM of the player and those around him

Hanging someone anytime they make a mistake when they tried the first option is self defeating

Two of the most frustrating things i see

1. Standing still when waving your arms asking for the ball

a stationary player has a harder time getting to a ball that isnt delivered properly simply because he has ZERO speed when the ball leaves the players boot

2. Bouncing the ball as soon as you recieve the ball when its common sense to run your allowable 15 metres before needing to do so

Time it yourself and i bet you one bounce is faster than needing 2 which is rare anyway

[Red Demon 67]

I have no idea what is going on, but this is the youngest demons list we have had in a while, and we should be much fitter/quicker than an ageing lions team. Not the case!

The so called "aging" Lions team was younger than the team we fielded today.

Average ages: Lions 24 0 months, Demons 24 and 3 months.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

22-25 year olds will be a lot fitter then guys outside that category.

Would be interesting to see the figures from today's sides

[CARN THE DEES! 14]

It's not fitness, that's obvisous cause where running out games!!

It's laziness, our inability to RUN BOTH WAYS!! Today we flooded the backline to choke Brisbane's forward and the times we got it out of their forward line there where not enough options for our forwards and we where outnumbered around the ball with no pressure and crumbers.

To combat this problem all we have 2 do is run both ways!! And its going 2 be difficult in 30 degree heat but we haven't won a game and if we don't get desperate now we never will!! The only people who actually run both ways constantly is Jones and Macca. This is pathetic and it sometimes forces our backmen to have 2 make options further up the ground.

Are we the unfittest team in the comp? I don't think so but where definatly not the fittest

Are we the laziest team in the comp? YES

[Mono 454]

Are we the laziest team in the comp? YES

Laziest? No.

Brainlest? Maybe.

Least confident? Oh yeah.

[heartbeatstrue 57]

Our players can't cover the field like other sides can.

And whose fault is this??