Did we supporters get ahead of ourselves after scrambling over a very ordinary Carlton? Definitely. Did the 22 get ahead of themselves and take the Doggies lightly on Saturday? Can’t say, but I sincerely hope not.
I am following most games on the radio this season – the dreaded “ad after every goal” is back on Southern Cross TV, and it just breaks up the game and breaks my spirit. There are only so many times you can write to a TV station and lie that you have just decided to buy a different make of ute to punish them for their interruptions. I now have eleven imaginary utes.
So I followed the Doggies game on the radio and have since gone back to watch highlights and a few quarters on the Smart TV AFL app thing. There was a sense all day that we would break out and run over the top of them. They put a lot into pressing us hard in the first half and the radio callers kept mentioning the young Pups looked leg-weary. But we just couldn’t buy a decent forward entry.
Our tackling was dismal. Seeing Steve Morris bump a man with TACKLE ME written in neon over his head was hard to take for anyone, like me, who has the first quarter of our 2014 final burned into their brain.
I am wondering if Ben Griffiths went to the same Brain Training For The Larger Man academy as Ty Vickery. Against Carlton he took a mark 20 metres out on a fierce angle, and weighed up his two options; to play on or turn on his heel and go back for the set shot. He did not see options 3, 4 & 5, a bevy of teammates in the square calling out for the handball over the top. Not selfishness, just unmindfulness. Of course he sprayed the difficult shot. On Saturday he got his hands on it, was inaccurate but again was not awake to options around him, for the little give or the short pass to a mate on a better angle.
Trent’s hair has now strayed into self-parody or as Andy Kelly from Presentation Night has pointed out perhaps he is channeling Morrisey. Far be it from me to suggest that the author of Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now is not a good model for proactive positive leadership, but maybe Trent just needs a haircut. Get a short back and sides Trent, maybe try Nº 17 again, stick your tiny nose in the air and lead those boys.
I will be there at Bellerive for the North game in round 6 and I do not want to see Trent shuffling off at the end moaning What Difference Does It Make. (Or Vickery in a tutu).
I’ve never before had football and The Smiths in the same thought bubble. But it makes sense. Both are highly emotional states of consciousness.
The game this Saturday isn’t broadcast on free-to-air television, and the prospect of the imagined game on radio delights me. I have the whole night mapped out: I clean out the back shed, with a half bottle of wine, and our football team have a rather emphatic win in Brisbane.
Sorted.
Nice blog post, liked the graphic,
Dugald
Hey Chris,
It is a little disappointing the Club has to bounce back from another loss of a winnable game. The team had many chances and didn’t take any of them.
I have found listening to the radio preferable t-v in the past. I’ve found it more enjoyable upon winning and less depressing when losing. But a lot depends on the commentators. I find the tv much less annoying simply with the sound off. Watching the Tiges play while listening to a Mahler symphony could be an option. I’ll give it a burl on Saturday morning. 🙂
Trent needs to unequivocally be a leader, rather than just leading by example.
Andy
Cotch is a leader, no question. The fact that my 7-yo son WIlliam wants the same hairdo as Cotch tells me that Cotch needs a zinger (that’s Tasmanian for haircut for you North Islanders). Cotch also needs to kick the ball further than 20 metres at a time. Losing to the Dogs wasn’t great but we played as poorly as I’ve seen us play for years and we were still in with a chance until late in the game. As far as beating up Brisbane goes: I think the fact we finished the game off is a real positive. In previous years we would have won that game by 20 points and missed out on the percentage boost that other, more ruthless clubs, would have picked up. Reasonably pleased with the start to 2015 but a loss to Melbourne would be a disaster.
Carnatiges.