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I watched the DVD of the 2004 season yesterday. We were a good side then because we had a HARD EDGE The facts about our current side are that the "stars" are being found out! No Hamill to protect Riewoldt and apply forward pressure. No Powell and Heath Black to get in where it HURTS and win the ball for the Dal Santos and X Clarkes.
When Thomas had charge the credo was "hard at the ball, and hard at the man with the ball" That has evaporated with our flag prospects. We are soft and what is worse is that the rest of the comp knows that we're soft!
We will get nowhere until we get some mongrel back in our play!!
I don't think it's fair to say we're soft. St Kilda is still very hard at it.
The difference between 2004 (other than the players available) for mine is the skill level. And that could be because of the increased pressure.
Also, the game has definitely changed.
Founding member of the Jason Blake Appreciation Society
plumtire wrote:I watched the DVD of the 2004 season yesterday. We were a good side then because we had a HARD EDGE The facts about our current side are that the "stars" are being found out! No Hamill to protect Riewoldt and apply forward pressure. No Powell and Heath Black to get in where it HURTS and win the ball for the Dal Santos and X Clarkes.
When Thomas had charge the credo was "hard at the ball, and hard at the man with the ball" That has evaporated with our flag prospects. We are soft and what is worse is that the rest of the comp knows that we're soft!
We will get nowhere until we get some mongrel back in our play!!
Agree with this assessment. We lack passion and cohesion. There seems to me to be lack of the kind of spirit that drives a flint edged attack on the footy.
Our younger players then were actually harder in 2004.....yet now they are bigger and stronger Lyon is getting less out of them.
Explain why BArks and co !
My behaviour is considered acceptable in some far off remote exotic countries...
if we look at the way we played pre-Ross Lyon, then the reason for our decline becomes apparent. A fit Hamill, Powell, (even Steven Lawrence at times!) putting PASSION into their play and going in hard for the ball.
I'm not blaming Lyon BUT he does appear to be just about conscious in some of his media stints and if this is the way he is with the playing staff then some blame can be apportioned?
"Soft"? I wouldnt say that the team is "soft" To say such a thing insults players who have courage by the bucketload. Unless you mean that we dont have a mean, killer streak at the moment. I would agre to a point that we perhaps miss a certain hardness at the contest. but I would never doubt the courage of the boys
You can as hard as you want, but the player who gets first hands on the ball and sets up winning plays doesn't need to be a Gorilla. Roo is big enough to take care of himself as are most of our players.
Lyon will eventually get the formula right and the team will settle..I expect we will be much better and on a winning run by mid season
( God help me)
