Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:17 pm
^ Good point gringo, the other night proved your point to perfection.
Far too much panic in this thread.
This was the first game where the new rule has been enacted. They'll take some time to acclimatise.
This was the first game with MM & Fletch down back. They took one half to sort things out.
This was the first game with this monster forward line of ours. The practice games have had them down opposite ends haven't they? They need to work out how they will fit, how they will operate.
With JJ, MJ and McPhee to return, this team gets experience and grunt. It's not a time to panic.
It's an opprtunity for the coaches and players to reflect, and respond. The next couple of practice games should see us do that, and the score should be seen as irrelevant.
Wait 'til we've a few games under our belt during the season before jumping to conclusions. This team has had major changes and will take time to settle.
However, they must learn 3 things.
1. No back chat to umpires.
2. Kick it straight.
3. Forearms on a back, no hands!
#2 seems most important, and will win games.
This loss may also supply a wee sting to the team, who just may have believed the marketing dept hype. Hype doesn't win games. No team in the AFL should be taken lightly, if that's what happened, as a small drop in focus makes a loss very possible.