Acceptance - we are now a middling side

[achillesjones]

I think it’s pretty clear that we thought we could have a last shot this year. Some of the old boys just haven’t revived over the off season and some have developed some new injury issues. We are running like a busted sandshoe at the moment. On paper we look great. Our best side could do anything.
The big question is whether we will see our best side together this year before it’s too late?

 

[achillesjones]

several issues have been raised on this thread because they all bleed into each other

- older players who can't perform and therefore can't truly lead

- younger players who aren't quite ready and are lacking confidence

- coaches trying to conform to a comp on fire with speed and blistering transition

- list managers compromising their beloved draft picks in the pursuit of 'one more flag'

the list goes on an on.

all affect each other and all go into the *smile* sandwich fans are now being forced to eat.

Good post. Sums it up fairly succinctly.
I think I would add petulance to the list. It has gone past ridiculous that we are still leaders in the hissy fit frees against.

 

[Wildride]

We have all our picks for next year.

That's what I thought too! We only traded out of one draft year.

 

[Tigers of Old]

We’ve now got Footscray, Sydney and Melbourne in a row. Toughest 6 week start to a season I can ever remember, maybe.

It's been the toughest draw of anyone in the comp easily & has taken a massive toll on our playing squad.

 

[TigerForce]

It's been the toughest draw of anyone in the comp easily & has taken a massive toll on our playing squad.

Hang on, Cornhead said Port had the toughest draw!!!

 

[spook]

That's what I thought too! We only traded out of one draft year.

We traded out of the first two rounds last year and the first round this year.

It's been the toughest draw of anyone in the comp easily & has taken a massive toll on our playing squad.

And following Melbourne we have three consecutive six-day breaks (two of them before and after our 'home' game at Concrete Stadium against a team that plays there more than we do) leading into a Friday night game against Geelong. Deadset, orchestrated, bushwhack.

 

[tigersnake]

We traded out of the first two rounds last year and the first round this year.


And following Melbourne we have three consecutive six-day breaks (two of them before and after our 'home' game at Concrete Stadium against a team that plays there more than we do) leading into a Friday night game against Geelong. Deadset, orchestrated, bushwhack.

Yeah and out of form Geelong and get the cushiest armchair ride you could possibly get to right the ship.

Its annoying

 

[Berwick boy]

Hang on, Cornhead said Port had the toughest draw!!!

To be fair as much as I hate the little prick their draw has been as tough as ours I reckon...Bris, Coll, Adel, Syd, Dogs

 

[spook]

September 2024:

B: Gibcus (21, 35 games) Young (26, 40 games) Baker (26, 130 games)
HB: Rioli (27, 180 games) Himmelberg (28, 170 games) Vlastuin (30, 230 games)
C: Pickett (32, 100 games) Taranto (26, 160 games) McIntosh (30, 190 games)
HF: Martin (33, 310 games) Balta (24, 110 games) Sonsie (21, 50 games)
F: Rioli (22, 50 games) Lynch (31, 250 games) Cumberland (23, 50 games)
R: Soldo (28, 80 games) Hopper (27, 160 games) Bolton (25, 140 games)
I: Broad (31, 140 games), Short (28, 170 games) Graham (26, 130 games), Ryan (23, 40 games)
S: Clarke (20, 30 games)
E: Miller, Mansell, Banks, Brown, Green, Campbell etc.

Sky intact.

 

[TOT70]

Let’s not forget:

2017. 5 zip. Then 5-4. Then 6-5. Then lose only two more games for the year, including an almighty thumping from the Saints, of all teams.
2019. 7-6. Didn’t lose again.
2020. 2 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw. Only lost 2 more games, including Qualifying final.

The road is rarely straight.

 

[Dev Tiger]

I thought Nathan Buckely summed it up really well. We have too many kids (or inexperienced in games played ) that aren't ready to play in winning teams all playing at once. Cumberland, Young, MJ, Sonsie, Ryan, Mansell, Miller, Ralph-Smith and Juddy. He also mentioned that the older players need to readjust their expectations and play with less frustration and more discipline.

We can probably only carry four or five at any one time and remain competitive. Certainly not nine.

The frustration is the trading out of this draft. It would be eaiser to watch Sampson dropping marks ect if you knew a top four draft pick was coming.

 

[crackertiger]

In my view we are not a middling side based on talent. We are however, a side that lacks hunger, lacks intensity, lacks fitness and Grit. The holistic word I guess would be complacent. It feels like our players haven't even got into second gear almost arrogantly. I am not going to name names. But all eyes lead to some of our premiership stars. The half efforts are very noticeable. The lack of gut running is noticeable. The lack of pressure around the ground is very noticeable....

If Dimma cannot turn the switch on within 2 to 3 weeks then we simply need to drop senior players including the stars. Excluding no one including captains.

 

[DragaTheCro]

In my view we are not a middling side based on talent. We are however, a side that lacks hunger, lacks intensity, lacks fitness and Grit. The holistic word I guess would be complacent. It feels like our players haven't even got into second gear almost arrogantly. I am not going to name names. But all eyes lead to some of our premiership stars. The half efforts are very noticeable. The lack of gut running is noticeable. The lack of pressure around the ground is very noticeable....

If Dimma cannot turn the switch on within 2 to 3 weeks then we simply need to drop senior players including the stars. Excluding no one including captains.

The concerning thing for me is seeing a new player like Taranto labouring and not showing anywhere near enough intensity to pressure the ball carrier.

 

[HR]

We will be alright tiger fans.
We got 2 ripper recruits the best of the lot, 2 of em, picked some beaut young uns the year before most will be with us till retirement, and the the future remains bright pick 4 or not. 2 in the hand is better than one in the bush.
Go tigers.

 

[Carter]

how do we stack up against another successful old war horse of a club looking to build into the season?

(Geelong)


we are so far off it it isn't funny

form lines suggest we are headed for a 10 goal + belting against melbourne.

 

[Tigers of Old]

I'm certainly worried.

 

[Smoking Aces]

how do we stack up against another successful old war horse of a club looking to build into the season?

(Geelong)


we are so far off it it isn't funny

form lines suggest we are headed for a 10 goal + belting against melbourne.

Who are the warhorse in Geelong
missing from their best 22? Not many I suspect.

You are underestimating the impact the injuries are having on the team.

 

[Carter]

Who are the warhorse in Geelong
missing from their best 22? Not many I suspect.

You are underestimating the impact the injuries are having on the team.

Hold on a sec

Dangerfield vs Cotchin

At the moment, no contest

Hawkins vs Riewoldt

Again no contest

Geelong’s senior players are more durable than ours. An inconvenient truth but truth nonetheless.

We are stuffed if we can’t find a spark from somewhere.

 

[Brodders17]

Who are the warhorse in Geelong
missing from their best 22? Not many I suspect.

You are underestimating the impact the injuries are having on the team.

Yep, a lot on here seen to revel in misery.
Talk of bottom 4 is ridiculous.

Posters are potting us for not having ruck depth, after we ask field 2 ok rucks, despite missing our best 2, while praising Collingwoods list management, which consists of 1 ruck.

Posters our potting our key position depth, ignoring the fact we have 9 talls on our injury list, but still put out a decent spine.

And lots of posters, who don't appear to post often when we win, are potting the character of a lot of our guys, based of nothing other than the scoreboard.

 

[Brodders17]

I have a bloke at my work at the moment (not sport).
Hes been there for 15 years. Great guy.
But now...basically does nothing.
Doesn't work his hours, cuts corners looks unhappy, is lazy and others around him including me have had enough of him not putting in the effort.

Went up to him a while ago and said, whats the go?

He said...im over it, I'm just done with this place now. I don't enjoy being here. But will see it out another year or two and then I'm gone.

Hes still there 12 months later and as a result place is struggling with him being there and a bit of the respect he once had is gone.

He is actually the manager and place is terrible atm. All systems are gone, employees do what they want, when they want.

Interessting.

So you reckon Hardwick is just turning up for the pay check, cutting corners etc? I can bull *smile*, but if you want insights you can share please feel free.
Or is that just an irrelevant side story?