I have been fuming for about 16 hours now.
Woke up at four a.m., drenched in fury sweat, with my pillow in a headlock. Daniher's face flicking through my torpor.
Had to stop myself from kicking my cat this morning because it reminded me of Tom Stewart, by virtue of being both a cat and an *smile*.
Period 2, I gave a student a detention because he said the score review system worked perfectly last night.
And then, about ten minutes ago, my rage just imploded. Collapsed in on itself like a white hot star depleted of hydrogen.
I started to think about the implications of last night. The reality. The future. A feeling of serenity eased itself into my sleep deprived stupor. Why?
I think it's a combination of things. Here are some positives for the tiger army. Use them to temper your frustration. Add your own to share.
1. Sonsie, Ross, MRJ all got to taste finals action, and each showed something. None played 4 quarters of finals footy, but all demonstrated ability at the standard.
Ross backed into a marking contest and crunched a key opposition player. Got his hands free in tackles. Used the ball well. Kept running.
MRJ harassed. Tackled. Danced. Earned turnover. Capitalised. Put the fear of magic into his opponents.
Sonsie was clean. Tough. Dominated disposal, and effectively, for a half of an elimination final.
Their average age is 20. They were three of our 5 best players to half time.
2. Those who didn't perform, got to see where the standard is. Cumberland and Gibcus know where they need to be. They'll burn for it. Yearn to step up. I see shades of 2013 Houli/Edwards/Cotchin. But with a few more years up their sleeves. The finals footy addiction remains unsated.
3. We got to see one of the best finals performers of the last 10 years strut his stuff for maybe the last time. Jack's goals were impossible, and haven't been talked about enough. 3 bombs. 3 critical moments. Three goals. Clutch is one word. Hero is another.
4. We burned up Brisbane. We can all take some solace in their impending doom. We can thank Rossy for taking out their ruckman. They'll spend the weekend in Nirvana, but will plummet to earth next week.
5. Related to Four, but we would not have got through next week. No Prestia, No grimes, backline a mess, ruckman deficient, players out of form, champs holding on and in the end it just wasn't our year. We've had a brilliant run. And we legitimately have a future.
6. This was a rebuild year. Tactically, and in terms of personnel. Finals were always a bonus. And we have rebuilt on the run. We will be better for it.
7. We are not Essendon.
Which, on it's own, is something worthy of our gratitude. But we also didn't need a finals win. It would have been brilliant. But we have 3 premierships to fall back on, and finals to win next year. As dirty as it feels in my mouth, I see us more like Geelong. They lose finals all the time, and maintain respect and competitiveness. We can be proud of our club.
.... and, in the end... it probably was a behind.
So what else do you feel good about PREnders? How are you dealing with the fury?
Woke up at four a.m., drenched in fury sweat, with my pillow in a headlock. Daniher's face flicking through my torpor.
Had to stop myself from kicking my cat this morning because it reminded me of Tom Stewart, by virtue of being both a cat and an *smile*.
Period 2, I gave a student a detention because he said the score review system worked perfectly last night.
And then, about ten minutes ago, my rage just imploded. Collapsed in on itself like a white hot star depleted of hydrogen.
I started to think about the implications of last night. The reality. The future. A feeling of serenity eased itself into my sleep deprived stupor. Why?
I think it's a combination of things. Here are some positives for the tiger army. Use them to temper your frustration. Add your own to share.
1. Sonsie, Ross, MRJ all got to taste finals action, and each showed something. None played 4 quarters of finals footy, but all demonstrated ability at the standard.
Ross backed into a marking contest and crunched a key opposition player. Got his hands free in tackles. Used the ball well. Kept running.
MRJ harassed. Tackled. Danced. Earned turnover. Capitalised. Put the fear of magic into his opponents.
Sonsie was clean. Tough. Dominated disposal, and effectively, for a half of an elimination final.
Their average age is 20. They were three of our 5 best players to half time.
2. Those who didn't perform, got to see where the standard is. Cumberland and Gibcus know where they need to be. They'll burn for it. Yearn to step up. I see shades of 2013 Houli/Edwards/Cotchin. But with a few more years up their sleeves. The finals footy addiction remains unsated.
3. We got to see one of the best finals performers of the last 10 years strut his stuff for maybe the last time. Jack's goals were impossible, and haven't been talked about enough. 3 bombs. 3 critical moments. Three goals. Clutch is one word. Hero is another.
4. We burned up Brisbane. We can all take some solace in their impending doom. We can thank Rossy for taking out their ruckman. They'll spend the weekend in Nirvana, but will plummet to earth next week.
5. Related to Four, but we would not have got through next week. No Prestia, No grimes, backline a mess, ruckman deficient, players out of form, champs holding on and in the end it just wasn't our year. We've had a brilliant run. And we legitimately have a future.
6. This was a rebuild year. Tactically, and in terms of personnel. Finals were always a bonus. And we have rebuilt on the run. We will be better for it.
7. We are not Essendon.
Which, on it's own, is something worthy of our gratitude. But we also didn't need a finals win. It would have been brilliant. But we have 3 premierships to fall back on, and finals to win next year. As dirty as it feels in my mouth, I see us more like Geelong. They lose finals all the time, and maintain respect and competitiveness. We can be proud of our club.
.... and, in the end... it probably was a behind.
So what else do you feel good about PREnders? How are you dealing with the fury?
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