i feel like i should be jumping on top of the world like nearly every other bombers supporter at the moment. as impressive as the bombers have been thus far in the nab cup, it must be said, IT IS ONLY THE NAB CUP. a competition shown no respect by coaches and players. the games are used to scope out the teams' game plans, structure and personnel. yes, we defeated the saints by 39 points. but i can guarantee you that for 80% of the match, ross lyon wouldnt have been looking at how essendon played. it would have been spent on how they moved the ball. ross and his coaching team would have been tinkering with their own game plan and see how it unfolded. he would have played the kids and see how they performed in an afl environment. he would have put players out of position to find out if they are capable of playing dual roles within a game. st kilda had no interest in exerting energy to win the game. they still get to "play" next week in an exhibiton/practice match.
last year for example, the bulldogs won the nab cup. and then suddenly the afl world put them on a high horse and presumed yeah they'll be in the grand final for sure. what we saw over the year was an inconsistent brand of football played out by a heavily aging list and a small injection of youth. the nab cup doesnt mean anything.
i reckon the format of a 4-5 week pre season is too long anyway. the players have already played a quarter of a season before the season has begun. just have 2 scratch matches. then a week off before the season opener. that week before the season, teams can fine tune skills with an intra-club match or simply rest up for the weekend before hitting the training track hard again.
anyways back to my bombers. i love the fact that hird has kept the same principle wit our game plan; run, carry and attack. however, he has instilled a heavier focus on defense than knights did and it shows with our tenacity and desire to keep the ball in our forward 50. leroy jetta is a perfect example of the revamped game plan initiated by hird. jetta works up the ground to bring the ball int our 50. he then puts in third and fourth attempts at chasing a player down to keep the ball in our territory to have more shots at goal. it is fair to say that collingwood revolutionised the term "forward pressure" last year but im glad to see that the bombers coaching staff have adopted the same method. there has been remarkable improvemnt in the players' disposal efficiency and the fitness has lifted a few notches.
the dream team of coaching panels is working so far but lets remember, it isnt these guys running out on match day for us. they can impart their knowledge of the game and tips and what not, but it is up to the 22 players to execute the plan and play to their best of their ability and get the coveted 4 points week in week out. go bombers.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
cwc 2011.
sup peeps.
this is my first entry to the blog for 2011. i figured seeing as it's my first day back at uni, i should find somethin to deter me from doing my homework. so what better way than writing about sports haha
figured id kick things off with a quick take on the cricket world cup taking place over in the sub-continent. we got off to a bang with sehwag blasting and thumping his way to 175 against the hapless bangladeshis. few days prior to that he said his new goal was to bat the full length of an international one day match. he fell agonisingly short by being dismissed in the 47th over, if memory serves me correct. since then, the majority of matches have been heavily one sided or a snooze-fest between the minnow nations.
we did however witness a thrilling draw between the indians and england. india posted 338 and you would have though that they'd be in the box seat playing on their home turf. however, england challenged with a great captains knock of 150 odd from strauss. eng required 34 runs off the final 3 overs and got there with their tail wagging brilliantly. it was more so india's failure to execute a successful "bowling at the death" plan which forced them to lose this match. a crazy incident about that game was that the legendary shane warne predicted, on twitter, that this match could be a tie. odddd.
i could ramble and rave about ireland's great win against the poms where they looked down and out when the situation was 222 runs required off 150 deliveries. but we'll simply say that england fucked that one up and gave it to the irish on a silver platter.
it seems that the poms have been involved in all the headline-grabbing matches thus far. they produced a win against the south africans that forced the media to bring up the chokers tag for the south africans. after a commanding performance by their two spinners, petersen and tahir, the south africans merely had to chase down 171. yet the pressure and small total wreaked havoc with their mindsets and they fell 6 runs short. there must surely be question marks hovering over the heads of the tournament favourites.
our beloved australian team hasnt been challenged as yet. 2 easy victories against zimbabwe and new zealand have however given them much needed confidence after suffering losses in the 2 warm up matches. on saturday, we took on the might of sri lanka. it was billed as a potential finals match. however, the rain gods played their hand and put an abrupt halt to the match. if i was in sri lanka's position, i would have gone for the win knowing the rain was coming and that only 30 overs were possible. they won the toss so could have dictated the game on their own terms. they could have gone for broke and put up a competitive total in approx 13 overs and then declare. that would given them around 12-14 overs to bowl us out. on a pitch with a fair bit of turn, they should have made a real fight and put a scare through our camp by continously being on the front foot. maybe im just an attacking player when i play the game, but it's the world cup and success often follows after taking calculated risks. clearly they wouldnt have bowled australia out but having them 4, 5 or 6 down for not many within 15 overs would give them a massive psychological edge coming into the finals series.
i cant wait for these nonsense group stage matches to finish up. then we'll be constantly watching matches of a high calibre and thrills. im gunna back the lankans to take the glory. they have 4 players of absolute quality and if all 4 are on song then look out. these players are sangakarra, jayawardene, malinga and murali. add dilshan to that list and it becomes very imposing. for us, we need krejza to start taking 3 or 4 wickets a game to be be right up there for the challenge. the title is anyones for the taking. whether it be south africa, england, india or the two mentioned before, but all that remains certain is that there are plenty more twists and turns to evolve before the tournament is done and dusted.
this is my first entry to the blog for 2011. i figured seeing as it's my first day back at uni, i should find somethin to deter me from doing my homework. so what better way than writing about sports haha
figured id kick things off with a quick take on the cricket world cup taking place over in the sub-continent. we got off to a bang with sehwag blasting and thumping his way to 175 against the hapless bangladeshis. few days prior to that he said his new goal was to bat the full length of an international one day match. he fell agonisingly short by being dismissed in the 47th over, if memory serves me correct. since then, the majority of matches have been heavily one sided or a snooze-fest between the minnow nations.
we did however witness a thrilling draw between the indians and england. india posted 338 and you would have though that they'd be in the box seat playing on their home turf. however, england challenged with a great captains knock of 150 odd from strauss. eng required 34 runs off the final 3 overs and got there with their tail wagging brilliantly. it was more so india's failure to execute a successful "bowling at the death" plan which forced them to lose this match. a crazy incident about that game was that the legendary shane warne predicted, on twitter, that this match could be a tie. odddd.
i could ramble and rave about ireland's great win against the poms where they looked down and out when the situation was 222 runs required off 150 deliveries. but we'll simply say that england fucked that one up and gave it to the irish on a silver platter.
it seems that the poms have been involved in all the headline-grabbing matches thus far. they produced a win against the south africans that forced the media to bring up the chokers tag for the south africans. after a commanding performance by their two spinners, petersen and tahir, the south africans merely had to chase down 171. yet the pressure and small total wreaked havoc with their mindsets and they fell 6 runs short. there must surely be question marks hovering over the heads of the tournament favourites.
our beloved australian team hasnt been challenged as yet. 2 easy victories against zimbabwe and new zealand have however given them much needed confidence after suffering losses in the 2 warm up matches. on saturday, we took on the might of sri lanka. it was billed as a potential finals match. however, the rain gods played their hand and put an abrupt halt to the match. if i was in sri lanka's position, i would have gone for the win knowing the rain was coming and that only 30 overs were possible. they won the toss so could have dictated the game on their own terms. they could have gone for broke and put up a competitive total in approx 13 overs and then declare. that would given them around 12-14 overs to bowl us out. on a pitch with a fair bit of turn, they should have made a real fight and put a scare through our camp by continously being on the front foot. maybe im just an attacking player when i play the game, but it's the world cup and success often follows after taking calculated risks. clearly they wouldnt have bowled australia out but having them 4, 5 or 6 down for not many within 15 overs would give them a massive psychological edge coming into the finals series.
i cant wait for these nonsense group stage matches to finish up. then we'll be constantly watching matches of a high calibre and thrills. im gunna back the lankans to take the glory. they have 4 players of absolute quality and if all 4 are on song then look out. these players are sangakarra, jayawardene, malinga and murali. add dilshan to that list and it becomes very imposing. for us, we need krejza to start taking 3 or 4 wickets a game to be be right up there for the challenge. the title is anyones for the taking. whether it be south africa, england, india or the two mentioned before, but all that remains certain is that there are plenty more twists and turns to evolve before the tournament is done and dusted.
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