There's been lots of theorizing on this thread about last night's game, some of it good, some of it bad and some of it completely whack. Here's my take on the sad end to our season. I think we were complacent going into this match, much like we were leading into the 2014 GF. When things didn't go our way early on, we were on the back foot and therefore mentally under pressure. The umpires then helped continue to build Geelong's confidence with some obvious assistance and the ghosts of last years GF come back to haunt our players, when they realised they're efforts were not going to be duly rewarded. Panic sets in and our structures and coolness under pressure desert us and the mental and physical pressure of 19 weeks of 'elimination finals' finally catches up with our team, leaving them lethargic, confused and feeling hopeless....not the basis to mount a stirring comeback from. While very disappointing, it's not really surprising.......So what do the club do? Well, certainly not panic and sack coaches and players! Longmire will stay....get over it! The list needs to be looked at and maybe players who are proven chokers moved on (Rohan, as much as I love what he sometimes does, I have to agree with Barry
, he is a finals liability). Our main problem lies with lack of salary cap space, so we may have to make do largely with what we've got. Our depth is good. We have some good talent coming through and the younger senior players will improve further. Our older senior players are fine but we will need to get a gun KPD in the next season or two and some more speed. I have no idea what to do with Kurt.....he is very talented but can't stay on the park long enough. Do we trade him while he's still got some value or keep him in the knowledge that we may have to pay half his salary for someone to take him? The off season will be intriguing and may shape the club fortunes for many season's to come.....but I have faith in our club to move forward sensibly and successfully. Not the time to panic....the club should take a few deep breaths, make measured decisions and look within themselves and their 'Bloods culture' to find the answers to our finals brain fades.....before the younger players become tainted by that failure. We have a winning culture at our club but we risk developing a 'nearly there' culture which will not bode well for our future.....I will go so far as to say if we make the finals next year but don't go all the way, a slide down the ladder is on the cards.....massive effort for little reward is draining on all involved and any clubs 'culture' can only stand up for so long under those circumstances.....while I feel our club is at a fairly perilous crossroad after last night, I still have confidence our club will prevail.
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