Intensity at last.


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Posted by David Janssen on 06 July, 1998 at 14:23:37:

Dear All,

I was there.
I lost my voice.
I froze my arse off.
I nearly broke my plastic seat when a free kick was given against Gavin Brown for 'chucking' over the back of his head when the replay showed it was clearly a handpass.
I did break my plastic seat when the same umpire gave a free kick to Derek Hall for a high tackle when the replay showed he was holding the ball for ages before he ducked his head into the arms of a SECOND collingwood player tackling him.

They were intense at the ball for the whole game and it was fantastic.
They are better then many of us think.
If they can keep up that commitment during a game then they are magnificent.
They have the skill as a team to beat anyone, I have no doubt, but it is that edge that other teams have that Collingwood will have to develop.....that is the hunger and intensity at the ball for ALL of the game.

They did that against Geelong and won.
They now have to WANT to win some more.

Yeah Yeah....I know what some of you are thinking.
Where was I in the last few weeks when we were getting our pride kicked.
We were crap in losing but we were committed for only part of those games and I restrained myself in not joining in the call for half the team and coach to be sacked because I thought we are better that what we were seeing. I still went to the footy of course and only could hope.

Still a long way to go, but this win was so important for team morale if nothing else.
Tony Shaw might still go at the end of the year but some of these so called 'useless' players are worth hangin onto.

Clintin King: surprised the crap out of me. Terrible in the reserves but CAN handle senior footy. He prooved that.
Frankie Raso: reminds me of Brett James, clever and cool.
Getting better all the time.
Luke Godden: I think he has made it. I once wanted him sent to the moon and left there but he does have a ton of skill.
Chad Liddell: He is usually crap in the reserves but busts his guts in the seniors. Was magnificent yesterday and should not be used as a scapegoat any more. Has established himself.
Simon Prestigiacomo: Could possibly handle full back. Needs to be confident to play well. The timing of his defensive skills is improving and he has the height and mobility to cope with most full forwards. Worth persisting with.
Andrew Schauable: Now I like the way this guy plays and it is worth keeping him. He looks a little unco some times but his strength over head is an asset.
Anthony Rocca: I have heard so many people saying that he is a dud. Well you can all kiss my rear end. He is only 20 you can say what you want but he will be worth the wait. What was Sav doing when he was 20. More inconsistant than Anthony and now Sav is a top five player at the club.
Jason Wild: still looks ordinary, and he still might be dumped at years end but it is up to him because he can be committed. Lucky yesterday that he had the opportunity to make up for that shocking first shot for goal. I was ready to run out and strangle him if he had missed that second shot.Jury still out.

The older players are on tenderhooks but we cannot get rid of them all because experience must count for something when rebuilding. (Ie: Monkhurst, T.Francis, M.Francis, Osborne, and Wright.)
Leave the other oldies alone because they are consistently good.(ie Brown, Crossisca, McDonald, Mark Richardson who has been fantastic this year)

Have I fogotten someone or something.

Long and winded but I had to make up for a month of silence.

Regards,

Dave




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