While the coaches across the league plead and beg for their players to execute the game-plans perfectly, we are hoping that message is never fully realised.
If everything is played out perfectly, how would we ever maintain the dream that we can use that oddly shaped ball better than some of these professional athletes?
So, in this edition of Blunders, we pay homage to those who have sacrificed the perfect game in order to give the real people a sense of hope.
The fact that some of these are just downright embarrassing is just an added bonus…
Matthew Kreuzer, Carlton:
Carlton was incredibly impressive against Collingwood on Friday night, and Matthew Kreuzer was no expection. Kreuzer made a two-time Premiership ruckman look second rate, and his ability to push forward caused the Pie defence nightmares.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/operationone/
One thing Kreuzer will be having his own nightmares about however, is the moment he decided to play on after taking a mark in the goal square.
Why Kreuze? You marked it in the goal square, go back, slam it through, follow teammate Marc Murphy’s lead and give ‘Joffa’ the bird and go on your way. It’s not difficult.
Instead Kreuzer attempted to play on, was tackled immediately by Harry O’Brien and the ball rolled through for a rushed behind.
It could be argued that Kreuzer got a boot to ball as he fell in the tackle, but when you’re going to play on in such unnecessary fashion, the point is perfect punishment for Kreuzer.
Well that and being shamed on the Blunders of the Week.
Runner Number 52, Western Bulldogs.
Here at Blunders of the Week we want to let anyone and everyone know that their mistakes will be found and they will be put under the spotlight.
Saturday night’s game between the Bulldogs and Saints provided the perfect opportunity to prove our dedication to blunders.
Early in the last quarter, the Dogs were trying to bring some respectability back to a scoreboard which had blown out during the third quarter. Thanks to their runner, the quarter began in the worst way.
Being a runner is a difficult job, and it is inevitable that runners will come near the play, but it is vital that runners make the right decision to get out of the way and allow play to continue free from interference.
So when Runner Number 52 was faced with either running toward the contest on the boundary where the ball was clearly headed, or heading into the centre and avoiding the contest, it appeared to be an easy decision.
Not so, as 52 got in the way and gave St Kilda a free kick, leading to the first goal of the quarter being kicked by Stephen Milne.
Cameron O’Shea, Port Adelaide
Being a young player in the AFL is a tough job, so when you’re substituted in a close match, things become tougher.
Nerves start to come into play, being unable to influence a tight contest can be frustrating, and that’s why subs are desperate to make an immediate impact once stripping out of the green vest.
And in some regards, Cameron O’Shea succeeded, as his time on the ground greatly influenced the result of Saturday’s match against the Swans, just not quite how he intended.
O’Shea’s a young player, so we’ll go easy, but making mistakes in the back half is clearly bad enough. When these mistakes lead to opposition goals – well that’s even worse.
When it happens three times in the last quarter of a match where the teams are separated by nine points, well that’s just awful.
O’Shea fumbled twice, allowing Lewis Jetta and Ryan O’Keefe easy goals, and gave away a free kick to Shane Mumford who also goaled. Unfortunately for O’Shea, the game was then out of reach.
Let’s hope he puts these errors behind him as he certainly looks a strong prospect for Port Adelaide.
Hamish Hartlett, Port Adelaide
Hamish Hartlett is quickly becoming one of the leaders at Alberton Oval, and whilst he, like O’Shea, can claim inexperience for his errors, some things should just be known by players of any age in the AFL.
Two of these golden rules are to know your limitations and to know what your opponent is capable of. So, when Hartlett found himself opposing Adam Goodes, there had to be an understanding of what the Sydney champ can do.
When Hartlett quickly played on after a Swan behind there was no doubt that Hartlett would have to be at his best to even get the ball past Goodes, and that his best course of action would be to dispose of it before Goodes could interfere.
Hartlett instead attempted to get past Goodes, but fortunately for the Power, was taken high as Goodes closed in for the tackle.
Lesson learnt right?
Hartlett once again tried to take on the two-time Brownlow Medallist, only this time, he was legally tackled by Goodes and forced to handball indiscriminately as the pressure mounted.
Matters were made worse when Hartlett had no choice but to watch Goodes pick up the loose ball, take three steps and snap a wonderful goal from the boundary.
Maybe just a long kick over the man on the mark to the boundary line next time, Hamish?
Hero of the Week:
Jack Ziebell and the North Melbourne Kangaroos:
Ziebell was phenomenal on Sunday against the reigning premiers as he pushed himself to another level of elite performance; or maybe he was just proving North Melbourne’s high expectations as justified?
Either way he was brilliant, surging out of packs with pin-point disposal and capping it off with a ridiculous set shot goal late in the last.
Ziebell finished with 27 disposals, seven clearances and four goals as he helped set up a massive victory.
Coach Brad Scott asked his side several times in 2011 to lift against the elite teams of the competition but it only achieved mixed results; so to see his team control a match against the champs would have given him extreme satisfaction.
Is it a sign of things to come? We sure hope so, as North’s youngsters were simply magnificent against the battle hardened Cats.
Got some links to some embarrassing action?We’d love to see it…
