Autopsy A great effort is when you win. (vent)

[El_Scorcho]

Ken said this after the 4 point loss to the Swans in Sydney.

"We lost, that’s not a great effort. A great effort is when you win. You don’t accept great effort, I don’t think, and we’re not going to be a football club that does that."

It rings even truer today than it did then.

I'm reading a lot of "I'm so proud" type posts and facebook statuses etc, and you know what, I agree with them a little bit. I love these boys and the effort they put in and their desire to win. But we're past the point of being proud of good efforts now IMO.

Being brave and leaving everything on the field shouldn't be being commended, it should be the absolute baseline standard if you want to be a member of this team. Clapping a "brave" effort is something you do when you are shit. It's something you do when 2010 era Tom Logan has his head bandaged 2 minutes into the game and we lose in a close game where we probably should have lost by more. I'm not going to clap a brave effort, but i'd drop and consider delisting any player who didn't bust a gut every time he stepped on the field in our guernsey.

Nobody, after that effort tonight, should be dropped or delisted. I'd go in unchanged again if we were playing next week if selecting purely on effort.

But unfortunately, you don't win finals because you tried harder, you win finals because you had more points than the opposition when the siren went. Moral victories are an absolute furphy. It doesn't matter that the umps were shit and it doesn't matter than you probably deserved to win.

You win finals because you play smart footy under pressure and because you execute. There is no better team at executing than our opponents tonight. They get the ball, the move it surgically down the field and they find a target. When they have a shot on goal, they finish.

We had shot after shot in the first quarter, plenty of them easy, perfectly gettable goals. You can't kick 3.9 in a quarter in an away Prelim and expect to win. We were absolutely all over Hawthorn and we were getting the ball forward with ease, but it's all for nothing if you miss regulation shots at goal.

In the second quarter, we were just dumb at stoppages. Really dumb. I think clearances are a bit of a bogus stat, because they award a clearance for a hack hospital ball that goes forward 25m and they also award a clearance for a chain of handballs or Robbie Gray ( #graypride ) magic that leads to an unpressured kick forward. I felt like Hawthorn kept getting the latter, especially in the 2nd quarter. We'd leave no one out the back (time after time) and we'd fumble, it would spill behind us where 3 Hawks would waltz off with it. Conceding those sorts of clearances, especially in bunches, is a game killer.

Despite blowing our chances with stupid errors and dumb football in the first half, I still felt like we'd had the better of it and it was really frustrating to be down at that point. You knew we would get back into it because we have that ability to go into unstoppable mode, but Hinkley's momentum mantra means cashing in when you are on top and limiting the damage when you aren't. The first half was the antithesis of that.

It really was a game of one team taking their chances and one team failing to. That's what it boils down to. And you know what, every preliminary final we play in, and it should be plenty over the next few years, will boil down to the same thing. You know we'll be up and about, you know we'll be hard and brave. Those are non-negotiables at Port Adelaide. But it doesn't matter how hard we try if we don't execute. Every other prelim final team will also be hard and brave, and will show up and leave everything on the field as well. It's not enough. If the other team finishes off their hard work better than us, we'll lose again, and **** losing it ****ing sucks.

The talent for us is there, the gameplan is there, everything we need is there. We are a better football side than Hawthorn if we execute. We are a better side than anyone if we execute. The Richmond first half, the Freo second half. That is Port Adelaide football. That football is unstoppable and if we play that sort of football for 4 weeks in September, we're too good not to win the flag.

I'm can't bring myself to get into the "so proud" spirit because I feel like we're patting them on the back for doing the non-negotiables. Celebrating that is like handing out a participation certificate. I judge this side on how it executes under pressure. Tonight, not so well.

I'd love to hug each and every one of the boys for the season they've given us, but i'd be whispering in some ears asking what the **** happened when they were 35m out straight in front and sprayed it.

PS. If I hear one person whinging about umpires in this thread i'll lose my shit. We aren't the Crows or Kangaroos and we don't make excuses for losing games of football. That's garbage that loser clubs peddle out. We understand that we lost because we didn't play well enough to win and we bloody well play better next time. Yes, Matthew Stevic is a campaigner and i'm a card carrying member of the "Matthew Stevic is a campaigner" club, but he's not the reason we lost and thinking that he is is a losers mindset. We lost that game all by ourselves.

 

[brad the brain]

Lucky we don't play next week otherwise you might get a game Mr Expert.

 

[findonite]

Yeah......nah.

 

[edgie]

I agree with a lot of that, but not saying how proud we are. We lived up to the creed, we exhausted human endeavour, and that is a non negotiable. We did everything we could, yes we let ourselves down, and I pray, I pray that won't be lost on the players or the coaches over summer, but we also gave ourselves every chance to win. I am proud, we fought it out, it meant something to all of them, now learn from it, learn what you did right, what you did wrong, and never, ever give up.

 

[Ant Bear]

The winners mentality. It is what the Creed epitomises. And I reckon that we did the Creed proud today. There can be honour in defeat, and we left nothing out on the field of battle today.
A good effort can also result in a loss. But from now on, we should, must, will...EXPECT TO WIN!! And be satisfied with nought but.

 

[steve4445]

very disappointed and angry at the result as we should have had the game almost locked down at quarter time if we had kicked straight.

I was one to put up such a status on Facebook but its not proud of tonight's loss, its proud of the way this great club has bounced back from being on its knees both on and off the field - i dead set thought this is the end after we lost to GWS, i thought the crowds will drop even further increasing the financial strain and our team was playing a horrible horrible brand of football - its been so amazing to come to adelaide oval and see the team playing a exciting brand of football in front of a full stadium, record membership base and hopefully on the way to building a strong and financially stable brand.

To put it frank im so F**KING proud of this football club and incredibly proud as to the turn around and I guarantee you that Kenny will not be using the line "we were a kick away from a grand final" ever as an excuse!!

 

[finbarr]

Lucky we don't play next week otherwise you might get a game Mr Expert.

Whether you agree with El_Schorco or not his post was well laid out, well thought through, and from the heart. Personally I have a bit if a foot in both camps on this argument.
So anyway, as I was saying, he's put a lot of effort and consideration into his words and feelings and he deserves a much more respectful reply than this typical utter nonsense we've come to expect from a blow-in like you.

 

[El_Scorcho]

The winners mentality. It is what the Creed epitomises. And I reckon that we did the Creed proud today. There can be honour in defeat, and we left nothing out on the field of battle today.

This is probably the crux of what i'm arguing against. I don't disagree with this statement at all. But consider these three statements:

I think we are better than Hawthorn when we give it our all
I thought we absolute busted a gut and left it all on the field and worked harder than Hawthorn
We lost the football match

It doesn't line up, does it? What's missing is execution.

Maybe we should exhaust all human endeavor to learn to kick regulation goals. Clearly we weren't good enough at kicking for goal under pressure.

The Creed isn't just about match days.

Also, I don't agree that there can be honour in defeat if you are a better football side than the one that defeats you (barring injury etc)

 

[edgie]

This is probably the crux of what i'm arguing against. I don't disagree with this statement at all. But consider these three statements:

I think we are better than Hawthorn when we give it our all
I thought we absolute busted a gut and left it all on the field and worked harder than Hawthorn
We lost the football match

It doesn't line up, does it? What's missing is execution.

Maybe we should exhaust all human endeavor to learn to kick regulation goals. Clearly we weren't good enough at kicking for goal under pressure.

The Creed isn't just about match days.

Also, I don't agree that there can be honour in defeat if you are a better football side than the one that defeats you (barring injury etc)

How many regulation goals did we miss? I'm talking, 0 - 40m, 30 degree angle? I remember a lot of shots pushed up against the boundary, or outside 50. You can't kick everything. I'm not saying it is excusable, but I am saying we need to find a better way to give our forwards a better chance (like those guys in poo and wee). We need to stop kicking to Neade 2 vs 1.

 

[El_Scorcho]

How many regulation goals did we miss? I'm talking, 0 - 40m, 30 degree angle? I remember a lot of shots pushed up against the boundary, or outside 50. You can't kick everything.

The ones that particularly sting for me were the Schulz 40m out on a slight angle set shot, and the Polec shot on the run on the siren. Both in the first quarter.

 

[Dylan8]

Whether you agree with El_Schorco or not his post was well laid out, well thought through, and from the heart. Personally I have a bit if a foot in both camps on this argument.
So anyway, as I was saying, he's put a lot of effort and consideration into his words and feelings and he deserves a much more respectful reply than this utter, typical nonsense from a blow-invoke you.

Seriously I've only been here a short time but I've noticed a few people popping up with straight mouthbreathing tripe over the last few months. It's irritating alright.

How many regulation goals did we miss? I'm talking, 0 - 40m, 30 degree angle? I remember a lot of shots pushed up against the boundary, or outside 50. You can't kick everything. I'm not saying it is excusable, but I am saying we need to find a better way to give our forwards a better chance (like those guys in poo and wee). We need to stop kicking to Neade 2 vs 1.

Ahoy, Scorcho's "third tall" thread beckons.

Anyway, this has been a consistent theme all year, we tend to kick it to the pockets on tight angles a lot. I don't know whether this is due to the midfielders and their delivery, or the timing and direction of leads from forwards, I'm not adept enough to figure it out.

 

[edgie]

The ones that particularly sting for me were the Schulz 40m out on a slight angle set shot, and the Polec shot on the run on the siren. Both in the first quarter.

Yes I agree 100% with this, and I wonder what they were doing in the warm up if not practicing goals and working out the conditions.

However I also remember 2 Schulz ones pushed up where the 50m meets the boundary, and another practically behind the point post. That's just one player. Then we have Andrew Moore kicking from row 3.

 

[Ant Bear]

4 of our behinds were rushed. But we did miss too many gettable shots. Schulz from a set shot, Polec twice, Chad intercept mark and play on, Ollie once or twice, Lobbe's set shot. More composure under finals pressure required. We will learn from the experience.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

So many times you see a club hang their hat on an honourable finals loss only to drop down the ladder the next year.

I don't want this to be us. So proud of the players and the club - but we are nearly there, we can't forever be nearly there.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I understand the emotions of today but very personal abuse directed at posters is not warranted and against BF rules.

 

[Dalfino]

When looking at our season as a whole, do I think it was a great effort? - yes.

When looking at the general play today, do I think it was a great effort? - yes.

When looking at our conversion in front of goal, do I think it was a great effort? - it was a f****** 5 year old's effort.

My little brother - 11 year's of age - has been playing school football for two years. He trains once a week and plays once a week. He plays football a few times a week at school during recess and lunch, but that is about it. He has only ever kicked 2 goals in his life - both on the run, but I swear to the almighty god that he has a better set shot that most AFL players. He can kick 30m drop punts in a perfectly straight line and they will sail half way up the post - so why the f*** can't people do that? Schulz has been doing it all season, but why didn't he do it when it mattered? Polec missed about 5 million snaps on goal. Wingard was hopeless, Westhoff was hopeless - Monfries tried hard, but he didn't convert for shit during the home and away season. It pisses me off so much that we miss our set shots on goal all the time. The boys train nearly everyday - high intensity for a fair few hours, doing all sorts of fitness and stoppage drills - but what they don't practice is kicking a f****** ball through two f******* sticks. We've been doing it for seasons, and now it's pissing me off. It cost us the game today - the umpires didn't, the general play didn't, the stoppages didn't - our shots on goal did.

I'm normally a fairly optimistic and inspiration-hunting person, but I think that the players really need to get this through their heads over the summer. Not good enough.

 

[Ant Bear]

Lucky we don't play next week otherwise you might get a game Mr Expert.

Brad, mate. Look, you've got to show more respect for your elders. And even if you don't agree with them, try to construct an argument based on fact and opinions, not just one-line putdowns. Your input is welcome here - it is a public forum, but if you offend the long-time users here then you can expect a savage response from the entourage

Whether you agree with El_Schorco or not his post was well laid out, well thought through, and from the heart. Personally I have a bit if a foot in both camps on this argument.
So anyway, as I was saying, he's put a lot of effort and consideration into his words and feelings and he deserves a much more respectful reply than this typical utter nonsense we've come to expect from a blow-in like you.

Finny, the kid is 16. His postings are inflammatory and thoughtless sometimes, but what were you like at 16? Did you have the empathy and compassion that you now possess? Some kids have it, such as Awesomedal. Some will develop it with the right guidance.

quote of deleted post removed by FF

 

[edgie]

It all stems from Mick ****ing Malthouse all those years ago, to paraphrase "I don't worry if we are missing chances as long as we keep creating chances"

No Mick, they don't add up chances on the scorecard, they add up Goals and Behinds. I hope Ken isn't a student of this school of thought.

 

[Power Raid]

I agree with a lot of that, but not saying how proud we are. We lived up to the creed, we exhausted human endeavour, and that is a non negotiable. We did everything we could, yes we let ourselves down, and I pray, I pray that won't be lost on the players or the coaches over summer, but we also gave ourselves every chance to win. I am proud, we fought it out, it meant something to all of them, now learn from it, learn what you did right, what you did wrong, and never, ever give up.

yep

win didn't lose because of a lack of effort or a lack of spirit.

I am choosing to remain positive despite the outcome

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

I'll take an honorable exit for this season.

But no more from now. Our premiership window realistically opened round 1, 2014.

It's premiership or bust from now on.

 

[Port81]

I think most people are saying how proud they are because...1... not many really gave us a chance and 2... because we went down swinging to the very end and gave them a mighty scare...Facts are, we are the 3rd best team in the comp and are only getting better, we have another 7-8 years to create a dynasty.

 

[El_Scorcho]

yep

win didn't lose because of a lack of effort or a lack of spirit.

I am choosing to remain positive despite the outcome

I'm also positive really.

I watched us outplay one of the great teams of the modern era, on their deck, with them coming off a week's break.

We can go with anyone. We just have to actually do it.

 

[Eric Blair]

So proud of the boys. I thought it was a magnificent effort.

Clever trolling, almost got away with it. Almost.

 

[Gray Day]

So proud of the boys. I thought it was a magnificent effort.

Get out of here baseball flog!!

 

[b0ydman]

Vent. Ok

Behinds
Umpires
Eberts play on.
Moore kicking for goal
The ump pushing him wider on the mark.
Umps.
Lol forward line set up, please Ken, Wtf Neade one out?
Same team in gf again

Had it in our grasp.

Sigh