Saints 2.5 to Dogs 2.1 in last quarter

[bigcarl]

We need more composure under pressure. Billings would have iced it for us again.

[Teflon]

We need more composure under pressure. Billings would have iced it for us again.

We need to recruit class users of the ball pure and simple - it wasn't all Gilbert's fault but Gilbert has and always will be an ordinary ball user and in today's game that sets great teams apart from sometimes great/sometimes horrible losses

[Enrico_Misso]

Yep we should have won.
As opposed to last time when we stole it.

But in both games the Bulldogs CHOKED !!!

[Old Mate]

Add the class of Jack Billings, Jack Sinclair and Darcy Parish and we win!

[Junction Oval]

At great cost, we have recruited poor kicking players for many years now - the list is extensive. Why is this so

We should have won last night. Very poor kicking by a couple of well known culprits, sapped the confidence of the team. I was close to the fence when a couple of these occurred and you could see the looks on other Saints players, about how disappointed they were in the poor kick, which put them under more pressure.

When we have the ball, players run and set-up in anticipation of the next play, but when the kick is nowhere near the outcome expected, it puts them under immediate pressure to scramble and try to cover the error. As the coach said afterwards, poor kicking is poor football - "a huge understatement."

[bigcarl]

At great cost, we have recruited poor kicking players for many years now - the list is extensive. Why is this so

We should have won last night. Very poor kicking by a couple of well known culprits, sapped the confidence of the team. I was close to the fence when a couple of these occurred and you could see the looks on other Saints players, about how disappointed they were in the poor kick, which put them under more pressure.

When we have the ball, players run and set-up in anticipation of the next play, but when the kick is nowhere near the outcome expected, it puts them under immediate pressure to scramble and try to cover the error. As the coach said afterwards, poor kicking is poor football - "a huge understatement."

Gilbert should be told to kick it long to a contest. That way we have at least a chance of maintaining possession. Personally I'd whack him on the wing with precisely those instructions.

But anyhow, he's not the only offender. When the skipper turns one over you can see heads really drop.

[Eastern]

A BIT OF A DIFFERENT SPIN ON OUR KICKING:

All of the guys on our list can at least kick the ball "reasonably well". It is when they are under pressure that it breaks down. Could it be that they are not "Tight Enough" as a group at the moment, thereby not going that extra step to look after a team mate in these pressure situations? As human beings we all take that extra step for our BEST MATES and we need to find a way for ALL the players to be BEST MATES. It has been done before & it can be done again !!

[Bunk_Moreland]

We need more composure under pressure. Billings would have iced it for us again.

We need to recruit class users of the ball pure and simple - it wasn't all Gilbert's fault but Gilbert has and always will be an ordinary ball user and in today's game that sets great teams apart from sometimes great/sometimes horrible losses

I agree with this. One glaring mistake from Gilbert cost us a goal, however some of his turnovers was because he had nothing to kick to.

We are all guilt of ball watching but sometimes look downfield to see what the ball carrier has on offer.

When he got caught with the ball in the final term,he was attempting to make the play.

Does not disguise the fact that Gilbo has always been a poor kick.

I think we have some significant outs who can use the ball, Sinclair and Billing are great users and we have the likes of Jimmy Webster who is a lovely user.

When we draft Parish we will have another

[asiu]

Gilbert should be told to kick it long to a contest. That way we have at least a chance of maintaining possession. Personally I'd whack him on the wing with precisely those instructions. 

... i like.

[dragit]

A BIT OF A DIFFERENT SPIN ON OUR KICKING:

All of the guys on our list can at least kick the ball "reasonably well". It is when they are under pressure that it breaks down. Could it be that they are not "Tight Enough" as a group at the moment, thereby not going that extra step to look after a team mate in these pressure situations? As human beings we all take that extra step for our BEST MATES and we need to find a way for ALL the players to be BEST MATES. It has been done before & it can be done again !!

Don't think it's about being mates…

Sam Mitchell is famously a s*** bloke, only his mother likes him... but he nails nearly every kick under pressure.

Gilbert, Ray, Wright, Shenton, Geary, Curren, Saunders, Weller… Hawthorn just don't carry players with skills at their level. No amount of bonding camps will make these guys good kicks under pressure.

[SinCitySainter]

Gilbert should not be playing back of centre anymore as his missing targets is too costly when in defense.
I have no issue with him playing on the wing and kicking long as he does have a reasonable long boot on him but lacks accuracy and he breaks lines really well.
In a lot of ways he is very similar to Jason Gram.
Bringing the ball out of defense needs good disposal and thankfully we do have a few guys who are pretty good with the ball in hand such as Webster, Roberton and Newnes with Fisher to come back in.