The season is dead. Our home ground advantage lay in ruins. This was a year that many predicted, quite reasonably, would end in at least a very deep finals run, perhaps a Grand Final appearance or maybe even a premiership triumph. I wasn't as optimistic, it's not in my nature unfortunately, but I still expected a team that would probably sneak into the top 4 and with some luck make it to the preliminary final.
There's no point keeping up the pretence of finals now. You have to win at home to make finals. You have to be able to beat a few decent teams to make finals. You have to be consistent in effort and application to make finals. There are only 2 things we've been consistent at this season.
1. Players are consistently dropping like flies.
2. We consistently turn the ball over.
It happened yet again today. Sydney humiliated us on our home ground. The 34 point margin is a little flattering as they dominated after midway through the first. Far too strong, too powerful, too good. We fought out the game in the last quarter, but we never had it in us to win this one.
I'm not sure why but Rosa and Brennan were late withdrawals as Adam Selwood and Cale Morton got a call-up. Morton was the sub. for the first half before Shuey did his hammy, I guess, again, and was subbed off.
I really don't know what to say. The Swans were harder, more efficient, more resilient. We had decent patches, but patches don't win games.
I actually thought Morton was OK and might as well be given the rest of the season to show what he's got. Play the 'kids' I say. Nic Nat needs to be rested as he can't offer anything near his best at the moment. Some senior Eagles also need to consider whether this should be their last season and that very much includes the coach, a great Eagle, but ultimately the man responsible for this train wreck.
Nothing much else to say about the game per se. Except, good god, that was grim.
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On a positive note, for me anyway, I actually won seats in a corporate suite for this game. Besides the atrocious and dismal game unfortunately occurring before my eyes it was a pretty great, if slightly surreal experience. It was in the SGIO suite, as part of that work crew promotion thing, hats off to the chef, steward and co. Gourmet food, unlimited drinks, great vantage point (saw every Eagles turnover perfectly). The steward literally kept coming back and forth asking if we wanted food/drink. So this is how the other half lives huh?
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| Good seats, atrocious game. |
The surreal part was at half time when Auzzie the Eagle and Brad Sheppard swung by. I was a little concerned that a meeting between Auzzie the Eagle and the Misanthropic Eagle would not go well, but he was impeccably behaved.
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| Both unimpressed with the performance. |
As for Brad Sheppard- very nice and affable fellow. My guest and I even had an opportunity for a little chat with the Good Sheppard (now forever known as the GOOD Sheppard) for a few minutes. Highlights;
- Explanation for what's gone on this season? Lack of consistency re injuries + mistakes, turnovers etc.
- All players want Worsfold to stay, but the Good Sheppard has no idea either way.
-Favourite moments from career thus far; Debut + win after the siren vs North Melbourne
- Steven Baker is the most annoying person the Good Sheppard has had the displeasure of manning up on. Apparently he was only on him for 5 minutes but that was enough as Baker pinched, poked and stamped down on his feet behind the ball. Geez, makes Crowley seem like a half-decent human being.
- His reaction to the meagre 2 weeks handed down to McKernan after the elbow to the head- "I was shocked". Apparently, he felt very dazed after that horrible 'effort' from McKernan. Fair to say we all felt the same.
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| Nickname confirmed: He is The Good Sheppard |
In conclusion, really seems like a good guy. It's fair to say he hasn't reached the heights that his high draft pick might suggest he could/should, but he did have a decent 2012. Hopefully he can continue to improve and grow into the future.
So yeah, if you ever have the chance to get into a corporate suite grab it with both hands, or claws in my case.
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