Re: AFL 2007
Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 5:49 pm
And since this thread seems to have turned into a how good are those Roos going thread I thought I'd post a blog I wrote after beating the Swans last week:
me wrote:Well done Kangaroos, I was wrong to doubt you.
Dean Laidley spoke about the 'Shinboner Spirit' all week and his words had the desired effect. Saturday night's performance was among the best I have seen for the last couple of years (and not just because I enjoy beating Sydney more than anyone else). It was brilliant and gritty all at once and it came at the expense of a much highly fancied opponent, allowing fans to dream as they had dared not to this year.
For the first half of the match last years grand finalists were thoroughly dominated. The Swans stars were given no freedom to move and found themselves seven goals down before they could muster one of their own. When they tried to step up a gear in the latter stages the Kangaroos matched them and refused to give in.
In the first five matches of 2007 that shinboner spirit had been there: written off by all the experts the Roos were in every contest. They had won the first quarter on every occasion and had fought ferociously throughout as evidenced by the fact they are leading the league in hard ball gets.
Their tenacity finally paid off in round 4 with their first won of the year and from then they have only become stronger and more determined. This latest victory, more so than the previous two, has provided hope for a good season as it demonstrates that we are able to match the top teams.
What's more is there is still so much room for improvement in the side. In all matches the Kangaroos have started strongly only to fade away. However if they were to string together four full quarters they would be capable of destroying an opponent in a similar style to what Geelong has already done this season. After all Geelong were one of the teams the Kangaroos have knocked off.
The next three opponents appear easier prospects than Sydney and if the Kangaroos maintain the determined attitude they are certainly capable of winning all three. Should they manage this then they will be well on their way to a top eight finish.
Given their preseason favouritism for the wooden spoon, not to mention the off field distractions of boardroom dramas and possible permanent relocation, this would be an amazing effort