Was the team distracted by mourning Shane Warne?

[Sanctorum]

On Friday night there was a lot of attention focussed pre-game on Shane Warne's love for St Kilda and his connections to the club over 30 years.

I don't know what was said in the rooms before the game but it certainly failed to fire up the players who went on to lose a game they were expected to win.

The same thing happened twice in previous years - the first was a pre-game address to the players by club legend Tony Lockett, followed some time later by the mourning of another club great, Danny Frawley. On both occasions the Saints lost games they were favoured to win.

Seems to me that these distractions at a crucial time in the preparation of the players may well have had a seriously negative impact.

Coincidence or real???

[Vortex]

On Friday night there was a lot of attention focussed pre-game on Shane Warne's love for St Kilda and his connections to the club over 30 years.

I don't know what was said in the rooms before the game but it certainly failed to fire up the players who went on to lose a game they were expected to win.

The same thing happened twice in previous years - the first was a pre-game address to the players by club legend Tony Lockett, followed some time later by the mourning of another club great, Danny Frawley. On both occasions the Saints lost games they were favoured to win.

Seems to me that these distractions at a crucial time in the preparation of the players may well have had a seriously negative impact.

Coincidence or real???

You do realise the focus was for, AND by the TV audience alone. I would doubt his name would have even been mentioned in the change rooms while preparing for a game.

No excuses, the issue is very simple, this team is physically and mentally soft and our coach prefers cuddles over crunching tackles.

[Sainter_Dad]

The Frawley game was lost to the eventual Premiers - so I do not know how we were favoured to win - but I agree with your thoughts on:

Big Games
Memorial Games
Friday Night Games
Marquee Games
Milestone Games

We never truly show up until 1/2 time
[As opposed to our regular 1/4 time appearance]

[shanegrambeau]

Not at all distracted by Warnie.

We were crap. A mess. And a tad unlucky at times.

Regulation s*** sandwich.

[Saintmatt]

If they were distracted by the Warne thing then my God … we have so many bigger issues to deal with

[realdeal]

The Frawley game was lost to the eventual Premiers - so I do not know how we were favoured to win - but I agree with your thoughts on:

Big Games
Memorial Games
Friday Night Games
Marquee Games
Milestone Games

We never truly show up until 1/2 time
[As opposed to our regular 1/4 time appearance]

Mentally fragile comes to mind.... instead of embracing the limelight and the moment we retreat, become reactive and shy away from taking the front foot...

A hallmark of the past 10 years...

[Vortex]

The Frawley game was lost to the eventual Premiers - so I do not know how we were favoured to win - but I agree with your thoughts on:

Big Games
Memorial Games
Friday Night Games
Marquee Games
Milestone Games

We never truly show up until 1/2 time
[As opposed to our regular 1/4 time appearance]

Mentally fragile comes to mind.... instead of embracing the limelight and the moment we retreat, become reactive and shy away from taking the front foot...

A hallmark of the past 10 years...

There's that word again -- FRAGILE -- this list is as fragile as I've seen at a football club for an long time.

It just dawned on me, for the past few years we've been incorrectly focusing on what the issue is, it's just plain simple fragility, and in every sense of the word. Mentally and physically the team go missing when the moment arrives to deliver.

That's it plain and simple.

[The Fireman]

They were distracted by the terrible handling of the ball and Poor coaching

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Seems to me that under Finnis the club has encouraged mental fragility. It's the touchy-feeliest club in the comp.

The pre-match cuddle room. Players meditating on the field. Virtue signalling on social issues. Carte blanche absences to players with emotional issues. A mentor for the coach.

All very well and good, but the AFL is a brutal combat sport, not table tennis. This needs to be addressed swiftly.

Methinks that GT for one can see this clearly and is getting very frustrated by it.

[kosifantutti]

They’re still mourning Rod Marsh.

It’s Warne’s turn next.

[Teflon]

No

[B.M]

Seriously

[amusingname]

Seems to me that under Finnis the club has encouraged mental fragility. It's the touchy-feeliest club in the comp.

The pre-match cuddle room. Players meditating on the field. Virtue signalling on social issues. Carte blanche absences to players with emotional issues. A mentor for the coach.

All very well and good, but the AFL is a brutal combat sport, not table tennis. This needs to be addressed swiftly.

Methinks that GT for one can see this clearly and is getting very frustrated by it.

Yeah, GT would never do something like cancel training because the players were feeling tired and decide to take them to the movies for the afternoon instead or anything like that would he?

[repta]

there is absolutely no focus on winning a Premiership. No focus on just playing.

We are the Champion of selling off games (then not bothering to turn up) ... Tassie, China, Cairns etc etc
Every woke cause
Players who think playing is optional (Off season is best part of 6 months, however you need to 'go find yourself" in the season)

Dont even want to mention when we are given Marquee Games and not bother to show up (Good Friday anyone....)

[repta]

Seems to me that under Finnis the club has encouraged mental fragility. It's the touchy-feeliest club in the comp.

The pre-match cuddle room. Players meditating on the field. Virtue signalling on social issues. Carte blanche absences to players with emotional issues. A mentor for the coach.

All very well and good, but the AFL is a brutal combat sport, not table tennis. This needs to be addressed swiftly.

Methinks that GT for one can see this clearly and is getting very frustrated by it.

the mental toughness of the Table Tennis players would flatten our rabble