By GEOFF STEVENSON
Blame and The Departed
Blame. We all do. When it hits the fan our instinct is to quickly find someone (other than ourselves) to blame. In weaker moments I haven’t even restricted my blame for things that draw breath. The car, the dog, that random old lady who always seems to cross at the crossing when I’m running late for work. It’s always someone or something’s fault. As long as it’s not mine.
Then we are back in balance and life goes on. Just as I’m sure things did at Bulldogs training this week. Dessy of course unloaded in his usually obtuse way on the referees after the Dogs loss to the Panthers on Sunday. Journos smirked, fans yawned, the NRL madmen angered and the next thing you know it’s Tuesday and the teams are being named for round 2.
Life goes on. Everyone, in various degrees, are happy to move on.
AND…harmony is maintained at the Bulldogs. Des can inspire his team, who made 13 errors in round 1 before attempting an inspired comeback, to throw their bodies into a clash against the Eels five days later. Which has been missed in the commentary about Dessie’s rant this week.
Coaches work in high pressure roles, referees are the easiest target to blame, no-one would ever imagine focusing criticism towards, say, the players who have the greatest role to in whether the team wins or loses. But more important than any post-game venting is the maintenance of team morale.
Players have feelings, they trust and believe in their mentor and (generally) have the support of the playing group. Criticism that affects this group may not make too much of a difference this week, but it’s like arsenic in the diet over time it’s often terminal.
And coaches know it. Why else do they so rarely go there when it comes to giving one of their players a serve in a press conference. So either a) they are positive/circumspect about
the teams performance or b) they blame the ref. What we will never know is what works
the best…
And the Departed… Why do coaches who lose big name players to other teams talk about ‘going to the marketplace’ to look for a ‘replacement’. Is it code for ‘our juniors are crap at the moment’? I’d more likely believe that fans, the media, whoever need to hear how the hole is going to be filled, quick!
Quick fixes can work. But it’s worth remembering that most of our superstars got their chance jumping up a grade to fill the shoes of a departing star, not after switching clubs to ‘replace’ one.
