It’s time to pack the car and head down the Bellarine Peninsula for a bit of surf, but before that I’ll post a blog entry.

It’s no secret our performance last week against the Kangas wasn’t the best but we have learnt from it.

While there is no doubt the game was disappointing, we have highlighted that we lost concentration for periods of the game and weren’t really switched on, which is a shame as it was a game we had an opportunity to win.

As long as we realise what we have done wrong then we can learn from our mistakes and improve as a team. It’s also better to pick up on them now rather than a few weeks down the track in the finals.

While the concentration lapses are a cause for concern we think it’s something we can get on top of.

As I said before the game, the Kangaroos are a good side and we knew what we were in for, but the bottom line is they were better on the night and deserved to win the match. Along with Brent Harvey I thought Matt Campbell, Lindsay Thomas and Peter Wells were very good for the Kangas.

Brent Harvey deserves to be where he is in the Brownlow betting and I think he’s a good chance. He’s also one of the hardest players in the competition to grab in a tackle. He’s so low to the ground and with his good footwork he can turn you inside out very easily and quickly.

We’re now past that loss and are looking ahead to a danger game against Essendon. The Bombers are still mathematically a chance to make the eightwhich makes them dangerous.

They will play like their season is on the line and we have to be ready for their running game.

Aside form that we’ll need to kick straight up front because down the other end there are two blokes by the name of Lloyd and Lucas who have been kicking bags of goals for years and are just as good now as they have ever been. With the Bombers having won four of their last five they will have their tails up.

While it’s a massive game for the fans of both clubs we don’t want to make it seem any more important than it is. Ultimately, despite the fervor of the fans, it is another game and one we need to win to attempt to stay in touch with the top four.

Speaking of the top four, it’s great to see the Hawthorn versus Geelong battle has been sold out at ‘the G’. I hope it’s a cracker of a game, but the way the Cats blew the Bulldogs away last week things are looking ominous for the Hawks.

I can’t let this post go without commenting on Joel Bowden’s tactics at the weekend.

I was watching that game and when Joel chipped it out and then rushed those behinds I was left thinking what a smart play! I’m sure it’s not what the fans want to see, they want to see a kick out and a scrap for a goal, but with four points and possibly Richmond’s season on the line Joel made a great play.

He copped some flak for it, but so what? He didn’t break the rules of the game, therefore I think what he did was perfectly fine.

Back at home my puppy Missi is going well and the only problem is getting her toilet trained. I took her down the club this week and she was a big hit with the boys.

Dale

I’ve finally got my new Bulldog, Missi and she is great with the exception of the damage she has been doing round the house, but that’s part of her being a puppy.
 
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We had a great trip to Sydney and got the result we wanted. It was a good game on both a club and personal level.
 
As a team we needed the win to push closer to the top four, which is definitely a goal, and also keep our winning streak over the Swans alive and stretch [...]

After what was a disappointing loss against the Western Bulldogs last time around we have a chance to get back on the winners list against the Sydney Swans.
 
It won’t be easy as they are one of the form teams of the competition,  but I think we can get over the line and recent history is [...]