I’m sure players in every team, not just ours at the AAPT Brisbane Lions, feel like they live in a goldfish bowl for a lot of the time.
Why? Because everything that happens seems to get magnified. Wins tend to get embellished by many people outside of the club, while losses can be equally exaggerated.
This all was once again rammed home following our loss to Geelong last weekend. While our 77-point loss was certainly unexpected – and far from acceptable – others like Richmond copped an even bigger hiding. And then there is Fremantle, who don’t have a hope of achieving anything if you listen to much of the football media.
People are calling for inquests and writing teams off. Even at an individual level, Chris Judd has gone from Brownlow Medal favourite to several down in the line of betting.
Remarkably, all this on the strength of just one game.
If the Tigers have a win, Freo brush off Carlton, and we can take care of Essendon at the Gabba tomorrow night, all of a sudden the same teams that were pasted last week could well be lauded less than a week later.
I guess that is the fickle nature of the business, but I often wish everyone would take a more reasonable view of the football landscape.
That is one of the reasons why we enjoyed so much success here in the past. Irrespective of the result, the coaching staff ensured we maintain a level of composure that changed little between a big win, an average win, a loss, or a bad loss.
Maintaining the equilibrium is something that has not changed and you can be rest assured that a good win over Essendon won’t be greeted with over the top celebrations. Mind you, it would nonetheless make for a happier week leading into Easter!
