The two hardest things in life!!

[JAMESMANSON]

Ive been sitting at work today stewing, somthing Ive done since the siren rang on Saturday. Im stewing because Saturdays performance was below par and against a quality side and we ALL know it. But I will not quit now, I wont act like a Richmond supporter and turn on the coach, I wont act like those other talentless shmuck Carlton and Melbourne supporters and turn on the players-they are seven weeks away from this clubs greatest moment in the last 13 years!!

As the great man said the two hardest things in life are getting started (and by god we've done that) and NEVER NEVER quitting-so to every other Victorian club supporter who today has been seeking out their Collingwood counterparts to heap scorn well you only wish you could be a member of the GREAT magpie army because when you are in the army you "never walk alone" and we wont be rolling over for ANYONE...Brisbane included! To those interstate clubs what you saw on Saturday was the worst performance you are going to see this year so beware....we are coming...backed by the 100% support of the ARMY.

Lets look at the facts. Tarrant will never again take as few marks. Bradshaw is a poor match up for Tazza when the ball comes in effciently. To this end restricting Keatings dominance is step one- after the first quarter we did this effectively in the centre and wont again get caught out by Brisbane's insistance of throwing two up in the ruck contests around the ground-in fact this is there achilies heal is-if they throw two up we will run the loose man off the back of the pack on the offensive side or run a second ruckman as well. Secondly we wont fall into the trap of letting Hart drop off the packs at stoppages (which by the way is only succesful if Brisbane win the clearances). We will man up and be more aware. In the centre we were slow on Saturday to adjust to a dominant ruckman who was hitting the ball forward as opposed to the palming ruckman we have had over the last few weeks. This was especially evident with the Brisbane wingman and half-forwards slipping quickly into the square-we are too smart to be caught out again and will be better drilled next time. Add to this that EVERY player can look in the mirror and say to himself that HE individually can play better next time AND WILL. Brisbane played as well as they can Saturday and still failed to put us away. We are only as wounded as we believe we are and as Sun Zsu says BEWARE THE WOUNDED OPPONENT-it is when they are most dangerous.

Add to this a fit Cloke who tries his guts out and must be already licking his lips for another shot at Brown, A fitter Licca, Taz covering the ground better, Magic Leon to come back, Josh having learnt a lesson against Keating and proving yet again that he is NEVER beaten twice-he is not a No.1 draft pick for nothing and Presti and Wakes teaming up to dominate Lynch who is coming to the end of a long and difficult season and finals campaign where he may need to play four tough finals (some away from home) and we can take this mob!!

Finally the comments and attitude of the Brisbane players after the game seemed to suggest that they fancy themselves against us-especially mentally and physically. Well- they have won all bar one of the last X number of games. It seems as though they dont respect the mental toughness or agression at the ball of the Pies. Well there are not many things in life that one can control but by goodness we can control that and I fully expect that we are not going to be stood over, we arent going to back down, we are going to look at each and every player in the Brisbane side and ask ourselves can we each beat our man on the day and are we going to do everything on the day to achieve our ends and I come to the same answer each time- OF COURSE WE ARE!!!!!!!!!

So here goes- Step one is to steel ourselves and smash Adelaide this week and send a warning to the other teams that we aren't dead by a long way. We must dominate from the opening bounce, be first to the loose ball, harras, hassle, pressure, punch from behind and above all maintain our enthusiasm and discipline and once that Trojan horse is inside their structure crush them. Then once that is done set a high standard at training each and everytime we are on the track-our focus must be single minded until the siren rings on Grand Final day. Likewise our support must not waver for a second-We have come so far already but our destiny is fast approaching. Lets make sure we are the best prepared as it arrives.

TO THE PLAYERS I SAY-GO PIES..THE ARMY IS 100% BEHIND YOU AND YOU CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. JUST THINK WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE WHEN THAT SIREN GOES ON GRAND FINAL DAY....Saturdays game will be just a memory and will have had no impact on your ultimate goal....

REMEMBER: THE TWO HARDEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE GETTING STARTED AND NEVER NEVER NEVER QUITTING. WE DONT QUIT!

[Dr. Rock]

Excellent Jamesmanson well written and very true.
Do you mind if i read this live on the radio show sunday night? If it looks good written imagine how good it could sound on air!
cheers

[JAMESMANSON]

Feel free to use it which ever way you please......just be sure to read it with PASSION!

Let me know where and when so I can listen in.

Go Pies

[Dr. Rock]

Oh passion... i remember that! Been married too long!!! Only joking, after i sent the last message i thought i'd ask joffa to read it, anyone who heard his speech on SAturday couldn't help but be moved.
Sunday 8-10pm 99.3 nrg fm.is the time and place.

[JAMESMANSON]

Step 1 of the "two hardest things in life" has been completed.........BEWARE WE ARE COMMING..................

GO PIES!!

[JAMESMANSON]

Step 2 of the "Two Hardest things in life" is now completed its the Ferrets turn next Friday night.........our destiny is approaching........lets all prepare each and every minute to meet the challenges that will come and which we will OVERCOME....Our moment is almost here.......GO PIES!!!

[JAMESMANSON]

The Ferrets have been dispensed with...Step 3 is complete. Beware the injured,tired, desperate Brisbane......our destiny is closer than we realise. 100% commitment, a never say die attitude and everyone working together will see us through.
TACKLE TACKLE TACKLE and when we have shut them down.....BURST THEM OPEN WITH OUR BRILLIANCE!!!!
GO PIES........

[JAMESMANSON]

The prophecy continues....we are two wins from our destiny-we all feel it approaching....dont relax...two more...two more..two more...two more WINS..constant vigilence-TOGETHER..and we will prevail.. and the ultimate prize WILL be ours!!

To many Collingwood sides have slipped at this stage and started to feel comfortable with their achievements..BUT NOT THIS ONE!!!!!

Two more.....two more...two more...two more........GO PIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JAMESMANSON]

The greatest prize is almost ours.
The two hardest things in life are getting started and never quitting.
we will NEVER QUIT.
The job is not yet done
We are on the verge of greatness.
Our time is here.
Our destiny has arrived.
40 grand finals for 14 flags...not good enough.
we must WIN!!!!!
GO PIES....THE ARMY IS BEHIND YOU...100% SUPPORT...100% COMMITMENT...100% GUTS....100% GLORY!
GO PIES.

[JAMESMANSON]

The time is here
Our Destiny has arrived
We AREready
Our preparation has been flawless.
We have conquered the two hardest things in life as the great man predicted after last years grand final.
We have come so far, improved so much and yet still they come to test us.
NEVER FEAR WE WILLPREVAIL.
At Collingwood its one in-all in.
We have come to far to fail, we have travelled to hard a journey to stop now, our desperation, discipline and talent will rise up.
THE ARMY IS BEHIND YOU

GO PIES