The Blues and Tigers face dangerous weeks after shocking Round 15 losses Paul Roos
From: Herald Sun
July 12, 2013 7:09PMWHILE no coach likes to lose, Carlton and Richmond's results would have especially stung their respective coaches last week.
After a defeat where nothing seemed to go right, the coach must be quick to collect his thoughts. The most dangerous period of the week - and, in fact, a coach's career - can be directly after a shocking loss.
The walk from the coach's box to the changerooms is long and this time must be used to compose yourself and work through what you will say to the team.
Many thoughts are running through your head, including what the assistant coaches would have said during the game - mostly uncomplimentary - to the players.
However, I found the best course of action is to say nothing because there is often nothing positive to say.
All coaches know once you start to open your mouth it is hard to shut it and it is in these moments that relationships can be permanently broken. The other upside to saying nothing is it gives you breathing space to look at the game closely and have a much clearer picture of what went wrong.
Both coaches would be asking themselves if the result was an aberration or there were some worrying trends that need to be addressed.
Damien Hardwick could justify stamping the North Melbourne game "aberration", but not Mick Malthouse after the loss to Collingwood.
The Tigers, on the other hand, are competent in most areas - if not a standout - and that's why Damien would have looked at last week's game as something out of the ordinary.
Ironically, they had 73 tackles against North and this is their weakest area (54 average).
The Tigers have done a lot right this year and I will be looking closely to see how they bounce back today against Gold Coast, a team they have never beaten.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/the-blues-and-tigers-face-dangerous-weeks-after-shocking-round-15-losses/story-fndv8f7j-1226678649171
