TonyK
CibbuanoWe lacked effort: Laidley
April 12th 2009 11:11
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley has blasted the commitment of his players and said he was unsure whether or not the difficult week off the field had affected his side.
The Kangaroos were embroiled in controversy after an inappropriate video made by several players - including former skipper Adam Simpson and defender Daniel Pratt - found its way onto YouTube.
Speaking after his side's 54-point loss to reigning premiers Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Laidley said there were no signs during the week that his players weren't focused.
"I see how they train, I counsel during the week. They trained really well, the spirit within the football club, they were upbeat all week. We went about our business like we usually do," he said.
"There was some pretty heavy criticism, I suppose, particularly on a couple of the boys."
"It's going to take a toll, as to what extent, I'm not too sure. I'm not a psychologist, even though I try to be.”
Laidley said the Roos failed to put in the required effort against a Hawthorn side that was missing key players in Robert Campbell, Simon Taylor, Jordan Lewis, Michael Osborne, Brad Sewell and Rick Ladson.
"We need to speak to the players as a group behind closed doors because it can’t go on, it can't go on and something has to break somewhere," he said.
Laidley also lamented his side's lack of commitment and poor use of the football.
"It probably comes down to work rate. They just worked much, much, much harder than us," he said.
"We couldn't hit the side of a barn. Some of our kicking was appalling. We have to work on that."
The Kangaroos were embroiled in controversy after an inappropriate video made by several players - including former skipper Adam Simpson and defender Daniel Pratt - found its way onto YouTube.
Speaking after his side's 54-point loss to reigning premiers Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Laidley said there were no signs during the week that his players weren't focused.
"I see how they train, I counsel during the week. They trained really well, the spirit within the football club, they were upbeat all week. We went about our business like we usually do," he said.
"There was some pretty heavy criticism, I suppose, particularly on a couple of the boys."
"It's going to take a toll, as to what extent, I'm not too sure. I'm not a psychologist, even though I try to be.”
Laidley said the Roos failed to put in the required effort against a Hawthorn side that was missing key players in Robert Campbell, Simon Taylor, Jordan Lewis, Michael Osborne, Brad Sewell and Rick Ladson.
"We need to speak to the players as a group behind closed doors because it can’t go on, it can't go on and something has to break somewhere," he said.
Laidley also lamented his side's lack of commitment and poor use of the football.
"It probably comes down to work rate. They just worked much, much, much harder than us," he said.
"We couldn't hit the side of a barn. Some of our kicking was appalling. We have to work on that."
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