Preview (Part I): Eels have psychological advantage

What a match it's going to be. A packed ANZ stadium. Traditional rivals. Both playing for a place in a grand final both teams will think they can win.It really doesn't get any bigger.Over the next three days, I'm going to try and pick the game apart with a three-part match preview. Today, we'll focus on the psychological issues of the game, tomorrow we'll look at how Parramatta will attack the Bulldogs defence and then Friday flip that around to examine how our defence might be tested by the Bulldogs.So let's look at the head space these two teams are going to be in because when it comes down to it, if you don't have your mental preparation right, nothing else matters.Ironically, the primary issue for both teams are polar opposite.For Parramatta, it's going to be mental fatigue. The boys have been getting up for sudden death matches for 2 months now. At any elite sporting level, maintaining your peak for such a sustained period of time is never easy.However, they do have that aberration that was the Dragons loss in the mix. That match now has become a blessing in more ways than one. It not only helped coach Daniel Anderson plot a revenge victory against the Saints the following week but it most definitely helped release that pressure that had been building over the Eels run home. We had our mental comedown, and it was a BIG one. Psychologically, it would have given the team a fresh beginning to start from, so rather than them feeling like they were 10 games into a long, strung out winning streak, they could approach the final series as a fresh beginning.That said, there was no doubting that we were a little flat last week. Our intensity tended to waver throughout the match and it wasn't a true 80 minute performance, which is what we'll need to produce against the Bulldogs.Thankfully, it looks like being close to a full-house and with an unprecedented build-up, you would think being flat isn't going to be an issue for the Eels this week.Indeed, both teams should be revved up for the match but I do have my doubts whether the Bulldogs are truly going to be ready for this match.This morning in an AAP report the Dogs were talking down the impact that their "soft" leadup might have. Brett Kimmorley was quoted as saying: "If you can't get up and excited after a weekend off for a grand final qualifier then you're not overly excited about playing football." And prop Michael Hodgson said, along similiar lines: "The way Kevie does things, we just take every game as another challenge and we focus on ourselves".However, it's worth drawing a parallel with our Round 26 Dragons game. As I had been saying in the lead-up to that game, the Eels had hardly been tested - playing teams that were out of form, not good enough, or flat. And when the Dragons took the physicality of the game up another gear, we simply didn't know what had hit us and it's very tough, if not impossible, to lift your intensity levels mid-match.I don't think we'll play another game this year, against a side that performs as well as the Dragons did that match. They didn't drop a ball, played incredibly hard and aggressive and their backline execution was flawless. It showed Parramatta the type of football they would need to be able to compete against, to go all the way. It really was the best possible preparation for this finals series.The Dogs will not have that. The reality is they have not played a top six team since Round 19 when they won a hard-fought match against the Titans. That was a very impressive win, but to have gone nearly three months without getting down and into a torrid battle with any of the premiership forces is far from an ideal way to prepare for a match like this.So yes, the week-off will have them fresh. Yes, it will have helped them with any niggling injuries. However, I really do question whether they are going to be prepared mentally for this match. You can get yourself pumped, you can talk up how you have to be aggressive and committed but there is nothing that can replace the battle-ready preparation the Eels have had. They know exactly what they're in for, they will be ready for anything the Dogs throw at them but at the same time they will have the confidence that over the last two weeks they have easily accounted for two pretty good teams, who tried to take it to them and failed.The Bulldogs go into this match knowing the last team that really stood up to them was the Tigers and they were whacked by them. It's also worth noting that the Eels won the last encounter between these two sides and they will feel their a much better team now than they were back then.And yes, the Dogs do have a few senior players who are used to playing in Finals and at Origin level, but they have a good share of rookies who have never been there and the saying that you're only as strong as your weakest link is very true at this time of the year.The only other mental factor that could come into play is the possibility of being overawed. On that score, the Dogs do arguably have the edge because their experience is centred around key positions like half, hooker and prop. However, I think the Eels have proven themselves on this level. They have played five truly big games against the Tigers, Panthers, Dragons (2) and Titans. And our youngsters like Daniel Mortimer, Matt Keating and Tim Mannah have proven they're not the type of players to be overwhelmed. The likes of Idris, Goodwin, Gordon and even Roberts have yet to prove their composure at this level.In summary, from a mental perspective I don't think the Eels have anything to fear. We will be ready for battle. It remains to be seen if the Dogs can find that balance between stepping up their intensity a couple of gears while at the same time maintaining the type of composure that has been a hallmark of their game this year.

Replies

Mick September 23, 2009 at 1:51pm

Nice one Phil. I think the key to this article is "The reality is they have not played a top six team since Round 19".

This is a telling point. The Eels have beaten 1st and 3rd in their last 2 weeks and have proved themselves able to take on the front-runners.

The Bulldogs too, coming off a bye haven't had the match practice that we have.

I love the fact that every week in the last 10 matches where we have been in sudden death we have won. As soon as we knew we were in the Top 8, we lost. We needed that mental rest and it has done us wonders so far. We 7 games in a row to get to that point and we've won 2 in a row since then. I am sure we can push through for 2 more...
Dan September 23, 2009 at 2:33pm

Love your blogs Phil. Love em.

Looking forward to the next few mate.
David September 23, 2009 at 4:58pm

We need to stay confident and we'll be fine.
Makybe Steva September 23, 2009 at 5:22pm

I've said it to many of my friends this week - the way we are playing, it is going to take a nearly flawless game from to beat us - like the Dragons did in round 26. Any team which trys to stick with us, or grind us to death, isn't going to get the cookies. Unlike Eels teams of the past, this outfit is both proficient and committed. They aren't leaking points, scrabble well, and cover for each other in D.

For that reason i'm not worried, if we don't win this game, it will be because the Bulldogs played the perfect game to beat us, and I think all Eels fans will be able to live with that.
Ryot Wilson September 23, 2009 at 10:50pm

In our 9/10 streak we beat 6 out of the other 7 teams that made the finals. This gives me hope