Eight years without a win in the playoffs

The Alouettes are looking for a first win in eight years in the playoffs

Miguel Bujold
The Press

If the Alouettes needed any extra motivation for the Eastern semi-final they will play against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Percival-Molson Stadium, they got it during of the last days.

Even though they finished second in the division and the division has only four clubs, only two of their players were chosen for the All-Star team. East. They are wide receiver Eugene Lewis, who was also named the division’s MVP, and defensive back Najee Murray.

“I find it absurd. You have to take some and leave some with these honours. There are a lot of players who deserve to be named who are being snubbed,” said Lewis, who was also selected to the East All-Star Team in 2019 and 2021.

CFL head coaches and four media representatives for each team vote for all-star teams and individual honors. In all transparency, the author of these lines must mention that he is one of the four representatives of the Montreal media to have voted.

When Danny Maciocia was asked if he was surprised by the Alouettes’ poor representation on the Eastern All-Star Team, the reaction of the interim general manager and head coach said it all.

Players like linebacker Adarius Pickett and returner Chandler Worthy, to name just two, would have certainly earned their spot with the stars. Fortunately for them, the Alouettes will be able to show as of Sunday that they have been underestimated.

That’s what they seem ready to do. In a meeting of players, the club’s veterans insisted on the importance of seizing the opportunity that presents itself.

“It was probably one of the best player meetings I’ve been to. We wanted to remind you how essential it is to be fully focused on the opportunity that is in front of us. We have the opportunity to leave our mark and we can’t spare ourselves in any way if we want to achieve that,” Lewis said.

Trevor Harris enjoyed Tuesday’s meeting, too.

“The players had the opportunity to express their thoughts and say how they felt. We are very excited and ready for Sunday’s game. »

“We’ve given our players a lot of autonomy over the past three months. When I became the interim coach, I put a players’ committee in place and I made it clear to them that we’re all in the same boat, even if I’m ultimately in charge,” Maciocia explained to subject of Tuesday’s players’ meeting.

Home field advantage

The Birds actually had a good second half of the season after losing six of their first eight games. This will have allowed them to host Sunday’s game rather than having to play it in Hamilton. The two teams met in the Eastern semifinals last year, a match the Tiger-Cats won 23-12 at Tim Horton’s Field.

“It’s not for nothing that teams give everything they have to get home advantage. When he’s in play at the end of the season, teams don’t rest their players because they want to get him,” noted Harris, who had a tough afternoon in the Eastern semi-finals. last year, escaping and losing the ball on three occasions, in particular.

“We started the game well, but turnovers, penalties and sacks cost us dearly. We got a lot of yards, but few points,” he said.

Since their enormous success in the second half of the 1990s and the 2000s, the Alouettes have been crossing the desert. Their last win in a playoff game was eight years ago. Then led by Tom Higgins, they crushed the BC Lions in the Eastern semi-finals, 50-17, before losing in the next round to Hamilton.

This victory against the Lions was Montreal’s only in the playoffs since they last won the Gray Cup 12 years ago.

“It would be huge to win. Our fans deserve it and we have to do everything to allow them to enjoy the victory,” said Lewis, who is still looking for a first triumph in the playoffs.