Blue Monday wrote:
I don't actually think the game plan is the problem, its the application of the game plan that is. Each players role and their effort in keeping to the role is what seems to fall over at critical times.
It's more than the "application of the game plan" IMHO. The same errors are occurring every week without retribution so the only conclusion is the players are following instructions.
I've been a fan of our backline (mainly our key backs) but the positioning and method of our small defenders has been doing my head in for quite some time. If you look up the ground at our defenders at a stop play situation, they are usually reasonably positioned with their opponents but as soon as the ball is in a kinetic mode, our defenders drop off and protect the defensive side, even if the ball is 80 metres away.
Good players and systems understand where the dangerous space is and position themselves to suit. If the ball is 80 metres away, the dangerous space is between the opponent and the ball. A good defender will guard that space and prevent his opponent winning it by winning the ball first or neutralising the contest at worst.
Our defenders take the back position, allow their opponent to win it up the ground and we circle back to fill space.
@#$%&! that!. Don't concede the possession. Do you see Sydney or Melbourne concede a possession by dropping off the opposition forwards. Unless the opposition suddenly learned to kick the ball 90 metres, the ball isn't getting out the back!
If that is an instruction, Teague, Amos or whoever allows it should be sacked. It facilitates a lack of accountability and an excuse not to stop their opponent. Folding back and filling in space or blocking leading lanes is not the role of a defender. Stopping their opponent is. Get the midfielders back and make them fill space.
Kickouts. Defending the kickouts was diabolical on Sunday. We continuously conceded the kickout and then tried to defend the next kick. It was woeful. They were finding free players 70 metres from our goal! Man the @#$%&! up and ensure their are no free targets. At a stop play situation, there are no excuses.
Our kickouts. Seriously, if the best they can do is kick it to Harry, Levi or Crippa, get a new job. I didn't attend uni but when I was at school, having 100% of something and giving up 50% for no reason wasn't a smart idea. That's our kickouts. We have 100% possession and we kick it long to a
50/50 contest. If we can't come up with some strategies to free up a player, block, use running players or create space to use, go back to part time coaches because several days of the week are being pissed up against the wall.
You've assumed there are equal numbers at the contest. I'd say we kick to 40/60 contests more often than not
Our gameplan of having possession and then (a) handballing it to someone who is about to get crunched in a tackle, (b) handballing to a statue who wasn't expecting the handball, (c) kicking it to someone with a defender behind them who has disregard for covid social distancing rules or (d) kicking it long to a crowded goal area (which by the way is bereft of small fwds or mids to swoop) while a better option presented itself but was ignored...makes my blood pressure go through the roof.
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