First Option Football

[grumpytiger]

Having watched the current premiers... and premiership wannabees... and power sides like the Lions of the early naughties... i can't help think that (apart from skill, big bodies etc) a key facet of their game is that they play first option football. They see an option and they use it. Compare that with the tigers - who see an option, hesitate, baulk, dodge, hesitate, turn it over. Last Sunday was a prime example.

Obviously some first options are going to come unstuck... Patto's handball over the top after a mark last week is one example that comes to mind... but i'd love to see the boys see an option and take it, first time every time. As a famous man once said "don't think, do".

It means they need to have more confidence in one another. It means there's going to be some mistakes. but it also means we're following in the footsteps of some pretty good football teams.

what do you think?

 

[Willo]

Having watched the current premiers... and premiership wannabees... and power sides like the Lions of the early naughties... i can't help think that (apart from skill, big bodies etc) a key facet of their game is that they play first option football. They see an option and they use it. Compare that with the tigers - who see an option, hesitate, baulk, dodge, hesitate, turn it over. Last Sunday was a prime example.

Obviously some first options are going to come unstuck... Patto's handball over the top after a mark last week is one example that comes to mind... but i'd love to see the boys see an option and take it, first time every time. As a famous man once said "don't think, do".

It means they need to have more confidence in one another. It means there's going to be some mistakes. but it also means we're following in the footsteps of some pretty good football teams.

what do you think?

totally agree grumptyarse

 

[Rosy]

Agree grumpy and I find the kind of play you describe, and throw in handballing backwards putting team mates under pressure, so frustrating. Despite playing Richo in a different position he's still by far our #1 go to player. It makes the team so predictable while those who show some initiative and create options tend to go ignored.

Mistakes are fine as long as the players learn from them. I'd hate to think they weren't game to take risks and that's why I like to see kids given a few games to settle in and adjust to the tempo rather than being dropped after one game.

 

[tigers#7]

Im sure we could handle mistakes if we are playing in a positive attitude.

 

[Tenacious Tiges]

Having watched the current premiers... and premiership wannabees... and power sides like the Lions of the early naughties... i can't help think that (apart from skill, big bodies etc) a key facet of their game is that they play first option football. They see an option and they use it. Compare that with the tigers - who see an option, hesitate, baulk, dodge, hesitate, turn it over. Last Sunday was a prime example.

Obviously some first options are going to come unstuck... Patto's handball over the top after a mark last week is one example that comes to mind... but i'd love to see the boys see an option and take it, first time every time. As a famous man once said "don't think, do".

It means they need to have more confidence in one another. It means there's going to be some mistakes. but it also means we're following in the footsteps of some pretty good football teams.

what do you think?

Sorry folks but this is where Bowdown frustrates me. The master of hesitation to ruin all flow or momentum.

 

[Leysy Days]

Some good points on "1st option football" GT,

For the main part leysy thinks we try & do it.

We come unstuck though because our players aren't as smart as the geelongs of the world to weigh up instinctively whether that 1st option is necessarily the correct one. This is also something that is natural & cant be taught. Of our younguns Cotchin & to a lesser extent Collins have it, plenty of our other lads dont i.e Tambling.

 

[Tango]

tigers still refuse to take risks and fear of turnovers hurt their first options

 

[mld]

In a sense, but you have to remember the first option we offer (if we even offer one) isn't equivalent to the first option Geelong offers.

 

[Dyer'ere]

Excellent obs, Grumpy.

Some good points on "1st option football" GT,

For the main part leysy thinks we try & do it.

We come unstuck though because our players aren't as smart as the geelongs of the world to weigh up instinctively whether that 1st option is necessarily the correct one. This is also something that is natural & cant be taught. Of our younguns Cotchin & to a lesser extent Collins have it, plenty of our other lads dont i.e Tambling.

Agree Leysy, smarts is our major problem. Experience will help.

I'd say usually our first option is too slow to present - slow thinking. And is under heat - didn't get rid of the opponent.

We need more natural footballers and stronger ones. Pacy at the draft camp we can live without.

 

[blx]

Sorry folks but this is where Bowdown frustrates me. The master of hesitation to ruin all flow or momentum.

this is where Bowden falls down as a forward.

You watch him when he gets the ball, he will look forward, then sideways then backwards then take the easy option and pass back or side.

so fraustrating.

 

[tigerdave]

Some footballers are born with natural instincts.....Unfortunately for us we don't have many,with the exception being Lid's,Cotchin,Brown,Edwards,Foley & Connors.

The rest are to one dimesional & you can predict what's going to happen every time the ball is in their hands! :