Footy isn't played like this anymore

[graystar1]

This stop, start, look for an option type footy, like we seem to play, is not like that anymore.

The Doggies, Freo and Eagles....all reasonably successful you must agree....play a play on at all costs type of game. Love it or hate it, that's the way it is today.

They always seem to have a runner alongside the ball getter, ready for a handball and are running at the same time, opening up all sort of forward opportunities. Why can't we be coached this way?? I am not a coach's bootlace, but I watch most of the games either live or on the box, and it is obvious to me that the style of game to win mayches today is the one where the team just runs and runs.

Is it the way we are coached, or do the players not heed TW's instructions. I have heard him say repeatedly, that is the type of game we were going to play. Watching the replay today, in the hard cold light of day, it appeared to me we just got the ball and propped most of the time. Seldom did I see a runner alongside or running past to take a handball. What am I missing here??

 

[Phar Ace]

I think instructions for each game and even segments of each game would change to varying degree. For example, heard Wally say re the 3rd / 4th qtrs against Carlton he had implored the players to kick longer and run to break the man on man tactic Carlton had employed and they just didn't do it. Habits are hard to break.............

 

[Redford]

This stop, start, look for an option type footy, like we seem to play, is not like that anymore.

The Doggies, Freo and Eagles....all reasonably successful you must agree....play a play on at all costs type of game. Love it or hate it, that's the way it is today.

They always seem to have a runner alongside the ball getter, ready for a handball and are running at the same time, opening up all sort of forward opportunities. Why can't we be coached this way?? I am not a coach's bootlace, but I watch most of the games either live or on the box, and it is obvious to me that the style of game to win mayches today is the one where the team just runs and runs.

Is it the way we are coached, or do the players not heed TW's instructions. I have heard him say repeatedly, that is the type of game we were going to play. Watching the replay today, in the hard cold light of day, it appeared to me we just got the ball and propped most of the time. Seldom did I see a runner alongside or running past to take a handball. What am I missing here??

I reckon the lack of quick movement in our game is because we do not have any instinct.

As some posters have claimed over the years (and I’m one of them):

1) we do not have players who once they are in possession of the ball, have the ability to move it on automatically, or instinctively, to the spot that they know a team mate is definitely gonna be in. And in any case;
2) the team mate quite often isn’t there anyway !

How many times over the years have you seen us win quite a bit of the footy, but when we do, the ball carrier automatically stops….looks up to see what’s moving into position…. but nothing is….then, the player up field decides to try and make a lead in what has now become a completely congested area ? Both the ball carrier and the player up the ground are equally at fault.

And the reason for this lack of instinctive movement ? Imo, lack of skill and football smarts.

Having the lack of genuine skill that we’ve had over the years has served to undermine the confidence in our ball carriers (or possession winners) to be able to move the ball quickly with this instinctive motion that I’m talking about. Instead, our guys need the time to stop…think….then try and compose themselves before delivering. Then, further up the ground, our presenters lack the ability to quickly sum up a situation and start moving into a spot before its formally delivered to them.

Dual pronged problem due to a lack of a) skill and b) inherent footy smarts imo.

 

[TIGEREXTRA]

Could this be the difference in part between the great teams and the rest of the comp?

Lets look at the dogs for example, the players have been quoted saying that eades game plan and what he teachs the players is very complicated and strategic. now they play fast, and often know where to deliver the ball and where a team mate is going to be.

Besides the players instinct and footy smarts being a cause, could the problem be our game plan/s?

 

[Redford]

Besides the players instinct and footy smarts being a cause, could the problem be our game plan/s?

I dont think its as much as TW's game plan being wrong, as it is the players being able to execute it.

 

[happytige]

I think TW has to take a heap of the blame.

All the would-be coaches around me at the Carlton game were of one mind........... Kick it more directly to goal and stop mucking around.

Do you think this was the message TW was relaying to the team at 3/4 time?

 

[Tigers of Old]

Seldom did I see a runner alongside or running past to take a handball. What am I missing here??

Simple. IMO many players in our team are too lazy to run & create options.

We don't hunt in packs and run as a team. Hence the lack of options for the ball carrier which is why we look static and end up going backwards, sideways to the flatfooted option.

Lazy.

 

[evo]

Yeah, what redford said.

Would also add on top of his post is that we have few if any 'gut runners'-maybe Johnno at a pinch.These players, that as long as the're on the ground ,very seldom stand still.

You don't need to particularly skillful to do this.Just be smart in knowing where and when to run and have 'heart' to do it the whole time you're on the field.Two players who are considered almost champions of the last decade Harvey and West aren't particluraly overlyskilled-neither can kick much more than 35 metres- but they never stop running and provide a link or 'out' for their team mates..

Stevens did it on the weekend and carved us up.He's not particular brave in getting the hard ball but he bloody digs deep in the running department.

 

[Growl]

Give that man Red . . . er, Red . . . y'know who you are. Just get on down to Punt Road and get into 'em!

No, wait a minute, better not, you make too much sense! Might confuse 'em.

Ah, hell, just kick it to Richo!

 

[Redford]

Seldom did I see a runner alongside or running past to take a handball. What am I missing here??

Simple. IMO many players in our team are too lazy to run & create options.

We don't hunt in packs and run as a team. Hence the lack of options for the ball carrier which is why we look static and end up going backwards, sideways to the flatfooted option.

Lazy.

I cant accept the simple "they're lazy" reason Tooheys.

These blokes all do massive pre-seasons nowadays with copious amounts of aerobic work, and then they continue it on into the season. Most of them are as fit as all buggery so, I cant imagine that when you've got that sort of engine underneath you, you are just simply too lazy to switch it on. lts something else I reckon Tooheys. Maybe too dumb to use it, but not too lazy.

 

[Tigers of Old]

I'd also suggest the introverted nature of our playing group doesn't help any.
Not a lot of confidence in that group. Very few back themselves, whether it be a shot at goal from outside 50 or a scythe through a pack for a couple of bounces.
Even guys like Deledio often look to dish off when the better option is to run.

Is that coaching or the fact that our captain & B&F winner doesn't show many positive traits in his own footy?
Champions back themselves and unfortunately Browny aside, we have no champions. No wonder the kids are following suite when they have few role models that play attacking football. :spin

Seldom did I see a runner alongside or running past to take a handball. What am I missing here??

Simple. IMO many players in our team are too lazy to run & create options.

We don't hunt in packs and run as a team. Hence the lack of options for the ball carrier which is why we look static and end up going backwards, sideways to the flatfooted option.

Lazy.

I cant accept the simple "they're lazy" reason Tooheys.

These blokes all do massive pre-seasons nowadays with copious amounts of aerobic work, and then they continue it on into the season. Most of them are as fit as all buggery so, I cant imagine that when you've got that sort of engine underneath you, you are just simply too lazy to switch it on. lts something else I reckon Tooheys. Maybe too dumb to use it, but not too lazy.

Disagree Red. Evo may have verbalised it better than me.

Would also add on top of his post is that we have few if any 'gut runners'-maybe Johnno at a pinch.These players, that as long as the're on the ground ,very seldom stand still.

Stevens did it on the weekend and carved us up.He's not particular brave in getting the hard ball but he bloody digs deep in the running department.

Being fit is one thing but 'gut running' is another.
That also comes back to our lack of one percenters and poor tackling.
IMHO many of our guys won't go the extra yard and only get interested when they are in the action but they won't go looking for it.

 

[TIGEREXTRA]

Besides the players instinct and footy smarts being a cause, could the problem be our game plan/s?

I dont think its as much as TW's game plan being wrong, as it is the players being able to execute it.

We played some good fast flowing footy late last year, remember those last 4 games exept the eagles game.

I am so sick and tired of watching this boring stop and prop crap!

 

[Redford]

Yeah, again, I dont know about the lazy thing.

For sure Harvey, West, Cousins, Kerr, Judd etc are those 'gut running' types.... but remember, when you get to that sort of coverage that they're doing, you're talking elite stuff that only certain individuals can perform anyway.

But hey, we've got Howat and Hyde. They run their guts out don't they ! (Get my point ? :hihi )

 

[Growl]

So, as I wrote in the thread on Miller and Wallace:

Terry said they didn't play according to what he laid out for the day - so what's the solution?

Where do we go when the coach can't get the team to play according to the game plan?

It's gone on for too many years. We sign up players who look like they have talent but, as soon as they walk into Punt Road, they seem to forget it all. But watch what happens if/when we let them go!

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I agree that it couldn't possibly be the gameplan, as blind freddy can see that it just doesn't work. We don't have the skill to implement a high possession type game. Frawley tried it, playing defensive rubbish, and early on in TWs tenure we played a really direct, attacking type game (I still remember that game against the Blues where we smashed em by 85 pts at the G when we played like that).

As happened late last year against the weaker sides, when there is no pressure, we look a million dollars and do go longer, but when the pressure is on, we go back to the old ways. Has been this way for quite some time and I really don't know how Terry can change it, as it appears to be a mental thing that has infected the entire group.

 

[jb03]

Ackermanis is the best exponent of the play on at all costs mentality in the AFL. Just wheels around and hits a leading forward on the chest from anywhere - either foot.

 

[graystar1]

Looks like we are all of like mind here. The Dockers and Bullies play an exciting run on game which wins most games for them. Notice they usually run in pairs or sometime threes. Gives the ball carrier a couple of options. At the same time the forwards are busy making position to receive a pass. Johnson of the Bulldogs is a great example. Not only do they run the lines but they do it all day and it works, so why don't we????

 

[Chiang Mai Tiger]

we dont have the skills to do it pure and simple.

 

[Growl]

I'm afraid that is very true, CMT.

Talking of skill, I sometimes wonder how Richo would have gone playing with a team who could get the ball to him correctly - and quickly.

Never know, he mightn't have suffered some of the injuries that he has had at RFC.