I didn't want to add to the growing list of threads in response to last night's game but I thought it worth trying to establish a thread for our sober thoughts on the game. Rather than the wild dummy spits that seem to be filling the other threads.
My 5c.
Overall
A disappointing result for us, but hardly earth shattering. Thought the standard of the 1st qu wasn't bad, but things deteriorated in the 2nd as both teams struggled with this rolling zone stuff. It's gonna take some practice to get it right. I thought Collingwood were brought undone by a lack of speed (particularly forward of the centre) although their good footskills and decision making made up for it. The difference between their skills and ours is they have the confidence to hit targets wherever they may be - which means they can kick to a bloke 30m on the boundary and know they won't kick it to the bloke in row 9. Also means they pinpoint targets inside 50m much better than us. Clearly our skills by foot is what prevented us from combatting the Coll defensive zone. It was disappointing to see, but that can happen when you are moving the ball more quickly than the opposition - speed wobbles ala what Michael Mitchell used to get! For a fair chunk of time, we did it better than them, but our conversion was so poor that we never got the game out of an armwrestle. In the 2nd half, I was very pleased to see us take the foot off by putting Richo & Simmo at FF and Deledio at HB. Resting Tuck, Schulz, McGuane and Bowden was also a good move. Not disappointed that our blokes are heading to Shep as the right veterans can now also get a rest. IIRC, we are playing Sydney who treat the pre-season like a training run, so we should be able to be competitive with any side in. In all, the Pies played a much stronger team and are certainly taking the NAB Cup more seriously than us. Thought the final score was flattering for them, mainly because of our poor conversion. But they still deserved the win.
Some of the more contentious issues -
* Tambling - certainly didn't set the world on fire. But I thought Walls was just plain wrong about going him for not attempting that mark. For his size, he's a very good mark overhead and hits the ball hard on a lead. I wish he would develop the confidence to take the first option from defence and not just the first option when kicking into the 50m. Too many of his inside 50s are spoilt because he sets blokes up.
* Thompson - one of the positives of the night. Good to see an in-tight player and his tackling efforts were good. Liked what I saw with him. Shows some promise.
* Raines - really good to see him back up from last week. Thought he kicked the ball ok. Yep, the tramtracks are still evident but at least he looks to create using the middle of the ground. Fact is most of our guys seem obsessed with "effective possessions", but the truth is anyone can hit a target 25m sideways from you when the opposition is zoning back. These stats were a major problem for McMahon, Johnson, Jackson, Polo & co.
* Wallace - was somewhat outcoached I thought. Mick's boys were well drilled and clearly knew that we'd cough the ball up under the right pressure. I really wish we tackled like them. To implement the style of play TW is trying, we need our defensive efforts to stack up against others - and they roasted us on that one. Was pleased that TW didn't throw the kitchen sink at them in selection or in the 2nd half.
* Rance - some nice signs, but needs to build a defensive side to his game. Otherwise he'll end up like some other strong, athletic backmen who look great but get bags kicked on them (Setanta O'hailpin without the bipolar disorder). Shows a bit though.
* Style of play - they haven't got it right. The rolling zone requires fast, direct counter attacks into the forward line. We have fast, confused, sideways, zigzaggy stuff. Some time to refine it. But I'm unconvinced that we can pull it off.
All in all, we lost a game in February. It ain't time to panic. So we should all put the toys back in the cot and see what we produce in Rnd 1 when it really matters.
My 5c.
Overall
A disappointing result for us, but hardly earth shattering. Thought the standard of the 1st qu wasn't bad, but things deteriorated in the 2nd as both teams struggled with this rolling zone stuff. It's gonna take some practice to get it right. I thought Collingwood were brought undone by a lack of speed (particularly forward of the centre) although their good footskills and decision making made up for it. The difference between their skills and ours is they have the confidence to hit targets wherever they may be - which means they can kick to a bloke 30m on the boundary and know they won't kick it to the bloke in row 9. Also means they pinpoint targets inside 50m much better than us. Clearly our skills by foot is what prevented us from combatting the Coll defensive zone. It was disappointing to see, but that can happen when you are moving the ball more quickly than the opposition - speed wobbles ala what Michael Mitchell used to get! For a fair chunk of time, we did it better than them, but our conversion was so poor that we never got the game out of an armwrestle. In the 2nd half, I was very pleased to see us take the foot off by putting Richo & Simmo at FF and Deledio at HB. Resting Tuck, Schulz, McGuane and Bowden was also a good move. Not disappointed that our blokes are heading to Shep as the right veterans can now also get a rest. IIRC, we are playing Sydney who treat the pre-season like a training run, so we should be able to be competitive with any side in. In all, the Pies played a much stronger team and are certainly taking the NAB Cup more seriously than us. Thought the final score was flattering for them, mainly because of our poor conversion. But they still deserved the win.
Some of the more contentious issues -
* Tambling - certainly didn't set the world on fire. But I thought Walls was just plain wrong about going him for not attempting that mark. For his size, he's a very good mark overhead and hits the ball hard on a lead. I wish he would develop the confidence to take the first option from defence and not just the first option when kicking into the 50m. Too many of his inside 50s are spoilt because he sets blokes up.
* Thompson - one of the positives of the night. Good to see an in-tight player and his tackling efforts were good. Liked what I saw with him. Shows some promise.
* Raines - really good to see him back up from last week. Thought he kicked the ball ok. Yep, the tramtracks are still evident but at least he looks to create using the middle of the ground. Fact is most of our guys seem obsessed with "effective possessions", but the truth is anyone can hit a target 25m sideways from you when the opposition is zoning back. These stats were a major problem for McMahon, Johnson, Jackson, Polo & co.
* Wallace - was somewhat outcoached I thought. Mick's boys were well drilled and clearly knew that we'd cough the ball up under the right pressure. I really wish we tackled like them. To implement the style of play TW is trying, we need our defensive efforts to stack up against others - and they roasted us on that one. Was pleased that TW didn't throw the kitchen sink at them in selection or in the 2nd half.
* Rance - some nice signs, but needs to build a defensive side to his game. Otherwise he'll end up like some other strong, athletic backmen who look great but get bags kicked on them (Setanta O'hailpin without the bipolar disorder). Shows a bit though.
* Style of play - they haven't got it right. The rolling zone requires fast, direct counter attacks into the forward line. We have fast, confused, sideways, zigzaggy stuff. Some time to refine it. But I'm unconvinced that we can pull it off.
All in all, we lost a game in February. It ain't time to panic. So we should all put the toys back in the cot and see what we produce in Rnd 1 when it really matters.
2 - thats called gut running.
