fairly obvious that Collingwood beat us at our own game. not only that, they showed an ability to win contested ball and smash us in clearances. so we go back to the drawing board and tweak. the coaching staff will be loathe to change things too much. they will be loathe to jettison the pressure game, the fundamental defensive skills our players have learned.
and they would be right. except for one glaring issue that I can see. tom lynch will come in - there's little doubt about that. so in theory there's ruck assistance for Nank. that will help immeasurably. but the pressure, turnover game is centred on speedy mids and forwards who can apply it. tom lynch is no slouch at ground level but he will not be applying pressure once the ball hits the deck. already we are a mosquito down.
further, if we choose to draft in a ceglar-type second ruck we are two mossies down. if we draft brad crouch we are bolstering contested ball but potentially demoting a KMac type, losing defensive speed and further eroding our pressure game.
at what point does our newly drafted personnel render the turnover game plan impotent? after all, you need at least fourteen diligent, agile, disciplined, speedy, grunty, defensive maniacs to form that grid and hassle the bejesus out of the oppo ball carrier and block short exits.
we will need to beat collingwood next year. if we fix the areas we need to in order to beat them when it counts, the turnover game, and by extension our pressure rating, will fall.
I reckon we'll still roll out the defence-first mantra that upsets most sides. but the pure turnover game is pretty much done. we still have the best defensive six in the land and they won't get separated like they did on friday night again. we will have mechanisms in place to ensure cluster spoils and safe handball receives. but in the midfield, we will strive to be first to the ball much, much more often. again, brad couch could be the catalyst here. with crouch (or someone like him) mucking in, cotch can become the second link that kicks quickly. he does this so well and I'd prefer him clearing the ball as opposed to smashing his body against brick walls.
which brings us to the forward line, and the most tantalising question of all - what to do with Jack. I would play Lynch and Cads deep as Batman and Robin. I would have Jack on the attacking side of the square and barging in for the quick release. he can either give and go or tap it on to a surging midfield. have him roam the centre square. wheel and go, that's what he does so well. I'd play rioli on a forward flank so he can wax with Jack. Castagna, Bolton, Snags, Martin, Butler plaaying at Lynch and Caddy's feet.
whilst we'll still pressure like we always do, I reckon we'll set up from half back more. now that we have lynch and the ability to play jack high, our spine will be much more defined. in fact, having jack roam has massive implications for nank, who can now drop back behind the play more often to contest the oppo entry. with jack high and nank back, we can absorb the loss of pressure the new personnel will trigger. with a much stronger spine and strong spread across the ground, expect more coast-to-coast and the likes of Houli and Short to be absolutely vital with their long kicking.
we will return in 2019 with more weapons than we had in 2018. we will look to play a +1 down back more often. we will look to at least break even in clearances. for the first time in years, we will have a much better chance of controlling the airball and playing a longer game. don't be surprised if we play more of a first to the ball, high press style, similar to 2013. good luck kicking winning scores against our back seven plus Nank. adding lynch and playing jack high might just be a premiership recipe.
and they would be right. except for one glaring issue that I can see. tom lynch will come in - there's little doubt about that. so in theory there's ruck assistance for Nank. that will help immeasurably. but the pressure, turnover game is centred on speedy mids and forwards who can apply it. tom lynch is no slouch at ground level but he will not be applying pressure once the ball hits the deck. already we are a mosquito down.
further, if we choose to draft in a ceglar-type second ruck we are two mossies down. if we draft brad crouch we are bolstering contested ball but potentially demoting a KMac type, losing defensive speed and further eroding our pressure game.
at what point does our newly drafted personnel render the turnover game plan impotent? after all, you need at least fourteen diligent, agile, disciplined, speedy, grunty, defensive maniacs to form that grid and hassle the bejesus out of the oppo ball carrier and block short exits.
we will need to beat collingwood next year. if we fix the areas we need to in order to beat them when it counts, the turnover game, and by extension our pressure rating, will fall.
I reckon we'll still roll out the defence-first mantra that upsets most sides. but the pure turnover game is pretty much done. we still have the best defensive six in the land and they won't get separated like they did on friday night again. we will have mechanisms in place to ensure cluster spoils and safe handball receives. but in the midfield, we will strive to be first to the ball much, much more often. again, brad couch could be the catalyst here. with crouch (or someone like him) mucking in, cotch can become the second link that kicks quickly. he does this so well and I'd prefer him clearing the ball as opposed to smashing his body against brick walls.
which brings us to the forward line, and the most tantalising question of all - what to do with Jack. I would play Lynch and Cads deep as Batman and Robin. I would have Jack on the attacking side of the square and barging in for the quick release. he can either give and go or tap it on to a surging midfield. have him roam the centre square. wheel and go, that's what he does so well. I'd play rioli on a forward flank so he can wax with Jack. Castagna, Bolton, Snags, Martin, Butler plaaying at Lynch and Caddy's feet.
whilst we'll still pressure like we always do, I reckon we'll set up from half back more. now that we have lynch and the ability to play jack high, our spine will be much more defined. in fact, having jack roam has massive implications for nank, who can now drop back behind the play more often to contest the oppo entry. with jack high and nank back, we can absorb the loss of pressure the new personnel will trigger. with a much stronger spine and strong spread across the ground, expect more coast-to-coast and the likes of Houli and Short to be absolutely vital with their long kicking.
we will return in 2019 with more weapons than we had in 2018. we will look to play a +1 down back more often. we will look to at least break even in clearances. for the first time in years, we will have a much better chance of controlling the airball and playing a longer game. don't be surprised if we play more of a first to the ball, high press style, similar to 2013. good luck kicking winning scores against our back seven plus Nank. adding lynch and playing jack high might just be a premiership recipe.
