Re: what would you do if you could coach?
First, you have to address the problems that are obvious:
1 - Tiges are the worst tackling side in the competition by far. ANSWER: Appoint ARL tackling coach. Ensure training covers getting OUT of tackles as well (Please come back Mark Coughlan).
2 - Tiges are the "slightest" side in the AFL. ANSWER: Appoint an expert who knows about building bulk and strength properly.
3 - Tiges are the least aggressive side in the AFL. ANSWER maybe some of the old Walls Brisbane boxing training?
4 - Tiges are one of the least disciplined and worst drilled sides in the AFL (on field). ANSWER: Obviously new coach and new game plan combined with the above.
5 - Recruiting has not been a strength, not becuase the players we have got are bad but because they don't address a specific issue. A policy of just taking the best available player is dumb if you end up with a bunch of 180cm runners and no big men. Appoint someone who can search for specific answers for your side's structure deficiencies. Get somebody who can notice a Justin Westhoff and take him before Pick 90 or whatever.
6 - Stop getting sucked into this ROTATION MADNESS ... how does sprinting top speed 75m off the ground then back on help recovery etc?
Next, you have to structure up the side PROPERLY and plan for the WHOLE game.
1 - In the Middle, make sure there is a blend of hard strong bodies and skill. I suggest starting Bowden, Foley and King with Simmonds. Troy is a good ruckman and those guys are good clearers. Only rotate when quarter is deep or opposition tired or opposition matched better (size). Rotate Brown, Connors, Tuck and the occaisional surprise like Richardson. Play Angus Graham and rotate him on the No 2 ruckman. Replace Tuck with Coughlan when and if he gets fit. At 27 Shane is not going to learn how to kick.
2 - In the backline, we need to mould a Full Back. Pattison is the answer IMO - he is big, fearless, committed and quite skilful. Play him on the key Forwards. This will free up Thursfield and McGuane and Moore to play on the faster talls or mid size forwards. All 3 of these players have the potential to be the Fletcher / Harley type players. The run should be provided by Newman and the "tagging" role (i.e. picking up the dangerous or unpredictable Steve Johnson, Medhust, Robertson etc) should be Kane Johnson, He is big bodied, good engine and is a proven tagger. get him in the backline where he can link with players that have better disposal.
3 - The Wings / Link Men - must be the classiest disposal in the side so that you get quality forward entry. Deledio and Brown are these men with support from Bowden, Foley, King. If a side is flooding, you can get the ball to Newman, Bowden or Deledio who can all kick a long one from outside 50. Brown and Deledio will be the most trained players on tackling/defensive skills when we don't have it.
4 - Forwards - DO NOT just kick it to Richo, every side knows that is going to happen. Play him well forward and instruct him to stay on or past the 50. Keep the forward 50 open so that either he can run into it or the forwards can lead. Play Jay Shulz at full forward - he has proved that he can play there and he is a reliable kick. Pettifer and Tambling need to be at the fall of the ball if it is kicked to Richo - the last time we did this to a good CHF (Gale), Naish and daffy both kicked about 45 goals. Morton and Riewoldt provide the foils - they can play tall or small.
5 - Bench - Polak to be a pinch hitter, either in Fwd or Back because he can take a mark. Graham is the resting ruck and Tuck (Coughlan) and Connors can be the rotating middlers.
6 - captain - No, Kane is not the man. Captain should be like an assistant coach on field and be intelligent and inspiring. Chris Newman is that man.
GAME PLAN -
1 - Be VERSATILE - if the opposition are doing one thing, have Plan B or C.
2 - Play to strengths. At this stage, man-on-man hard footy is NOT the game for the Tiges, SPEED is. They are fast but slighter so RUN and KICK. Create space by RUNNING and keeping an OPEN forward line. Bust a frikkin gut, you will probably bust the opposition players too.
3 - Take advantage of the rotation madness, don't join in. If you see an opposition player go off in general play, scream it to teammates to create the loose man. Don't just follow him off as often happens.
4 - Be OBSERVANT. Watch what they are doing at kick ins or stop plays. LEADERSHIP required her (i.e. assistant coach on field a la Voss).
5 - WATCH what the umpiring trends are and use them to your advantage. Richmond seriously SUCK at this and it hurts. Learn how to get those frees at stop plays and ruck duels - they can be crucial.
6 - Use of handball - only when you have a loose man chain. Handball should also be used to get out of trouble not into it. If you are hot and there is no immediate option, handball it down in front of you so you can go after it again or create a stop play - DO NOT just wildly fling it, it will probably create a turnover. If you are clear, KICK it or RUN it, don't just find another player for the sake of it because if you are clear he probably won't be.
7 - Intelligence - DRUM the game plan or adaptation into the players, DRILL it, TEST it untill they eat breathe and sleep it.
8 - Committment - all premiership sides make a committment to each other. Get all the players to make theirs - what are they going to sacrifice? If they don't get rid of them - NO MATTER WHO they are.
Of course, all these things should be done PRIOR to the season.
