1. The game plan is coming together – With the game at the ‘G, where we had been opened up earlier in the year, it was clear that that connection between backs, mids and forwards has been strengthened since the games earlier in the season. This is both because of player availability, but also the confidence gained in playing together for a significant run of games. It is reflected in the total disposals 358 for 63 inside 50s which also meant an efficiency I50 of 54%. When you think about the early part of the season as to the number of shots we took wide of the centre corridor, it certainly assists in kicking 100+ points in the past two games.
2. Whether it’s 17 or 7, the ruck position is well served – Whilst it is each to their own as to whether you prefer 7 or 17, the fact that we have two more than serviceable ruck options means that we should be able to have a midfield that will be more than competitive for the remainder of the season.
3. Clean centre clearances are “gold” – For the second game in a row, it is clear as to how valuable it is for the midfield to come out the front of the centre square to set up scoring opportunities for our forwards. I had 6 goals resulting from centre square takeaways. Admittedly, the Crows were missing their break away midfielder, but you can only beat what is in front of you.
4. The “Hawks surge” – Often, there is much made of the “orange tsunami”, the “Hawks surge” (whatever it may be called) will become a feature for fans to look forward to him the coming seasons with Weddle, Impey, Amon & Sicily coming off half back to provide overlap run. There is still some refinement to the final entry at times, however the dash through the lines is an exciting brand to watch.
5. “Kill the body and the mind will follow”/ “Failure cannot overcome perseverance” – Two lines Allan Jeans was known to share with his players, and this applied to the game yesterday with the level of tackling and pressure bringing the Crows to a level of indecision that we have seen ourselves over the past couple of seasons. This level of commitment would’ve been relished by the 2014 premiership players in attendance.
6. For Day to take the next step, it is his goalkicking that needs to improve – Having had three reasonable opportunities to hit the scoreboard for a return of one behind, Day just needs to be more settled in taking his opportunities. Running inside 50 with 3 bounces for no result isn’t reflective of his usual assuredness with the ball. (Note: A similar critique can be made of C. Macdonald, although he took a left foot shot this week.)
7. There is a time to play tempo footy – In the 3rd quarter where the Crows had some momentum, Impey was able to take an intercept mark from a Crows exit from their defence on the MCC members’ side; however rather than taking his time and allow the forwards and defenders to set up, he immediately kicked it forward which was intercepted which led to the defence being caught offside.
Observations:
• At this stage of his career, Dear needs to be hit up either on the lead or have a chance to launch at the ball; to drop the ball on top of his head doesn’t give him his best chance without a strong core to hold off defenders. His kicking is still a work in progress.
• Ginnivan had a day of mixed fortunes as has been well noted. What slipped by were a couple of his poor field kicking where he missed targets over about 20m.
• Mitchell confused “ambition and ability” on the one set play kick out opportunity; having taken the mark the thought that he could out race his opponent, only to be caught. He then went to ground “too readily” which left him open to the holding the ball (dragging it in) decision which was more a penalty for “stupidity” as the Crows’ opponent dragged it under him. At times, he is “overzealous” in his approach to the contest and just needs to take a more measured approach i.e. play the percentages playing as a defender.
• A couple of key plays by Frost deserve mention – a sweeping handball in the 2nd quarter rather than a kick showed some thought; and then in the last quarter, he ran about 40 metres to make a contest on Burgess who had been left off the chain in a Crows’ overlap run.
• Breust missing two snaps in the last quarter is not something you’d see all that often let alone on Jack’s big day!
• There may be some further credit due to the recruiters, although I’m not sure it was ever a genuine choice; however with the Suns looking to offload both Burgess and Chol last year, I’d suggest that if there was choice to be made, then the right one was made.
Starting 4:
1st qtr.: Worpel (21) Day (24) Newcombe (25)
2nd qtr.: Nash ((18) Day Newcombe
3rd qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
4th qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
(Reeves 22, Chol 9, Moore 3, Mackenzie 2)
(Note: A heavier focus on the Big 4 this week.)
Coach killers:
Giving up another shot at goal for an off the ball skirmish – with the depth of the squad improving, I doubt that Sam won’t think twice about wielding the selection axe for those who can’t play to the team’s benefit.
Issue for the week:
How long can Breust as sub be the selection strategy? With the manner in which Ward, Wingard, Watson and a few others played against Essendon for BH, along with their ability to play in other positions, will the need for greater sub flexibility become an issue for the remainder of the season.
Tremendous review again Mick. Watson was good today…creates a lot of forward pressure. The forgotten man DGB was very solid today too. Agree Reeves was very honest today but I’m a 17 fan. More strings to his bow. Mt quiet watch for a player of the future is Bodie Ryan.
Mick, you've done it again. That's a gold standard summary and some absolute gems in there. Thank you.
The big take away was, as Mick points out, the coming together of the game plan. Teams that are organized and playing together just seem to be able to create an out number, whether that's in the air or on the ground. It's been a feature of our play in recent weeks that we've been able to create the outnumber and this has been very evident in our defence. We should also remember that this is really only the second season of the rebuild, even though it's Sam's third year as coach. The progress is real, seems to have substance and it's great to see the players and coaching staff being rewarded.
Perhaps it's silly thinking, but a part of me still wants a top end draft pick this year so thinking that a competitive loss or two might be handy to preserve a pick inside the top 6.
One thing that was a real feature of the week's footy was the importance of having star players. Collingwood would have been out of that game far earlier than they were but for Nick Daicos, Bontempelli was magnificent in leading his team to victory and Cripps single handedly drove that Carlton team in the final quarter domination of Port. Sydney has Warner and Heeney and Port have Butters. We don't yet have that star player. Will Day is developing beautifully (we need to remind ourselves that he's only 30 games into his career as a midfielder) and may become that star player that can grab hold of a game. Looking at our list, the player I see that could become that player is Josh Weddle. These first two seasons where he's played as a defender have been excellent but is there a point either late this year or next pre-season, where we look to start the process to make Josh a midfielder? Athletically, he has everything you could want and would be a nightmare match up Whether he has the smarts/midfield craft to play that role remains to be seen, but in Sam, he couldn't have a better teacher who we can only assume has had a profound impact on the development of previous non-midfielders such as Nash and Day. A couple of times this year, Weddle has been tried on the wing and has struggled, but it would be interesting to see him tried as a pure midfielder at some point. Alternatively, do we go after LDU who seems to have the capacity to become that star player and if so, what would we be prepared to give up?
The question is how would we replace Weddle in our defence? The answer is Will McCabe, who is taller but with similar athletic attributes and who could be just the player to work alongside Scrim across our half back line.
Watching Box Hill, Watson was electric - he was a dynamo that buzzed around the place and looked dangerous whenever he went near it. He was a clear cut above the VFL level, which was impressive for an 18 year old, notwithstanding that it was a very comfortable win. It's hard to see how he gets back into the 22 right now though and another full game in the seconds perhaps wouldn't do him any harm.
I don't know what others think, but I'm not a fan of Ginnivan getting in the face of the opposition. It's a distraction (we've missed set shots after it and CJ was reported), there's risk of injury, free kick reversal and report in the ensuing melee. Yes, be critical of CJ, but he'd never have been in that position if Ginnivan hadn't carried on as he did. Breust, Rioli and Puopolo were three of the finest small forwards we'll see and none behaved like Ginnivan. And was that Twitter post really necessary? Maybe I'm just showing my age (I do remember watching Des Meagher) and am overly conservative but doubt Kennedy, Jeans, Parkin and Clarkson would like Ginnivan's carry on.
That really demonstrates the improvement. Aside from the game against Port, we've played teams around us and at this stage have showed that we are currently the pick of the teams ranked 12-18, having beaten each of those teams other than Richmond and West Coat who we play in our next three games. It will be very interesting to see how we go in rounds 17-22 when five of those six games include Geelong at GMHBA, Freo (who we've really struggled with recently), Collingwood, GWS away and Carlton. Competitive losses in those games would be perfect!
What was learnt:
1. The game plan is coming together – With the game at the ‘G, where we had been opened up earlier in the year, it was clear that that connection between backs, mids and forwards has been strengthened since the games earlier in the season. This is both because of player availability, but also the confidence gained in playing together for a significant run of games. It is reflected in the total disposals 358 for 63 inside 50s which also meant an efficiency I50 of 54%. When you think about the early part of the season as to the number of shots we took wide of the centre corridor, it certainly assists in kicking 100+ points in the past two games.
2. Whether it’s 17 or 7, the ruck position is well served – Whilst it is each to their own as to whether you prefer 7 or 17, the fact that we have two more than serviceable ruck options means that we should be able to have a midfield that will be more than competitive for the remainder of the season.
3. Clean centre clearances are “gold” – For the second game in a row, it is clear as to how valuable it is for the midfield to come out the front of the centre square to set up scoring opportunities for our forwards. I had 6 goals resulting from centre square takeaways. Admittedly, the Crows were missing their break away midfielder, but you can only beat what is in front of you.
4. The “Hawks surge” – Often, there is much made of the “orange tsunami”, the “Hawks surge” (whatever it may be called) will become a feature for fans to look forward to him the coming seasons with Weddle, Impey, Amon & Sicily coming off half back to provide overlap run. There is still some refinement to the final entry at times, however the dash through the lines is an exciting brand to watch.
5. “Kill the body and the mind will follow”/ “Failure cannot overcome perseverance” – Two lines Allan Jeans was known to share with his players, and this applied to the game yesterday with the level of tackling and pressure bringing the Crows to a level of indecision that we have seen ourselves over the past couple of seasons. This level of commitment would’ve been relished by the 2014 premiership players in attendance.
6. For Day to take the next step, it is his goalkicking that needs to improve – Having had three reasonable opportunities to hit the scoreboard for a return of one behind, Day just needs to be more settled in taking his opportunities. Running inside 50 with 3 bounces for no result isn’t reflective of his usual assuredness with the ball. (Note: A similar critique can be made of C. Macdonald, although he took a left foot shot this week.)
7. There is a time to play tempo footy – In the 3rd quarter where the Crows had some momentum, Impey was able to take an intercept mark from a Crows exit from their defence on the MCC members’ side; however rather than taking his time and allow the forwards and defenders to set up, he immediately kicked it forward which was intercepted which led to the defence being caught offside.
Observations:
• At this stage of his career, Dear needs to be hit up either on the lead or have a chance to launch at the ball; to drop the ball on top of his head doesn’t give him his best chance without a strong core to hold off defenders. His kicking is still a work in progress.
• Ginnivan had a day of mixed fortunes as has been well noted. What slipped by were a couple of his poor field kicking where he missed targets over about 20m.
• Mitchell confused “ambition and ability” on the one set play kick out opportunity; having taken the mark the thought that he could out race his opponent, only to be caught. He then went to ground “too readily” which left him open to the holding the ball (dragging it in) decision which was more a penalty for “stupidity” as the Crows’ opponent dragged it under him. At times, he is “overzealous” in his approach to the contest and just needs to take a more measured approach i.e. play the percentages playing as a defender.
• A couple of key plays by Frost deserve mention – a sweeping handball in the 2nd quarter rather than a kick showed some thought; and then in the last quarter, he ran about 40 metres to make a contest on Burgess who had been left off the chain in a Crows’ overlap run.
• Breust missing two snaps in the last quarter is not something you’d see all that often let alone on Jack’s big day!
• There may be some further credit due to the recruiters, although I’m not sure it was ever a genuine choice; however with the Suns looking to offload both Burgess and Chol last year, I’d suggest that if there was choice to be made, then the right one was made.
Starting 4:
1st qtr.: Worpel (21) Day (24) Newcombe (25)
2nd qtr.: Nash ((18) Day Newcombe
3rd qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
4th qtr.: Worpel Day Newcombe
(Reeves 22, Chol 9, Moore 3, Mackenzie 2)
(Note: A heavier focus on the Big 4 this week.)
Coach killers:
Giving up another shot at goal for an off the ball skirmish – with the depth of the squad improving, I doubt that Sam won’t think twice about wielding the selection axe for those who can’t play to the team’s benefit.
Issue for the week:
How long can Breust as sub be the selection strategy? With the manner in which Ward, Wingard, Watson and a few others played against Essendon for BH, along with their ability to play in other positions, will the need for greater sub flexibility become an issue for the remainder of the season.
Tremendous review again Mick. Watson was good today…creates a lot of forward pressure. The forgotten man DGB was very solid today too. Agree Reeves was very honest today but I’m a 17 fan. More strings to his bow. Mt quiet watch for a player of the future is Bodie Ryan.
Mick, you've done it again. That's a gold standard summary and some absolute gems in there. Thank you.
The big take away was, as Mick points out, the coming together of the game plan. Teams that are organized and playing together just seem to be able to create an out number, whether that's in the air or on the ground. It's been a feature of our play in recent weeks that we've been able to create the outnumber and this has been very evident in our defence. We should also remember that this is really only the second season of the rebuild, even though it's Sam's third year as coach. The progress is real, seems to have substance and it's great to see the players and coaching staff being rewarded.
Perhaps it's silly thinking, but a part of me still wants a top end draft pick this year so thinking that a competitive loss or two might be handy to preserve a pick inside the top 6.
One thing that was a real feature of the week's footy was the importance of having star players. Collingwood would have been out of that game far earlier than they were but for Nick Daicos, Bontempelli was magnificent in leading his team to victory and Cripps single handedly drove that Carlton team in the final quarter domination of Port. Sydney has Warner and Heeney and Port have Butters. We don't yet have that star player. Will Day is developing beautifully (we need to remind ourselves that he's only 30 games into his career as a midfielder) and may become that star player that can grab hold of a game. Looking at our list, the player I see that could become that player is Josh Weddle. These first two seasons where he's played as a defender have been excellent but is there a point either late this year or next pre-season, where we look to start the process to make Josh a midfielder? Athletically, he has everything you could want and would be a nightmare match up Whether he has the smarts/midfield craft to play that role remains to be seen, but in Sam, he couldn't have a better teacher who we can only assume has had a profound impact on the development of previous non-midfielders such as Nash and Day. A couple of times this year, Weddle has been tried on the wing and has struggled, but it would be interesting to see him tried as a pure midfielder at some point. Alternatively, do we go after LDU who seems to have the capacity to become that star player and if so, what would we be prepared to give up?
The question is how would we replace Weddle in our defence? The answer is Will McCabe, who is taller but with similar athletic attributes and who could be just the player to work alongside Scrim across our half back line.
Watching Box Hill, Watson was electric - he was a dynamo that buzzed around the place and looked dangerous whenever he went near it. He was a clear cut above the VFL level, which was impressive for an 18 year old, notwithstanding that it was a very comfortable win. It's hard to see how he gets back into the 22 right now though and another full game in the seconds perhaps wouldn't do him any harm.
I don't know what others think, but I'm not a fan of Ginnivan getting in the face of the opposition. It's a distraction (we've missed set shots after it and CJ was reported), there's risk of injury, free kick reversal and report in the ensuing melee. Yes, be critical of CJ, but he'd never have been in that position if Ginnivan hadn't carried on as he did. Breust, Rioli and Puopolo were three of the finest small forwards we'll see and none behaved like Ginnivan. And was that Twitter post really necessary? Maybe I'm just showing my age (I do remember watching Des Meagher) and am overly conservative but doubt Kennedy, Jeans, Parkin and Clarkson would like Ginnivan's carry on.
What I loved the most was our pressure haven't seen that in a very long time 👏👏👏
Coaches' votes:
5. Moore Moore
4. Scrimshaw Day*
3. Newcombe* Ginnivan*
2. Ginnivan* Newcombe*
1. Day* Borlase
(* Interchangeable as all received 5 votes.)
On a moving average over blocks of 5 games, the average for & against with the percentage for that block of games.
Rds For Against %
1-5 64 98 64.84%
2-6 70 91 77.04%
3-7 71 96 73.85%
4-8 76 93 82.29%
5-9 73 88 83.60%
6-10 78 82 95.12%
7-11 75 83 90.41%
8-12 88 76 116.62%
That really demonstrates the improvement. Aside from the game against Port, we've played teams around us and at this stage have showed that we are currently the pick of the teams ranked 12-18, having beaten each of those teams other than Richmond and West Coat who we play in our next three games. It will be very interesting to see how we go in rounds 17-22 when five of those six games include Geelong at GMHBA, Freo (who we've really struggled with recently), Collingwood, GWS away and Carlton. Competitive losses in those games would be perfect!