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What was learnt:

1. Midfield match ups demonstrated issues with our midfield depth – With Newcombe and Oliver going head-to-head (not sure it was a tag as much as an old-fashioned contest) and Worpel taking Petracca, this left Ward and Hustwaite matching up on Pickett and Rivers. Whilst the midfield clearances didn’t look to be particularly important in direct scoring opportunities, they did provide for territory advantage, however it was in the defensive/offensive transition that they had a bigger impact, most obviously in the first half. The capacity for Pickett to burst from stoppage or as the outlet from the contest was a key factor in Melbourne’s ability to dominate the inside 50 count in the 2nd quarter. Mitchell recognised this at half-time by subbing Hustwaite sending Maginness to Petracca, moving Worpel across to Pickett/Rivers but more significantly bringing Moore into the rotation trying to match their breakaway speed. The lack of a midfielder with breakaway speed is one of the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle.

2. Sticking/making tackles – With 44 tackles for the game (season average 63.6), we looked to be playing bruise free footy let alone knowing what the stats were for effective tackles. Without the pressure on the ball carrier, the defenders were facing an uphill battle with the opposition able to provide clean entries to their forwards, the issue for them being that their delivery was poor. Think back to how many times we faced the overlap run which forced the defenders to come forward in an attempt to disrupt their ball movement.

3. Scoring opportunities from wide angles is not a sustainable method to win – Again, for the first three quarters, all too often, our scoring opportunities were from spots with angles tighter than 45 degrees and I’m guessing a probability of less than 50% irrespective of how reliable the goal kickers are. Being able to generate scoring chances where the player’s shoulders are square to the goal face was shown up in the last quarter.

4. Unforced errors were running rife – There appeared to be a Bermuda Triangle operating across the defensive end of the centre square kicking to the Punt Rd goals where Worpel in the clear coming out of D50 literally handballed to no one where Ward earlier had missed a short centring pass in the same part of the ground.

5. Kick outs/exiting defensive 50 still no answers but some actions – Again, our capacity to exit the D50 from kick outs was an issue with Gawn being able to take strong contested marks regularly. At least this week, the option to the open side was tried a little more regularly and not just with the open side runner tactic. Would it be too simplistic on occasions to have Meek go to the open side and see what the opposition ruck man does, given many sides prefer to keep their tall marking forward behind the ball, in case we win possession?

Observations:

• Battle on the run kicking inside F50 is still a watch. He is looking a little like Worpel – when he looks at the 30-40m option his execution is better than 40+m. KE 62%

• Jiath’s closing speed in the back half is important providing extra coverage, particularly in marking contests. His execution by foot is still a work in progress.

• Meek’s work in the ruck contests shouldn’t be overlooked in terms of not allowing Gawn to give his mids silver service. No doubt around the ground, Gawn had his measure.

• Connor Macdonald hasn’t quite returned from injury as well as he played before his time out of the game.

• B. Macdonald started as sub again, but with Impey out next week, he may well get a starting spot. Having said that he does provide more flexibility as the sub option.

• Again, Weddle’s impact on the scoreboard has more often come when he has played behind the ball rather than starting as a forward.

• Hardwick’s ability to play as a defender is still an ace up the sleeve of the coaches.

• A couple of times when we had inside 50 opportunities when Chol was off the ground, it highlighted the need to get another marking option in the F50 notwithstanding how well Gunston has played as a roving tall option.

• Hustwaite as a ruck option around the ground wasn’t as effective as Nash in that role.

• The “neutral” observers on Watson may focus on his celebrations, how he goes into contests, but don’t appear to look at his defensive work rate. Interesting this week, he wasn’t put into the centre square.

• TOG % - Bottom 4 (leaving out subs): Breust 53%, Ward 72% C. Macdonald 74% Worpel 76%. (Maginness highest at 97% - first time I can recall not being a defender.)

• Kicking efficiency (DE): Amon 100% (100), Hardwick 90% (94), Weddle 89% (96), Sicily 85% (88), Moore 50% (67), Gunston 55% (50), Newcombe 57% (84).

Starting 4: (CBA/CC)

1st Qrt: Newcombe (20/2) Worpel (18/3) Ward (16/0)

2nd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Hustwaite (8/1)

3rd Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Moore (10/2 all 2nd half)

4th Qrt: Newcombe Worpel Ward

Meek 19/0 Chol 5/0

Note: Based on rucks CBA’s - there were 11 CBAs in the first half which means Hustwaite was in for 72% of them. 13 CBA’s in 2nd half – Moore 77%.

After having two weeks to bed down a centre square system against teams that don’t have quality midfielders now, this game certainly gave an insight into the depth of the midfield at the moment. Notable that only 5 players were in the CBAs – season low.

Issue for the week:

The Suns are high scoring team this season particularly against teams that have been known for their defensive pressure, so being able to pressure their midfield and impede quality inside 50’s will assist our defenders in conditions that will be difficult. Defensively, we rank 3rd on points against, so our back half has held up its end of the bargain thus far.

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Mick Cowan's avatar

5 week rolling ladder

Rd For Agst %

5 91 81 111.82%

6 87 83 105.05%

7 90 81 111.11%

8 96 78 123.14%

9 99 76 129.66%

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