I think Brisbane has actually given us a pretty useful exam.
We’ve been a high-I50, high-clearance side all year and we normally generate plenty of forward pressure. We need to get it forward better and then have enough players I50 to turn entries into goals.
Collingwood showed us earlier in the year that by closing Gunston’s leading lanes and getting across to intercept our I50s, we can end up with lots of I50s without enough clean chances. Brisbane showed another version — we won the ball at stoppage but couldn’t make that last kick I50, and a contest gave them a clean transition to hurt us out the back while we were out of shape.
From D50 if Massimo’s left side is covered, we need to use the fat side more and get genuine pace and skill to break lines on the other wing — Nairn, Bailey Macdonald, Weddle getting involved with quality entries — rather than just kicking it on the head of Chol, Lewis or Gunston.
Surely not every HF needs to push so far up the ground and become a connector. We still need smalls inside 50 when Chol or Lewis bring the ball to ground, and the Moores and Crocs I50 to tackle and make the oppo’s exit dirty. Five tackles in that third quarter against Brisbane was work rate, not game plan.
Saturday night’s our chance to put the pieces back together after a long week.
After the North game, where was one of our very best, we were singing Mabior's praises, during his absence, there was universal agreement as to how valuable he is, and he has one really poor game and he's out of the team! Good thing you're not coaching Brisbane Brad - you'd have dropped half the team following their loss to Carlton. Butler wasn't that bad, he had 14 possessions and should have kicked two goals - had he kicked those goals, he'd be locked in. We need his pace, he is a tagging option, and we need players who have speed and can be used in defensive roles, especially with Nash out of the team. Butler stays and is an ideal match for Josh Daicos if he plays half back or Quaynor. Looking ahead, he could play on Zorko/Wimott, Blakey/Mills and Jordan Clark.
The change that should be made is Bailey Mac for Morrison. Morrison is slow, can only play the one position and at the very best is our 23rd player if we don't pick Reeves. Bailey Mac can be given a lock down role on Schultz or McCreery and in the finals he could be the match up on players such as Papley, McInerney, Lohman, and Chandler for example. We can't keep living in this world where we just go toe to toe with our opponent and don't try and take anything away from them - it's part of the reason why our record against the better sides is not good.
While the two rucks are working in terms of hit outs to advantage and total clearances, they are not working in terms of scoring from clearance, where we rank among the worst teams for scoring differential from clearance.
I agree I thought Butler was one of better contributors last week and he does have tagging capability. I’m still not a MacDonald fan too dicey with ball in hand. Reminds me of CJ. Bodie Ryan may not have his pace but he’s got more strings to his bow. Morrison has had a good year but surely Nairn a better option, or Dalton.
Nailed it as always Brad. Your what should happen is spot on. Let’s see what Calsher has learned and let him know we value him. Aka don’t leave. Bailey McDonald means we can play him Amon or Impey on the wing and provide speed, something the pies don’t like. Have a rest big mabs…. Think this is an acid test …. Just as lions responded it’s our turn to do the same
Looking at the team selected I think Mabs will play around 30-40% in the ruck and Sicily will play forward more as the pies forward line is smaller.
Good to have MacDonald back in the team as we lacked pace and desperation last week that a young player brings, surprised to see Beattie in at this late stage of the season, maybe Wiz, Moore or Croc are in doubt
I think Brisbane has actually given us a pretty useful exam.
We’ve been a high-I50, high-clearance side all year and we normally generate plenty of forward pressure. We need to get it forward better and then have enough players I50 to turn entries into goals.
Collingwood showed us earlier in the year that by closing Gunston’s leading lanes and getting across to intercept our I50s, we can end up with lots of I50s without enough clean chances. Brisbane showed another version — we won the ball at stoppage but couldn’t make that last kick I50, and a contest gave them a clean transition to hurt us out the back while we were out of shape.
From D50 if Massimo’s left side is covered, we need to use the fat side more and get genuine pace and skill to break lines on the other wing — Nairn, Bailey Macdonald, Weddle getting involved with quality entries — rather than just kicking it on the head of Chol, Lewis or Gunston.
Surely not every HF needs to push so far up the ground and become a connector. We still need smalls inside 50 when Chol or Lewis bring the ball to ground, and the Moores and Crocs I50 to tackle and make the oppo’s exit dirty. Five tackles in that third quarter against Brisbane was work rate, not game plan.
Saturday night’s our chance to put the pieces back together after a long week.
After the North game, where was one of our very best, we were singing Mabior's praises, during his absence, there was universal agreement as to how valuable he is, and he has one really poor game and he's out of the team! Good thing you're not coaching Brisbane Brad - you'd have dropped half the team following their loss to Carlton. Butler wasn't that bad, he had 14 possessions and should have kicked two goals - had he kicked those goals, he'd be locked in. We need his pace, he is a tagging option, and we need players who have speed and can be used in defensive roles, especially with Nash out of the team. Butler stays and is an ideal match for Josh Daicos if he plays half back or Quaynor. Looking ahead, he could play on Zorko/Wimott, Blakey/Mills and Jordan Clark.
The change that should be made is Bailey Mac for Morrison. Morrison is slow, can only play the one position and at the very best is our 23rd player if we don't pick Reeves. Bailey Mac can be given a lock down role on Schultz or McCreery and in the finals he could be the match up on players such as Papley, McInerney, Lohman, and Chandler for example. We can't keep living in this world where we just go toe to toe with our opponent and don't try and take anything away from them - it's part of the reason why our record against the better sides is not good.
While the two rucks are working in terms of hit outs to advantage and total clearances, they are not working in terms of scoring from clearance, where we rank among the worst teams for scoring differential from clearance.
I agree I thought Butler was one of better contributors last week and he does have tagging capability. I’m still not a MacDonald fan too dicey with ball in hand. Reminds me of CJ. Bodie Ryan may not have his pace but he’s got more strings to his bow. Morrison has had a good year but surely Nairn a better option, or Dalton.
Nailed it as always Brad. Your what should happen is spot on. Let’s see what Calsher has learned and let him know we value him. Aka don’t leave. Bailey McDonald means we can play him Amon or Impey on the wing and provide speed, something the pies don’t like. Have a rest big mabs…. Think this is an acid test …. Just as lions responded it’s our turn to do the same
Looking at the team selected I think Mabs will play around 30-40% in the ruck and Sicily will play forward more as the pies forward line is smaller.
Good to have MacDonald back in the team as we lacked pace and desperation last week that a young player brings, surprised to see Beattie in at this late stage of the season, maybe Wiz, Moore or Croc are in doubt
AndrewN, perhaps Ginny may be in doubt as he appeared to hurt his wrist at training?
Ave age: 26 (26.26)
Ave games: 129.48 (131.65)
2 players with less than 20 games.