Aug 15, 2023·edited Aug 15, 2023Liked by Daniel Prins
What was learnt:
1. The team is coachable - looking at the manner in which the team adapted to play in 3rd quarter demonstrated that the group is 'coachable" and adaptable to the conditions. We looked to effectively play keeping's off with the Dogs. At one point in time, the last three in the zone were Newcombe, Hardwick & Worpel. This is a progression from the start of the year and reflects the worth of getting games into young players.
Part of this and what I don't think has been noted in the wins over the past two weeks is that we've kept two of the top 8 teams goalless in a quarter in each game - Pies 1st qrt & Dogs 3rd qrt.
1 a) After quarter time: 8.12 to 5.7 - when you breakdown the scoring after 1/4 time, you actually see a dominance on the scoreboard across the game. This is similar to the Saints' game, however we hadn't allowed the Dogs to get as big a lead (see below).
2. Maginness and Day (swings & slides of running a tagger) - with the use of Finn for an opposition onballer, particularly an inside one, this appears to mean that Day falls back to a role off half back. It was worth noting that Day only had 1 disposal in the 2nd quarter (55% TOG). This was probably also impacted by our relative dominance in the quarter.
A late learning on this strategy - Looking back to the early part of the year, when we had Newcombe & Worpel play half forward roles, I know wonder if Sam was trialling the options as to how to incorporate Finn's role later in the season when we had the stronger team available e.g. Lewis back from injury. I think the learning from this was that neither Worpel or Newcombe had the forward craft yet to make it the better option - think of the Lambert/Martin role for the Tigers.
3. Three tall forwards - from the past couple of games, rather than two tall forwards, the three talls appears to provide a stronger structure. Last week, it was Lewis who moved up the wing as the marking outlet, whereas this week it was Koschitzke who played this role more. I suspect that this was to keep Jones away from the intercept opportunities.
DGB looks to have some good forward marking craft and is prepared to crash the packs as well as tackle. It was an opportunity for him to play on an opponent (O'Donnell) who was within his age/weight group (and experience).
4. 2nd ruck role with two "tall" ruck opponents - when the Dogs had their run on in the last quarter, there were a couple of stoppage clearances (particularly one centre clearance English/Bont) where it was evident that Kosi was outsized whilst Reeves had his break.
It may be a watch this week with the Demons (Gawn/Grundy) as to whether we go with Kosi or look at a taller option.
Watching 3 quarters of BH on Saturday, Ramsden had more centre square work than Meek, so he may be given the opportunity if this is identified as an issue, being the more mobile target as a forward.
5. Running half backs and decision making - with the game plan being a "run & gun" focus, the need for those coming off half back to have good decision making and skill execution is going to become the determinant factor as to who can claim the role between Seamus, BMac & CJ.
With Blanck not being the best disposer of the ball under pressure either by hand or foot at the moment, the need for the 5th defender to be able to make the right call and execute properly is going to be a development issue.
(Weddle on his left foot also needs to become more proficient e.g. last quarter coming out of the back pocket where he turned it straight over to the Dogs on 50m line.)
This is complemented by Scrimshaw being more predictable in his disposals by hand.
6. The milestone players were outstanding - this has been well documented. A feature of Worpel's game was 80% DE which may be a season high and similarly with Newcombe, his disposal ratio 19K/21HB was better balanced.
7. Again, the centre clearances were generally one handball to a clear teammate to kick or run inside 50. Similarly, with Reeves rucking, his hit outs were looking to hit out to the space rather than straight down into the centre circle. It appears to be a different strategy to earlier in the year.
Observations:
* Coughing up goals - when you look at the first quarter, there is an argument to say that we coughed up 2-3 goals.
i) BMac - moment of madness and evidence once again of not making a 2nd mistake in row. Why he handballed to Sicily standing still with an opponent two steps away reflected, I suggest, a VFL standard play. Similarly, with this pass to Nash, not realising that AFL players sweat on this type of kick. (Notwithstanding Blanck's handball to BMac's feet as they played hot potato.)
ii) JUH goal from the mark on the behind line after Scrimshaw couldn't handle the ball which was more a "skill" error with his hands in an awkward position to take the ball to him that Weightman picked up.
iii) JUH goal dummy past Blanck/Scrimshaw - Scrimshaw did really well in the initially marking contest to bring the ball to ground, however Lobb reacted faster than Blanck who then guarded space rather than take the next dangerous opponent (JUH) which meant Scrimshaw had to try to smother his kick getting up from the ground. IF Blanck had taken JUH whilst Scrimshaw was contesting with Lobb, who knows.
(Interesting in the 4th quarter, Blanck left his man to make a contest when the Dogs had an overlap coming into their F50.)
* Role players are valuable - looking at Morrison, when role players execute their role for the team, it does provide a sense of surety to the pattern of play.
* Metres gained by Ward (388/293 ave) & CMac (552/276) - this I think is worth a watch as these types of players look to take more territory with their kicks.
* Worth repeating: since Rd.10 vs WCE we are 6 & 6.
Dumb Decisions/Coach killers:
What was Sicily doing playing on out of the goal square with West in the area and more significantly, where was the talk from the teammates to make the Braveheart call of "Hold! Hold!"
(Another gifted goal?)
Just a thought:
* The mullets don't provide for an "air of confidence" as the players start looking around, with their mullets accentuating the head turning, to the point where you do wonder if they know what they are doing.
(For Weddle, BMac mullet may assist with votes for any awards being allocated by a non-Hawk follower.)
Thanks Danny, no better way to start the day. The Worpel goal and embrace with Jai was definitely the highlights of the day. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but this finish to 2023 is a little similar to season 2006, which was the launch pad for a return to finals in 2007, the difference this time is the quality of opponent that we're defeating. Firstly, totally agree, let's give Chad a contract now, he goes to the long-term injured list, and we have a spot on the list we can choose (or not) to fill. I think we all recognise that a quality intercepting key defender and a quality key forward to work with Mitch Lewis are two of the remaining pieces of the on-field puzzle. I've asked this a few times - if we have Sicily and Weddle in the defensive group, could Scrim play as that second key defender? Blancky takes the big gun and then Scrim takes the next tall. It would still be good to see Jeka have a big finish to the season with Box Hill. The second point is that Denver looked quite promising on the weekend - could have kicked two goals, led up well, took a contested mark and seemed to show some forward smarts. Together with Brandon Ryan, perhaps we have that second key forward on our list? As you say Danny, it's so exciting to watch a young group developing. With our last two games at the MCG, it would be brilliant to finish with two competitive performances. Selection will be interesting this week, Chad needs to be replaced (Brocky or Butler?) and you'd think that Ryan has to come back and Denver will probably be the unlucky one. Perhaps Seamus Mitchell could be the sub this week? Thanks again.
What was learnt:
1. The team is coachable - looking at the manner in which the team adapted to play in 3rd quarter demonstrated that the group is 'coachable" and adaptable to the conditions. We looked to effectively play keeping's off with the Dogs. At one point in time, the last three in the zone were Newcombe, Hardwick & Worpel. This is a progression from the start of the year and reflects the worth of getting games into young players.
Part of this and what I don't think has been noted in the wins over the past two weeks is that we've kept two of the top 8 teams goalless in a quarter in each game - Pies 1st qrt & Dogs 3rd qrt.
1 a) After quarter time: 8.12 to 5.7 - when you breakdown the scoring after 1/4 time, you actually see a dominance on the scoreboard across the game. This is similar to the Saints' game, however we hadn't allowed the Dogs to get as big a lead (see below).
2. Maginness and Day (swings & slides of running a tagger) - with the use of Finn for an opposition onballer, particularly an inside one, this appears to mean that Day falls back to a role off half back. It was worth noting that Day only had 1 disposal in the 2nd quarter (55% TOG). This was probably also impacted by our relative dominance in the quarter.
A late learning on this strategy - Looking back to the early part of the year, when we had Newcombe & Worpel play half forward roles, I know wonder if Sam was trialling the options as to how to incorporate Finn's role later in the season when we had the stronger team available e.g. Lewis back from injury. I think the learning from this was that neither Worpel or Newcombe had the forward craft yet to make it the better option - think of the Lambert/Martin role for the Tigers.
3. Three tall forwards - from the past couple of games, rather than two tall forwards, the three talls appears to provide a stronger structure. Last week, it was Lewis who moved up the wing as the marking outlet, whereas this week it was Koschitzke who played this role more. I suspect that this was to keep Jones away from the intercept opportunities.
DGB looks to have some good forward marking craft and is prepared to crash the packs as well as tackle. It was an opportunity for him to play on an opponent (O'Donnell) who was within his age/weight group (and experience).
4. 2nd ruck role with two "tall" ruck opponents - when the Dogs had their run on in the last quarter, there were a couple of stoppage clearances (particularly one centre clearance English/Bont) where it was evident that Kosi was outsized whilst Reeves had his break.
It may be a watch this week with the Demons (Gawn/Grundy) as to whether we go with Kosi or look at a taller option.
Watching 3 quarters of BH on Saturday, Ramsden had more centre square work than Meek, so he may be given the opportunity if this is identified as an issue, being the more mobile target as a forward.
5. Running half backs and decision making - with the game plan being a "run & gun" focus, the need for those coming off half back to have good decision making and skill execution is going to become the determinant factor as to who can claim the role between Seamus, BMac & CJ.
With Blanck not being the best disposer of the ball under pressure either by hand or foot at the moment, the need for the 5th defender to be able to make the right call and execute properly is going to be a development issue.
(Weddle on his left foot also needs to become more proficient e.g. last quarter coming out of the back pocket where he turned it straight over to the Dogs on 50m line.)
This is complemented by Scrimshaw being more predictable in his disposals by hand.
6. The milestone players were outstanding - this has been well documented. A feature of Worpel's game was 80% DE which may be a season high and similarly with Newcombe, his disposal ratio 19K/21HB was better balanced.
7. Again, the centre clearances were generally one handball to a clear teammate to kick or run inside 50. Similarly, with Reeves rucking, his hit outs were looking to hit out to the space rather than straight down into the centre circle. It appears to be a different strategy to earlier in the year.
Observations:
* Coughing up goals - when you look at the first quarter, there is an argument to say that we coughed up 2-3 goals.
i) BMac - moment of madness and evidence once again of not making a 2nd mistake in row. Why he handballed to Sicily standing still with an opponent two steps away reflected, I suggest, a VFL standard play. Similarly, with this pass to Nash, not realising that AFL players sweat on this type of kick. (Notwithstanding Blanck's handball to BMac's feet as they played hot potato.)
ii) JUH goal from the mark on the behind line after Scrimshaw couldn't handle the ball which was more a "skill" error with his hands in an awkward position to take the ball to him that Weightman picked up.
iii) JUH goal dummy past Blanck/Scrimshaw - Scrimshaw did really well in the initially marking contest to bring the ball to ground, however Lobb reacted faster than Blanck who then guarded space rather than take the next dangerous opponent (JUH) which meant Scrimshaw had to try to smother his kick getting up from the ground. IF Blanck had taken JUH whilst Scrimshaw was contesting with Lobb, who knows.
(Interesting in the 4th quarter, Blanck left his man to make a contest when the Dogs had an overlap coming into their F50.)
* Role players are valuable - looking at Morrison, when role players execute their role for the team, it does provide a sense of surety to the pattern of play.
* Metres gained by Ward (388/293 ave) & CMac (552/276) - this I think is worth a watch as these types of players look to take more territory with their kicks.
* Worth repeating: since Rd.10 vs WCE we are 6 & 6.
Dumb Decisions/Coach killers:
What was Sicily doing playing on out of the goal square with West in the area and more significantly, where was the talk from the teammates to make the Braveheart call of "Hold! Hold!"
(Another gifted goal?)
Just a thought:
* The mullets don't provide for an "air of confidence" as the players start looking around, with their mullets accentuating the head turning, to the point where you do wonder if they know what they are doing.
(For Weddle, BMac mullet may assist with votes for any awards being allocated by a non-Hawk follower.)
Thanks Danny, no better way to start the day. The Worpel goal and embrace with Jai was definitely the highlights of the day. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but this finish to 2023 is a little similar to season 2006, which was the launch pad for a return to finals in 2007, the difference this time is the quality of opponent that we're defeating. Firstly, totally agree, let's give Chad a contract now, he goes to the long-term injured list, and we have a spot on the list we can choose (or not) to fill. I think we all recognise that a quality intercepting key defender and a quality key forward to work with Mitch Lewis are two of the remaining pieces of the on-field puzzle. I've asked this a few times - if we have Sicily and Weddle in the defensive group, could Scrim play as that second key defender? Blancky takes the big gun and then Scrim takes the next tall. It would still be good to see Jeka have a big finish to the season with Box Hill. The second point is that Denver looked quite promising on the weekend - could have kicked two goals, led up well, took a contested mark and seemed to show some forward smarts. Together with Brandon Ryan, perhaps we have that second key forward on our list? As you say Danny, it's so exciting to watch a young group developing. With our last two games at the MCG, it would be brilliant to finish with two competitive performances. Selection will be interesting this week, Chad needs to be replaced (Brocky or Butler?) and you'd think that Ryan has to come back and Denver will probably be the unlucky one. Perhaps Seamus Mitchell could be the sub this week? Thanks again.
Very promising all round
Bullying the Bulldogs. This was a strong win.
Onboard with finding a way to extend Chad