Talking Tactics - Our Forward Structure In 2017

[Gointocarlton]

I suspect it's a bit of both. I agree that you need to be focused the whole game, but the question is what exactly are you focusing on ?

For the sake of the argument, compare us to the Crows - do you think their ability to score freely is because of :

a. a specific game style that goes in with that mindset, including but not limited to, faster and more forward ball movement ?
b. a better forward line ?
c. players with faster leg speed ?
d. better mids ?
e. better stoppage structures, or generally better setups around the ground ?
f. different or better "cattle" ?

any or all of the above ?

b.

[PaulP]

I made comment in the post game that we are more noticeably hitting up 20m passes. This is a big change to what we were doing through JLT and rnd 1 where we had a kamikaze play on all the time approach.

I think that is where bolton would like us to end up but we proved we weren't ready for the more adventurous style so we've gone back to a more conservative approach.

It's hard to get caught out on fast breaks when you're moving the ball carefully up the field. Any turnover tends to happen deep in the forward line rather than up on the wing.

Anyway... will be interesting to see how it evolves.

Good post and I agree, but I wonder if the evolution is also on the coach's side and not just the players' ?

[DJC]

I suspect it's a bit of both. I agree that you need to be focused the whole game, but the question is what exactly are you focusing on ?

For the sake of the argument, compare us to the Crows - do you think their ability to score freely is because of :

a. a specific game style that goes in with that mindset, including but not limited to, faster and more forward ball movement ?
b. a better forward line ?
c. players with faster leg speed ?
d. better mids ?
e. better stoppage structures, or generally better setups around the ground ?
f. different or better "cattle" ?

any or all of the above ?

Definitely 'b' and a decided home ground advantage.

Stick Walker and Betts in our forward line and we'd be a lock for the 8.

[Gointocarlton]

Definitely 'b' and a decided home ground advantage.

Stick Walker and Betts in our forward line and we'd be a lock for the 8.

What about Lynch, Cameron and Jenkins?

[PaulP]

Definitely 'b' and a decided home ground advantage.

Stick Walker and Betts in our forward line and we'd be a lock for the 8.

Interesting that both you and GTC picked b and only b.

[Gointocarlton]

Interesting that both you and GTC picked b and only b.

Last year, their top four goal scorers outscored our entire list. They look like scoring more goals this year, to call them potent is a huge understatement.

[DJC]

What about Lynch, Cameron and Jenkins?

Can't be too greedy

[DJC]

Interesting that both you and GTC picked b and only b.

I think that we're pretty competitive in most aspects of the game.  What takes the wind out of our sails are the rebound 50s that put our mids and defence under so much pressure.  A couple of elite forwards to improve our forward 50 efficiency and lock the ball in and we'd be on the way 

[LP]

I think that we're pretty competitive in most aspects of the game.  What takes the wind out of our sails are the rebound 50s that put our mids and defence under so much pressure.  A couple of elite forwards to improve our forward 50 efficiency and lock the ball in and we'd be on the way 

Pressure on the rebound is not strictly or exclusively related to the forwards ability to win the ball inside F50 or the quality of the forwards. I think it's mostly related to work effort to setup early through the midfield and defense, and the ability of the mids and defense to lock the ball inside F50.

Some of that rebound pressure, perhaps much of it in our case, comes from mindlessly bombing the football into F50! Not something you can fix with better forwards, and I recall it being a major issue at one stage in the past when we had Fev and Betts.

Of course if the forwards don't chase there would be an issue, but I don't see how that is exclusively related to a forwards ability to win the ball.

[DJC]

Pressure on the rebound is not strictly or exclusively related to the forwards ability to win the ball inside F50 or the quality of the forwards. I think it's mostly related to work effort to setup early through the midfield and defense, and the ability of the mids and defense to lock the ball inside F50.

Some of that rebound pressure, perhaps much of it in our case, comes from mindlessly bombing the football into F50! Not something you can fix with better forwards, and I recall it being a major issue at one stage in the past when we had Fev and Betts.

Of course if the forwards don't chase there would be an issue, but I don't see how that is exclusively related to a forwards ability to win the ball.

No it's not.  Locking the ball inside 50 is just as important, as implied in my post