08-05-2017, 11:41 PM
2017 was definitely a development year where we had a focus on defensive structures, improving kicking skills and getting game time into the younger players.
But this came at a cost - not taking risks slowed our game down to the point where it made life near impossible to move the ball effectively to our forwards and at times playing too many young bodies that were too easily outmuscled by stronger teams. This has clearly taken its toll and our injury list is curtailing progress - both the players that are sitting out and those that are taking the field but who are clearly a bit banged up and not 100%.
My hope for pre-season and 2018 isn't just the new draftees we bring in, but how we evolve our game plan to incorporate a greater focus on attacking as the young players get smarter, stronger and faster.
The day will come when Cripps rips it out of contest, handpasses to SPS who bolts through the centre and kicks a beautifully weighted kick that allows Curnow to fly for a huge mark and kick a goal. And it will be glorious.
But this came at a cost - not taking risks slowed our game down to the point where it made life near impossible to move the ball effectively to our forwards and at times playing too many young bodies that were too easily outmuscled by stronger teams. This has clearly taken its toll and our injury list is curtailing progress - both the players that are sitting out and those that are taking the field but who are clearly a bit banged up and not 100%.
My hope for pre-season and 2018 isn't just the new draftees we bring in, but how we evolve our game plan to incorporate a greater focus on attacking as the young players get smarter, stronger and faster.
The day will come when Cripps rips it out of contest, handpasses to SPS who bolts through the centre and kicks a beautifully weighted kick that allows Curnow to fly for a huge mark and kick a goal. And it will be glorious.