Why So Different??

[kruddler]

That may be the theory but Blind Freddy could see that it didn't work in practice.  Opposition players knew exactly where the ball was going and we're able to spoil or intercept.  Rather than throw ins, the ball often went straight back down the corridor, giving our defenders no chance.

Given the opportunity, Malthouse would have persevered with his outdated, ineffective gameplan regardless of the playing list and the evolution of the game.

The answer to the question 'why so different?' is blindingly obvious; Malthouse and his archaic approach to coaching is gone!

That is all well and good, but you are arguing a point that was not brought up.

EB1 misunderstood the reasons behind our gameplan. I said it suited our players (lack of) kicking ability.

As for the outdated game plan....we were #1 in the pre-season for using the corridor.
Port were #1 for using the corridor and have been 'found out' this year.
Ken Hinkley was lauded by many as the best coach in the AFL last year, this year he is outdated. Malthouse won a flag in 2010, but now is archaic. Simplistic thinking at its finest.

Ultimately, the best game plan is one that involves a bit of everything, thus making it hard to defend against.

Based on my observations last week there was 1 simple instruction on how to play the game.
"Keep the ball moving forward into space at every opportunity."
That is, if you can't find a teammate, find space.
In a stoppage, hit the ball into space.
When under pressure, forget about trying to pinpoint a teammate, look for space.

The players all knew this, so when someone had the ball, they were looking for space and ultimately would run onto the loose ball.

There were countless examples of this, but perhaps the most memorable was cripps handball over his head into the path of Bell running into space, goal.

The beauty of such a 'gameplan', the opposition don't know about it prior to the match. Will it work each and every week? No, opposition will work it out eventually like they have with Port.