04-17-2022, 12:51 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-17-2022, 01:02 PM by JonDorotich.)
Too many average players in the side and if it was not for some great efforts by Young and Newman in the last qtr we may have been discussing a loss.
Rather than fitness our midfield and defensive six are not great at maintaining structure behind the ball, nor are they making good decisions under pressure/fatigue - part of this is physical as many have suggested, but I’d say the issue is mostly mental. Are our players intelligent enough to know where they need to stand/understand players next option and position as a defensive unit to cut it off? Do they keep their composure under pressure? Do they know when and how to play tempo footy? Do they know not to telegraph their next move so as to invite pressure on the player receiving the ball? Do they will themselves to stick a tackle when a side is surging??
Unfortunately, the reality is that the answer to many of the questions above (not all) for players such as Newnes, Cottrell, Parks, Boyd, LoB & Plowman is a resounding “no” so if we are to be successful this year it’s very clearly a specific role or the VFL for the majority of these guys.
Hamill also has a lot of work to do on the back six - our third tall in defence simply isn’t working in McGovern’s absence and we know that we can’t rely on Mitch’s body holding up. We also haven’t found a reliable, strong lockdown defender for opposition small forwards. Whilst there are not too many options on the list, I’d start seriously considering playing DeKoning at CHB, Weitering FB and Young (or potentially Kemp) 3rd tall until McGovern returns. Additionally, TDK gives us some structural flexibility if needed. For the lockdown defender, Fogarty/Cottrell may be worth testing in that role as I don’t think that Stocker is quick or agile enough to play the role.
We also desperately need some pace - Dow, Philp would both be handy additions and I don’t accept the assertion that Newnes/Cottrell are better on the wing than Dow.
Lots to think through because the current combination won’t get the job done against a decent side.
Rather than fitness our midfield and defensive six are not great at maintaining structure behind the ball, nor are they making good decisions under pressure/fatigue - part of this is physical as many have suggested, but I’d say the issue is mostly mental. Are our players intelligent enough to know where they need to stand/understand players next option and position as a defensive unit to cut it off? Do they keep their composure under pressure? Do they know when and how to play tempo footy? Do they know not to telegraph their next move so as to invite pressure on the player receiving the ball? Do they will themselves to stick a tackle when a side is surging??
Unfortunately, the reality is that the answer to many of the questions above (not all) for players such as Newnes, Cottrell, Parks, Boyd, LoB & Plowman is a resounding “no” so if we are to be successful this year it’s very clearly a specific role or the VFL for the majority of these guys.
Hamill also has a lot of work to do on the back six - our third tall in defence simply isn’t working in McGovern’s absence and we know that we can’t rely on Mitch’s body holding up. We also haven’t found a reliable, strong lockdown defender for opposition small forwards. Whilst there are not too many options on the list, I’d start seriously considering playing DeKoning at CHB, Weitering FB and Young (or potentially Kemp) 3rd tall until McGovern returns. Additionally, TDK gives us some structural flexibility if needed. For the lockdown defender, Fogarty/Cottrell may be worth testing in that role as I don’t think that Stocker is quick or agile enough to play the role.
We also desperately need some pace - Dow, Philp would both be handy additions and I don’t accept the assertion that Newnes/Cottrell are better on the wing than Dow.
Lots to think through because the current combination won’t get the job done against a decent side.