(07-12-2023, 06:13 AM)DJC date Wrote:Our defence is more than capable of making life very difficult for Dixon, Finlayson, Marshall and Rioli but I doubt whether Hinkley is confident that his defence can stifle our forwards. Similarly, our midfield is in a rare vein of form and will trouble any opposition, even with Kennedy missing. Our rucks are a problem but Hayes is a novice and shouldn't worry us.Don't jinx us!
Most AFL coaches try to stop the scoring by negating the source rather than stop the scoring once it's inside 50. I'd be gobsmacked if Hinkley's focus isn't 100% Midfield domination, and they will go to school on the Young / SoJ ruck habits as part of that as well as our next man in focus.
I'd be forcing us to go wide from stoppages, and close up space on the likes of Walsh and Cerra who are knocked up on getting footy on the spread. The trick for us is going to be what can we do if the let us take the footy 1st but stop us having someone to give it to!
I'd look for any signs of us over doing handball early on, it'll be a symptom of our options being closed off!
Away from the Midfield, the last three weeks we scored a lot from forcing turnovers, Saad, Boyd, Doc, Kemp, Cincotta and last week Cottrell have all been relentless at hunting the footy, with Fogarty and Cunningham combined with Walsh and Cerra have been good users of it. What do they do if Port surrender the front spot?
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"