(10-07-2023, 09:35 PM)PaulP date Wrote:It's not really possible IMO to continuously come up with new party tricks and tactical moves that keep the opposition guessing. At some point you simply have to be a better team. I've heard many losing coaches say they knew exactly how the opposition would play, but they just weren't able to counter it.Yes, in the end it's a contest, I believe Voss told the team as much as part of his you have to win finals more than once talk. A team versus a team, and if you have enough people win and fewer losers on the day you probably win.
There are moments when "New Tactics" work, we see it in a honeymoon period for stand-in or new coaches, and we see it in debut seasons for good players. But it's that 2nd or 3rd season that is the tell, and the 2nd season blues is common among players who are no longer a mystery to opponents. Which by the way is why Walsh remains such an exceptional player, because as you mentioned, they know his tricks but just can't do anything about them!
Part of the MC / Coaching role, is to precisely pick the right moments when you use variations in tactics, and to not overdo them to avoid becoming predictable. Which is also why Malthouse, Pagan and others pass their use-by-date, not because they are incapable, but often because they refuse to change and as such become too predictable. They are very very well study as opponents!
"Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck ....... Ruck, ruck, ruck, ruck"