The Hard Road To The Premiership

[PaulP]

No biggie.

The TV isn't always the best way to watch the footy but it highlights one aspect - watch the big pack situations when a ball gets bombed in long and high, you'll soon see which defenders have eyes that are darting around in directions other than the ball.  There's a few of them in the AFL, one who I can recall attempting to hurt Casboult in a pack but who came off second best!

Thanks matey.

Well, the edgy, nervous defenders will be even more so with the ball kicked in high and deep to the top of the goal square, and with a good forward set up. Whilst such a kick gives the defense time to run back and set up, it also gives our 2nd and 3rd talls and small crumbers the chance to do exactly the same. If our forwards are set up correctly, with the right personnel, then the only real options for the defense is to go for a clean mark. The forwards should be set up to anticipate and ideally intercept the punch out of bounds, the attempt to spoil etc. The 2nd and 3rd talls should be set up as outriggers in the F50 to anticipate kicks from our blokes that fall short, or kicks out of defense that do the same. I can keep going, but the point I'm making is that those F50 entries are precious, and we need to be manic about keeping the ball in there. The defenders will always be tempted to infringe when they feel cornered and with no options.