Blue Vain wrote:
To suggest our squad last night was "pretty balanced" is laughable. Multiple players playing out of position filling holes. Midfield depth playing defence, no ruckman after 10 minutes.
I love these suggestions that coaches can magically cover the absence of players with tactics and strategies.
Is it coincidence that the game Adelaide get Rory Atkins, Riley Knight and Eddie betts back into their side (a week after Sloane and Lynch return from long lay offs), they have a win against a top 8 side after losing 5 of 6?
Surprise, Surprise, Lynch kicks 4, Atkins has 28 and Eddie supplies the forward half pressure with 7 tackles.
The team coached by the most successful current coach went to the Gabba this season without Frawley, O'Meara and Rioli and they lose by 56 points. Yet our coach should be sacked when we go up there with half a team.
Yes we are terrible at the moment but have some perspective. Anyone who comments that injuries don't impact performance significantly has no idea about competitive sport.
We are impacted by injuries to key players
significantly more than any other team. Fact. Compounding that is the fact we would have the worst depth in the AFL.
Kicking the shit out of the coach might make posters feel better but if anyone thinks a change of coach will bring better results at the moment, they're dreaming.
We don't have the talent on the park. That's it. The best coach in the history of the game won't fix that.
I don't disagree with the injuries one bit.
What I do find mind boggling watching the game is positioning. We still have 18 people out there yet there is:
1. never enough in F50 on the odd occasion the ball gets there
2. never enough between the arcs in proactive positions (either ready to counterattack or ready to run offensively)
3. loose men and overlap created at will
4. If we're covering space, why do we concede so many I50 marks/disposals etc?
5. Our midfield is weak BUT, how often do teams waltz out of a stoppage with superior numerical advantage bc our stoppage players leave the contest to go and defend rather than try and win the stoppage (and the opp STILL find a loose target)
It is TV smashing stuff. I can cope with better skilled players beating our players but when you can't even see our players anywhere within 5 metres of the opposition, you wonder WTF is going on
Maybe the stats will contradict my observations but our lack of intensity to run both ways stands out like the proverbials
Your thoughts on this?
I agree with the frustration but look at the team at the moment. How many last night would you have in our best 22 on current form?
I'd suggest Curnow x 2, Cripps, Fisher, Simpson, (O'Brien, SPS, McKay and Dow for experience), Murphy, Marchbank, Fisher. Kreuzer lasted 10 minutes so he's not included. That's 12 and it includes a number of youngsters who I've included generously for the future but most contribute very little on a consistent basis. Murphy has missed about 10 games, Marchbank is coming back from about 5 weeks out. 6 of the remaining best 12 are first or second year players who have at best 1 pre-season under their belt.
I agree there are never enough forwards but they're pushing back to assist the defence. Look how many goals our makeshift defenders conceded last night. Lamb, Thomas, Rowe, Silvagni with their lack of forward craft.
As for teams waltzing out of clearances, look at our ruck options last night. Charlie Curnow, McKay, Jones!
Between no ruckman and a 3rd string defence. They kicked 13.9 from forward half intercepts or forward half stoppages. What can you do about that other than push players back to support which reduces our opportunity to score.
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