Are we too defensively minded as a team?

This has been on my mind for a little while now, since the Adelaide debacle. In that game, Ratten acknowledged during the post-mortem that HE got it wrong, and had his players playing up the ground too much (a defensive set-up, as I read it).

And again last weekend, in the first half, it was clear for all to see the decision to put arguably our premier playmaker (Gibbs) in a purely defensive role on Goodes, was a poor strategic move. It was only after half time when Gibbs was given midfield freedom, that the Blues started to get their act together. (note : the decision to put Gibbs on Goodes, with Thornton there as well, seems to be a product of Gibbs doing well on Goodes in 08, but we recall in that game Goodes was unfit).

The second Essendon* game, and to an extent the first Essendon* game too, are other examples. In these games, and the Adelaide and Sydney game (indeed both Sydney games now that I come to think of it), I felt that our players were too reactionary, and as a result the opposition won the contested ball contests time and time again. Last weekend Sydney had almost twice as many disposals as us in the first half.

My question is, is Ratten being too defensive with his set-ups? Players like Grigg and Russell seem to often play defensive midfield roles, and Houlihan and Carrazzo often play defensive HFF roles, and then there’s Joseph who tags if he’s not playing in the BP. And reiterating the earlier point, sometimes Gibbs plays defensive roles too.

Are too many of our flankers and midfielders too often being asked to play defensive roles? And is this why on numerous occasions this year we seem to be second to the ball so often? (ie: because our players are man watching, instead of being proactive and attacking the ball?).

Is this a product of Ratten playing many of his final years under Brittain, a coach who was big on putting the squeeze on the opposition, from my recollection anyhow?

I believe our best footy this year has been played when we have been proactive and attacking. See the demolition of the Dogs, in what was a free running performance by the Blues (granted the Dogs are free wheelers), and the second half last weekend, when Ratten was less defensively minded with his set-ups.

I understand we need to strike a balance, but have we maybe been a bit too defensively minded at times this year?

I'm pretty sure one of Ratts' main focuses when he got the job was to reduce the 'score against' statistic of the Pagan era.
He certainly succeded in doing that, but hopefully not to the detriment of the players natural attacking instincts and flair.

And again last weekend, in the first half, it was clear for all to see the decision to put arguably our premier playmaker (Gibbs) in a purely defensive role on Goodes, was a poor strategic move. It was only after half time when Gibbs was given midfield freedom, that the Blues started to get their act together. (note : the decision to put Gibbs on Goodes, with Thornton there as well, seems to be a product of Gibbs doing well on Goodes in 08, but we recall in that game Goodes was unfit).