If Ratts is working on what I mentioned above, then we won't see players standing around upfield forcing our defenders to chip chip sideways and backwards while the opposition goes about moving into zone positions.
Workrate with and without the ball applying pressure to the opposition.

I don't agree there Rexy. The Crows are some of the best in the business at this type of football. They are also an extremely fit list. But there are times in games where they actually do have to chip sideways and backwards in the backline because they are unable to keep up the type of workrate that allows them to move forwards at all times. What they are good at in the defensive half is that when they do go backwards and sideways, they rarely lose control. What you'll see as our team gets better drilled and fitter is that there should be less backwards and sideways, but it will undoubtedly be a feature at some level. Just as it is a feature in many other teams. I agree with you that the less we have to do it the better - but it is going to depend on the capacity of our players to continually present and work up the field. But sideways and backwards is unfortunately a necessity of modern football - I don't like it and you don't like it, but to throw it out as a strategy altogether will require the rules committee to somehow adjust the rules of the game. The positive from our perspective is that Justin Cordy is now at the completion of his three year plan on the fitness of our players. I'd encourage you to look up some of BondiBlue's posts from prior to Christmas on this because he has some inside info. The fitness levels of the players will to a large extent determine the amount of chipping we are forced to undertake.

I agree Molly. Most of our reliant players have been in the system long enough to have built up a fitness level comparable to any other team including Adelaide. There are no excuses for unnecessary static play this year IMO.

Even though its been pointed out that even the best exponents of the modern gameplan such as Adelaide still have static play? And that it can at times in fact be quite necessary?

Just rewatch last years grand final and you will see the seasons best two teams do plenty of chip chip. Its the way the game is going.

If you are not happy with the way we looked at times in the preseason then you are right there with Ratts who states in the Q & A that he wasnt happy with the way we did curtain things and wants the players to learn when to take calculated risks.

Why the screwy Nick?

We ranked third offensively, 108 points behind the best attack, but we only ranked tenth defensively, conceding 644 more points than the Saints. So which area needs the most improvement?

Ratten wants our players to make better decisions as to what to do in certain game situations as the Swan points out. I don't see a problem with that.

I think those who thought we weren't attacking enough last season will actually have something legit to complain about this time around

Chip chip go backwards is the way the game is going?? I don't think so.

Yes it's done by all teams, some a lot more than others.

We don't HAVE TO do it if we don't want to. Can't we be innovative?

I'm not so sure Molly. I don't see the point of not revealing who we have in the leadership group, unless it is because we have one or two in there that we think will open us up to criticism.

We could just ask the other team to kindly not do a good defensive job and just let us through unhindered

The problem isn't so much the chip, chip go backwards (although I do think we need to play on more at times moving forward) it is the lack of patience at times.

The whole point of it is to keep possession, especially if the other team has a runon, but the tactic is rendered useless, if we then after retaining possession, we then bomb it long anyway and get picked off, which we do more than we should. That just defeats the purpose. The kids need to htfu and ignore the groans of the crowds

Comes back to Ratten alluding to game situational awareness.

Seriously, the guy could give you tomorrow's winning lotto numbers and you'd still find something to whinge about

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And it will change.

Ratts is managing expectations. His opinion of the pre-season seems similar to many on here, and internally they know it will take time for the side to gel.

Saying that we have lost experience, and going backwards in that regard is a subtle admission that he expects us to go backwards a little bit.

I would have read that as being counteractive to our existing progression. Are the young ones suddenly not developing because the old stagers have left?

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