aboynamedsue wrote:
I reckon that 2 of our biggest problems areas have been:
(1) Defensive pressure across the ground. This is a pretty broad category and includes - not being as well drilled as the better sides in our structures and defensive transitions, not running as hard defensively as the other way, not blocking opponents running forward to receive the ball, and allowing too many tackles to be broken.
(2) Ball use. Simply - not selecting the right option and/or bad execution.
In other words, in 2 of the 3 phases of the game - (1) when the opposition has the ball, and (2) when we have the ball - we are a fair way behind the best teams. The 3rd phase (contested ball) could also be improved, but I don't think has been as much of a concern IMO.
From what the coaching staff have said publicly, and from what I've seen with my own eyes in the practice matches, I'm confident we're going to make progress this year with (1). Our tackling seems stronger and our positioning around the ground looks better when the opposition has the ball. This is an absolute non-negotiable, especially given that our backmen (almost to a man) look vulnerable in one-on-ones.
But I'm still worried about (2). I've seen nothing in the practice matches to suggest that we are about to join the elite of the competition in this regard. The premiership side will be the team that has the most players who most often make the right decisions with the ball and execute well under pressure. We will not overcome the press or zones of the likes of Collingwood and Hawthorn if we do not get much better with our disposal, particularly by foot. This includes kicking for goal. "Getting better" means being consistently effective.
We've been crying out for years for defenders that are smart ball users. Hopefully Yarran, Laidler and Watson can provide some immediate improvement down there. But, unfortunately, across the board I don't see us having the elite decision making and skills under pressure that the top 4 teams do.
Predicting ladder positions is fun but with so many variables (not the least of which is injuries and which teams adapt quickest to the rule changes) I find it impossible.
However, I think we should improve enough in area (1) to hold our spot in the eight - given a reasonable run with injuries and luck in close games - but I think we're still short enough in area (2) for me to say that, unfortunately, I can't see us penetrating the top 4...
...but if we do improve in all areas of our game including (2) then a top 4 spot is not out of the questionGood post abns.
I don't think we are being written off completely; it's just the selection prior to the season has to be made by these guys a week prior to the season start. It's not easy selecting the top 8...Lyon selecting the Demons ahead of the Blues is baseless and bias imo. I bet every sports writer and commentator can see our potential to be a top 8 side, and if we have taken the next step we could press for a top 4 (if everything goes our way) but we have shown a bit of potential in the past 2 years along with some long flat periods too.
Remember what happened to Carlton after the Walls article in the Age last year? The same thing that happened to Sheehan the year before. Once bitten twice shy.
It's up to us to change the perception of our own supporters let alone the wider footy community.