TheBluesMuse wrote:
Blue Vain wrote:
Perhaps It's not just about personnel, perhaps it's about the structure they are playing to.
We were beaten by the
basics on Friday night.
Our set ups at the defensive stoppages were terrible. We didn't push back to assist and we allowed our defenders to go one on one which resulted in 7 goals 2 from defensive stoppages!
When you're beaten by less than 5 goals, that's nowhere near good enough. Yes we can bring in Lucas or Hendo or Wayne Carey. If they're not playing with smarts or adequate instruction, you're swimming uphill anyway.
Collingwoods set plays smashed ours. Jarryd Blair (2nd year rookie) didn't seem to have too many problems understanding their structures. Nor did Krakouer (first year player). Yet our players need a few years.

I'd suggest we assess what and how the players are being taught instead of the time its taking them to grasp it.
I'm going to have the guts to disagree with you here....and I am probably wrong but this is what I think anyway.

You talk about Jarryd Blair and Krakourer knowing their structures and somehow comparing it to our group....
I think had our backline been together for 12 months solid and we just threw in Watson he would probably know the structures too but our backline has 4 new additions who have played together for a preseason and a couple of games. If it's that easy to just 'know your structures' then any coach with a clue could put together a whole new bunch of guys in the off season and then win a premiership within 12 months.
We need time because our team keeps looking different from year to year.....it's about getting it right I think and then we should notice a large group of players should be interchangeable within this structure...but not yet for many reasons I suppose....we just don't have a core 22 who have had 12 months or more of solid footy together....but we are getting closer.
Sorry TBM, I haven't had the chance to get back to you. You're right. The defenders are still raw and they have a lot to learn in a short time however this isn't about the backs.
As I said in my initial post, we didn't push back and allowed our defenders to compete one on one. Go back and look at the defensive stoppages in the 2nd quarter where Collingwood won the game. At no stage did we have defensive cover in the goal square yet we had free players standing attacking side of the contest hoping we'd win it out. Well, we didn't and it cost us goals.
I cant remember the goalkicker (Blair or Krakouer) but I recall one of their first goals. Our defenders were man on man (they still have a lot to learn in this area) and the collingwood player span out of the stoppage 15 metres out and kicked the goal. At the same time, Kade Simpson is standing 10 metres on his own, attacking side of the stoppage. Should we be rolling the dice like that 15 metres out from the opposition goals? Not a chance. Disciplined teams will push players back on the defensive side to assist and cover for the defenders. Colingwood do it with Johnson or Thomas, whichever is their defensive winger. (usually Johnson). Their mids will quite often get there as well.
Following that, Luke Ball pulls a ball out from a defensive stoppage 20 metres out and dribbles it along the ground for a goal. 20 metres out from the opposition goal and we have no one between the stoppage and the goalsquare? Surely our set ups could allow a midfielder or half forward to push back and give defensive cover at a dangerous stoppage? Good teams who are well drilled will utilise that player to exit the backline anyway so it's not as if he's a wasted there. Bloody hell, 20 metres out from goal, directly in front! Not acceptable IMHO.
What's of more value? a spare player in amongst 20 or a cover to assist the defenders?
As jim stated, Duigan had a stinker on the night. He probably coughed up 5 goals but hopefully he'll learn from it. His concentration was poor and his lack of defensive running was exposed. But IMO, that's even more reason for us to have players push back hard to assist. I completely understand that forwards will get away from their opponents. Especially with smart players like Swan who block for their forwards beautifully near goal but from my perspective, either our structures were poor or our players aren't following instruction.
Both or either are areas we need to address immediately.