17th Premiership wrote:
But what I do see is:
1) Not enough movement ahead of the ball providing options or clearing space for others BIG TICK
2) More often than not, our forward line seems very clogged (and static). More often than not, our opponents forward line seems very open (and dynamic). THIS IS THE ONE THAT CONFOUNDS ME THE MOST! BIGGER TICK
3) More often than not, we bomb it into the forward line often a shallow entry even when there are overlap players available who could direct it deeper and to a leading player. (Sometimes, there are just no dynamic options ahead of the ball so the kicker just has to bomb it). REGULAR TICK
4) It seems like our preferred clearance approach is to bomb it fast if we get the ball from clearance. Whereas, Hawthorn preferred to look for a close handball out of the stoppage to start a running chain or enable a more directed kick forward. It’s as if Sam Mitchell says they can kick straight from stoppage but only if they are able to eyeball a clear or leading player. Whereas we just get ball, kick ball without looking. HUGE TICK
5) Too often, our kicks and handballs miss their targets. Or we train to deliver the ball to where the player was rather than where they’re going. Included in this point are the handballs that go to the targets’ ankles or kicks that reach their target on the half volley… infuriating! MY TICKET
6) Too often, we don’t seem to stick effective tackles or continue to apply pressure once an opponent gets past us. To be fair, I think this is a more recent development where earlier in the year I think our pressure was much better. Maybe players have checked out (which is not a great excuse and another poor indicator but I guess if a player is prepared to check out now, they must be prepared to wear the consequences when we go through the list post-season).
7) We are WAY too mild mannered. Still. Whether it’s joking around after we get smashed or not doing much of the little annoying unsociable things other hungrier teams do. FULLY SICK TICK
I understand that times have changed but this team doesn’t play the way Voss played and it doesn’t seem like Voss is as uncompromising as a coach as he was as a player (hopefully he is behind closed doors but it’s not coming out on game day). I CAN TICK THIS.
It was interesting to hear Voss call out amongst our deficiencies that we kick it down the line too much. So that is obviously not his preferred way for us to move the ball. THIS TICKS ME OFF
So, why do we do it so much? The answer to this question could be the key to addressing a lot of our on-field problems. Hopefully, GW knows the answer and we will see his response in the coming weeks or months.
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