Appreciate the inside insight .

The coach has to understand what he's dealing with - players, anyone, can take in a certain amount of instruction in a given period. Then they need to train over a period of time to internalise it, then they need to play with that instruction, and learn from it. Over time teach them a few different tricks, slowly, and eventually most of them will know instinctively how to adapt when the instruction is given. Teaching strategies and tactics in footy must surely be a gradual process, and when the team is mature enough teams will integrate them all. Trying to skip some of those learning stages is a recipe for disaster. Over-coaching can be worse than under-coaching.

I'm sure the player development plan includes a lot of this stuff, and as Harris says, it's a long term process to get the plan right, and to teach the plan over a number of years so the players can respond to coaches plans with deep understanding. NFL relies massively on players learning plays, and while AFL will always be less structured, AFL players need to be smart enough to understand the heavy stuff. This deep knowledge comes with time.

Both right!

*edit*

_________________
Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

*edit*

and this is based on?

_________________
This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

'snip'

_________________
Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

Mick McGuane's bookie's cousin once painted a house for Shane Kerrison's brother-in-law who's missus' hairdresser's boyfriend is the garbo who goes down Melvey's street on Tuesday mornings...the proof is in the rubbish.

Let's not get personal about it but it would be good Melvey if you could somehow substantiate all the innuendo you have posting as fact

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

a big 'snip'

The proof is in the pudding.

I may not know what goes on in the boardroom but do know plenty what goes on socially with the boys.

I hear plenty and i've heard right.

You'd be hoping so mate.

'snip'

Let's get the thread back on track please, and stop needling each other.

Thanks in advance.

Youth, Inexperience... Whatever.

St. Kilda v. Hawthorn was a fixture to avoid for the last 3 years as two shit sides with rubbish coaches tried to mould their team in the image they desired.

Now 1 has a flag and the other has 9 wins on the trot.

But clearly the sky is falling, so carry on.



*edit*

Apparently Adelaide think it is....

They've rolled out the "kids" line a few times this year too....

_________________
Go to http://www.snoutslouts.org/ for a look at the mighty GFC...

yes, youth really is an excuse.

The coaching staff can not be blamed for trying to bring new elements into our game. Fev worked against that Pies, but it seems the logic of playing him in the same role against the Crows was somewhat misguided, especially when there was, according to the commentators a four goal wind. A more traditional approach probably would have worked better, but I'm guessing they thought that if he was getting it on the half forward flank he could be slotting 60-70 meter goals with ease.

It is going to take some time for all of the finer points of our game to sink in. We are going to make some mistakes on the way.

Our players will be inconsistent and at times we will be left scratching our heads in wonder about what the coaches were thinking. Under Pagan, everyone new our game plan. Under Ratts we seem to be trying new things all the time. Some work and some don't.

Adelaide were harder at the footy, we had more players around the ball, but still did not win the stopages. When 1 crows player can beat three blues, we are always going to be chasing and we will always look second rate. It is rare that we are so badly beaten at the stopages, but we paid for it on Saturday.

_________________
"our guest is dressed by hand-me-downs, hair designed by pillow"

ok...whatever heaven forbid...team meetings? with tactics? surely not Are you for real?

In answer to your question VB... YES!

Nice of you to bring up those players - now how about we look at the players you have chosen in a bit more detail...

Dangerfield 10 games - 19yrs, 1mth, 84kgs
Otten 10 - 20, 87kgs
Vince 39 - 23 yrs, 7mths, 86kgs
Symes 20 - 23yrs, 10 mths, 82kgs
Moran 9 - 22yrs, 7 mths, 99kgs
Mackay 27 - 20yrs, 9mths, 72kgs
Maric 34 - 23 yrs, 4mths, 102kgs
Tippett 27 - 22 yrs, 100kgs
Walker 8 - 19yrs, 87kgs

Joseph 9 - 19yrs, 10 mths, 76kgs
Yarran 3 - 18yrs, 5 mths, 84kgs
Armfield 14 - 22yrs, 5 mths, 78kgs
Robinson 5 - 19yrs, 11mths, 79kgs
Austin 7 - 20yrs, 3mths, 89kgs
Kruezer 28 - 20yrs, 95kgs
Jamison 27 - 22yrs, 11mths, 87kgs
Bower 32 - 20yrs, 8 mths, 90kgs
Browne 14 - 20yrs, 3mths, 75kgs
Hampson 14 - 21yrs, 2mths, 95kgs

Notice anything? - Perhaps the following might help

1. 5/9 of the crows 'inexperienced players are 22+yrs of age (ie 55%). For the blues, we have 2/10 inexperienced players that were 22+yrs of age.

2. The average age of the crows 22+ players is approximately 23yrs 1mth (23.067yrs). If you took the equivalent bracket of players for the blues you would look at the oldest 6 players (ie 60%). The average age of the blues players in this group would be 21yrs 3mths (21.27 yrs). In effect, these crows players are about 22 mths older (which would translate to 2 extra seasons of development in the SANFL)

3. 1/9 crows players were listed as sub-80kgs. For the blues, 4/10 players are listed as sub 80kgs

4. 2/9 crows players were listed as 100+kgs (with another player at 99kgs). For the blues 0/10 are 100+kgs.

So would you like to revisit your proposition that inexperience was a bulldust excuse?

Before I looked at the age difference, the one stat that stood out for me was the weight difference...muscle...development. It was quite noticeable on Saturday too.

Yeah, and as you point out there's the equivalent of 2 years extra development there to the Crows' advantage.

We have a way to go in physical development, but no doubt we have some class.

Steroid them, LTI them and send them overseas for 6 months.

_________________
Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

'snip'