Blue Vain wrote:
I agree Bondi that Ed has been a great tagger but let's not undervalue the job Kennedy did on Adams last week.
He was disciplined and smart by negating Adams' ability to get to the ball and then Kennedy won more than his own share of it. It was an effort that most of our other mids should take notice of. He should get first crack at Cunnington this week. Plus his size will make it a decent match up.
Simpkin is the other midfield problem. He's winning heaps of ball and he's a good runner. Perhaps let him and Walsh go head to head and monitor it.
Goldstein will be our biggest headache. He's playing great footy and he always performs well against us.
Game style will be interesting. I've really liked our strategies over the past month. I don't know if it's the influence of Luke Power, if the assistants are getting more input or Teague has wised up but whatever the case, we're playing much better footy.
Our defensive mechanisms are far better (defensive communication, connection and willingness, getting back to assist the defence and in turn, giving our running defenders more opportunity), we are not being so one dimensional with our forward entries (it's not Harry or nothing), our contest work is far smarter (players are now pairing off outside the stoppages instead of everyone going in for the ball, finally!)
The one improvement I want to see is not going back to the old ways because Cripps comes back. We saw last week how using better runners in the middle improves our midfield. That shouldn't change this week. Short, sharp midfield rotations so the 2 way workrate can be maintained. Cripps come into a midfield rotation. He doesn't overwhelm it.
As I've said, I don't want Teague to be sacked. I just want him to be more flexible and contemporary in his approach. Over the past month, we've finally seen it come out. It has to continue.
This will be a huge challenge for us. North always match up well on us. There contested stuff is very good.
Let's see if the coaches hold their nerve and don't go back to looking for individual saviours instead of staying the recent course.
Well thought out post BV.
Kennedy's return to the team has produced 5 really good games, even in the losses against Eagles and Cats (we should've won).
He's proven himself as a mainstay of the midfield group. Kennedy is 5cm taller and probably slightly heavier than Cunington, so he matches up well.
Quote:
Short, sharp midfield rotations so the 2 way work rate can be maintained. Cripps come into a midfield rotation. He doesn't overwhelm it.
THIS.
Really poignant that Cripps doesn't overwhelm. I like that word. He needs to compliment. They all do.
Agree Walsh and Simpkin go head to head.
I like Ed's running role on the wing. You didn't mention Ed's role other than allude to no need to tag to start with, and let Kennedy go head to head with Cunington. Leave Ed on a wing?
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