So you like the gameplan then?

The gameplan. Everyone is looking for the 'gameplan'.

I'm tipping once the team is functioning and implementing the basics by being first to the ball, winning clearances, executing there skills, etc. All of the sudden people will start to "amazingly" see the gameplan function.

When it breaks down because the team doesn't implement these functions correctly, the team pays for it, and posters scream that there isn't a gameplan.

You do the small things correctly time and time again and reduce turning over the ball, you'll see the gameplan.

The fact is when the side is being heavily scored against, it's a no-brainer that the boys up forward will push up the ground and fill space or man-up/zone-up to prevent any scoring, and at the same time to help turn the ball over and perhaps create something. As was evident just before quarter time against Freo, when Rivers nearly scored a goal !

The gameplan. Everyone is looking for the 'gameplan'.

I'm tipping once the team is functioning and implementing the basics by being first to the ball, winning clearances, executing there skills, etc. All of the sudden people will start to "amazingly" see the gameplan function.

You do the small things correctly time and time again and reduce turning over the ball, you'll see the gameplan.

I'm not worried about the small things, I'm worried about not having a forward line.

I'm worried about players not having options up field.

I'm worried about players hesitating while they look for options up field.

I'm worried about players being under more pressure while they hesitate.

I'm worried about players making even more skill errors as a result of being under more pressure.

Maybe I am worried about the small things, the difference is that I can see why the small things aren't working.

EDIT: By not having a forward line, I mean pushing all the players up the ground.

I'm not worried about the small things, I'm worried about not having a forward line.

I'm worried about players not having options up field.

I'm worried about players hesitating while they look for options up field.

I'm worried about players being under more pressure while they hesitate.

I'm worried about players making even more skill errors as a result of being under more pressure.

Maybe I am worried about the small things, the difference is that I can see why the small things aren't working.

Thought I might catch you CB regarding the gameplan. Mighty pleased I did.

Of course a forward line is critical to the finishing. I can also see why the small things aren't working, so you're wrong about the "difference".

It's not just the options up field, it's things such as the confidence in using the first option first time. Also those up forward "understanding" of when and where to lead to. They've got to have an understanding of one another for it to work. And keep in mind there will always be pressure from the opposition no matter what.

It's also the ability to work harder for teammates to link up at times to create space for another to deliver. ie. to prevent more pressure.

Truth is a the small things (what I call the 1%'s) do add up to big things such as a well oiled and functioning "team play" that reduce unforced and forced errors alike.

Clint, the more game time these young players play together. The more development (there's that word again) that has gone into them, the better these small things will be. The less hesitation you will see, the more confidence you will see in one another.

On the forward line. This is all a work in progress. The sign is still up - "Caution: Men at work" although it's more like "Caution: - Boys at work". This year some serious progress will be made, but expect many hiccups.

Having guys like Bate and Tapscott on the sidelines just adds to the frustration on the development side of things for the team. Patience is required. As it's really only just begun.

I remember seeing a post somewhere (might've been on 'Ology) making the point that Sunday was the first time this team had played together. Other clubs tended to play their intraclub matches as "probables" vs "possibles", where the Dees played two mixed teams against each other. They certainly played like it was the first time together.

It's going to be hard to see solid improvement until the team - at least the nucleus of the team - strings a few games together. But first we have to settle down who's best in which role and position, which is inevitably going to take a few weeks. There are already several changes this week, and probably several more the week after.

So could this be a season where we struggle to see any improvement at the start, but maybe get better as the season goes on when the team settles and starts to gel? If so, we might have to get through a few ugly weeks before the sun starts to shine.

Personally I think we don't have enough creative play emanating from the midfield. I think there are a combination of factors at play here but I see these being well on thier way to being sorted by the end of this season and into next. It is a developing midfield. The developed players that we have in there are similar styles of player. The developing ones will compliment them.

I think this is the nub of it. The creative midfielders we now have aren't quite ready to take over yet, but we can reasonably expect them to get better as the season goes on and take on more substantial midfield roles. Grimes isn't far off it already; Scully & Trengove & Gysberts will take longer.

I'm tipping once the team is functioning and implementing the basics by being first to the ball, winning clearances, executing there skills, etc. All of the sudden people will start to "amazingly" see the gameplan function.

You know, at one centre bounce on Sunday, which we won, we had 2 men behind the ball (Cheney was one of them IIRC). We proceeded to kick the ball into a foward line that was outnumbered.

The fact is when the side is being heavily scored against, it's a no-brainer that the boys up forward will push up the ground and fill space or man-up/zone-up to prevent any scoring, and at the same time to help turn the ball over and perhaps create something. As was evident just before quarter time against Freo, when Rivers nearly scored a goal !

But nothing is getting created. Partly due to our skill level, but partly due to our forwards being anywhere but forward.

It doesn't matter what their reasoning is for pushing up the ground. The fact is it isn't helping. So if it's Bailey's instructions, he needs to change them. If it's happening because the players think that's the best way to stop opposition teams from scoring, Bailey needs to re-assure them that if we stick to our own gameplan we can match them.

It doesn't matter what their reasoning is for pushing up the ground. The fact is it isn't helping. So if it's Bailey's instructions, he needs to change them. If it's happening because the players think that's the best way to stop opposition teams from scoring, Bailey needs to re-assure them that if we stick to our own gameplan we can match them.

Well fair enough. But off the top of my head, I saw Davey run to 50 and kick a goal with no one in the forward 50. And as previously mentioned when we pushed up at the end of the first, McDonald intercepted in the centre, held the ball up, delivered to Rivers for a shot on goal just before quarter time. (miised by the way).

It could only be the players following instructions or the players following their opponents (also under instruction) who have left the backline in my opinion.

I remember seeing a post somewhere (might've been on 'Ology) making the point that Sunday was the first time this team had played together.

Sorry for quoting myself, but this is the post I was talking about, by 'raymonds' on Demonology:

"Over the last three weeks I checked as many unofficial club websites as I could. After they had their intra-club matches ...

... Melbourne was the only club that did not have a Grade A versus Grade B team. We had two mixed teams against each other.

In other words, this was basically the first time many of these guys had played together, as opposed to Freo.

Something to think about."

Puts a different light on it methinks.

Can everyone please wait until the season starts until we rattle on and on about the lack of gameplan, terrible skills etc. etc.

It is widely acknowledged that the NAB cup is a bunch of practise matches and that a team's performance in the NAB cup carries low correlation with their performance during the real season. Our playing list has experienced significant changes every year for the past 3 years. This current group of players have had very little time to experience playing together yet....this situation will improve starting this year. You'd expect few changes to our list over the next few years, and so our list we come out looking less young and raw each year over the next few years.

Can everyone please wait until the season starts until we rattle on and on about the lack of gameplan, terrible skills etc. etc.

It is widely acknowledged that the NAB cup is a bunch of practise matches and that a team's performance in the NAB cup carries low correlation with their performance during the real season. Our playing list has experienced significant changes every year for the past 3 years. This current group of players have had very little time to experience playing together yet....this situation will improve starting this year. You'd expect few changes to our list over the next few years, and so our list we come out looking less young and raw each year over the next few years.

thats all well and good....but you could say this applies to 15 other clubs. Not all acquitted themselves in a similar manner...did they?

its not like we only just started last week...weve supposedly been honing the craft since October ...who da thought !!~

thats all well and good....but you could say this applies to 15 other clubs. Not all acquitted themselves in a similar manner...did they?

its not like we only just started last week...weve supposedly been honing the craft since October ...who da thought !!~

Yeah, honing the craft theoretically since October for all concerned. However, practically many have been on modified programs and haven't been able to train with the main group.

For example, Scully only started with the main group a few weeks ago.

One Summer doesn't necessarily fix things is the point I'm making.