Timing of Interchange rotations

[Guest fitness]

Firstly I apologise if this topic has been previously raised and discussed. If not, hopefully it encourages more healthy debate amongst our faithful.

One thing I have noticed a fair bit this year - especially from being at the ground where it's easier to pick up - is that we seem to often be making our interchages with poor timing, and on occasions this has been very costly in terms of giving away unnecessary uncontested posession and ultimately goals on the scoreboard.

For example, our backmen running off during our kick-outs which leaves us undermanned to get the ball out. And conversely, forwards running off during opposition kick-outs which leaves opposition players loose and thus able to clear our defence more easily.

Has anybody else noticed this? If so, do you agree or disagree?

I acknowledge that a) this is not the most earth shattering issue going around the world of footy, and that B) the need to rotate our players heavily through the interchange is a necessary tactic in modern footy - but in this day and age the one-percenters are often what makes all the difference to winning or losing. I just hate to see us pay on the scoreboard by making poor decisions such as turning our back on the play in order to simply get off the ground - purely in order to maintain rotations. It has cost us goals this year.

Finally, don't get me wrong - I am a huge fan of Dean Bailey and the club, and I am so proud of the improvements we've made this season so far. We're an incredibly fit side with great running power and massive potential and you can tell the guys are all learning each other's games in and out. You can probably tell from this post that I'm very much one who focuses on positives, and as such I hope this post is construed in the manner intended - i.e. constructuve criticism for our great club.

Carna Dees.

[H_T 3,043]

Works for Collingwood.

[Tricky 341]

Yeah it can be noticable at times - and is challenging for all clubs.

I heard Voss talking on SEN the other night about how he feels as a coach, that he has far less control with all the rotations going on - which are managed by the fitness staff apparently.

[e25 5]

Uh... Pretty much every team does it the same way.

It is not a factor.

[pringle 42]

I wholeheartedly agree. However at the moment, the trend in the game is for a ridiculous amount of interchanges. This is necessary to keep up with other teams using this tactic. Next year it will change (via rule changes from the AFL). In the interim, we have been poor with our timing and this needs to improve. MInd you, it can be difficult. I work with a football team and the fitness guys do have a fair bit of control over this aspect. But the players are also instructed to bring themselves off when their 5 or 8 minute period on the ground is up. And they have to take some responsibility as well. They will learn.