Interesting to watch the cat's defence. As the Hawks forward press up, the Geelong defenders retain their structure and have Taylor + Scarlett ( +/- Mackie) within 30 m of goal. Not a great analogy, but it's a bit like a netball team defending against a great Goal Attack - let her roam all over the ground, but the defender stays at home and stops her re-entering the circle. Seems like good coaching to me - the Hawks will win, I reckon, but it's good to see how structure can be maintained.

This is how I'd coach. You don't win a game of football unless you kick goals, no matter how many possessions your forwards have up the ground. It's fair to say my father and eye don't always see eye to eye on this, though.

This is how I'd coach. You don't win a game of football unless you kick goals, no matter how many possessions your forwards have up the ground. It's fair to say my father and eye don't always see eye to eye on this, though.

I'd love to pick the eye's out of this post, but I won't.

I agree. Leaving one defender at home I think is a smart move, especially when up against such dangerous forwards.

But then you still need to apply forward pressure. So how do you do both? The secret I think is to have a really fit and hard working midfield/half forward and back line. That's one thing the Cats have, with midfielders/players as fit as mids across the lines. Collingwood do as well. We don't!

Funny thing. I think every team should leave one forward at home. The defensive press (or flood as they once called it) leaves you with nothing to kick to when you break quickly out of the back half. If you had one marking target hanging out in your forward 50 the long bomb from half back becomes viable as a quick transition play.

Funny thing. I think every team should leave one forward at home. The defensive press (or flood as they once called it) leaves you with nothing to kick to when you break quickly out of the back half. If you had one marking target hanging out in your forward 50 the long bomb from half back becomes viable as a quick transition play.

I agree and I am amazed that it doesn't happen more often. I would use it as a fourth spot on the bench where a player can run down, get a drink from a trainer and take a quick rest. No opposition team would then leave that player on their own in their attacking goal square.

Yep. me also.

I find it frustrating the way we flood the back half with every single player.

Not a bad idea if you are leading with a few minutes to go. But we do it way too often.

Funny thing. I think every team should leave one forward at home. The defensive press (or flood as they once called it) leaves you with nothing to kick to when you break quickly out of the back half. If you had one marking target hanging out in your forward 50 the long bomb from half back becomes viable as a quick transition play.

Drives me almost to the point of complete and utter madness!! Just one player wait back in the goal square for the quick counter attack.....6 points, a gimme.