The two big improvements on last week

[titan_uranus 24,857]

1. Intensity. Quite clearly we chased, tackled, ran and spread much harder this week than we did against West Coast, and it showed. DB before the game put the focus on midfield and forward pressure, and it was really good to see us actually applying pressure all day.

2. Our structures. There was a noticeable difference in our set up at centre bounces. We had deeper forwards, and we didn't have them running up into the square immediately. We had Petterd and Watts playing deep, with Wonna, Bate and others starting higher, but what was really nice to see was that the deeper forwards stayed deep. We maintained a six man forward line for much of the game too, rather than plonking someone behind the ball.

These two differences together make us basically an entirely different side to the one that played in Perth. Hopefully we maintain these two features through the rest of the year.

[P-man 13,366]

Also, did my eyes deceive me or did we apply something resembling a forward press today?

[Geddy Lee 582]

Also, did my eyes deceive me or did we apply something resembling a forward press today?

We sure did P_Man!

We also got exposed twice applying said forward press in the first quarter. Dean then re-adjusted his troops and we were only exposed once more for the rest of the game - and Adelaide failed to kick a goal.

Two thumbs up Dean.

[DeeSpencer 24,899]

Point 2 was pleasing.

Point 1 was the one that really made the difference. The tackling, work rate and desperation to win the ball was wonderful.

Should also add point 3 - we played a horrible opposition.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Fine thread, as part of point 1 add desire to run and expectation to win the footy and..............confidence.

[daisycutter 29,429]

1. Intensity. Quite clearly we chased, tackled, ran and spread much harder this week than we did against West Coast, and it showed. DB before the game put the focus on midfield and forward pressure, and it was really good to see us actually applying pressure all day.

2. Our structures. There was a noticeable difference in our set up at centre bounces. We had deeper forwards, and we didn't have them running up into the square immediately. We had Petterd and Watts playing deep, with Wonna, Bate and others starting higher, but what was really nice to see was that the deeper forwards stayed deep. We maintained a six man forward line for much of the game too, rather than plonking someone behind the ball.

These two differences together make us basically an entirely different side to the one that played in Perth. Hopefully we maintain these two features through the rest of the year.

Quite correct but it was easier to maintain forward structure hence fwd pressure because for once this year we had a big advantage in centre clearances giving the fwds something to work on. The midfield should take a bow (and remember how they did it for the rest of the season)

[Sir Why You Little 36,735]

Players were running forward to create options to...it was a true team effort.

Bailey coached really well to, considering Frank Grimes was injured so early.

Keep up the pressure for next week Dean.

Let's see if Neil Craig gets some hard core press this week. The Crows were just horrible, i was ready for a tight shootout today, but the MFC had other ideas.

[Mad_Melbourne 873]

Point 2 was pleasing.

Point 1 was the one that really made the difference. The tackling, work rate and desperation to win the ball was wonderful.

Should also add point 3 - we played a horrible opposition.

can only play who we played, but we controlled the ball and used it more often than not with precision, whereas everytime adelaide got the ball they looked rushed, due to our pressure.

[Kento80 83]

What a wonderful thing desire is. Have it and you can do the unthinkable, leave it at home and you will do the unthinkable. So good today, lets hope we can keep it up. I would like to see that sort of urgency, intensity and desire to win when the blowtorch is not being applied. Fantastic game today, hopefully the first of many.

[Axis of Bob 11,285]

You can't completely change a gameplan in a week.

Given our dominance, we can clearly see the style of game we have been trying to play.

[titan_uranus 24,857]

You can't completely change a gameplan in a week.

Given our dominance, we can clearly see the style of game we have been trying to play.

Wrong.

Go have a look at how we set up our forward line against Brisbane (the last game I was at).

You will notice that at the centre bounce we had 3-4 forwards high (as in in the 30-50 mark), and they would all run into the centre square at the bounce, leaving 0-2 fowards actually in the 50. Then if the clearance went to the opposition, those other forwards would also push up the ground.

We made a fundamental change in this area today. We had forwards starting deeper. We had forwards retaining that position when the ball went into defence.

Sure, our application/tackling/intensity/desire allowed us to actually execute our game plan, but our set up today was not the same as it has been, and IMO that made a huge difference.

[Supermercado 2,788]

I reckon they might have wanted to do that forward structure against the Eagles (and in fact started it against GC) but the fact that we got humped so badly out of the centre meant it wasn't required.

Thank god for leaving somebody down there most of the day. Didn't hurt that Jamar and Moloney were absolutely dominant as a combo out of the centre mind you.