We Murder The Ball.

[Redleg 40,195]

IMO we are the worst disposal side in the AFL. I have said it for years. We murder the ball by hand and by foot. Our last 3 losses can be clearly traced to disposal. We turn it over and gift goals.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

IMO we are the worst disposal side in the AFL. I have said it for years. We murder the ball by hand and by foot. Our last 3 losses can be clearly traced to disposal. We turn it over and gift goals.

Every team turns it over. It is the position on the ground that is more the telling factor. Melbourne far too often cough it up through the corridor and get punished on the rebound.

Another poor indictment on the game plan...

[PeterJames 46]

Our issue is where we turn it over. We do so in the middle of the ground through the corrider. Our new coach wil hopefully fix what Bailey did.

[titan_uranus 24,604]

I think it's reasonable to say our skills are not at the level they should be at.

Having said that, I still think our list is good enough. The talent is there, but they're being asked to do things that aren't smart. So when we turn it over it's usually in the middle because we're trying to play a fast break through the middle. Which may have worked 3 years ago, but won't now.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,282]

IMO we are the worst disposal side in the AFL. I have said it for years. We murder the ball by hand and by foot. Our last 3 losses can be clearly traced to disposal. We turn it over and gift goals.

Sad but true. On top of that we currently have the 4th worst defence in the comp which is unfathomable when just 1 year ago we seemed to have one of the most promising backlines going round!

Perhaps the main reason for this is the flawed attacking game plan which as we can see looks great when it comes off (usually against weak opposition)but leaves you wide open when you butcher the ball they way we have this season, and as you said, we leak goals as a result!

[titan_uranus 24,604]

Sad but true. On top of that we currently have the 4th worst defence in the comp which is unfathomable when just 1 year ago we seemed to have one of the most promising backlines going round!

Perhaps the main reason for this is the flawed attacking game plan which as we can see looks great when it comes off (usually against weak opposition)but leaves you wide open when you butcher the ball they way we have this season, and as you said, we leak goals as a result!

Don't blame the defence. They have to deal with far too many inside 50s, as a result of a pathetic midfield and forward line with too many players who refuse to work hard enough defensively, and a gameplan that involves high risk which leads to loads of turnovers.

[DeeSpencer 24,752]

Disposal by foot, in particular disposal by foot out of the backline is the least of our worries. Especially as Strauss, Grimes, Tapscott, Blease, Bennell mature together and join the key defenders (Garland, Rivers, Frawley) who kick very well for talls.

The midfield (mainly in terms of numbers and class) and forward line (in terms of set up and defensive work) are our biggest problems.

[Jaded No More 67,643]

The reason why we turn it over so much is not necessarily because we're poorly skilled (Bartram and a few others aside), but because we sh*t ourselves under pressure.

It's 98% mental. We cannot hit a target under pressure, but when we play a free flowing game without any physicality and contested pressure (e.g.- Freo game), we hit our targets perfectly.

Every single time we are faced with defensive teams who play hard accountable footy we play like crap. That is why we have lost to every good team this year.

Also we have got to be one of the worst clearance teams going around. If you can't win the footy in the middle you never get to play the game on your own terms and you never have time to properly dispose of the footy. We constantly chase tail.

Edited August 21, 2011 by Jaded

[Guest Gareth Keenan]

Fair post Jaded.

I also think a lot of it has to do with decision making.

Choosing the wrong option usually makes it look like a poor execution of skills.

It's something they'll learn in time.

We look worse because we have so many kids finding their way and learning at the same time.

[jackaub 1,402]

Don't blame the defence. They have to deal with far too many inside 50s, as a result of a pathetic midfield and forward line with too many players who refuse to work hard enough defensively, and a gameplan that involves high risk which leads to loads of turnovers.

On that how good was Col Garland yesterday

Our backs must really hate the easy turnovers in the middle of the ground

You can hear the groans time after

Garland easily our most consistent player over the season

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Its not just where we turn it over but how often and how badly. Some of them are just heartbreaking to the other players as they absolutely gift the opposition the ball but space to run. Execution and decision making need to improve. I do feel for our defence some days. But on the other hand our general foot skills out of defence are questionable at best.

[Tony Tea 2,800]

Turnovers are all part of, ahem, structure. If your player approaches the ball (either in space or in traffic) confident that when he grabs it he knows where his teammates are and therefore where to put the ball, he picks it up, gives it and hits the target. If, on the other hand, he approaches the ball unsure about what he will do with the ball when he gets it, he picks it up, wavers and turns it over. That's if, in fact, he picks it up in the first place, since another by-product of a dodgy structure is the fumble. If you know you are going to be able to effectively dispose of the ball when you grab it, you grab it; if you are unsure about what you will do with the ball when you approach it, you are a good chance to fumble it.

What 2011 has revealed is that we have been appallingly coached in the contested footy /structure department. Our players currently appear to have no idea what they will do as they approach the ball.

[Dockett 32 1,237]

IMO we are the worst disposal side in the AFL. I have said it for years. We murder the ball by hand and by foot. Our last 3 losses can be clearly traced to disposal. We turn it over and gift goals.

How would you feel being 5 points down in the last thirty seconds of a grand final with Barty running into an open goal or being 5 points up with Aaron Davey a one on one defender in the goal square as the ball comes in.

Shudder!

[Tony Tea 2,800]

And of course, all of that is tied in with confidence. If you approach the footy confident that no matter what might happen, you will still be able to get the ball and use it effectively, you get it and use it effectively.

[Demon Dynasty 17,092]

Disposal by foot, in particular disposal by foot out of the backline is the least of our worries. Especially as Strauss, Grimes, Tapscott, Blease, Bennell mature together and join the key defenders (Garland, Rivers, Frawley) who kick very well for talls.

The midfield (mainly in terms of numbers and class) and forward line (in terms of set up and defensive work) are our biggest problems.

Maturity will help agreed.

We still lack 1 or 2 go to designated kickers (from the goal square after a behind) who we have total confidence in their disposal by foot though. Each week (sometimes even within quarters) it seems to me we're trying out someone different, as we aren't condifent with any 1 or 2 specialists, or haven't found them yet (still searching/trying/developing probably).

Of course you have to consider the set up ...up field and what the opposition are also doing with their set ups up field with their zone/press, which would also go towards determining who the designated kicker/s is/are from week to week.

But i still think we havent found even 1 who we're completely confident with. The problem doesn't entirely lie with only finding 1 or 2 specialist kicker's either, as the receivers need to be able/willing to work their ass off to run into space and spread to designated areas etc (ie., carry out intructions well) in order for the kicker to hit up his potential target/s more effectively.

But that first kick (and the next) out of the goal square/back half is so crucial against well drilled presses and zones now.

We just haven't done this well on a consistent basis all year i'm afraid and this to me is yet another part of the puzzle that's been missing this year.

A little slow and predicatable also.

Looking forward to this area improving big time next year and therafter.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Rusty Nails

[Demon Dynasty 17,092]

Turnovers are all part of, ahem, structure. If your player approaches the ball (either in space or in traffic) confident that when he grabs it he knows where his teammates are and therefore where to put the ball, he picks it up, gives it and hits the target. If, on the other hand, he approaches the ball unsure about what he will do with the ball when he gets it, he picks it up, wavers and turns it over. That's if, in fact, he picks it up in the first place, since another by-product of a dodgy structure is the fumble. If you know you are going to be able to effectively dispose of the ball when you grab it, you grab it; if you are unsure about what you will do with the ball when you approach it, you are a good chance to fumble it.

What 2011 has revealed is that we have been appallingly coached in the contested footy /structure department. Our players currently appear to have no idea what they will do as they approach the ball.

Interesting post.

Might suggest this group just hasn't played enough footy together to have that confidence as well as a few too many inexperienced boys and weak links, even amongst the senior brigade.

Things will improve somewhat once they're more settled and the structure is more balanced and consistent from week to week. More mature/harder bodies and minds hopefully as they get the experience pre seasons into them too. Problem is, our other opponents aren't standing still in their progression/efforts to improve. New leaders as well!!

Hopefully this year has been a big 'sort out' time for the list and we'll have a little more composure and confidence from here. Less player rotatations than this year, making those wishing to break into the team having to work harder at the non-negotiables, thereby lifting the standard of play/player in our first 22. Improving the standards in our bottom 4 - 6 etc and placing more pressure on the seniors to live up to their name and keep getting a game as well.

Fingers crossed for next year and beyond that we start to click in these areas.

[Redleg 40,195]

How would you feel being 5 points down in the last thirty seconds of a grand final with Barty running into an open goal or being 5 points up with Aaron Davey a one on one defender in the goal square as the ball comes in.

Shudder!

At this point in time I would be delirious, because we are years away from a Grand Final. Getting back to your point though, I don't understand why Bartram hasn't been given help with his kicking. Robbo was hopeless early on and after an intense off season working on his kicking completely turned it around. Maybe he could help Bartram. Davey is ok with the ball coming in as he can spoil, what he is hopeless at is getting a contested ball when there is a danger of a collision.