shutting the game down

[low down 21]

i have been trying to get my head around the singular ease with which teams manage to score against us in the second halves of games. 8 goals to 1 v Port. 15 goals to 1 v Essendon. 17 goals to 4 v WCE. dont get me wrong our first halves have been plenty ordinary as well often enough, but the cakewalk of goals in the second halves all 3 games has been staggering - no more so than the 11 third quarter goals kicked by WCE. i'm not having a go at mark neeld and 'hardest team to play against', but i have honestly never seen a side scored against so easily as us in the first three games.

there are always those buzz words that come and go in footy circles - two that seem to have disappeared recently are 'flooding' and 'tempo footy'. you have to get your hands on the footy to do the latter, but i wondered what other posters think of the former - flooding - in the face of the onslaughts we seem periodically to cop. i have a baby so maybe havent seen us play enough (that aint the only reason i'm avoiding it), but are we trying to flood? i assume not - so is this something we should be doing in controlled bursts?

i know that flooding is not ideal from a game-plan perspective, and is said to hurt the confidence of players. having said that, getting slammed by 15 goals doesnt seem to be doing us too many favours...

Edited April 15, 2013 by low down

[DeeZee 7,445]

We are missing Jordie as our main tagger, but we should try some sort of flood against the top teams.

I would go for more attacking game plan against the teams mid to low on the ladder, and super defensive against top eight sides

[Chook 15,022]

I don't think flooding would necessarily help. Our guys more, than any I've ever seen, just guard grass. I reckon any decent team would be able to just pinpoint their players amongst the sea of flat-footed Melbourne players.

Edited April 15, 2013 by Chook

[low down 21]

do you know when can we expect Jordie back DeeZee? i thought he was a late withdrawal for essendon but doesnt seem to have played for MFC or Casey in Round 3? does anyone know where Dawes is at while we're at it?

[45HG 1,559]

I think the lack of high quality, experienced leaders is a big part of this.

That and a lack of general defensive mindset. Our heads drop so quickly and we become reactive too easily.

[Trisul 664]

Edited April 15, 2013 by Spork

[DeeZee 7,445]

He is being assesed could even come in this week.