11 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I do worry that we don't have a high enough skill level across the park but particularly in the flanks and on the wing. 

Scoring comes from moving the ball quickly, which comes from 2 things:

- Running hard to open space

- Attacking quick disposal

I'm concerned we don't have enough players who can do both. Grimes and Matt Jones might be starting wingmen for us and whilst they will run and spread well I'm not sure they will hit the targets with the ball to capitalise. Then if we are turning it over we are obviously not scoring but also opening up our backline. The same problem exists at half back with guys like Lumumba or Hunt. Then there's Salem who has the disposal skills but can't be relied upon to carry the rebound by himself. Even at half forward, Watts is a quality user but can be taken out of games. Kent, Kennedy and Harmes are 3 who can run and move the ball on quickly, but will they hit the targets?

Finally, a key component to Clarko's Hawks and his disciples, in particular the Dogs and Eagles has been their zone defending. The Weagles Web got the popularity but the Hawks and Dogs did it as well. The guarding of space and multiple intercept defenders allows for more turnovers and then much faster counter attack as the player who gathers the intercept possession always knows where his outlets will be. Defending man on man implies that every defender then has to out run/out smart their forward opponent to get open to receive the ball. The alternative is to drop a man behind play and then have the overlap to rebound the ball, but the issue then is you're facing the same at the other end and therefore haven't achieved any improving in attacking play.

I want to see better skills and spread but I'd also like to see more aggressive zoning in the backline. I hope Goodwin has picked up on this tactic and maybe Jennings the coach from the Dogs can help implement it.

 

IMO the dog's disposal is or was worse than ours (well, last year anyway). Their zone defending and better ground coverage disguised this quite well. There was always a player in the vicinity to pounce on the loose (or wayward) ball.

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I do worry that we don't have a high enough skill level across the park but particularly in the flanks and on the wing.

We will lose a number of games because of this.

2 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

IMO the dog's disposal is or was worse than ours (well, last year anyway). Their zone defending and better ground coverage disguised this quite well. There was always a player in the vicinity to pounce on the loose (or wayward) ball.

Murphy (attacking) and Boyd (more safe) gave them reliable half backs. Jason Johanissen and Easton Wood gave them run and speed.

I agree in most other spots they aren't much better ball user but they have us covered from half back. 

Certainly a better set up, ground coverage and more pressure will close the gap as much as any skills improvement would. We need both.

15 hours ago, dee-luded said:

yes, & also even if people don't like to acknowledge it, rebuilding coaches shoot themselves & they're club in the foot IF they climb the ladder too soon.  before the culture is fixed,  & the amount of talent on the list is sufficient for the club to grow from,  for the future, otherwise it will be swamped in quick order if it climbs-ripens too soon.

 

... so the game plan must be on the defensive side first up,  to get a culture of hard work-hard running defensively correct,  before releasing the reigns slowly, after the good habits are ingrained.

 

those who don't know/understand how to repair a sick club,  just state the simplistic & the obvious.  hopefully out of innocent ignorance,   rather than some sort of vindictive mischief.

Bluey McKenna never stood a chance Luded.

2 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

We will lose a number of games because of this.

Yet there are still calls from many posters that certain players, two in pariahs best 22 yet have struggled with their disposal and ability to influence games for years. Last years dropping of certain players must be continued across the board for those who can use the footy regardless of experience. There's only one way they will get and that's by playing.