Plotting the downfall of Lever via AFL.com

[Engorged Onion 10,223]

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-27/how-the-crafty-cats-plotted-levers-downfall

really helpfully article in being able to make sense of certain dynamics. Someone has already posted that - the defensive structure that underpins Jake is either a 7 man unit OR having someone that can beat bigger opponents in one on ones - in 2017 both TMAC and FROST both were the lowest ranking in this statistic in the top 50... the coaching panel clearly have some work to do, structurally and developmentally for Lever to play his best.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,511]

I think Lever needs to develop more dimensions to his game.  In many ways, it's a credit to him that a team would work so hard to negate his influence at such a young age.  I think Oscar is going to develop into a good KPD, but he will never be Daniel Talia, so there's no point waiting for that to happen.  However we have enough quality down there for a very good backline with Lever, Hibberd, Jetta, Hunt, etc.  Perhaps this means Frost plays?  Perhaps Hibberd needs to offer more coverage?  Perhaps Lever needs to focus on the fundamental role of a defender and beat his man?  He has to learn to adapt to this challenge (with the help of the coaching group of course).

One thing that was apparent to me on the weekend was that it was clearly the first time our defensive unit had played together in the heat of an AFL match.  They lacked synergy and awareness of each other - that will come, as the quality and talent is definitely there.

[rjay 25,161]

20 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

However we have enough quality down there for a very good backline with Lever, Hibberd, Jetta, Hunt,

Hunt hasn't progressed over the last year and is a concern for me at the moment.

Probably has really struggled since that big whack against Adelaide.

That and opposition teams have worked him out and over a bit...

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,709]

Its was his first game under real premiership point heat yes Jake struggled first half as did the rest of the back 6. He is still learning the system of the back 6 and to the teams credit fought back incredibly well. We looked rusty and lacked composure forward of center going into our forward 50 bombing it straight into 1 on 3 and 2 on 3 situations incredibly frustrating this should all smooth out with ongoing match fitness and conditioning.

Keeping the faith.

[Diamond_Jim 12,629]

25 minutes ago, rjay said:

Hunt hasn't progressed over the last year and is a concern for me at the moment.

Probably has really struggled since that big whack against Adelaide.

That and opposition teams have worked him out and over a bit...

certainly not the dynamic player he was in 2016 ... challenge is to show that he can do it again.

If they are going to tag him then Salem or Gus has to step into the breaking the lines mould.

[The Chazz 4,077]

12 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Its was his first game under real premiership point heat yes Jake struggled first half as did the rest of the back 6. He is still learning the system of the back 6 and to the teams credit fought back incredibly well. We looked rusty and lacked composure forward of center going into our forward 50 bombing it straight into 1 on 3 and 2 on 3 situations incredibly frustrating this should all smooth out with ongoing match fitness and conditioning.

Keeping the faith.

We could've have Glen Jakovich, SOS Silvagni and Sean Wight playing in our backline and they all would've struggled in that first half, thanks to the ease the ball was coming in.  When our mids and half forward flanks put more pressure on after half time, our backs restricted them to 2 goals in 2 quarters.  Dorkins was soundly beaten by Oscar, and other than two reasonable contested marks, Menzel continued to get rewarded for being a soft, lazy, unaccountable, outside player.

I noticed they highlighted the dropped mark that Jake let go in the last quarter (I think it was).  I was up that end - the ball was kicked in high, he had to run back with the flight of the ball, and the wind was swirling the ball all over the place.  Muppets that commentate from the wind-free commentary box, and the equally bigger muppets that no doubt cringed from the comfort of their couch, would've had no idea the degree of difficulty that mark was.

The biggest error for the day that I saw Jake make was in the first quarter when he was outmarked/smarted by Menzel.  Other than that, he was very good, and in the last quarter in particular, you could see (from behind the goals), just how much work he does with positioning of himself and his teammates.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

2 hours ago, Danelska said:

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-27/how-the-crafty-cats-plotted-levers-downfall

really helpfully article in being able to make sense of certain dynamics. Someone has already posted that - the defensive structure that underpins Jake is either a 7 man unit OR having someone that can beat bigger opponents in one on ones - in 2017 both TMAC and FROST both were the lowest ranking in this statistic in the top 50... the coaching panel clearly have some work to do, structurally and developmentally for Lever to play his best.

Probably partly explains why we are playing T-Mac as a forward and Frosty isnt getting much game time

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

certainly not the dynamic player he was in 2016 ... challenge is to show that he can do it again.

If they are going to tag him then Salem or Gus has to step into the breaking the lines mould.

Hunt needs to not just be a straight line player.

He and Frost are quick, but predictable as neither really has a side-step.

[poita 3,902]

Lever was really disappointing on the weekend, and I suspect the club has overrated his ability to be a one-on-one defender. That's not to say he can't be a really good player for us, but it is going to require a change of plans from the coaching staff. I was surprised at how easily Jake was nudged out of the way by Ratagoulea - perhaps he needs to do some serious work in the gym. If opponents take away his room to jump, he is going to need to be stronger in the contest.

It has perhaps also underrated the value of Talia in Lever's game, as a player who can beat his own opponent and organise the defence at the same time. McDonald was good on the weekend, but he is a long way from being a general.

Lever wasn't alone though, as Jetta, Hibberd and Hunt were all disappointing Jetta and Hibberd are allowed the odd poor game, but you certainly notice when they are below their best. Hunt is a problem. His end to 2017 was ordinary, and he was close to our worst on Sunday. Teams have clearly worked out how to stop his run, and he needs to work harder to find space.

(As an aside, if Troy Chaplin can't sort out the defence this year, he will need to find a new job, because his work with the forwards was pretty ordinary last year).

[nosoupforme 3,085]

OK so one game in the season and the panic has set in with negativities most are writing the season over because we were beaten by a  side that finish the season in the top 4. Now we are worried about a side that finished on the bottom of the ladder. Amazing group of people supporting our club. Win a game your on top of the world, However lose and the end is near? Tyson, Brayshaw  maybe Frosty this week and the side is strengthened. They will be chomping at the bit. Lever will improve, he is better than that. 

 

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,324]

While I think Wagner was good after half time (1st half was terrible but so was most of our defensive players). I just think we should play Lever as the third tall OMac & Frost the others, which means I can't see a spot for Wagner while those three play.

Lever plays that role perfectly, similar to someone like Rance, so why don't we setup that way? Ideally I'd love us to get a genuine lock-down defender at the end of this season, someone like a Tarrant.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

6 hours ago, rjay said:

Hunt hasn't progressed over the last year and is a concern for me at the moment.

Probably has really struggled since that big whack against Adelaide.

That and opposition teams have worked him out and over a bit...

They need to keep him away from the half back flank and use his speed as a weapon on the wing.  Switch the ball, kick it out in front of him and watch him go.

[bing181 9,332]

10 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

One thing that was apparent to me on the weekend was that it was clearly the first time our defensive unit had played together in the heat of an AFL match.  They lacked synergy and awareness of each other - that will come, as the quality and talent is definitely there.

Good to see at least someone pointing out the obvious. I was struck by how uncertain Hibberd looked at times now that Lever is down there.

But you're right, the synergy will come, as we started to see in the second half where we kept a top 4 side to 2 goals for a half (which is not all down to the backline of course).

Edited March 27, 2018 by bing181

[D4Life 2,567]

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Good to see at least someone pointing out the obvious. I was struck by how uncertain Hibberd looked at times now that Lever is down there.

But you're right, the synergy will come, as we started to see in the second half where we kept a top 4 sides to 2 goals for a half (which is not all down to the backline of course).

Agree Lever fitting in will take a little time, but we will end up with a stronger defence.

We didn’t run in the 2nd quarter and the Cats with time & space are very clean, great foot skills. So very hard for the defence to stop.

2nd half we ran, pressured and tackled, Cats struggled and only kicked two!

Would be great to see a four quarter effort next week and a 22 man effort, rather than 10 maybe 11 players giving a four quarter performance.