I am surprised by how blase posters are getting about plays like this.

There is a very large gulf between what is expected of an AFL team and the reality. Players train hard to get plays correct but it is the ability to execute under pressure that will show you how far you have progressed.

I am under no illusion that we were executing skills over the last month against teams that were down the ladder and the litmus test will be how we execute against the better teams who exert much more pressure. However it is not too long ago that we could not hit the side of a barn with a 2 metre handball playing against the Manangatang 4ths.

20 minutes ago, mongrel said:

Firstly 'mist footballers' is a nice term. Trying to think how best it could be used haha.

But in regards to tapping it on I made the point earlier in this thread that with high levels of congestion around the ball players might be trained get tackled and bring the ball down to create a stoppage with there being potentially less risk of turning the ball over to the opposition. I think Melbourne being the best (currently) contested ball side in the comp do this often to restart and try to win a clearance.

Good get. My spell check does not work on the phone. Ironically that would not have been picked up anyway.

Mist footballers are those like Robbie Muir who see red mist when the cross the white line. 

Spot on about players bringing it down and creating stoppages. You only really want the ball to be loose and moving forward inside your forward half or if it clearly releases a player into uncontested space. 

2 hours ago, Danelska said:

Sounds like Channel 7 commentary when Stringer happens to hit a target 12 metres away...

I would have thought all those passages were pretty straightforward when you've got good awareness and relatively skilled

Nonetheless, it looked great and was full of effort...

The vision wasn't anything particularly special, if you didn't know Tracc was there you shouldn't be playing AFL. But the side step and kick out in to space was very classy. Right now I'm very happy with what Spargo does but also even more pleased with how he does things. He keeps his feet, bodies the ball, moves with great evasiveness and doesn't rush.

3 hours ago, mongrel said:

I have always thought exactly the same thing. If the ball is in the air and you have grabbed it with your feet off the ground with an opposition player just about to tackle you why not tap to an open team mate?

I think one reason they don't do it often is because of fear of turning the ball over. If there is no clear player to tap to (which is often with how many players are around each contest currently) then it might be better to possess the ball and if you can't get your arms clear simply wait for a ball up and try to win it from a stoppage. I think the best contested ball teams like Melbourne have possibly be trained to do this.

At least thats what it looks like the tactic is to me. But yes if there is more space and a player clear definitely tap like Trac did in that instance.

In the forward line as long as you've got equal numbers or better - keep it moving, keep the defenders guessing. In the backline - take the ball, tuck it in close, take the tackle and stop play. The same thing applies with kicking off the ground. It's risk-reward.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

The vision wasn't anything particularly special, if you didn't know Tracc was there you shouldn't be playing AFL. But the side step and kick out in to space was very classy. Right now I'm very happy with what Spargo does but also even more pleased with how he does things. He keeps his feet, bodies the ball, moves with great evasiveness and doesn't rush.

In the forward line as long as you've got equal numbers or better - keep it moving, keep the defenders guessing. In the backline - take the ball, tuck it in close, take the tackle and stop play. The same thing applies with kicking off the ground. It's risk-reward.

Yup definitely in the forward line. I was meaning more around stoppages in the middle of the ground for bringing the ball in as opposed to tapping it on.

Razor Ray would have called it a throw ... ?

3 hours ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Just one week at a time. Don't want to count your chickens before they hatch.

Take it further: perhaps believe the egg hasn’t  been laid yet, or maybe even the chicken who was supposed to lay the egg hasn’t even hatched out herself!

In fact, which came first? The chicken or the egg? Deep philosophical question. 

3 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Take it further: perhaps believe the egg hasn’t  been laid yet, or maybe even the chicken who was supposed to lay the egg hasn’t even hatched out herself!

In fact, which came first? The chicken or the egg? Deep philosophical question. 

What's a chicken? Do I even exist?

2 hours ago, nutbean said:

I am surprised by how blase posters are getting about plays like this.

There is a very large gulf between what is expected of an AFL team and the reality. Players train hard to get plays correct but it is the ability to execute under pressure that will show you how far you have progressed.

I am under no illusion that we were executing skills over the last month against teams that were down the ladder and the litmus test will be how we execute against the better teams who exert much more pressure. However it is not too long ago that we could not hit the side of a barn with a 2 metre handball playing against the Manangatang 4ths.

Agree with you.

Also, I think we treat our players very individually rather than they're all our boys; for example if Clarry did all that Trac did in that play, i'd imagine he'd get an overload of praise. 

Sparg Bol should keep his place in the side based on that passage alone.

22 minutes ago, red&blue1982 said:

Agree with you.

Also, I think we treat our players very individually rather than they're all our boys; for example if Clarry did all that Trac did in that play, i'd imagine he'd get an overload of praise. 

If you look closely, Clarry does that every game. Except he doesn’t tap it. In that instance he would have jumped up and grabbed it mid air and hand balled it into space before his feet touched the ground, avoiding the tackle.

He does this week in and week out. I just wish more players could learn and develop that skill as a habit.  

15 minutes ago, juzzk1d said:

If you look closely, Clarry does that every game. Except he doesn’t tap it. In that instance he would have jumped up and grabbed it mid air and hand balled it into space before his feet touched the ground, avoiding the tackle.

He does this week in and week out. I just wish more players could learn and develop that skill as a habit.  

I don't think that's something that you can learn or be taught. You've either got it or you don't. Clarry has it in spades.