No, this thread isn’t a whinge about the lack of a ‘big win’, it’s a place to celebrate our miserly backline and team defence.

Bang on again last night, conceding the standard 59 points (including only 2 goals after h/t) and racking up eye-popping intercept numbers.

One of the things I’ve noticed in how we defend the ground is the position of the player (usually one of the wingers or half forwards) nearest their ball-carrier when the opposition is clearing the ball from defensive 50.

We don’t press their player hard, but nor do we push all the way back, and while at first it appears they have time and space to clear, it kind of splits the difference and puts doubt in their mind. We’re set up well anyway, but it gives the rest of the team that fraction more time to get where they need to be.

We’ve ‘guarded grass’ before, but not as effectively as this. The positioning is just right.

One of the other tactics we’ve perfected this year which BT picked up on was holding the ball up for as long as possible at stoppages before giving it back to the umpire or player. We’ve been doing this all season, and again, it gives us a few more crucial seconds for everyone to get in position. 

We have more than enough talent up forward to match it with anyone, but it makes it fairly easy to kick a winning score when you’re restricting the opposition to just 60 point a game.

Roosy would be most pleased.

I would certainly prefer what we are doing to those other clubs who have had some 10 goal wins but also some surprise losses (of which we have had one).

Wondering if Footscray’s easy game last week was a factor in their flat game Friday?  If so hopefully the same will apply to the Bears next weekend. 

After the Crows game Lever was interviewed and said their aim was to keep the opp to about 60 points (10 goals) and generally we had achieved that.  He wasn't at all happy that the Crows kicked 90+ pts.  I can't remember his comments but sensed it was like an insult to their professionalism.  No surprise the defence came back with a vengeance this week.

Yes, Roos would be very proud:  stingy defences win premierships.  And we are becoming one of the stingiest defences in the game.

In other threads folks talk about 'run away' wins.  But they come at a cost - more attacking by us gives ops more chances to intercept then attack themselves and score.  Any win will do me and I'd rather a stingy defence than a big win where the opps break down or break thru our defences.. 

Edited May 30, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

On Lever and our stingy (10 goal) defence.  Matty Richardson said he could hear Lever often shout "block the corridor!  block the corridor!" during the bulldogs game.   Lever was suitably hoarse when interviewed after the game.

'Block the Corridor' impressed me for two reasons:

• Lever has to read the the play upfield and needs to pick the exact moment to order the troops into 'block the corridor' formation.  A few seconds wrong either way and the opps get thru.
• The players need to know and get to their designated spot in the corridor quickly.

On both counts the 'block the corridor' strategy worked brilliantly.  Great example of on-field leadership and players playing their role, doing no more and no less.

 

Last week Crows won by 'charging' our defence through the corridor.  Not sure whether we didn't have 'block the corridor' tactic in our arsenal last week or just forgot how to execute.

Either way we learnt heaps from the Crows 'charging the corridor' (also a key part of the Bulldogs plan) and our execution this week was flawless.

The team would have been mighty proud of themselves for '10 goal win' v the bulldogs.  Rightly so.

Edited May 30, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

59 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

On Lever and our stingy (10 goal) defence.  Matty Richardson said he could hear Lever often shout "block the corridor!  block the corridor!" during the bulldogs game.   Lever was suitably hoarse when interviewed after the game.

'Block the Corridor' impressed me for two reasons:

• Lever has to read the the play upfield and needs to pick the exact moment to order the troops into 'block the corridor' formation.  A few seconds wrong either way and the opps get thru.
• The players need to know and get to their designated spot in the corridor quickly.

On both counts the 'block the corridor' strategy worked brilliantly.  Great example of on-field leadership and players playing their role, doing no more and no less.

Last week Crows won by 'charging' our defence through the corridor.  Not sure whether we didn't have 'block the corridor' tactic in our arsenal last week or just forgot how to execute.

Either way we learnt heaps from the Crows 'charging the corridor' (also a key part of the Bulldogs plan) and our execution this week was flawless.

The team would have been mighty proud of themselves for 10 goal win v the bulldogs.  Rightly so.

I thought along similar lines LH, and also wondered whether crowd noise vs the Crows may have blocked out some of Rick's calls from the backline.

16 minutes ago, Deeoldfart said:

I thought along similar lines LH, and also wondered whether crowd noise vs the Crows may have blocked out some of Rick's calls from the backline.

Good point.  Just as well there were no crowds on Friday night.

 

The beauty of a 'block the corridor' order is that the while the opps hear it, they have no dea where our players will be, until it is too late.

I was glad Richardson drew attention to it; it gives great insight into what happens on the field that otherwise we would not know about.

I wonder how many other 'orders 'our leaders have to ensure players are in the right positions and structured correctly, ahead and behind the ball. 

I've noticed that Petracca has become more vocal.  Melksham seems to play a similar role to Lever at the opposite end.  Could be why he gets selected.

Edited May 30, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Good point.  Just as well there were no crowds on Friday night.

 

The beauty of a 'block the corridor' order is that the while the opps hear it, they have no dea where our players will be, until it is too late.

I was glad Richardson drew attention to it; it gives great insight into what happens on the field that otherwise we would not know about.

I wonder how many other 'orders 'our leaders have to ensure players are in the right positions and structured correctly, ahead and behind the ball. 

I've noticed that Petracca has become more vocal.  Melksham seems to play a similar role to Lever at the opposite end.  Could be why he gets selected.

That must be the reason - can't see many others 

 

I think the scoring is something that will improve in time as well, we've clearly made defending a priority as it should be but this is 3-6 months into learning a fairly new system, i am very confident by seasons end we will be a much better side than we are now. 

i've never felt so confident this team can win the premiership. we want for nothing, talent and buy in all over the field and selection headaches all over the place.