Major Problems at the Moment

[hells bells 2,023]

This maybe stating the bleeding obvious but I beleive the major problems we've got at the moment are.

1. Horribly slow and predictable movement out of the backline from kick-ins. It's been ordinary for as long as I can remember and it is worse this year than previous years. We actually didn't look too bad after Geelong kicked a goal because the ball was in the middle, on the contrary once they kicked a point it was bottled up until they did kick a goal.

2. Complete refusal to go down the corridor. I almost reckon using the corridor is like a game of chicken, whoever blinks first uses the long way around the wings and then any turnover comes straight through the corridor at speed. At the moment we don't even want to play chicken. Surely when you've got a less skilled forward line, to give them the best chance of taking a mark you get the ball down there as fast as possible so that the opposition doesn't have time to drop back. Instead we've gone the unproven way of the tortoise, slow and steady WINS the race. (everyone knows the hare would've won if he didn't stop for a rest)

3. Rucks are majorly underperforming and getting smashed in the air. To make matters worse White isn't getting enough of it around the ground. It is a miracle we were ahead in the clearances.

4. Our... (cough) less skilled (kicking) players are taking the final kicks into the forward line, Ward, Godfrey, Miller etc... Whether this is because Johnstone, Davey, Bruce (sad to say is now leaning toward a less skilled pleyer), Green are out of form or other teams have worked out that you can let the first group take possession because there is a greater than 50% chance they'll turn it over is one for debate.

5. Other teams have worked out that Johnstone and Davey are the barometers of the side and that if they put a heavy tag on them, it's hard for us to get any run through the middle.

Like others I think it's time to throw some of the youngsters in, see how they go, sink or swim. They can't do much worse than those on the list who are treading water (career wise). Give Pettard a go, give Newton a go, bring Dunn and Johnson back in. We're not going to move forward with Brown, Godfrey, etc. and if you're not going forward you're going backwards which is what is happening at the moment.

Regards,

Hells

[Adzman 2,154]

Kick in have been an issue for a long while. They seem to be overly poor this season.

Needs to work the ball much quicker out of the defensive 50.

[Rampaging Demons 1]

In previous seasons we have been at the upper end of goals kicked from kick-ins - could not see us even being close this year!!

By using the corridor it means that we open up the play and inevitably turn the ball over - less skilled players, etc. This was the case against the Saints!! Just terrible disposal or to a man under pressure....

I have said it before but the players are being selfish - not doing the hard running to create space or provide an option, be the next person for the kick, create holes in the defence, shepherd for team mates, talk and support.... we need to be more team orientated!!

Brett Kirk yesterday - the leader of the Bloods - how was their last quarter was played with passion, taking risks, backing themselves, their skills and more importantly their team mates!!!

[Red and Blue Flame 179]

yeah great pickup- our boys dont know what passion is. no celebrating goals, no talk, no committment. big changes needed if they want to beat freo this week, a side who haven't played all tha bad for their 3 losses, and play on a big ground and run hard.