https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/horrific-demons-biggest-issue-which-could-ruin-their-season-revealed/news-story/de53a10fd2ff851d0da8edbe50cf25d7

 

Melbourne’s forward woes have been laid bare, with the revelation the club has three of the worst pressure ranking players in their attack end.

The Demons have dropped from third in 2021 to dead last in 2022 in pressure ratings, according to Champion Data.

The statistics showed Sam Weideman is ranked worst in the competition for forward pressure with teammate Ben Brown ranked second worst.

Just to add:

"Bayley Fritsch, who has come under fire in recent weeks for “barbecuing” his teammates, is ranked ninth."

 

There is pressure and there is half arsed efforts that get deemed pressure.

Free Roo

5 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Just to add:

"Bayley Fritsch, who has come under fire in recent weeks for “barbecuing” his teammates, is ranked ninth."

 

Didn't add that part purely because while not ideal, it isn't as bad as the other two.

I am putting my hand up to eat my own words about forward connection. That’s not the issue.

This is unforgivable. 

We’ve gone from the 3rd ranked pressure team to 18th.

We have 4 weeks to fix this or we’re well and truly cooked.

A bit of positivity (mixed in with immense frustration) we have been able to stay in the contest in all of our losses on the back of the worst pressure. That says to me that our system is incredible, we just aren’t applying the standard.

We’re absolutely flag favourites if we can get this part of our game in check. Pressure is a mindset and willingness to execute EFFORT.

2 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Didn't add that part purely because while not ideal, it isn't as bad as the other two.

It shows a pattern of selfishness in our forwards. Reckon it’s pretty pertinent.

Makes complete sense why they refuse to play Brown and Weid alongside each other.

Is it too hard to ask for these blokes to at least show some sort of defensive pressure?

No wonder teams are rebounding so easily from our back half without breaking a sweat.

So north melbourne and west coast are applying more pressure in games than us? Geez, what an embarrassment for the players and coaches.

 

10 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Didn't add that part purely because while not ideal, it isn't as bad as the other two.

Fair enough. IMO it is because he's not a key forward, but get where you're coming from.

Goodwin and co are already well aware of this. That’s why they’ve changed to the 1 tall and 1 resting ruck set up. Last week against the Power was a very decent forward half game with good forward pressure but unfortunately we couldn’t replicate it much at all in the second half last week (although we got smashed in stoppage clearances which doesn’t help).

How many forwards all-up across the league?  100+?

So we occupy positions 1, 2 & 9  in the worst stakes.  Not good but not entirely surprising

Fritsch, Weideman, Brown & Melksham just don't lay enough tackles, certainly on a consistent basis - the eyes have that one

Before we finally started applying defensive pressure on a regular basis in 2021, defensive pressure in our forward line was a major weakness for many years

Perhaps we've reverted to kind but dead last?  For the reigning premier? 

I wonder where Neal-Bullen, Spargo & Kossie sit on the list?

Edited July 25, 20223 yr by Macca

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Fair enough. IMO it is because he's not a key forward, but get where you're coming from.

It's simply still not good enough imo. This is not just the 3 guys but the rest of our forward half. 

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

It's simply still not good enough imo. This is not just the 3 guys but the rest of our forward half. 

100%. Would be a big reason why Goody isn't a fan of Weid, but makes the consistent Brown selection more frustrating.

Wonder how this rating is calculated. Given we have lots of I50s and were 2nd on the ladder I'm not surprised to see us rank poorly, especially our talls. Also, if the stat is a function of whether a player is able to apply pressure when they're near the ball the ranking makes more sense. 

All over the ground our team will back 1 player to win a contest while the other players set up to receive/ release. When that player doesn't win the contest we look like our players didn't compete. It's a fine line because in years gone by we would complain about our players all going for the same ball like auskickers.

 

Well thanks media for letting us know, we'll now fix it. 

We really are in trouble in the KPF ranks, critical now. Some smart drafting or trading necessary.

Brown cooked

Weideman just isnt showing enough after 7yrs?

M Brown is a fill in

Jackson seems gone.

TMAC injury prone

 

JVR - who knows

Edited July 25, 20223 yr by SFebes

Just now, SFebes said:

We really are in trouble in the KPF ranks, critical now. Some smart drafting or trading necessary.

Brown cooked

Weideman just isnt showing enough after 7yrs?

M Brown is a fill in

Jackson seems gone.

#FreeRoo get it trending!

Where did Brown rate last year?

We need better players I guess, whi ever thought you had to regenerate a premiership list?

It’s too simplistic to think this is just about effort. Part of the problem is player positioning and inside 50 delivery. I think Goody mentioned this a while back. This is potentially where opposition coaches have been breaching our first and most important wall of defence. Think about how many dump kicks into Lever, May, Petty you have seen in the last 8 weeks. Goody went on record saying he’s not worried about the back half chip kicks and switches.Well,  I think that’s part of the problem. No pressure in the front half and  you get cut up as they transition and spread. 

What is a related and a more telling stat is scores from turnover. This has been well down all year and is directly linked to forward half pressure.
 

So we fix this, we get our mojo back in.

Bring in form players from Casey who are willing to chase down, pressure and bring the heat but who can also hit the scoreboard.  Starting with Chandler for Harmes and Hunt for Salem or JJ for some run & gun off a stagnant HB.

Where does Bedford sit in the pressure forward stakes i wonder?  Melksham & Weid bring a 'nice' offensive style of game when the ball's delivered to them early but when they haven't got the pill and things get a little tougher later in games... nowhere to be seen.

T-Mac would be a great in.  Any chance he makes it in time for finals?

Not one lousy tackle inside 50 tells me the there's too many just happy to cruise along at the monent.

Part of this laconic attitude stems from the fact that SG and the SC keep going back to the same well, week after week after week.  The changes that should've been made for Port, especially up forward, weren't made.  Zero tackles is the result you get for allowing too many under performing regulars (pressure wise) to get a little too cozy and happy with thier offensive efforts only.

SG's own words from late 2020.  "This club needs to become more ruthless".  Well it's now or never for 2022.

Four weeks to fix a spluttering engine and get the goody ship lollipop firing on all six cylinders again and alter course to premiership cove.  If we don't we're gonna end up as castaways on Gilligand's island pondering on what could've been.

I think it's time to unleash the beast in the forward line. Jack Viney you know what you get with Jack the rest you don't.

5 hours ago, Gouga said:

So north melbourne and west coast are applying more pressure in games than us? Geez, what an embarrassment for the players and coaches.

 

JSmith - recover quickly and get back into the team; additionally, Petty must play forward. These two, experienced defenders and pressure applicators are both potent players who could shine as deep forwards, propping Max at CHF for impact and ruck duties supported in defensive roles and backline duties for Jackson plus an occasional one. The number of times we call for pressure forwards far outweighs in importance the now stubborn 'loyalty' decisions of Goodwin to play BBB and particularly, the Weed. Our fleet of smalls will then feel physically supported in their roles as pressure agents and goal sneaks - in addition to being great feeders of the football. 

   37 minutes ago,  monoccular said: 

If Goody took any “learnings” from the Footscray game it should be low spearing passes into I50, not bombs.  Even if not at a leading player, if goal side of a contest it gives our fast crumbers an even chance.  Bombing is not working. 

Yes yes yes. It’s so clear to 65000 supporters.  It’s not that they are under pressure.  From a mark or free kick, it’s a bomb and often to the pockets. It’s like a defensive type kick.