Forced myself to watch the first half last night and noticed something about our tactics in the ball-ups and throw-ins. Several times early on White tapped to Moloney. So much so that the opposition seemed to read this tactic, paying close attention to no 22 at these times (sometimes holding Moloney by the arm in what should have resulted in a free). On other occasions as many as three Hawks would try to block Moloney's run at the ball. I was surprised at how many times White's tap found Moloney's position... good ruck work!

However, apart from the opposition reading this tactic, Moloney does not get the ball away as quickly as, say McDonald, and we were often tied up in another ball-up situation (Jones also has trouble getting it away quickly, often being wrapped-up in a gang tackle). Note that later in the game the umpire turned on Moloney penalysing him for holding the ball, I think the umps were just over-reacting to his constantly being tackled before disposing of it.

The top teams usually feed that first touch out with lightning speed to the defensive side of the circle, followed by another handball to a wider running option. Our tactic centred on Moloney running toward our end and trying to burst through the pack.

Now, I'm not knocking Moloney's game, he was clearly one of our better contributors. I am simply pointing out a tactic that has been coached, possibly by the mid-field coach, that was flawed. Moloney should be the player who is running a little wider for the second handball, he rarely gets the ball away quickly and he is best running in a straight line before unloading a long entrance into our goal-square (or thereabouts).

The bloke who comes out looking alright here is White, and remember, I am only talking about early in the piece.

I think McDonald was being wasted early-on. We also need someone else in the centre who can get the ball away quickly. Perhaps Brock should have been the go-to man in this set-up.

We also need a tagger/ defensive midfielder in there.

We have McLean, Jones and Moloney, who are all, by nature, attacking players who focus on chasing after the pill.

The presence of say a Bartram could make a huge difference. Not only can he block and shepherd our own midfielders, he can also nullify the influence of the opposition's most important midfielder.

Alternatively, it might be time to get Junior to start tagging and negating again.

Just as a side note, I thought our work at the bounce was actually not as pathetic as it has been over the last 12 months. To draw even in the clearances was a good start. Pity that we can't get the ball out of the pack though. This is where pace comes into the equation. Sadly we don't have anyone quick enough to burst through. Moloney, McLean and Jones try, but they are not quick nor strong enough to get away from 2-3 players at a time... if only Buckley could actually kick!

I'm with you there Jaded. This is the role Bartram made his own from day 1, we have missed him big-time. One can only hope he is fit enough to reach the same level or even better with experience and physical development. That was what made Sunday's performace so insipid... No tags... No physical presence.

Great thread

I would like to see Col Sylvia in the middle, for parts, smashing some bodies too

ww you are dead right, Moloney should be the one receiving the ball after its extraction then he should be roosting it long in his special way right to the front and centre of goals. Davey must be perched at the feet of Neitz/Robbo and Newton when they fly for it. Our key forwards are all very handy 1-on-1 so it should be about getting it in there with speed - futhermore Davey is, or was, the best crumber in the game

None of this chipping it around the wings to an eventually congested forward line crap - what were they thinking?

On their individual strengths I am stumped that a midfield of Jones, McLean, McDonald, Moloney, Bartram, Bruce and Sylvia cannot get on top. I am very disappointed in what the coaching staff are getting out of them. Between them they have plenty of grunt and hardness and ability to win the hard ball, as well as the ability to negate opposition stars and the ability to finish the play with good delivery into the forward line. They should be a tough proposotion. This is not a midfield that should be going down by 104.