Forward Structure

After Melbourne's round 1 loss to St Kilda in 2007 I wrote:

All saw last night when a Melbourne player got the ball and looked up, all he saw was one, two or if he was lucky three forwards to kick it too. However, there were always more St Kilda defenders there to pick off the easy pass.

Because of this, the Melbourne players were forced to hand pass (in an attempt to move the ball forward) amongst themselves but as many of us have been saying for the past month now, it doesn't work!

At the start of the game when Melbourne were leading when they had a forward line.

At the end of the game they didn't.

"Runs and curry", over-possessing the ball and kicking sideways were only the symptoms on this occasion.

Not having a forward line was the cause.

As good as the win was last night, the over-using of the ball, especially by hand early on was reminiscent of this dreadful night four years ago.

Since this game all kinds of tactical fads have come and gone. Tempo football, run and carry (runs and curry), floods, rolling zones and now forward presses. But through it all, one thing has and always remains the same; players will over-use the ball if they are forced to. Not having players forward of the ball to provide an option leads to players losing and forward momentum they may have as they stop and look sideways and backwards for a clear option.

In the second half Melbourne kept more players forward, they took the game on and they won. The great thing about structure is it requires no experience or skill, more often than not it is just about being in the right part of the ground at the right time. It is even as simple as standing in the goal square at a centre bounce instead 30 metres out. with no room to then lead into.

Let this be a lesson Dean, you can tell the players all you want to take the game on, but if you don't provide them with the right structure it counts for nothing.

Just watching the behind the scenes Channel Seven did last night on the MFC website.

Dean Bailey: "If we have multiples ahead, we will be able to kick through it..."

Good to hear.

Just watching the behind the scenes Channel Seven did last night on the MFC website.

Dean Bailey: "If we have multiples ahead, we will be able to kick through it..."

Good to hear.

He also complained that "the midfielders look up and see nothing in front of them."

So I guess we can stop saying "Bailey's gameplan is so negative he doesn't have a forward line."

It's more like "we have idiots in our forward line, who don't know how to play like a forward."

We saw a bit of what he's looking for last night, especially the goals to Sylvia and Watts. In both cases we had runners pushing really hard back into the 50, ans both times it gave them the sit on their opponents. Evans' cross to the square was magic and the pass to Watts was as good as they get, but both players worked really hard to get themselves into those positions. Watts in particular was involved in the play at half back then took off down the ground to mark again in the goalsquare. That's the workrate they want to make the forward structure work.

He also complained that "the midfielders look up and see nothing in front of them."

So I guess we can stop saying "Bailey's gameplan is so negative he doesn't have a forward line."

It's more like "we have idiots in our forward line, who don't know how to play like a forward."

Bailey still needs to keep payers in the forward line at all times, that comes down to him, if he does that the team will be better.

Bailey still needs to keep payers in the forward line at all times, that comes down to him, if he does that the team will be better.

To me, they get sucked up from about 40 out to about 70 out and that is not what we want.

I just don't think that Dunn, Bate, and Newton make a very smart forward line. And without that footy IQ of knowing where to go and when, you can make your coaches look pretty stupid.

I agree the forward line has been dysfunctional at times, but I blame seasoned professionals who have gone backwards more than the coaching staff whose only weapon to do anything about it is their mouths.

I still think that Jimmy should have a long look in the direction of our assistant coaching ranks over the summer...

To me, they get sucked up from about 40 out to about 70 out and that is not what we want.

I just don't think that Dunn, Bate, and Newton make a very smart forward line. And without that footy IQ of knowing where to go and when, you can make your coaches look pretty stupid.

I agree that they often get sucked up, but there are also centre bounces where we don't even structure up with players deep.

I heard that coaches have runners at their disposal - why don't they get sent out to tell the players to get back? What are the 'leaders' on the field doing?

I'd also say that Newton was the best of a bad bunch in terms of staying deep, and that includes guys you haven't mentioned.

I agree that they often get sucked up, but there are also centre bounces where we don't even structure up with players deep.

I heard that coaches have runners at their disposal - why don't they get sent out to tell the players to get back? What are the 'leaders' on the field doing?

I'd also say that Newton was the best of a bad bunch in terms of staying deep, and that includes guys you haven't mentioned.

No-one is blameless, but at some point the players have got to take responsibility for the actions of their own two feet.

No-one is blameless, but at some point the players have got to take responsibility for the actions of their own two feet.

I agree, but you would think that even players with the lowest IQ would be able to follow an instruction as simple as "don't leave the forward fifty".

I agree, but you would think that even players with the lowest IQ would be able to follow an instruction as simple as "don't leave the forward fifty".

I wouldn't think that at all.

Some players cannot play forward.

To me, they get sucked up from about 40 out to about 70 out and that is not what we want.

He actually spoke briefly about that on that half time special. He wanted space 30 metres out from goal for the forwards to lead back into. This leads me to think that our forwards simply aren't fit enough to push up and then get back.

Do you think Dunn & Bate's inability to consistently provide a forward target has something to do with them being forwards who want to be mids?

Bate, as someone mentioned in another thread, probably plays his best footy up the ground, playing like a winger.

Dunn has spent a fair bit of time in the midfield too, especially as a tagger, but also as a backup ruckman.

Maybe they get sucked into the middle because they think they are doing their job if they get the ball, and they go there to get it?

Maybe it's a misunderstanding or intentional ignorance of their role?

I recall Steve Johnson saying in 2007 that until then he thought he had to kick goals to keep his spot in the side, which led to a series of selfish and undisciplined acts.

It wasn't until he was sat down & had it drilled into him that if he kicked it to the top of the square, shepherded and tackled, ie. did the team things, that is what would secure his spot.

I agree that they often get sucked up, but there are also centre bounces where we don't even structure up with players deep.

I heard that coaches have runners at their disposal - why don't they get sent out to tell the players to get back? What are the 'leaders' on the field doing?

I'd also say that Newton was the best of a bad bunch in terms of staying deep, and that includes guys you haven't mentioned.

Agreed. The fact that, at centre bounces, we have consistently had two to four forwards starting on the edge of the square and pushing in, and the other two to four forwards starting about 30 out and pushing up into the space behind, was evidence that there was a coaching flaw.