kev martin

Perhaps, I see those beautiful long kicks of Sparrow, look through the rose coloured glasses and see something better. Maybe, the inside player has some, just get it away from contest/dump kicks. He did have a bad 2024 though. Thanks Dazzle. He would want to impress early in 2025, if he gets picked, or his spot will go to another.

Viney exhaust himself, and l can lose power and direction with disposals. Oliver gets a bit confused. Take the esay option. Can also bomb his kicks. He is still improving. Langdon loses concentration. Running all game can do that. Sparrow struggles with decision making. Beautiful kick, not the best handballer. Tracc can try too hard, gets the stress, and effects his weapons. In my opinion.

We lost the contested ball stats last season and we didn't adjust our game plan. Watch them hit their target in 2025, definitely a purpose/emphasis at training, "do the basics well". Maybe I will have to eat my words. Good game plans and high fitness, makes it easier to have effective disposals.

I was forming an argument, needed something, "I don't think anyone would argue that we struggled in all phases last year". Unfortunately I starting researching in 2023 stats which flattered our 2024 season. Though I reckon 2024 stats showed some interest and I will double up, given my belief that it is our system/game plan and not the skills, that let's us down.

Clangers against was interesting, meaning plenty of pressure without ball, and a plan to score by causing turnovers. Same in disposals. Good with giving and evading tackles. Had ball, though didn't use well. Without ball the system worked. Good without ball, contests we got beaten and with ball, a bit eachway. We Possessed it but couldn't deliver well. Ok, one and a half out of three. Though definitely not struggling in the 3 phases, which was what I was rebutting, Dr Gonzo "I don't think anyone would argue that we struggled in all phases last year".

The sky is black at night

Oops https://afltables.com/afl/stats/2024s.html Disposals for 7955, 14 had more. Disposals against 8451, 19 had more. Didn't get much of the ball, though stopped the other getting or using it. Clangers for 785, 2 had more. Clangers against, 853, 13 had more. Had plenty of clangers, but so did the other teams. Tackles for, 1337, 2 had more. Tackles against, 1306, 14 had more. Tackled well, Didn't get tackled much. Contested possessions for, 3006, 10 had more. Contested possessions against, 2968, 12 had more. Down in contested possessions, and the other got more. My assessment, did well closing the game, but couldn't get the ball back. When we did get it we did alright. Good with phase of using ball, good in phase of stopping the other, but down in our phase of winning the ball. Which had been our trump for so long. 2 out of 3 phases we were OK.

I don't agree that our on-field problems are due to our skills. Our skills are similar, if not better than other teams (IMO). The small margins that establish domination of a game, is how we apply a strategy. Once we became the hunted club, others worked us out, and as you say "the game has moved forward". Team cohesion is also a big factor in determining success. I think Goody's throw away line was at best an over-simplified analysis, or a team motivator. At worst, a way to shift the blame off the coaches, lowers our expectations, or fugazi. We don't struggle with the phases of the game, we struggle with a game plan that is flexible, and, has gears and options to suit the need at the time (IMO).

Not sure, I am not a statistician. I was presenting an argument to our "struggle in phases". I think the problem was, others set their game against our style. Therefore, our bombs into our forward line didn't work as we couldn't lock the ball down in there. The other team got out quickly or with the short dinky, efficient kicks. The backline intercepts were the same, they were reluctant to kick the ball down the line and had to use the dinky/efficient/fast style to do us. Moving the ball is an interesting aspect. Has to be one that is continually in flux as they adapt to how the game is going, tempo, momentum, not working, predictable, etcetera. I believe the onus was on Goody and the on-field leaders, to read the tea leaves, which is not related to our basic skill level. Making the statement, "We aren't great at any phase of the game", is blame shifting and Goody putting the onus on players. I reckon we have the players the will, but our style and its adapt ability is my assessment of why we didn't make finals. Big year for Goody, if we fail he may not be able to hide.

We were average with clangers. If it is about game style, we became the hunted and teams set themselves against us. Goody has been a great innovator (in my opinion), I can see him doing that again. His problem IMO, is he is slow to adapt the kind of play within a quarter, and gives the momentum to the other team. Proud about his strategies and reluctant/slow at tweeking them, when being beaten. Did we struggle at all phases of the game? I believe we were above average.

I interpreted "great" as sarcasm, not high expectations. So, we are above average at all phases of the game, but not the best? Many have been expressing, doom and gloom about the topic. I think we have been a good side for several seasons, and the shortcomings and our tests, will be in the finals series.

I thought this topic and that no one can argue against the proposition, was click bait, and Goody's line was Fugazi.

I'll bite, though I only saw the first half of our year, the rest I listened to on a radio. So you talk about the phases being, with ball, without ball and the contested. We are generally better than average in the League for disposals (getting ball), clangers (use of ball) and tackles and contest . Here are some statistical arguments. Quote from: https://afltables.com/afl/stats/2023s.html MFC: 9183 disposals for, only 4 others with more. 8911 disposals against, 9 others with less. Pretty good at getting the ball, average for stopping the other getting it. Clangers 945, 8 others had more (average), others teams against, had 894. 5th on list. (Below average). Other teams are better at using ball against us. Perhaps because they try not to bomb into our backline. 1530 tackles 5 had more. 1536 against 2 had more. We tackle more but get tackeld more. In plenty of contest. 3654 contested possessions, only two higher. 3399 against, 6 had more. We get the ball. The "We aren't great at any phase of the game", fugazi. We didn't make finals so have less opportunities for higher numbers than those that played in them.

I'm not sure if this is "click bait". I'll bite though. Phases of the game you mean start, middle, and end, or early in quarters, or in the time on period. Other phases may be, transitioning, stoppages, boundary work, subbing, coming off and on, contested, zoning, holding, attacking, running down the clock, leading, pressure, taking risks, playing with flair, taking it on, performing when it is your time, communicating, scoring, intimidating, heckling, managing the score, managing the time, persuading the umpires, quarter time and half time periods, use of runner, changing up the style of play, protecting each other, turning the game, creating momentum, engaging the crowd, quieting the crowd, watching yourself on the replay screen. I am able to go on. "Not good at any phase", poor old Goody clutching at straws, a throw away line, in order to motivate and get the best out of the team. For me, attending the game, watching on tv, or getting to training is my joy. Wanting a competitive team is the pinnacle, not winning all and sundry. We have had a more than competitive team for years now. My hope is the others will take us for granted, and we get a game plan that surprises as we fall further away as the team to beat or replicate. Love to see us come up with some unique methods. Winning and only finding joy in that, is for fools or the gamblers. Love the team, whether they succeed or not. Drink from the glass infront of you, half full, half empty, overflowing or down to the last mouthfuls. At least you are drinking and not waiting till the cup fulfills your expectations. (Bathwater and fugazi, is best to avoid)

That was kind of the point I was making with Langford. Still a bit to learn, especially the pace of the game. Windsor was the same (after playing against lesser opponents, some adaptation needed) early in his intro to MFC, he learnt very quickly. My guess is Langford will be on the same trajectory.