Jump to content

Discussion on recent allegations about the use of illicit drugs in football is forbidden

Watson11

Life Member
  • Posts

    814
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Posts posted by Watson11

  1. This post is mostly to get the panels thoughts on our game strategy against Port, especially around stoppages.

    The between the arcs stoppages is where the greatest score from stoppages comes from, and which also determines who will be playing a forward half game.  I think it is a very important and generally an ignored part of tactics.

    So far this season, as far as scores from between the arcs stoppages goes, we are -20 points versus Sydney, +14 versus the dogs, and +15 versus the Hawks.  

    Our structures and our opponents strategies in our first 3 games was also interesting.  We tend to do the same each week. Sydney tended to push +1 to stoppages, the dogs decided to settle for even numbers at stoppages, and the Hawks pushed +1 or +2 to the stoppage (and still got smashed).  

    Interested in what you think will happen this week against Port.  Both midfields are very good, and both defences will be suspect (Port because they always are, and us because we will be down May and Lever).  Last year Port pushed a +1 to the stoppage in the wet and smashed us. Butters had 41 possessions and 10 clearances.  How do you think it will be played this week.  I suspect we will do the same and push a spare behind the ball.  Do you think Port will push a +1 to the stoppage again?  Or will they push a spare behind the ball to help their suspect defence. The good news is the forecast is 31C and fine.  The bad news is there is a small chance of a shower late in the day (we play at 7pm).

     

    • Thanks 2
  2. Great podcast.  You almost have them long enough so they occupy a full week of my daily commute. 

     @binman  I know you like to point out how loading impacts performance.  A minor problem in this case re Brisbane.  Michael Voss was Brisbanes coach 11 years ago, and it was he who spoke about it at his presser, not Fagan.  Despite this Carlton came back from 46 points down against the lions. So loading is not always directly the cause of poor form.

    Or maybe Fagan didn’t mention it and they are loading even more than Carlton 😃

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 1
  3. 2 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

    Has a fallout with Nathan Jones. Did not quite realise the hard work required. At least Petracca worked it out early... Talent alone will only take you so far.

    Well said. Max was drafted a year after Jack and came into the same environment. Both Jack and Max had talent and like a party.  Max had a rocky start but Max made wise decisions, knuckled down and worked hard, is a champion of the game, and still playing at the highest level.  Maybe Jack should consider referencing Max when he does interviews rather than Howes.

    • Like 2
  4. I hope Tracc hasn’t become the new demonland whipping boy for disposal.  The comparisons with Nibbler are like comparing apples and oranges.

    Tracc can shank kicks but the facts are in the last 4 years, as far as number of score involvements go he has ranked #3, #1, #1, #1 in the afl. I’m quite happy that when he gets the ball, a score results more often than any other player in the afl.  Nibble ranked #167 in the league for score assists in his best year (2021).

    That is why Tracc doesn’t get flak. Because most supporters understand that when he gets the ball good stuff often happens and everyone sees and notices it.  My view is the Nibbler criticism is also unfair, but for different reasons.

    The stat I’d really like to see is some sort of net score involvement.  Score involvements minus turnovers that result in opposition scores.  That would allow a better assessment of players in similar roles.  

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1
  5. 8 minutes ago, binman said:

    I might be wrong but im assuming you have played footy at the highest level.

    I mean, surely you have played at AFL level and played at least as many games as omac (86) to be so dismissive of him being picked up by an AFL club with a full time professional recruitment team who are experts at assessing players ability and likelihood of making an impact at the elite level.

    Have I missed something. "He has been recruited by the Dockers. Good on him." doesn't seem dismissive.  What do you expect? A binman style 3 part 20 page narrative on why OMac got picked up.  

    • Like 4
    • Haha 4
    • Clap 1
  6. 23 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

    It wasn’t just Judd. They had Cousins, Kerr, Embley and Cox to name a few.


    I’m not saying they won’t take Reid, but they will need a lot more than just him over a few drafts to have any chance of a successful rebuild. 

    Yes they will need a lot more than him and no guarantees. They will need to draft the new Kerr (pick 18), Embley (pick 57), Dean Cox (rookie pick) types.

    I just think WC will back themselves to use the pick and rebuild around him. Nesbit has been at WC forever and the two times they have had a really high pick they used it with good results. I expect them to use it this year. We will see. 

     

  7. 39 minutes ago, BDA said:

    WC should draft Reid and back themselves to get their [censored] together and convince him to stay. He's supposed to be generational after all. If I was a WC supporter that's what I would want.

    They got 2 premierships out of taking Judd at pick 2.  They will draft Reid and back themselves in to bouncing back pretty quickly.  They have never been this bad but they lack nothing in money, facilities, rabid supporters, and home umpiring advantage. And Reid could not have been clearer that he is happy to go there. 

  8. 36 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

    I suspect I’m in the minority here but I don’t like May’s comments. 

    I’d rather hear him acknowledge that we’re not as good as them. That we need to find another level, or go to work on our weaknesses, etc.

    Yes he’d had a few and it was the B&F and I’m all for positivity and motivation, but if we were better than them we’d have won the flag. We didn’t, so we weren’t.

    I’m with you.  Mays comments seem to reflect an attitude that we were unlucky, but the reality is we were not better than Collingwood. Half our game was bottom 4 level (the attacking part). The Pies defence was about equal with us.

    Goals per inside 50, Pies ranked #2, MFC ranked #14

    Shots per i50, Pies ranked #7, MFC ranked #14

    Goals conceded from oppo i50s. Pies ranked #3, MFC ranked #5

    Shots conceded per i50. Pies ranked #6, MFC ranked #2

    And this isn’t even looking at why the Pies deliver when it matters in close games and we don’t.

    “When all is said and done, a lot more is said than done”.

    • Like 2
    • Clap 1
  9. On 10/1/2023 at 10:27 AM, MoeSyzlak said:

    I’ll go one better. Rather than just have my opinion, here’s 3 games where it was reported. Anyone who’s watched them play it’s been pretty obvious he’s been e played as a tagger plenty of times. 

    Round 15 2022

    source: https://www.afl.com.au/news/823736/pride-of-lions-to-help-neale-fight-tag-says-skipper/amp

    Round 11 2021

    source: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/949742/harmes-the-tagger-returns-to-his-best

    Round 9 2021

    Tagged Walsh. Gawny explains in his captains diary. 
     

    source: the book obviously but it’s also quoted here: https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/sep/15/wasteful-melbourne-still-learning-the-hard-way-as-carlton-party-like-its-1999

    He did an outstanding job on Zac Bailey in the final game in 2022 as well.

    • Like 3
  10. 1 hour ago, Little Goffy said:

     Gold Coast is being kept at AFL level by nonsense levels of academy concessions, and Sydney not only is only relevant due to its own previous huge concessions, but it only made finals on an obvious yet uncorrected goal umpiring error which would not have happened in any other professional-level sport in the developed world.

    You clearly don’t follow Liverpool and didn’t watch Liverpool v Tottenham.

    Human error even in premier league VAR resulting in clear wrong call resulting in disallowed goal. https://sport.optus.com.au/news/premier-league/os63898/liverpool-tottenham-var-error-disallowed-goal-offside

    • Clap 1
    • Shocked 1
    • Sad 1
  11. 45 minutes ago, praha said:

    I actually don't know how to feel. I like *something* about Collingwood but I don't know what. They are just superbly coached. McRae is a very special get for them. Everyone here bangs on about our forward line but you cannot convince me they have more talent up forward than we do. It is 100% strategic. They set themselves up to succeed deep and quickly. We win long in defense and hope going to the well enough times will suffice.

    Never has a team been both so uninspiring yet so inspiring at the same time. 

    They are either gifted wins through the opposition's own choking/incompetence, or they just *find a way*. 

    They are undoubtedly the best in a very tight core of 4-5 teams that encompasses Melbourne, Brisbane, Carlton, Sydney and GWS. 

    I am just shocked that they have won and won the way they did. Just truly shocked.

    Some here probably don't realise it bit we have absolutely thrown away a premiership this year with our choke in the QF. 

    Good on Collingwood. Once they beat us they absolutely knew it was right there for them.

    Unpopular but well said. Macrae has shown he is an elite coach already and a cut above.  Very astute strategically and has them playing with freedom.  On abc radio today there was a segment on their psychologist Jacqui Louder and the impact she has had.  And she sits on the bench all game every game to talk to the players.  It’s the 1%ers like this that no-one sees, but maybe that’s why they perform when the game is on the line.

    • Like 4
  12. 45 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

    The only way I see Brisbane losing is if they do a Melbourne and sheet the bed on the big stage at the "G".

    I’m actually worried that Andrew’s goes to Mihocek, and Cox has a field day on Gardner.  It would be my worst nightmare.  But Macrae is astute and will be working out how to exploit Brisbanes lack of a second fit tall defender. 

  13. 2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

    On what planet is McKay worth that? He is a dud. Honestly.

    He shouldn’t even be top 35% let alone top 5%.  He had averaged over 10 disposals one season out of his 7, in a team where the ball spends most of the game in his area.

    By comparison Stephen May has never averaged under 10 disposals, and has been over 15 disposals for his last 8 seasons.

    • Like 1
  14. 48 minutes ago, 58er said:

    Your opinion on Goody is not correct as he has grown to be an even better coach since the Flag triumph. 

    Feel free to post why he is not a competent coach! Does that mean you judge him as incompetent? 

    I wouldn’t say Goody is incompetent, but he is not getting the results expected and our attacking gameplan strategy is flawed. In Goody’s tenure we have only ranked highly for attacking efficiency (shots per i50) once, which was 2021 (ranked #1), and have been bottom half 6x. And if you look at overall season results and compare that to the median of what all 50+ commentators/analysts predicted for us preseason, we exceeded expectations once (2021), met expectations twice (2018 and 2020), and fell short 4x. That to me says the industry in general thinks we have the players, but we are not getting the best out of them and our stats say that is our attacking game plan.

    Our attacking strategy has really had 2 different phases under Goody.

    From 2017-2020 Goody stubbornly stuck to an i50 strategy to get the ball into the +-30 degree corridor as goals are easier to kick from there.  If you looked at accuracy alone, we were ranked #1 or 2  for expected accuracy (ease of shots) every year from 2017-2020, and even were ranked #1 for overall accuracy in 2017/18.  But our i50 efficiency was poor (especially against top teams) and got worse and worse as time passed and clubs realised how we played. 

    2021 with all the coaching changes saw our attacking game plan flipped on its head.  We threw out the old plan and went to the pockets, and it worked. Our expected accuracy dived to #18 but we jumped from bottom of the table to #1 for shots on goal from i50s.

    The last 2 years we have stubbornly stuck to that kick to the pockets gameplan, opposition teams have worked it out, and as a result our shots on goal from i50s have steadily dropped. So we now have both poor accuracy and poor efficiency i50. Sure Goody tried a different approach at the start of this year.  But he either wasn’t comfortable with it or lost his nerve, because as soon as we had a few losses we went back to predictability and conservativeness.  If we remain predictable next year, then we will get even worse attacking results than this year which is a scary thought. 

    • Like 2
    • Facepalm 1
    • Thinking 1
  15. 3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

    It really is a simple as this.

    if a player can kick the goal in training, then it means they have the biomechanical and technique means to do so in the game (taking out environmental factors such as wind and rain).

    the only thing that changes in game day setting is ‘meaning’ and context about the person that of what does it mean if they fail to kick it. If it is evaluated as a threat, then the brain will ‘change’ the biomechanical and technique responses ‘on the fly’/during the action to have the athlete remain ‘safe’. 

    In sports, understanding "meaning" and "context" is pivotal. Athletes excel during training, mastering their biomechanics and techniques for goal kicks. However, on game day, the dynamics shift. Increased pressure and the significance of the moment can alter an athlete's focus. Embracing their emotions rather than resisting them, athletes can stay present and committed to their values and goals, reducing external pressures. This approach enables them to maintain their skills, even when faced with an uncomfortable kick. 

    Often, it is the uncomfortable kicking action in these moments,  that is the ‘correct’ kick.

    Is it really that simple? Greg Norman had a technique that nailed shot after shot on the driving range and in normal tournaments, but everyone knew it did not stand up well to pressure where everything moved a bit faster (ie back 9 on grand slams) where he became prone to pushing right and snap hooks. Maybe we can say it’s all psychological and he needed to learn to look inward and relax etc etc, but another way is to sort out your technique so it has more margin for error.  Better technique (and more practice) gives you more confidence and more ability to relax, and methods to relax reinforce confidence in your technique.

    Max running at right angles, Tracc walking in to kick and leaning back, Kossie changing his routine every kick all have no margin for error and just tiny mistakes from the pressure produces inconsistent results.  

  16. 1 hour ago, Jontee said:

    Young kid comes to the club, just wants to be an AFL player, plays on natural talent, expectations are non existent and kicks the goal.

    5 years later

    The 'kid' has had 5 different coaches, been instructed where to run and how to kick, there are negative posts on social media (DL), body is sore, expectations are extreme and the kid knows it, and kicks a.......

    Unless young kid is Jamie Elliot.  After Port game where he iced another match winner and asked how he did it.  “Walk 5, run 5 and kick”. 

    • Like 1
  17. 4 hours ago, 58er said:

    I will disagree as no 2 games are alike.

    Team games are all about on the day and taking  your chances. And the team dynamics etc. 

    You can't say for sure ( although you are claiming ) that we were missing players who had no role in the previous game. Yes but this doesn't take into account a defensive player tagging another for no goals for Instance. 
    Based on goals scored Melky and JVR were more likely to score than others.

    Melky got some goals last year to get us over the line also.

    Your assessment is too simplistic As the more class that plays puts more pressure on the opposition.

    in addition we had Fritsch back who is our most reliable goal scorer. It's all about the team pressure and we scored 9.17  that's 26 shots to 8.8 their only 16 shots.in Round 22. Most results would also favour a side with 26 to 18 shots any time. 

    We were unluckier last Friday than in Round 22 or more wasteful. You could say. 

    In addition that Round 22 was an outlier with Melky as he was in a purple patch in the last 6/7 Rounds and the Carlton game he didn't score a goal ! 

    Smithy bobbed up with 3 to replace him in the Semi but to also have Jake would have out much more pressure on their defence. 

    Really it was our bad forward play even with another 8 shots that we can only blame ourselves. ( not sure how you thought the umpiring was but many Dees fans were disgusted with the umps notably No 22 ).

    Unfortunately when we wake  on Sat morning the HeraldSun still  had a Carlton win.  
    We have to live with our poor conversion and make some changes to our game plan and perhaps seek some fresh ideas from a new Assistant Forward Coach. It's been a problem for at least 2 years.

    So it's one theory you can put forward about personnel but it doesn't overall IMO pass the test let alone the Pub  Test with 8 more scoring shots. 

    I will take  that every day of the week on law of averages but still say we would have won if Melky and JVR had played on the balance of the team this season.  That's only my opinion any way. 

    Cheers but we  have to get better and stop butchering the ball and be more efficient forward of centre no matter who is playing up front for us. 

    All fair.  But my post was in response to a post where I put our 4 consecutive finals losses down to our atrocious goal kicking and conversion and i50 strategy.  I can cop bad days as it happens.  What I think is unprofessional is players having no goalkicking routine to fall back on under pressure.  Max, Kozzie, Tracc were the super obvious ones that were all over the place in their goal kicking routines.  It’s an afl problem but I don’t care what other teams do just what we do. I always have felt it would cost us in a final. Never dreamed it would cost us 4x in a row. This is the most flat post season feeling ever. Worse than the worst years.  Because we stuffed up and didn’t get beaten by anyone that is better than us.

    • Like 2
  18. 45 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

    I know in times of disappointment/anger, many don't like hearing about injuries (or luck, or umpiring, or these sorts of things) but they all played a role. There can't be any doubt that losing Petty, Melksham and JVR (the latter through his own clumsy fault) in a season where TMac, Brown and Fritsch had all spent months out with injury made our chances worse.

    Our really important players all played. Against the blues 3 games ago Melk and JVR didn’t kick a goal between them from 6 and 7 disposals, so how can we claim their absence was the reason we lost when Smith kicked 3? And Petty needs a full season up forward.  He had one and a half good games up forward this season, so no history to give you confidence he would deliver in finals. We can agree to disagree.  

     

    • Like 2
  19. We should be better kicking for goal.  We were much improved moving the ball inside 50 last night but shouldn’t only pull that out in a sudden death final. We need coaches who really want to sort these 2 things out. 

    Goal kicking really gives me the sh&ts.  As players are running in its obvious they will miss.  As soon as Max started running towards the point post I knew he would miss. Kossie kicks well when he gets good momentum like his second shot.  His first was not his routine.  When Tracc walks in you know he will miss as he leans back.  It’s unprofessional that they and the coaches have not done enough quality goal kicking practice to get their routines nailed down so they can produce under pressure like the last 2 weeks.  The fact we have arguably lost at least 3 and maybe 4 of our finals due to poor goal kicking is a blight on Goody. 

    To go well in 2024 the club has to stay off   demonland and not buy into supporters excuses about injuries being why we lost. We had all our superstars. WCE got it done without 3 injured All Australians (6xAA between them) in 2018. If the club accepts excuses like injuries then we won’t address the issues in our control.  There needs to be a serious effort to address our goal kicking and our attacking game plan. Our defensive game is elite. 

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1
    • Clap 1
  20. 1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

    Definition of the football department at the MFC:

    • Goodwin – senior coach
    • Richardson – GM of AFL Football Performance
    • Yze – midfield coach
    • Chaplin – backline coach
    • Stafford – forward line coach
    • Williams – head of development
    • Whitford – VFL senior coach
    • Radford - opposition strategy and education

    Can someone who has real world knowledge and practical experience in such an environment please explain, in practice, how does a football department actually work? For example:

    • What does the FD do during pre-season as a group?
    • What does the FD do during a ‘normal’ week as a group during the season?
    • How do the backline, midfield and forward line coaches work, in an integrative manner, during the year and on gameday?
    • How is information passed between these coaches and then onto the players?
    • Who reports to who?
    • Who is in charge during the game of making moves and adjusting strategy and tactics?
    • What does Simon actually do?

    If the coaching team were not dysfunctional I would be very surprised. 99% of management teams are. 

    I believe Goodwin reports to Richo.

    I suspect mid, forward, and back coaches report to Goody.

    I suspect Williams, Whitford, Radford report to Richo but are part of a team and all provide input/advice to Goody. But Williams has (or used to have) a lot of input with the senior group re skills so maybe he has dual reporting lines.

    There is also the high performance manager and analytics teams. I suspect they report to Richo but also provide input to Goody. Burgo framed it that he provides advice and risks (re injuries and whether players are ready) but the final decision is the coach.

    Goody sets our gameplan using all the info, he tells the line coaches. He is responsible for match day moves but gets advice.

    But who knows if the coaching team works well together or not.  We just see what happens on the field, but we don’t sit in team meetings with Goody and all of the above.  We have no idea if they are a really high functioning team where ideas are expressed freely and without reprisal and good decisions are made, or whether they are what is common in business and are a dysfunctional team and bad decisions are made. 

    Just looking at goalkicking.  I was so frustrated looking at the way we took our set shots. Kossie, Max, Tracc still have no reliable set shot routine to fall back on under pressure.  It’s a bad decision to not invest more in goal kicking. Inside 50 plan is another dysfunctional plan and I find it hard to believe all coaches agree with our safety first approach.

    • Thanks 1
  21. Interesting stats in Carlton v Sydney

    1st Half - Sydney played on 11% of the time.  Kicked 2.6.

    2nd Half - Sydney played on 37% of the time.  Kicked 7.8

    It will be very disappointing if we stick to our stodgy method.  Surely not.  If we take the game on and attack we win this.

    • Like 7
    • Love 1
  22. 5 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

    I raise you Smith, Salem, Spargo and Bowey 

    200.gif?cid=bdfa2d1f1axslm4kums7p1j1f35n

    Sun Tzu The Art if War

    “The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”

    “Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.”

     

    • Love 1
    • Haha 1
×
×
  • Create New...