Adam The God

IMV, AFL has shifted to an elite sport, and with that, the coaching sphere has changed. If you look at the EPL, the manager will bring the philosophy and how they want to play, but it won't be up to the manager to coach it as such. The first team coach will do that. In the AFL, it's the line coaches and strategy coach that works out how to play that way within the framework of the coach's philosophy. Goody has definitely tweaked his philosophy. Everything flows from contest because that's the game, but in possession we have different gears. Either go immediately (we are one of the faster transition teams in the comp) or chip and maintain possession to pull apart the opposition's zonal structure. Our model is not entirely unique to us, we're blending other's styles, but I maintain we want to use our pressure and stoppage strength to give a point of difference. The more good ball users we can get behind the ball and across half forward, the better we'll be. I've compared our new style to the way Slot has changed Liverpool. Klopp, the previous manager, was 100% all the time, think Collingwood. No real variance to their game. Ultimately, if the style can't be implemented it falls on the shoulders of the head coach, but the ability to implement really flows from how good the messaging is across the entire coaching team. With the shifting philosophy, the list has had to shift too. I think we're not that far off, but the guys that are letting us down now are the forwards and mids, and their inability to finish the hard work of the rest of the team.

Possibly, or trading two future 1sts.

I don't know about this...

Kolt's got some time, but it's not looking good IMO. JT definitely nailed both picks last year though.

Me too mate. Give me two Langford's any day. 😍

We never did either. You have to wonder whether there's a reason for it. Maybe it's fitness? Or maybe he's better suited to being a mobile ruck that doubles as a mid once the ball hits the deck.

We've allegedly put another long term deal in front of Kozzy, so let's see how this plays out in the next few weeks.

It's now clearly become a confidence thing as well, because if you see the Casey result today, with a huge number of Melbourne players on the ground, you see it's flowing through the group. I know Ben Brown has a new job, but is it worth getting him down? I know he was there last year, but have him actively coach all the players in their routine. It doesn't mean they have to have a 558 step walk in routine, but use whatever works for them. Clearly the message they have had for the past however many years isn't getting through.

23 scoring shots to 24. Gross. Alarm bells have to be going off in the FD. Confidence? Fitness? Technique? Where we take the shots from? All of the above?

Disagree.

I think Blake has been pretty unlucky at the top level this year. He hasn't struggled IMV, but he hasn't had huge impact and there are other defenders ahead him. I just wonder if they need to try him on the wing or at half forward where he played his junior footy. I reckon we're gonna be alright for tall defenders, which will enable us to play Turner and probably Petty forward long term.

Our goalkicking is mine.

My query on AJ is that he's been manhandled whenever he's gone into the ruck. I like work at ground level in the stoppage and in the forward half though. But he doesn't look threatening as a scoreboard option. But let's see how he goes. I'm hoping we can lay 10+ forward 50 tackles. Do that and we'll be in the game if we take our chances when they present.

Turner won't play forward. Petty will play permanent forward with AJ doing the backup rucking it seems.

1 more year I believe.

Lindsay also pushes back... So we're improving in this area. We need to start taking our chances from set shots. And we need to keep working on our ball movement so that our transition game gives us easier walk in goals. We haven't yet added this effectively.

I think it's another year of drafting if we can get another 2 Langford and Lindsay's, or 24 months will be needed.

Yeah, this is a good post. I just think it's less about height and more about ability to play your role. Which you're sort of saying in your opening sentence. I don't think they need to be A grade either.

That's a different point though. The point was we apparently had too many small players on our list. Again, it's not about height, it's about effectiveness.

I don't agree with the bombing, but if it goes in there to at least 1 of our talls, our smalls need to get it done on the ground.

The modern game is full of runners and smaller players. Here is a comparison to recent premier Brisbane and Collingwood, the likely Grand Finalists this year... Melbourne: Spargo (172cm), Laurie (179cm - not often in the 22), Bowey (175cm), Chandler (175cm), Sharp (182cm - often a sub) Brisbane: Ah Chee (182cm), Will Ashcroft (182cm), Neale (177cm), Levi Ashcroft (181cm), McCarthy (176cm), Zorko (175cm), Coleman (182cm), Cameron (180cm), Bailey (181cm), Answerth (182cm). Collingwood: Quaynor (180cm), Elliott (177cm), Mitchell (181cm), Josh Daicos (178cm), Schultz (178cm), Hill (175cm). In fact, you'll note, some of the better ball users in the league are sub 180cm. Along with Kozzy, you've missed Viney from our 22, they are both sub 180cm, but we actually have one of the taller best 22s in the game. The problem is less height and more impact on the game. But I'd argue you're directing your ire in the wrong direction as Bowey and Chandler have been great this year, and Sharp has had limited opportunity. You can question Spargo, but at his best, he's best 22 IMV.

I'm surprised by no omission of Fritta. I keep getting it wrong with Fritta and Melky in the same team. I do get the thinking though. Fritta, Melky and Kozzy most likely scorers, Petty will need a big game too. I assume no AJ ultimately, so Petty to play second ruck as well. I would assume Turner will stay back. Hard to know what to expect with this mix.

And then Goody would be rightly lambasted for not setting him up for success by playing him in defence at VFL level and playing him as a forward at the next level. Sestan for Fritta wouldn't have been a good move IMO. But I would have dropped Fritta.

Really liked Robert. RIP. Glad he got to go his own way, as much as you can with cancer.

Here you go, @Lucifers Hero ❤️