DeeSpencer

The press is pretty simple, up to 18 players zoned in strategic locations crowding space with the aim of forcing you into a turnover. They use the advantage that deep in your back 50 you have to kick it forward. Much like defenders have it easier than forwards because they can go 360 degrees with their possession and don't have to put it between 2 sticks. So take a few defence measures: 1. Put a ruckman/key postion player leading to 60m out on a boundary. 2. Put a few backmen, generally those with speed and good skills deep in your defence (ie. man up the zone in close). These players are to be used in case of a quick turnover as well as to link up with the short targets. For us this should be Davey, Tapscott, Grimes, Garland, Strauss, Trengove etc. Not Warnock or Bartram. Then you have 2 options: 1. Load up one area of the ground with players and kick long to it. Generally 60m out on a flank but down the guts is another option. 2. Use the advantage you have, in that your players can run anywhere and in any direction. Make players lead hard into the spaces and kick to them. A couple of well placed kicks even if they are diagonal and you are out to your 50m arc. From there a big long kick might get you over the back of the zone. The other important way to beat the press is to kick out quickly when a quick behind is scored. Right now, due to our injuries, I'm more concerned about our lack of forward pressure (which stems from ONE simple thing which is work rate - of the forwards to be chase and tackle, and of the mids to pick up the men dropping back) than our ability to beat a good press.

In the gun: Morton, Warnock, Bate, Maric, Evans, Newton, Jurrah, Bennell, Petterd OUT: Bate, Morton, Newton, Warnock IN: Scully, Trengove, Gawn, McDonald FB: Macdonald Rivers Frawley HB: Nicholson McDonald Bennell C: Green Moloney Jones HF: Sylvia Watts Evans FF: Maric Jurrah Petterd Foll: Martin Trengove McKenzie Int: Gawn, Gysberts, Jetta, Scully Juice isn't the worst FF, but is horrible in the ruck. Time to give big Max a go. Bate might be a bit unlucky, but I'd rather stick with Petterd and Jurrah. Morton just isn't quiet there yet with his skills or hardness. Back to Casey to really fix it up. Finally, who are we kidding with Warnock. Time to give Tom McDonald a go.

Pretty accurate post I think. Bailey tried to bottle it up early and then swung a few changes in the second half. They didn't work, but there wasn't much more he could. The encouraging this is that the players are still playing for him at this stage.

Who cares. I bet the coaches take all of 2 seconds to do these votes. One thing for sure was that St Kilda's half back line got on top somewhere, so one of the coaches may have been keen on Gwilt. How can we even know it was Bailey who went 3 votes for Martin and/or 1 for vote Gysberts.

Great news. Put him in the VFL and then hopefully he does enough to get through. Scully and Trengove both due to return should put the pressure on a few of our midfielders. Especially up against Carlton I'll be looking forward to seeing what Jones, Moloney, Sylvia, Evans, McKenzie, Gysberts and Jetta can produce.

If Robert Warnock does not play I'd probably be happy to go with Martin and Newton against Hampson and O'Hailpin. Can't really see what bringing in Gawn would achieve. I think we just have to be patient. Also if Rob Warnock does play there is a high likely hood he will play on his brother at some stage of the night.

Have to agree with that. I feel if we get Scully and Trengove back then the tag might move to Sylvia as much as Davey.Until then move him to a forward pocket and get him to focus on off the ball work rate. If he lays a few tackles and takes a good defender (or tags Yarran?) then he's contributing. I don't expect him to be best on ground every week, I just want him to play like a leader. That's what Green is battling to do at the moment, same with Moloney who even in his off weeks keeps attacking the ball. If he plays like a leader this week then he keeps his spot regardless of output.

We all know why Trengove got suspended - because the AFL hates concussions at the moment. But it's now very clear to me that Trengove got found guilty for 2 reasons. 1. The slinging action Any sling action or pile driving action, especially when delivered in 2 motions or with the arms pinged is illegal. See the AFL rules video for this. I've got no issue with this. 2. Unreasonable force Tackles delivered with unreasonable force will be punished. I have no problem with this, however, I will staunchly argue that Trengove's tackle was not delivered with unreasonable force. I will also argue that the resultant injury is not a fair method of measuring force. Either way if penalty fit the crime (ie. reprimand due to good record or at most 1 week) I would not have a major problem with the Trengove decision. The Bartram decision (hopefully) clears this up now, and we don't have to be calling for more suspension when players tackle hard and fair.

They get a fair bit of criticism back on twitter as well. I think it's pretty good, they get more (almost direct) contact with fans. Everyone knows what's going on.

To the post above, pretty much what are you saying is that if Bailey could make the bad kicks better and the players who don't win the ball better at winning that ball then he'd be a better coach. Well thanks for the revelation. This season so far. 1. Bailey has put Tapscott and Davey in the backline to address this need 2. Bailey has attempted to play a collection of small forwards to increase forward pressure 3. Bailey has tried to increase the forward pressure We've twice turned it up half way through games (Hawthorn and North) and once not even rocked up (WCE). But for the rest of the time the problem has been simply not having the cattle. Now good coaches make players better and I don't want to sound like a massive Bailey supporter, but right now there isn't much we can do about it. Let's have a look at Collingwood's best back 6: Tarrant - Frawley: Not much in it when Frawley is at his best Reid - Garland: Both good long kicks who occasionally have a brain fade Maxwell - Rivers: Probably give that one to us Toovey - Bartram: They win this one, but both sides would want minimal touches. O'Brien - Tapscott: Both great long kicks H. Shaw - Grimes: They win this one, but not by much, a lot of Grimes mistakes come under severe pressure

Salopek? Are you related to him, or just love an excuse to watch the SANFL?

Can't believe the love for Selwood. Sure he's good but doesn't the ducking the head crap just kill you? It's within the rules, but I can't see it been within the pure spirit of the game. I respect Judd and he's an amazing footballer to watch at times, but his face is a killer. 1. Bartel - marks, goals, wins contested ball, sensational to watch and a personal favourite. 2. Hayes - his first grand final last year I think is just amazing. Should be shown to all our blokes who aren't putting in (cough Davey cough). 3. J. Riewoldt - Buddy is good, but Riewoldt takes it up a notch. Apologies to Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill, Buddy, Brown, Ablett, Dangerfield, Dusty Martin and Cotchin. Lewis Jetta's run of points last year was also pure gold entertainment wise.

FB: Bartram Warnock Frawley HB: Macdonald Rivers Blease C: Jones Moloney Evans HF: Jetta Watts Green FF: Petterd Gawn Maric Foll: Martin Sylvia Nicholson Int: Jurrah, McKenzie, Gysberts Sub: Davey OUT: Newton - simply not good enough Bate - see Newton Tapscott - Injured IN: Gawn, Blease, Nicholson Davey as the sub is something a bit controversial, but if he's not injured I'm not sure dropping him is the answer. Put him as the sub and bring him on fresh to see if he can get into the game that way. We'll probably be already losing but the freshen up might help. The Judd factor is massive, but I'm liking the idea of bringing in Nicholson for a shot at him. He has the speed and endurance and I think Bartram is needed to play on Garlett.

Another bagging Brock thread. I hope he can find a yard and get it together, he's clearly worked very hard to get in best physical shape so its sad to see him struggle. Why people feel the need to start these threads is beyond me. One thing I believe is Carlton poached a very good coach of ours in Ratten.

He's only in his 4th year. His first 2 were very good. His 3rd started with a hiccup, as did this year. We are going about this the right way by dropping him and working on his deficiencies. Half of this problem was caused by us rushing him back in the 22 straight from injury/not fixing these things last year.Please provide examples of his disgraceful attitude. I haven't heard of any problem with his training or his off field behaviour. His main problems seem to be lack of accountability and lack of hardness on field. These do not necessarily relate to a poor off field attitude.

Big calls are a plenty, but I believe the next 5 or so weeks will make or break Morton's career. He's in the VFL to work on his deficiencies and his article today on MFC website shows that even if he doesn't agree with them he at least understands the reasons for his demotion. He seemed to improve from week 1 in the VFL to week 2 in the VFL which is promising. If he continues to improve his form and his game style then he'll be back in no time and better for it in the long run.

How about the Grant Thomas rotating skippers theory. Start with Grimes, then Trengove, then Scully over the next few years. Is it crazy, or is it a way of achieving something instead of picking another sub par captain.

Bartram on Milne thanks. But I've got no problem if Tapscott cleans him up.

Anyone know what Jurrah did? I don't want to bring McKenzie back too early, but if he plays well then he could be used as the sub.

Out: Bail, Garland, Dunn, Wonaeamirri As for the In's I think they'll come out of Rivers, Macdonald, Blease, Strauss, McDonald, Evans, Morton, Nicholson and Bate. Possibly 8 of our best 22 out next week. Ouch.

If Martin is injured but Rivers is fit I'd go with a Warnock/Newton combination. Not sure what Warnock can do in the ruck but at least he could defend a big ruckman around the ground.

Was very good in the midfield. His work rate was excellent. He doesn't have lightening speed but unlike Benell who's spot he took he seems to find the footy. Good luck to Maric lets hope he kicks on.

Point 2 was pleasing. Point 1 was the one that really made the difference. The tackling, work rate and desperation to win the ball was wonderful. Should also add point 3 - we played a horrible opposition.

Firstly there is no such thing as elite without the support! If you are elite (Judd, Ablett, Pavlich) you can do it with out support. Sylvia at the moment is a classic front runner. It's not neccessarily a horrible thing but he plays he's best footy in a side that has others around him to do some of his running. I was hoping this year he found consistent form like late last year and went up a gear. At the moment it appears he hasn't.

Can Davey defend one on one? Would any good forward continue to drag him deep and lower his possession count more? I'd prefer him starting on the wing/half forward and running up and down the corridor.