3183 Dee

I turned the TV off halfway through the 2Q. Almost as putrid as vs Port and the Dogs - you can tell with Melbourne from the first bounce, what sort of effort you’ll get. There’s no way that we come back from this.

It’s a day for role playing and sticking to the system: working them over methodically and then going over them in the last quarter. Hopefully ?

I’m the same - it’s been great to read and discuss game plans and strategy: I think it also helps that we have identified 2 clear patterns of play, so I find it quite exciting to look out for those. Of course, it’s impossible not to get emotionally involved, but I’ve found that my frustrations are not as intense: even against the Doggies, I was tempered somewhat by trying to read the play. Much better than the Port game, where I switched off at 3QT, took the MFC app off my phone and swore that was it, for ever!

In the Hun today, Clarkson is venting about the draft being so compromised and unfair, that you can’t rebuild a list from it. Interesting for him to be on the other end of a situation, which enabled his team (along with Geelong) to win multiple flags, whilst other teams (including us) were hampered for years with the draft concessions handed to the expansion teams. Our crappy recruitment didn’t help matters, by the way, but the 2020 draft has nothing on what GWS were handed.

Fantastic podcast as usual, guys - keep up the great work.

Quite a tough nut as well.

His work rate is tremendous - the tackle at the end of the 4Q to put Steele off his kick was fantastic. I’ve loved his work - he also looks like he has a lot of fun when he plays.

He was cracking the sh!ts - literally.

Where I come from, that's called the "Sour Apple Quickstep'.

Kicked by Membrey. Happy Birthday, in any case. You never know...

Often, I wish this team would play with the same gut-burning passion and desire that we all have. Today, I’m hoping that they don’t play as flat as we all currently feel ?

Yes - I probably should have said pressure in our forward half.

I agree - the speed usually happens with the 3rd or 4th chain of a movement. If we stifle and pressure the ball in our forward line, it reduces the chance of the quicker players getting their hands on it. Our game plan relies on intense forward pressure - when it’s on, we are very good but when it’s not, we are done.

The sooner we are financially independent, the better. It will put the club in a better position to come out with these arguments. At least Damien Barrett has highlighted the ANB issue in his Sliding Doors this week: https://www.afl.com.au/news/491118/if-you-can-remember-the-old-days-when-the-mcg-used-to-host-games-then

Yeah, but look what he does when he’s there! He must have overseen 7 (?) Premierships at Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond. A friend of mine who has worked with him at 2 of those clubs reckons he is a fantastic guy to work with and for.

On a brighter note, @binman can now officially be a co-host, as his caller status has now succumbed to the Norm Smith Curse. However are we going to appease the ghost of the Red Fox now?

I think you’re right - I had him in as an inclusion, but forgot he was still doing time. I’m a bit ambivalent about ANB, but in a weekend where we saw little-to-no forward pressure, he would be straight back in.

I’d suggest that maybe a combination of the two is the most effective. Quick run and carry/passing through the middle of the ground and then an accurate kick over a shorter distance, either to lead or contest in A50 or to another position around the A50 to set up an opportunity.

Definitely - I think he was well worth the risk. He might not show it this season, but this was all about whether he would even play again. Another pre-season and he could be a fantastic addition.

Thanks for the replies and comments. Further to @Axis of Bob’s point, I believe that we do have a bit of silk in our midfield, in the shape of Petracca and Oliver. Whilst they are not out-and-out silk merchants, they do have a combination of skill and brutality, which makes them invaluable. I see our game plan as needing a spine of this type of player, as well as 100% fast and skilful types and 100% all-out brutes. Langdon has been a great acquisition, but we need another skilful outside mid.

I watched the Champions League final this morning and it prompted me to make a couple of comments regarding our game style, especially after Saturday. Please note that these comments are not based on any statistical research or any other in-depth knowledge - just my own observations and gut feel, as someone who grew up with soccer and fell in love with AFL: The comparison with Klopp and the German system of play is very interesting. Some people have claimed that Goodwin has looked at Klopp’s strategy to form our own game plan. If this is correct, I can see similar patterns emerging in our game, although we are still a little way off. As I see it, the club has addressed the traditional defence set up with the acquisition of May and Lever. After an inconsistent and shaky start, we are starting to see a credible and tight defensive unit being built around these two players. The next keys in the defensive unit are to find ‘wing-backs’ who can transition the ball out of defence successfully and skilfully, whilst still being able to provide a contest. We have been much more successful this year at bringing the ball out, but I don’t think that we have 100% found the right personnel, although I think Rivers is well on his way to being one of these players. Whilst the system looks to be built around a high press and attacking aggression, it is fundamentally important to have a solid defence as, if the high press is breached, there is a certain counter attack. Had it not been for the defensive efforts of Lever and May on Saturday, I believe the Doggies could have scored quite a lot more. Regarding the high press - the key to making this work, is aggressive pressure from the forward line. Against Collingwood, we saw this to great effect - against Footscray, we saw the opposite: if the forward line is not committed/fast enough to put constant pressure on the opponent’s backline, the game plan is negated, essentially meaning that the midfield line must now try to exert defensive pressure on a greater number of players, who have already started to build momentum in their movement forward. This restricts the midfield to concentrating on a negating role first and foremost, and when they do start forward movement, it is almost always from the D50 as they have had to track back so far. However, when the forward line is maintaining great pressure on the opposition defence, the game plan works perfectly: the defence are bullied and harassed into mistakes and turning the ball over in our A50. If they are able to clear the lines, our midfield are waiting to pick up the ball coming out and launch another attack, with quick and precise ball movement (which we have also got better at, this year). Our fitness is also key here: to try and defend against this type of attack is mentally and physically exhausting for an opposition. We saw in the three games prior to Saturday, that by applying pressure for 2.5 quarters, we were able to overrun the opposition for the remainder of the game. I stress that this is only my opinion - if it is correct, then I think that it’s a sustainable game plan, but we are still a couple of players off making it work successfully and continuously. The lack of pressure from the forward line on Saturday was inexcusable - apart from Kozzie and occasionally Spargo, the aggression was non-existent. The Doggies were able to start their transition out of the backline without any hindrance at all, which kills us and some of the attempted tackling was borderline pathetic. Also, it must be noted that Goodwin must accept some of the responsibility for the 3Q capitulation, by not making any tactical change to stymie Bont’s influence. This isn’t a get out for him, but the players must also learn to take initiative todirect things and make changes out on the field - I think back to that ‘Sounds Of The Game’ clip featuring Luke Hodge. Regarding changes for this week: I think TMac has pretty much had it - although with the absence of Jackson, he has had a reprieve, but it will be interesting to see if they swap Mitch Brown in this weekend or maybe stick with Preuss and play a double ruck with Max. Preuss is obviously not a great forward, but does apply pressure, as long as he’s not too gassed. I would stick Jones into that high half forward position as he is often able to lock the ball into our attacking 70-50, same with Viney. I’d be tempted to put Bedford in for Hannan, who just goes missing too much for the return on his upside. I’ve never been a massive fan of ANB, but he definitely brings contest after contest. I’d probably give Harmes a break and bring Rivers in. I’d be interested to hear what others think about my theory - even if it’s a completely opposing viewpoint.

After taking a few deep breaths from yesterday, the key to our game is defensive pressure and this starts with the forward line. If we bring the pressure in our offensive 50-70, we can start to dictate the game. Against the Pies, our forward pressure was immense, resulting in mistakes by the opposition, giving our skilled mids repeated chances with the ball. It basically grinds the opposition down and leaves us to run over them, with our quick play. However, if our forward defensive pressure is off, our game doesn’t work - highlighted yesterday by the Dogs being able to set up out of their D50 as they wished. This, coupled with no-one tagging Bont, was the big difference between the two sides, IMHO. It means that the miss then have to do ALL the defensive work upfield, which limits their ability to set up play. Our forwards need to be far more accountable - Pickett, whilst still quite raw, never stops chasing. We get glimpses with Hannan and Spargo, but the rest are either too slow or spaghetti arm tacklers. I would bring Bedford in this week, probably for Hannan and shift Viney further forward to create pressure, if Jones is not available.

Yep - Doggies looked fresh and comfortable. We looked second rate all game. Midfield beaten easily. Honourable mentions to May and Weideman, but that’s about all. Where was the ferocity and tackling pressure? This team needs to have a kick up the bum to start playing, which is a recipe for disaster.

Garry Lyon again ?

Nervous about this one - still expecting the old Melbourne, resting on their laurels, turning up tripe and getting pantsed. Edited to add: It’s easy to get up for the ‘big’ games, but it’s taking care of the Doggies and the Saints which will ultimately make the difference.