binman

We won total clearances last week, meaning we smashed them at stoppages (as we lost the centre square clearances 17-4). This week had one more centre square clearances than them. I don't think they scored a single point from centre square clearance and i think we got two goals. Bick tick They 'won' around the ground stoppages, but as i have pointed out that actually hurt them and helped us. The clearance differential has become a useless stat in of itself, just as hit outs have. It is really only useful in combination with other stats, for example where both team's scoring chains start from and post clearance numbers. For example, if you just looked at the blues round the ground clearance numbers you might conclude that was a positive outcome for them. But if you look at that stat in combination with their scores from clearances (which was bugger all) and our score from defensive intercepts and rebounding you get a completely different picture. And the outcome is a net negative for them. And conversely a net positive for us.

I get that, and totally agree we don't want to give up a clearance differential to the dogs. But the clearance differential is fluid in its importance. Against some teams it doesn't matter. And against some teams it does. And it is worth remembering in this context we have beaten both last years' grand finalists, so the approach stacks up against good teams. Again as Goody noted in his presser he was not overly concerned with the blues winning the clearances because they had an extra and they were just giving it straight back to us. So Goody didn't make a tactical shift. Because their strategy was hurting them and helping us (eg 15 intercept nearly 40 odd points scored from the back half). Goody also noted the game today was one where each team had had different strengths (read different game plans) and their strength is their offensive capacity. He noted we worked to take that away from them and worked to get the game on our terms. Well, them choosing to put an extra at the stoppage helped us get the game on our terms as it is very defensive, as it prioritizes winning the clearance over having an extra player forward of the contest (which we often have). Again, they scored basically nothing from clearances and we scored nearly forty points from intercepts in the back half. So why would Goody respond? But he will respond against the dogs. And he will go into the game with some different tactics. Because like they have every game, they will look to negate the opposition strengths and take advantage of possible weaknesses, just as he did against the tigers with the higher number of handballs we employed. So, for example it is very likely we will set up much less aggressively against the dogs at stoppages and have focus on halving more clearances. Because this will negate one of their key strengths.

I noticed that. A small thing but that's leadership right there. And care. I could not be more impressed with Tracc's maturity and all round demeanor this year. Has become a true leader right before our eyes

Great point. They worked so hard. And that work by them an others means teams can't just switch to break us down and get an easy transition (compare our work rate to our loss against the dogs last year - chalk and cheese) There was one play where Rivers busted a gut to cover the outlet. We ended up winning it back and going back inside 50. Fair play to bartel he pointed the work rate out (hunt might also have been involved?) I absolutely loved Olver's defensive work rate and defensive running today too. I thought that part of his game was critical in the first half. That run down of cripps was something he just wanted doing until this year. First class work rate from Clarry today.

We are not struggling. We are simply not as concerned with winning clearances as were up until about half way of last season. Watch goody's presser and ask if he is a ciach concerned about us losing tge clearance count. We have won 9 straight, by an average of some like 4 or 5 goals. Clearances are not an issue. I'm more worried about a lack of a gun small defender

Sure. But we won't lose clearances to them. And the blues have a pretty good midfield and a pretty good forward line. The dogs beat them last week but they hard too much firepower up until 3 quarter time. We reduced their firepower to a pop gun

Why do you think they do that?

I couldn't go today so had to watch it on the box. I was getting seriously furious with BT. It wasn't just that stupid comment. His vaudeville routine about how quiet went for the whole first half and was replaced by a routine about him not rating us blah blah blah, that the whole team bar bartel joined in on. Pathetic and disrespectful to the club and fans watching On Bartel, i have to say i'm really impressed with him. Actually brings some solid analysis to the role of special comments (eg his comment explaining why the clearance differential was not an issue and the pressure we put on the player trying to kick from the clearance). And i love how he doesn't play along with BT's clowning.

A look in? What on earth are you talking about? We were always in control of that game and we won by 4 goals easing up. They had no chance of winning that game once we came with the right level of pressure. A look in? Sheesh And we won't lose the total clearances to the dogs as they won't put an extra at stoppages to give them half a chance to win one

Disagree. Break even in the centre is fine. I don't think they scored a single point form centre square clearances. And they set up to attack. And as general rule, win around the ground clearances for stoppages. We didn't today but as goody noted in his presser they had an extra at stoppages, hence their 'win' in this stat today. Except it wasn't a win at all. If we wanted to 'win' more all we had to do is match that extra and with our bulls hey presto we 'win' more of those clearances. But, again as Goody noted he was fine with our stoppages because even with an extra at the stoppage their clearance 'wins' were under immense pressure, and so time after time they dumped kicked in to the forward half allowing (parpahrasing goody) 'our boys to go to work' . We had 15 intercept marks in our back half on a wet night, with lever 5 of them. And as a result more than third of our score came from the back. We scored about half of their total score rebounding from the backline. And they scored almost nothing from clearances. Another tactical battle won by goody.

Apologies if this has been posted, but game is on case radio https://www.caseyradio.com.au/shows/vfl-vflw/

Curious.

I feel like I'm in an alternate universe

Wow. You must be so proud. Insults. Great skill.

Particularly one as spectacularly ugly as him

Yes. And breaking even would put us middle if the table would it not? And to be clear none is saying we should lose centre clearances to win - of course we are trying to win clearances. But not as and in of itself As ooze said ee are trying to win more clean clearnces and concede less clean clearances

Yes. But only after getting on a roll at seasons end. Where was the two gf teams on tbst list? And the game has changed a fair bit in 3 years

The point is they are not interested in being near the top of the centre square differential table. Because in order to achieve that we would actually score less and the opposition would score more. As was tbe case for the four years under goody where were near the top of tbst table So net effect is we would lose more games

Ta. I rarely listen to sen live. Just King, leppa ans sometimes Jennings on catch up But was driving. I caught the second half of that, so must have in tbe first half. Will listen to the rest. Jeez they have a lot of ads live. cant stand it

They're good enough. And I think they will if we dont bring our benchmark level of pressure

We should recruit rioli. He and weed would be a perfect combination

How long ago was that spalding? I sometimes listen to that bit on catch up (he's on every Thursday). I don't reallt know why, but he annoys me. But it is quite I getting segment. Leppa does a similar segment on Tuesdays which I prefer. Daisy was on today doing some analysis and was teriific

Too right they did. I am definitely guilty of underestimating them. That said i reckon if we had taken our chances in the second (tracc kozzie, maxy) we might have broken them.

Big out. In addition to these good points, the tactical flexibility he gives us un terms of they use max has been super important this season. So much more than a player who gives max a chop out. Interestingly maxy said in his captain call bit on he usually makes the call when they swap

Lord nev put up some stats earlier in this thread about the tigers centre clearance differential over the last few years. Mid table Mid table will work for us.