McCartney in the rear vision mirror

[Stefcep]

I'm not wishing to make this about the ex-coach per se. But much of the improvement this year has come from players he had. Boyd has been a revelation down back, Easton not playing third tall has been critical, Grant up the ground is proving important, Roughy looks good as a ruckman, Kobes role has seen him flourish and Picken is showing elite midfield form and not as a back pocket.

Leaving gameplay and style to one side, and player development aside, we have seen staggering results as per above that it seems almost baffling that 6 of our best 12 players this year were essentially playing out of position last year. In an elite and professional environment and highly credentialed coaches, how could that be???

I think there are coaches who build a game plan according to the players abilities, and there are other coaches who force the players to fit the game plan.

[dukedog]

I think there are coaches who build a game plan according to the players abilities, and there are other coaches who force the players to fit the game plan.

that is exactly what happened. Some guys just play footy the way their brains make them play. Hard wired. You can struggle to change players. Especially in pressure acts. Its all instinctive.

[Ozza]

that is exactly what happened. Some guys just play footy the way their brains make them play. Hard wired. You can struggle to change players. Especially in pressure acts. Its all instinctive.

Of course you can change the way they play. Why else is there a troupe of professional coaches at every club?

Its all very well to say that players are freed up, and playing on instinct...but its not really the reality.

Beveridge may have the players playing with better ball movement (generally speaking), but he's also implemented a completely different defensive set up that players had to learn, which they had to be taught (or re-programmed) to implement.

[GVGjr]

I think there are coaches who build a game plan according to the players abilities, and there are other coaches who force the players to fit the game plan.

I'm not so sure the first option is a recipe for success because you aren't necessarily challenging them to become better footballers or footballers in a team structure that competes well against the best side. You will likely get some initial improvement but not sustainable success.

Bevo has challenged the team and the individual to get better and we need to look no further than Matthew Boyd being challenged to become a defender where all of his previous coaches accepted a level of unaccountability from him.
He has also demanded that previously defensive minded players take the game on more and Easton Wood has become one of the best in competition with intercept marks as well as being a candidate for AA selection.

Players have also been challenged to get out of their comfort zone with regards to their skill levels.

Bevo has found the right blend of building on the foundations that Macca set and turned it up to play a more attacking brand of footy.