Originally Posted by
Raw Toast
Good to read your thoughts DT.
I agree that Eade seems keen to have the team able to play more than one style this year, and reckon he'll implement at least a fall-back option for when our run is stopped, as you've outlined.
I'm also very interested as to how Eade is going to tinker with the 'run and carry' game. In particular are we going to have the forwards lead into space a bit more, and will our midfield be as attacking?
I think the elements of our game-plan that Geelong borrowed so successfully from us was the run from defence, but once they got 60meteres or so from goal, they then kicked to leading half-forwards, whereas we often continued to try and run the ball. I hope we try and lead-up more often, and some of the pre-season reports of Murphy at CHF suggest this might be the case.
Adelaide supporters report that Welsh spent half his game-time this season leading up, and the other half at full-forward, so it'll be interesting to see what Eade does with him. I think he mainly wants him to kick goals and to play a bit like Paul Hudson did for us (ie a very accurate second or third option). In some ways he'll actually be replacing Robbins, in that he'll be leading for the ball, rather than crumbing. This raises the issue of forward defensive pressure which we really need to improve on, and which I've heard Eade is making a priority. Part of the reason we got smashed going the other way was because the ball came out so easily, and I think the planned move of Minson forward is partly about locking the ball in more.
Minson sounds like he'll get an extended run at full-forward (or thereabouts), and won't be leading so much, but rather there for the long ball. I think the minimum hope is that he can play the Morgan role of at least bringing the ball to ground and adding some aggression (but hopefully not too much!). I think his marking can improve but I've generally been an optimist with Minson, and he was drafted as a forward. He might also help protect Johnson a bit.
So if Minson spends almost all his time as a forward (rucking in the forward line but with us playing two other rucks), then that might mean the other forwards will be leading a bit more.
I'm not that sure how much our midfield set-up and attitude will change. Clearly we want it to be an attacking strength, but it will be interesting to see if midfield coach Leon Cameron has a bit of a defensive mindset as well, having coached the defenders last year. Hudson quickly becomes one of our most important players because if we can improve our contested work and clearences then we don't need to take as many risks going forward. I think DT implied as much when he said we might start locking the ball in more rather than trying to run it at every opportunity.
Personally I hope (and think) we'll continue to generally play an attractive style of footy, but one that is more sustainable and that doesn't leave us so exposed going the other way. Geelong certainly showed that such a style is possible.