Things need to change from the top down

[Grantysghost]

If the ball is entering well it’s going to one of our players. It should be at least a 35% chance he will mark it because he is away from his opponent. Then it should be a shot on goal. If he misses the kick then he mans up next to his opponent.

What I cannot figure out is the last part. At present it is common to see the opposition take the ball all the way into our defensive area without one of our players being within 15metres of them. That’s where I want to see pressure. Our guys trot in to stand the mark. All they are applying pressure to is grass.

Be away from opponent when ball is coming in, be next to opponent when ball is going out. The tv might give a misleading impression but it looks like our game plan has this back to front on our forward line.

Yep agree. Its that pushing up into the face of an already unsure defender (due to good behind the ball structure) with speed and intensity that I want to see. Is it effort based ? Or do we just not have the personnel? West for me is someone that could bring this before a midfield move. I'd have him as a regular.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Wallis, Lloyd and Dale in 1 forward line is a recipe for disaster, IMO. The days of marking mid sized forwards who can't pressure and kick goals in traffic are over.

Look at Richmond, St Kilda, Brisbane, Port. All high scoring teams with a few big guys and a whole bunch of speedy smalls. Our forward line is treacle slow compared to theirs.

I agree we need some speedy smalls to apply pressure. But we don’t have a single player like that on our list so this is the best we’ve got

[CarnTheScray]

Once we get a quick small forward at the club say goodbye to Dale and Lloyd.

[Danjul]

Once we get a quick small forward at the club say goodbye to Dale and Lloyd.

In the last 10 games last year we played 4 talls. English, Naughton, Schache and Trengove. We also played Dale and Lloyd.

We cut back on the frantic stuff and focused on delivery by foot, allowing players up the field to make good position.

What handball we had was used well to players moving into better position.

Result: The best football in years, and some of the games were better than 2016.

So what did the Selectors do for the final?

They omitted Trengove, Then Naughton got injured. Then GWS was too strong, we made no positional moves to protect our play makers. We even helped GWS by putting Bont in the ruck so he became an easy target.

What did we learn? Nothing. We went back to the same game plan that failed in the first half of 2019. Pure genius!

[GVGjr]

Look at Richmond, St Kilda, Brisbane, Port. All high scoring teams with a few big guys and a whole bunch of speedy smalls. Our forward line is treacle slow compared to theirs.

The sides that are performing well all have a couple of tall forwards and some footy smart mid sized forwards around them

We need to stick with Vandermeer who's got a point of difference with some of our other forwards

[comrade]

The sides that are performing well all have a couple of tall forwards and some footy smart mid sized forwards around them

We need to stick with Vandermeer who's got a point of difference with some of our other forwards

Yeah, Vanders has definitely been a bright spot for us this year. Let's hope he doesn't disappear in 2021.

[Danjul]

The sides that are performing well all have a couple of tall forwards and some footy smart mid sized forwards around them

We need to stick with Vandermeer who's got a point of difference with some of our other forwards

Vandermeer is like Richards, only better.

But I think he was given time to learn in the VFL, not sure Richards was.

[Danjul]

Correct me if I’m wrong but when we played the more deliberate game plan in late 2019 ...

Schache. 20 goals
Dale: 20+ goals
Lloyd: 15 goals
Naughton: 12 goals

That’s 70 goals in 10 games.

We don’t need everyone being fast in the forward line. These guys knew where the ball was going and they were good enough to get it.

Now, they have not got a clue about where the ball is heading, and when they get on their own they are ignored. Daniel is the only one who holds the ball long enough to see a good target. The others just handball it away. (Slight exaggeration).

Whose fault?

[The Doctor]

Perhaps it is Chris Grant that needs to go?

Not sure he needs to go but deserves to be in the spotlight I think.

[bornadog]

Not sure he needs to go but deserves to be in the spotlight I think.

I don't understand why?

[comrade]

I don't understand why?

All leaders within the football department should be under the spotlight.

[bornadog]

All leaders within the football department should be under the spotlight.

Sure, but why does he have to go? What is the issue?

[Danjul]

Sure, but why does he have to go? What is the issue?

Nobody needs to go, somebody needs to analyse our performances and utilise what works for us.

And it’s not short and handball.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Yeah, Vanders has definitely been a bright spot for us this year. Let's hope he doesn't disappear in 2021.

....to that place to nowhere where Lewis Young and Brad Lynch are floating.

RocketScience can you bulldogify this Simpson’s gif??

[Mantis]

Second half of last year we had the best defense in the AFL, ie conceded the least goals. I thought with Keath we could boost this, or at least be more consistent

Was that more to do with our midfield dominance or the efforts of our defenders?