Top of the table! Do we....

[SquirrelGrip]

I really like the idea of having English up the corridor, but that also relies on our mids/half-backs/half-forwards/anyone getting to that contest so we are not outnumbered if it hits the ground. I felt like we were consistently outnumbered at ground-level contests against Melbourne, particularly across our half-forward line.

Yes, I think we can all visualise our players being stuck out on the boundary side with the opposition blocking their options, then having our big blonde Tim clunk them in the centre square rather than them having to kick all the way across to the other side of the ground. If he's able to take every contested mark in that position, it would be a thing of beauty. But inherent dangers in going into the centre corridor means that if the ball does go to ground or we are outnumbered, it will mean a quick turnaround and likely scoring opportunity for the opposition.

[Bulldog Joe]

Great post SquirrelGrip. I really hope that we didn't play all of our cards last week.

....

My impression was that we didn't really play any of our cards and just allowed Melbourne to play their game.

While they are trying to force teams wide, I would like to see us lead to the corridor. If Naughton leads up he is so good in the air and recovering a ground ball, I feel he would really make any opposition very wary and change the dynamics of any game.

[Mofra]

Yes, I think we can all visualise our players being stuck out on the boundary side with the opposition blocking their options, then having our big blonde Tim clunk them in the centre square rather than them having to kick all the way across to the other side of the ground. If he's able to take every contested mark in that position, it would be a thing of beauty. But inherent dangers in going into the centre corridor means that if the ball does go to ground or we are outnumbered, it will mean a quick turnaround and likely scoring opportunity for the opposition.

Yes, that is the risk but we were being beaten... so you have to try something.

A very highly rated basketball coach once simplified coaching when you're losing to doing one of two things to change the game - speed it up, or slow it down.
Melbourne forced us to slow the game down from our natural game by defending the corridor, the down the line kick (because of their intercept marking ability with Gawn, May & Lever) and the switch (Brayshaw).
Taking a few chances in the corridor with a tall would force them to change they way they defend the corridor and give us a chance to speed up our ball movement which would make the game far closer tot he way we want to play.

In military terms - they took the initiative and kept it all game.

[comrade]

Yes, that is the risk but we were being beaten... so you have to try something.

A very highly rated basketball coach once simplified coaching when you're losing to doing one of two things to change the game - speed it up, or slow it down.
Melbourne forced us to slow the game down from our natural game by defending the corridor, the down the line kick (because of their intercept marking ability with Gawn, May & Lever) and the switch (Brayshaw).
Taking a few chances in the corridor with a tall would force them to change they way they defend the corridor and give us a chance to speed up our ball movement which would make the game far closer tot he way we want to play.

In military terms - they took the initiative and kept it all game.

It would have only taken one or two good kicks to pierce through the corridor to unsettle Melbourne. As you said, they had the initiative from literally the first bounce and we never looked like taking it back.

[boydogs]

It would have only taken one or two good kicks to pierce through the corridor to unsettle Melbourne. As you said, they had the initiative from literally the first bounce and we never looked like taking it back.

Libba pulled off a couple

[jeemak]

Libba pulled off a couple

They were excellent kicks and really broke open the game. We needed more of that especially exiting defence after the switch.