Sharp Axes

[GVGjr]

Re: Sharp Axes

The first thing each week supporters say when we lose is sack Bevo. It is tiresome.

How about some genuine solutions for the remainder of the year?

I hear you. I'm a bit the same with the claims that 'supporters are overrating the list'.
Basically the same list that got us into the 2021 GF less Dunks and Hunter.

Bevo is only a small part of the problem.

[anfo27]

Re: Sharp Axes

The continuity with our defence has been diabolical this year. So while we probably have good enough players to compete if they're all together, lose one, two or three of them and it gets really tough.

I get this & it is a valid excuse but if our defensive woes were only this year then we would all be pointing to this. Its been an issue for a long time though & when we started the year with a healthy back 6 the results were a horror show.

What i struggle with is our defensive tactics seem to be like dropping English back in the Scotty Wynd role or move the ball forward more conservatively so we don't get destroyed on the break. Why wouldn't we be hell bent on trying to develop all our players to be better one on one defenders? I just don't understand how we can be so terrible at defending!

[jeemak]

Re: Sharp Axes

I hear you. I'm a bit the same with the claims that 'supporters are overrating the list'.
Basically the same list that got us into the 2021 GF less Dunks and Hunter.

Bevo is only a small part of the problem.

I think there's more to it than just losing Dunkley and Hunter. For instance there's been a big issue with the deterioration of some of the core elements of our defence (let's say Keath and Duryea) plus the loss of Wood who wasn't great in 2021 but at the same time wasn't bad, and while other lists have improved for different reasons ours has stagnated for different reasons.

Should we have been more aggressive than we were in attempting to address the deterioration? Possibly, but we did bring in Jones and O'Brien and they haven't worked out for different reasons.

When it's all said and done though the list has stagnated for different reasons, and if you're not moving forward you're going backwards in this game. Comparing today to two years ago in footy these days is problematic.

[jeemak]

Re: Sharp Axes

I get this & it is a valid excuse but if our defensive woes were only this year then we would all be pointing to this. Its been an issue for a long time though & when we started the year with a healthy back 6 the results were a horror show.

What i struggle with is our defensive tactics seem to be like dropping English back in the Scotty Wynd role or move the ball forward more conservatively so we don't get destroyed on the break. Why wouldn't we be hell bent on trying to develop all our players to be better one on one defenders? I just don't understand how we can be so terrible at defending!

I think the start of the year was a tactical/ strategic horror show and from all reports the coaching team acknowledged it. We played some good footy and were hard to score against whilst relatively fit afterwards.

Personnel aside, a lot of our defensive woes come from the front half though. There was a really telling stat Angelo P. or maybe GG or someone else I'll have to apologise to in lieu of not naming them posted, about our inability to hold the ball in the forward line after entries on Saturday. GWS were good but we didn't do anything to hold the footy in and the ball just flung out. We couldn't get territory for any period of time and to me that's down to effort as well as set up.

[anfo27]

Re: Sharp Axes

I think the start of the year was a tactical/ strategic horror show and from all reports the coaching team acknowledged it. We played some good footy and were hard to score against whilst relatively fit afterwards.

Personnel aside, a lot of our defensive woes come from the front half though. There was a really telling stat Angelo P. or maybe GG or someone else I'll have to apologise to in lieu of not naming them posted, about our inability to hold the ball in the forward line after entries on Saturday. GWS were good but we didn't do anything to hold the footy in and the ball just flung out. We couldn't get territory for any period of time and to me that's down to effort as well as set up.

Effort is a non negotiable. Why is it that players would compromise effort? I think some players don't believe in the system/tactics the coaches have asked from them.
The comment I think was from Mantis. Clearly we don't have a balanced side. My issue isn't restricted to the defenders but all players who have to defend better with their direct opponent & as a defensive unit.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sharp Axes

I think there's more to it than just losing Dunkley and Hunter. For instance there's been a big issue with the deterioration of some of the core elements of our defence (let's say Keath and Duryea) plus the loss of Wood who wasn't great in 2021 but at the same time wasn't bad, and while other lists have improved for different reasons ours has stagnated for different reasons.

Should we have been more aggressive than we were in attempting to address the deterioration? Possibly, but we did bring in Jones and O'Brien and they haven't worked out for different reasons.

When it's all said and done though the list has stagnated for different reasons, and if you're not moving forward you're going backwards in this game. Comparing today to two years ago in footy these days is problematic.

I agree with what you are saying but the "supporters are overrating the list" theme was being mentioned last year as well which was straight after the GF performance.

I definitely agree that in this competition if clubs aren't moving forward they're effectively moving backwards which is why I was so vocal that we didn't recruit a replacement form Bruce for the 2022 season. We had just lost a player that almost kicked 50 goals in the season and for whatever reason we weren't being mentioned as being in the mix for any decent replacements.

[SonofScray]

Re: Sharp Axes

The club didn't want to be distracted the whole season on whether Bevo leaves next year. With both Richmond and GC looking for a coach then this was spot on. Just imagine the MSM every week talking about whether Bevo leaves.

That was the correct logic, so long as they were prepared to pull the pin this year if needed.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Sharp Axes

Even with Jones I don?t rate our backline. Yes HE is good but that?s it. Others are VFL.
Put it this way, I?d rather Collingwoods backline over ours every day of the week.

I know you won't want to hear this but stat's don't lie as Danjul likes to say. We have the 6th best defence in the league according to points kicked against us on the ladder so you have to rerate it I would respectfully say DG.

[Bornadog]

Re: Sharp Axes

Effort is a non negotiable. Why is it that players would compromise effort? I think some players don't believe in the system/tactics the coaches have asked from them.
The comment I think was from Mantis. Clearly we don't have a balanced side. My issue isn't restricted to the defenders but all players who have to defend better with their direct opponent & as a defensive unit.

I mentioned in another thread the effort of Treloar (or non effort) when he refused to chase a player and the ball travelled from our forward line to theirs for a goal. At least chase but he just stood there.

[Eastdog]

Re: Sharp Axes

And supporters too Sedat. I for one am looking forward to the next 4 weeks with relish starting this Friday night against the Tigers. We are still in it. I will only give up once we are not.

I have similar attitude to you as well B4L. As bad as that loss on Saturday was as I thought we should have won we still are in it and now need to re-group and go again starting on Friday night against the Tigers. We are at Marvel as well so that give us a much better chance of a win and we beat them earlier in the year at the G in the rain.

Our run doesn't seem crazy with the Hawks and Eagles to come and you never know we may be a chance against the Cats as well who are not at their best this season.

[anfo27]

Re: Sharp Axes

I mentioned in another thread the effort of Treloar (or non effort) when he refused to chase a player and the ball travelled from our forward line to theirs for a goal. At least chase but he just stood there.

What do you think? Fitness of the group as a whole? Combination of things?

[Bornadog]

Re: Sharp Axes

What do you think? Fitness of the group as a whole? Combination of things?

Not sure why he did that, but I think it is common for Treloar.

[JanLorMill]

Re: Sharp Axes

The club didn't want to be distracted the whole season on whether Bevo leaves next year. With both Richmond and GC looking for a coach then this was spot on. Just imagine the MSM every week talking about whether Bevo leaves.

Port are second with a coach out of contract at the end of the year. We are now distracted anyway with the sub par performances this season.

[azabob]

Re: Sharp Axes

Comparing today to two years ago in footy these days is problematic.

Why are we still fundamentally going with the same game plan?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Sharp Axes

Why are we still fundamentally going with the same game plan?

Bevo has always stuck with his game plan and consistently refuses to recognise the defensive flaws of his flood your own forward line