Sharp Axes

[Bornadog]

Re: Sharp Axes

I’d just like to chime in to contest the wind advantage idea which keeps being repeated. As someone there I thought it dropped notably by the end of the day ( last qtr). It was also a strong cross- ground breeze rather than the old fashioned Barkly St howler. Feel it’s been overplayed as a huge advantage to us?

I might be wrong as I don’t pretend to be au fait with tactics, but Lobb into backline isn’t just “ tall body replaces equally tall body.” I thought he looked all at sea and the usual switches our defence do to cover for each other and their chemistry in working that out fell apart which was why there were suddenly Toby- Greene - off - the - chain moments. I don’t know if Naughton would have been better at that but I thought Lobb was noticeably horrible, again had a very good position to see the infamous third qtr. In our last Ballarat game, sitting in the same spot, I had a really good view of how Jones was working in coming off his man to influence contests. He did it really well and the difference with someone who doesn’t play defence was noticeable.

I’m not sure about Plans a and b, I thought it was more plan A depends on the right personnel, and they weren’t there, and putting a different cog in the wheel isn’t that simple. I also noticed how fatigued our guys looked in trying for that ‘one more goal’ and, again, question if it’s the Plan that’s wrong or it’s just being unable to be executed because of fitness. I don’t think we run out games that well actually

Two comments:

1. agree the wind did drop a bit in the last and didn't favour any team, that is why the outer wing was used so the teams can be more conservative when attacking.

2. The lack of fitness (seemingly) was due to being one man down in the rotations. Doesn't sound like much but when it is the guys that run alot (mids), then it will effect them.

[jeemak]

Re: Sharp Axes

It's worse than being one man down because you're actually replacing two players who spend 90% or more TOG.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Sharp Axes

You really think Lobb to backline instead of Naughton made the difference? I don't think so.

I do. I think that if Lobb had been in the forward line we would have been able to rest English forward and I bet he would have clunked at least one mark. Also, Naughton behind the ball gives us an intercepting backman. Lobb was the wrong call.

[JanLorMill]

Re: Sharp Axes

I'm happy enough to debate this one and I don't really have an opinion.

What did Kingsley do to turn things around?

1/. Ward ==> Bont @ Q-time. Successful! Big Tick.
- BUT made pretty much zero difference to contested ball and stoppage numbers...so would appreciate a heads up on what DID happen.
2/. ???

What did Bevo do??

1/. Lobb back to replace the injured Bruce/Keath.
2/. ???

To me, neither coach really moved the magnets around much at all...

I get the 'Bevo should have been more pro-active argument' - I really do. But when you're 2-goals up at 3/4 time and are kicking with the wind - AND have stoppage ascendency...are you SURE you would change it?

I totally get the 'move Bont forward' arguments and the 'Naughton not Lobb' arguments...but I just don't get that this one was won in the coaches box on the day...

I thought we lost basically because we lost the handle on Greene. He was well managed in the first half but something happened where he got out the back way too easily. Not sure it had much to do with losing 2 tall defenders. Excuse my lack of set up football knowledge. They started easily exiting the front of stoppages. They were rebounding well most the game.

[Danjul]

Re: Sharp Axes

We don?t really have a traditional forward line which doesn?t help matters.

We pretty much only have 4 forwards in Naughton, Marra, Lobb and Weightman. The other spots are filled by mids (Smith and Macrae) and players we are trying to fit in ( West & VDM).

When through necessity we move one to defence, two are largely ineffective (Marra and Cody) and the other has his hands full with the best key defender in the game (Naughton) it makes it difficult to score? and we need to generate our scores from elsewhere, which we couldn?t do either.

True but.

Those forwards did not stop stop scoring, they simply did not start scoring. Something was seriously wrong on Saturday.

Except for 2 goals, all our goals came from elsewhere- mids and backline.

[Mantis]

Re: Sharp Axes

True but.

Those forwards did not stop stop scoring, they simply did not start scoring. Something was seriously wrong on Saturday.

Except for 2 goals, all our goals came from elsewhere- mids and backline.

Why do you think they was the case?

Is it as simple as they were matched against good defenders who simply beat their opponents or was it a supply issue?

[Danjul]

Re: Sharp Axes

Why do you think they was the case?

Is it as simple as they were matched against good defenders who simply beat their opponents or was it a supply issue?

I am sure that I read we had over 50 fi inside 50s for 10 goals, 8 of which were by midfielders and defenders.

certainly not a supply issue.

If the GWS defenders were so dominant we should have moved Naughton to a wing, Cleary (a reliable kick) forward and Poulter back. That breaks the mould and puts pressure on GWS to respond. Could they risk Naughton getting back into the game? He is very good at ground level. Do they move the match winning defender out and risk English getting back for a goal.

Not for the first time, we had a big lead and failed to defend it by 1 kick.

[Mantis]

Re: Sharp Axes

I am sure that I read we had over 50 fi inside 50s for 10 goals, 8 of which were by midfielders and defenders.

certainly not a supply issue.

If the GWS defenders were so dominant we should have moved Naughton to a wing, Cleary (a reliable kick) forward and Poulter back. That breaks the mould and puts pressure on GWS to respond. Could they risk Naughton getting back into the game? He is very good at ground level. Do they move the match winning defender out and risk English getting back for a goal.

Not for the first time, we had a big lead and failed to defend it by 1 kick.

I’m open to ideas, but throwing the magnets around as suggested is akin to throwing darts at a dartboard whilst blindfolded.

How could Cleary in his 1st game for the year be effective in a role he’s never played in? Surely if you wanted to go down this path that Dale would be the option.

[ReLoad]

Re: Sharp Axes

I really hope this comes back to bite me, but we seriously need a coaching change, and id go so far as to say it will have a near immediate impact. We need a new coach who is able to communicate and lead in a different way/style.

We're on a massive plateau with the obvious gains of younger players maturing completely offset with the older players dropping off.

Change needs to happen, Bevo will go down as our God who delivered us to the promised land, but its now at a point where we need to change to see us have another crack at the mountain.

Personally Id love to see us onboard a supreme tactician. (aka like we had with rocket) whether that's in the main capacity or as a senior assistant.

[Danjul]

Re: Sharp Axes

I?m open to ideas, but throwing the magnets around as suggested is akin to throwing darts at a dartboard whilst blindfolded.

How could Cleary in his 1st game for the year be effective in a role he?s never played in? Surely if you wanted to go down this path that Dale would be the option.

Not at all. Dale was having a standout game. One of our best. You do not risk damaging the best parts of your team in order to activate a weak component. The emphasis is getting Naughton into play.

Cleary is mobile and good under pressure, and vastly more experienced than JOD who was brought from nowhere into the forward line. So it is not a new tactic He didn?t have to be effective but might have been able to get a couple of kicks (at goal).

We put Lobb somewhere he has never played before. And he did not have any relevant (mobility and ground ball) skills. I would expect Lobb to do worse on the backline than Cleary forward. And people here have commented that Lobb wasn?t looking too bad where he was.

I could be wrong but GWS wasn?t using forward height as one of their aces.

Poulter had more experience, has played on the back line and wasn?t doing a lot, his weakest game so far.

So the moves could have generated 1 extra goal.

[josie]

Re: Sharp Axes

I really hope this comes back to bite me, but we seriously need a coaching change, and id go so far as to say it will have a near immediate impact. We need a new coach who is able to communicate and lead in a different way/style.

We're on a massive plateau with the obvious gains of younger players maturing completely offset with the older players dropping off.

Change needs to happen, Bevo will go down as our God who delivered us to the promised land, but its now at a point where we need to change to see us have another crack at the mountain.

Personally Id love to see us onboard a supreme tactician. (aka like we had with rocket) whether that's in the main capacity or as a senior assistant.

I’m torn - between exactly what you’ve said ReLoad, or a clean sweep of all coaching positions except Bevo including having a senior experienced advisor (I understand we didn’t replace the “coaching overseeing” role I believe Maple fulfilled, rather the club spilt some but not possibly all of his responsibilities across 3 people). The senior advisor role I’m envisaging is what Richmond and Melbourne and possibly other sides have/had in place. And if Bevo resists and does not want it then he might resign. Plus new fitness and conditioning people. I just cannot see Bevo turning this around next year and if he does turn it around this year (and/or next year if no changes to coaching set up) I’d be super happy to have egg on my face.

[Bornadog]

Re: Sharp Axes

I’m torn - between exactly what you’ve said ReLoad, or a clean sweep of all coaching positions except Bevo including having a senior experienced advisor (I understand we didn’t replace the “coaching overseeing” role I believe Maple fulfilled, rather the club spilt some but not possibly all of his responsibilities across 3 people). The senior advisor role I’m envisaging is what Richmond and Melbourne and possibly other sides have/had in place. And if Bevo resists and does not want it then he might resign. Plus new fitness and conditioning people. I just cannot see Bevo turning this around next year and if he does turn it around this year (and/or next year if no changes to coaching set up) I’d be super happy to have egg on my face.

Brendon Lade is pretty Senior and was touted as a senior coach for a few clubs but just missed out.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Sharp Axes

I’m torn - between exactly what you’ve said ReLoad, or a clean sweep of all coaching positions except Bevo including having a senior experienced advisor (I understand we didn’t replace the “coaching overseeing” role I believe Maple fulfilled, rather the club spilt some but not possibly all of his responsibilities across 3 people). The senior advisor role I’m envisaging is what Richmond and Melbourne and possibly other sides have/had in place. And if Bevo resists and does not want it then he might resign. Plus new fitness and conditioning people. I just cannot see Bevo turning this around next year and if he does turn it around this year (and/or next year if no changes to coaching set up) I’d be super happy to have egg on my face.

I really don't see how changing all the assistants could help.

We have brought in a new experienced assistant this year (Lade) and we still have the same issues.

The change we need is head coach.

[josie]

Re: Sharp Axes

Brendon Lade is pretty Senior and was touted as a senior coach for a few clubs but just missed out.

The senior advisor position I would like to see is someone who does not report directly to Bevo but does work closely with him. It’s someone who can look at how cohesive and effective all the coaches are, incl. VFL. Preferably someone who’s worked at a club who has won a GF recently with a sound reputation, possibly an ex senior coach. I’m not sure Bevo would accept this however I’m not sure we can keep trusting current set-up.

[GVGjr]

Re: Sharp Axes

I’m torn - between exactly what you’ve said ReLoad, or a clean sweep of all coaching positions except Bevo including having a senior experienced advisor (I understand we didn’t replace the “coaching overseeing” role I believe Maple fulfilled, rather the club spilt some but not possibly all of his responsibilities across 3 people). The senior advisor role I’m envisaging is what Richmond and Melbourne and possibly other sides have/had in place. And if Bevo resists and does not want it then he might resign. Plus new fitness and conditioning people. I just cannot see Bevo turning this around next year and if he does turn it around this year (and/or next year if no changes to coaching set up) I’d be super happy to have egg on my face.

It will be interesting to see if there are any changes to the assistant coaches or the footy department set-up at the end of the season.
With speculation that Webb might move back to WA, and I hope he doesn't, and there was some talk that Smith wanted to return to more of a development role focus than being line coach and that he even might be pushed. There is also some talk that Lade has found the things a bit frustrating so there could be a couple of changes but maybe none at all.
Could we even make a call to King to return to us given Hardwick is likely heading to the GC?

There is a bit about the buck stops with Bevo and unless he's listening to the assistants and willing to implement some of their suggestions it's possibly a frustrating job.

Fixing the GM of Football position would be my priority.