My observation's

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: My observation's

The Sundance kid has hit the nail on the head

All the swans coaching staff were in attendance watching us last Friday

[Missing Dog]

Re: My observation's

By Ben Broad 1:45 PM Wed 04 March, 2009

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says 'zoning' could be here to stay

INCREASINGLY concerned by the growing trend of the rolling zone, Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade could seek a meeting with the League's lawmakers to table his ideas on how the game can overcome "ugly football".

This year's pre-season matches have been dominated by teams employing full-ground zones, similar to the one used by Hawthorn in its run to the 2008 premiership.

Eade believes the defensive tactic spells an issue for the game.

"I must admit I get concerned when we have more possessions, more handballs, less inside 50s and less goals," he said after training at Whitten Oval on Wednesday morning.

"That’s a worrying trend as a lover of the game. That has nothing to do with the Western Bulldogs or coaching a team, this is where the game’s headed."

His concern is strengthened by the belief it is no passing fad.

"Flooding's been in now for 10 to 13 years … and I always thought that was going to evolve. It has, but I’ve got concerns that I don’t think this will evolve.

"I think it may be stuck with us for a while."

Last week Eade described his side's NAB Challenge match against St Kilda as one of the worst he had ever seen.

While lamenting the Dogs' skills in the hot and windy conditions, he admitted the zone was used by both sides.

Eade said all teams were likely to employ the tactic this season, however, he doesn’t believe it's good for football's long-term future.

"I’m more looking at the aesthetics of the game, so that teams who crack it and finish in the top four and average 12 goals a game, is that what we want?" he said.

"I think the game at the moment, the last three or four years, is probably the best it’s ever been.

"[There’s been] a lot of continuous footy, a lot of high speed and at the same time a lot of goals … I just wouldn’t like to see it totally defensive."

If the defensive mindset is retained for the home-and-away rounds, Eade said he had already considered ways to combat it.

"I’ve got an idea on how it could be solved … I don’t know if it’s got any holes in it, it probably has," he said.

"But I’ll talk to some powers that be and put my thoughts down on paper."

He also rejected claims that recently-introduced rule changes had led to the way football was now being played.

"The rule changes have got nothing to do with people implementing zones," he said.

"We could have had no rule changes ever and the zone could still work … so people who say, 'Oh there’s too many rule changes', it’s got nothing to do with the way the footy’s going to be played this year.

"Let’s not confuse and muddy the waters [by saying] that previous rule changes have anything to do with the way footy’s being played at the moment. It’s not."

[Bornadog]

Re: My observation's

We don't want more rules to change the rolling zones because people think its ugly footy. It is just part of the of the game evolving and coaches changing tactics etc. In time coaches will find ways around it.

[soupman]

Re: My observation's

Regarding the rule changes and their impact, I believe they are encouraging flooding.

The rushed behind rule: Means that you can't rush behinds, so you need as much support from teammates in defence so that if you are caught deep in defence and under pressure you have someone other than the goal umpire to pass it too. This means team throw back as many players as possible to help eachother out and prevent this situation.

The play on if you kick it backwards: Means player have less time to think about options, and are under pressure more often. This means teams will try and get more numbers back to try and support eachother, in the form of either protection or options.

The 20m kick: Means teams either have to go long or backwards. The opposition can counter this by setting up zones around any targets 20-45m away, meaning you can't run it through the zone, it can't be chipped through the zone and it can't be bombed long.

These rules all contribute to flooding and zonal football, but for some stupid reason they are being trialled. No wonder its getting uglier.

[Dry Rot]

Re: My observation's

Yeah it's early in this season, real early, but having seen what I have seen I am starting to get concerned about the upcoming season. This rolling zone put's pressure on our foot skills which I am afraid to say are very poor, well at least they have been thus far. Maybe this style will quickly pass, maybe we will be able to move the ball quickly in the regular season, but if this rolling zone is here to stay I am worried that we don't have the player's capable of breaking opposition team's down.

We have been told that the improvement will come from the young player's, and that's probably correct. From our best 22 from last year it is fair to say that Hill, Harbrow (making lot's of mistakes, but not through effort) & Higgins have improved. (Griff probably has too, but we are yet to see it due to him missing a few weeks). From outside the best 22 I have been impressed with Wood, Stack and a few other's who have shown glimpses of things to come. Let's hope they continue to push for selection.

But, what's most concerning to me is the drop off from the senior core. Perhaps I shouldn't even be concerned as the season hasn't even started yet, but the early pre-season form of this group as a whole is worrying. Perhaps the guys I am worried about are behind in their preparation for the upcoming season, perhaps they have little to prove in the pre-season so are just easing their way into it... I guess we will find out in the coming week's/month's.

Now I've seen this first hand.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: My observation's

Still a few weeks away from Round 1, but surely some improvement should of been evident by now. The fact that our skills are still woeful and our forward line dynsfunctional isn't exactly a good sign.

To say we're behind in preparation is making excuses too. Geelong are doing fine, Hawthorn went OK in their first few games.

We are carrying several underdone players which will mean it's going to be a slow start to the season, but I'm not enjoying the continual reports of our dreadful disposal.

[Dry Rot]

Re: My observation's

We are carrying several underdone players which will mean it's going to be a slow start to the season, but I'm not enjoying the continual reports of our dreadful disposal.

It was terrible on every level tonight. Missing targets, turnovers without any pressure, silly decision making - why the **** kick to a Dogs player with 3 Swans on him all the time?

Lucky we didn't really have a forward line*, otherwise they'd be really pissed off with the crap delivery they received.

*It was good to see Lake go forward in the last quarter.

[becmatty]

Re: My observation's

Mantis, I have read many of your postings in the past with interest.

This is a stinky one from you with many over critical assessments and unwarranted negativty. My advice: go watch some cricket and then come back refreshed for the season proper.

[Dry Rot]

Re: My observation's

This is a stinky one from you with many over critical assessments and unwarranted negativty.

I have only seen Dogs v Dons on TV and now Dogs v Swans live.

The observations about poor skills, disposals etc are warranted ATM. The Swans have only had one week's more preparation than us, yet really showed us up. In the first half we couldn't win much ball and when we did, we used it very poorly even without pressure.

Curiously with all our fitness work, the Swans looked a lot fitter too.

[Mantis]

Re: My observation's

Mantis, I have read many of your postings in the past with interest.

This is a stinky one from you with many over critical assessments and unwarranted negativty. My advice: go watch some cricket and then come back refreshed for the season proper.

Sorry you feel that way. Some of my comments may have been a little harsh, but my comments were simply based on what I had observed in our opening hit-outs.

If you would like to follow up with some further discussion please send me a PM as others probably don't want to hear more of my stinky thoughts.

[whythelongface]

Re: My observation's

Geez we are a funny mob - one can tell that we have been starved of any success for years upon years. Are we that downtrodden that we seriously look at 'practice games' as a fair reprensentation of the year ahead. Comments such as:

"I am concerned about the following season"

"The pre-season form from the group is worrying"

"We look like we are in a bit of trouble"

"We have some cause for concern"

"We could be in trouble"

These are just some of the comments that have been posted in this thread about our upcoming season based on observations from these practice matches. Can we please get some perspective of what 'practice matches' really mean!!!

The season is long and I would rather have us peaking when it matters rather than some practice match in the outskirts of Sydney in early March.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: My observation's

These are just some of the comments that have been posted in this thread about our upcoming season based on observations from these practice matches. Can we please get some perspective of what 'practice matches' really mean!!!

The season is long and I would rather have us peaking when it matters rather than some practice match in the outskirts of Sydney in early March.

We've all explained a number of times that YES, we realise they're practice matches and that it's early in the season. Whilst we EXPECT to turn it around, I think you're being downright naive if you don't care how a) the game is being played and b) how we're disposing of the ball/our dysfunctional forward line.

Nobody's pressing alarm buttons, but nobody wants to see a repeat of 2007 and pre-season or not, our disposal and decision making hasn't been up to scratch.

[whythelongface]

Re: My observation's

We've all explained a number of times that YES, we realise they're practice matches and that it's early in the season. Whilst we EXPECT to turn it around, I think you're being downright naive if you don't care how a) the game is being played and b) how we're disposing of the ball/our dysfunctional forward line.

Nobody's pressing alarm buttons, but nobody wants to see a repeat of 2007 and pre-season or not, our disposal and decision making hasn't been up to scratch.

Hardly naive. More an understanding of what practice matches are all about.

At this stage it matters little how the game is being played - as for our dysfunctional forward line we are all aware of our limitations, our strengths and weaknesses - surely practice games are the times to experiment with different setups to see if they do/ don't work. We made the Preliminary Final last year with a so-called 'dysfunctional' forward line. If Eade is looking at changing our setup (with an expectation of taking the next step) then surely the time to experiment is in practice matches leading up to the season proper, rather than experimenting during the season itself.

Honestly you need to have some belief in both the coaching staff as to how they are preparing our side for the season.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: My observation's

Hardly naive. More an understanding of what practice matches are all about.

At this stage it matters little how the game is being played - as for our dysfunctional forward line we are all aware of our limitations, our strengths and weaknesses - surely practice games are the times to experiment with different setups to see if they do/ don't work. We made the Preliminary Final last year with a so-called 'dysfunctional' forward line. If Eade is looking at changing our setup (with an expectation of taking the next step) then surely the time to experiment is in practice matches leading up to the season proper, rather than experimenting during the season itself.

Honestly you need to have some belief in both the coaching staff as to how they are preparing our side for the season.

I am typically the most optimistic of supporters but right now I'm shitting like a big, black Alsatian.

Forget last year, the game has changed completely, and with what I've seen so far we handle the new style Anderson-ball worse than anyone.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: My observation's

I am typically the most optimistic of supporters but right now I'm shitting like a big, black Alsatian.

Forget last year, the game has changed completely, and with what I've seen so far we handle the new style Anderson-ball worse than anyone.

Lulling the rest of the competition into a false sense of security?

Our hard running, hitting targets based game should do ok against Anderson-ball tactics. I'm not pulling the plug just yet, and the fact is we've played a lot of kids and guys who haven't done much on the track and need a hit out.

If we start the year 0-4, I'll start to worry.