Jarrad Grant

[Sedat]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Step 1: Reset the defensive run.

I would keep Murphy back. That is working. I would add Griffen to the defensive mix to give us an extra runner behind the ball. Maybe Hargrave or Wood could fix this (though Wood has not consistently won enough of the ball previously) but given current personnel, Griffen goes to half-back.

Step 2: Move Cooney and Sherman outside the game.

No more centre square work for these two - line them up outside the square and try and increase our run and carry ability through the midfield...Cooney winning the ball at stoppages is not helping us. Stack moving up a line and playing outside is fine with me as well.

Step 3: Move Cross to the half-forward line.

Cross plays high along with Grant with a lead, lead and lead again instruction. Good hands and high endurance levels. And a committed tackler.

Step 4: Strict instruction. No kicks to a one-on-one contest more than 40m from goal - particularly when it comes to fatside kicks.

We kick it over that contest (out of bounds if we have too) and just try and play containment footy.

Step 5: Stick with DJ. Stick with Addison...but they play FORWARD.

Both have shown a willingness to tackle and chase. Stick them where we need tackling and chasing.

That's it. No stylistic changes...a couple of positional changes and go from there. We are not going that bad.

Really good analysis MJP of what would make us infinitely better with essentially the same personnel. We need to maximise the impact and assets of our game-breakers, and that means running half back for Bob and Griff, and outside for Cooney. Just because they can do other roles doesn't mean we sacrifice impact for flexibility. If it all goes awry we can always change things up but let's give these guys the chance to impact on the contest with as much effectiveness as possible.

DFA and DJ in the forward 50 is exactly what our front third needs right now. We need to conjure ugly goals from stoppages by preventing the opposition from waltzing out of our forward 50 unimpeded. Give them their head to really hunt the defenders and make them feel pressured into haphazard delivery, like our defenders are subjected to at the other end of the ground. Let's stop trying to create the aesthetically perfect goals like Arsenal try to do. I want to see plenty of dirty Stoke City style goalmouth scrambles this week!

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Really good analysis MJP of what would make us infinitely better with essentially the same personnel. We need to maximise the impact and assets of our game-breakers, and that means running half back for Bob and Griff, and outside for Cooney. Just because they can do other roles doesn't mean we sacrifice impact for flexibility. If it all goes awry we can always change things up but let's give these guys the chance to impact on the contest with as much effectiveness as possible.

DFA and DJ in the forward 50 is exactly what our front third needs right now. We need to conjure ugly goals from stoppages by preventing the opposition from waltzing out of our forward 50 unimpeded. Give them their head to really hunt the defenders and make them feel pressured into haphazard delivery, like our defenders are subjected to at the other end of the ground. Let's stop trying to create the aesthetically perfect goals like Arsenal try to do. I want to see plenty of dirty Stoke City style goalmouth scrambles this week!

Great analogy Sedat. When I look at the team list, I just see our foward line being too pretty. It needs to be a bit more ugly as you say. Would love to see Picken or Schofield have short burst up front for us. We need some pep up there. http://media1.mm.ticketmaster.com/we...OVAL_TOPV2.JPG

[LostDoggy]

Re: Jarrad Grant

If Dunstall played today Maxwell would be subbed off injured, 5 mintues into the first quarter.

I believe the champions of past eras in general would have adapted to the modern game and still been guns. A Lockett today would still be unstoppable when on song.

Lockett wouldn't have been drafted.

The ball has got to be in our forward line for someone to lay a tackle there.

And when our forwards are outgunned 1-3, allowing two players to run off and blitz out of the F50, with each other as backup — see Maxwell, Shaw & Harry O — who's gonna catch 'em to lay the tackle?

Step 1: Reset the defensive run.

I would keep Murphy back. That is working. I would add Griffen to the defensive mix to give us an extra runner behind the ball. Maybe Hargrave or Wood could fix this (though Wood has not consistently won enough of the ball previously) but given current personnel, Griffen goes to half-back.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. Murphy's future is as the running defender, with odd surprise switches.

Step 2: Move Cooney and Sherman outside the game.

No more centre square work for these two - line them up outside the square and try and increase our run and carry ability through the midfield...Cooney winning the ball at stoppages is not helping us. Stack moving up a line and playing outside is fine with me as well.

Again, spot on.

Step 3: Move Cross to the half-forward line.

Cross plays high along with Grant with a lead, lead and lead again instruction. Good hands and high endurance levels. And a committed tackler.

Step 4: Strict instruction. No kicks to a one-on-one contest more than 40m from goal - particularly when it comes to fatside kicks.

We kick it over that contest (out of bounds if we have too) and just try and play containment footy.

Step 5: Stick with DJ. Stick with Addison...but they play FORWARD.

Both have shown a willingness to tackle and chase. Stick them where we need tackling and chasing.

That's it. No stylistic changes...a couple of positional changes and go from there. We are not going that bad.

Mate, give Rocket your resume and quit your job. You have a calling.

mjp noted that 'The forwards and mids are simply not working hard enough to ensure a contest occurs between 40m and 70m from our attacking goal'

I'll never be able to articulate thoughts about footy quite like mjp can, though I imagine the above problem is down to work rate - which Eade has pointed out is a mindset.

What can the coach do about changing players mindset & priorities?

Ross Lyon can be interesting to listen to (sometimes) and on Monday he was talking about Brendon Goddard and how he 'has to keep stacking up the numbers....it's about consistency of effort'

I think it's up to the guys on the park - I remember the first quarter of the 09 prelim, the pressure we applied was immense

Yeah, was beautiful, that game. Despite the heartbreak at the end, I was more moved by their effort, they played like men inspired. Wish we could get that back.

You've mentioned moving Cross forward before mjp, and I like the idea - he's normally a solid mark overhead, and his kicks can float slowly towards the sticks all they like, as long as they're straight.

While a committed tackler/hard ball winner, would his lack of pace be an issue?

The idea has merit for me

I wouldn't want him inside the 50. Just hovering outside. He's not a forward, never will be. Doesn't like to kick, can't sprint off his man.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Step 1: Reset the defensive run.

I would keep Murphy back. That is working. I would add Griffen to the defensive mix to give us an extra runner behind the ball. Maybe Hargrave or Wood could fix this (though Wood has not consistently won enough of the ball previously) but given current personnel, Griffen goes to half-back.

I agree, Murphy back is working, you know what else is working? Griffen through the midfield. We have Hargrave and Gilbee playing this week, two of the best rebounding defenders of the past few years, if they are both playing out of the back half we won't require the sort of rash decisions that see our best player this year forced out of the position in which he has become our best player.

Step 2: Move Cooney and Sherman outside the game.

No more centre square work for these two - line them up outside the square and try and increase our run and carry ability through the midfield...Cooney winning the ball at stoppages is not helping us. Stack moving up a line and playing outside is fine with me as well.

Adam Cooney's great strengths as a footballer:

1. Ability to hit the ball at pace.
2. Acceleration
3. Core Strength
4. Decision making under pressure

Adam Cooney's perceived strengths with which he continually struggles:

1. Top speed
2. Disposal

Essentially you want him to play a role which will expose two of his deficiencies and hinder at least three of his strengths?

Step 3: Move Cross to the half-forward line.

Cross plays high along with Grant with a lead, lead and lead again instruction. Good hands and high endurance levels. And a committed tackler.

When have you ever seen Daniel Cross take a mark on a lead? He simply doesn't have the pace to play as a leading forward. His overhead marking is great, but he takes such marks when dropping back into space or floating across a pack, indicating he would be far better suited to a role in defense, ala against Hawthorn in the '08 Qualifying final. In regard to his tackling, while it's good in congestion, he is not known to run players down, which is really the type of tackler you need in the forward line.

Step 4: Strict instruction. No kicks to a one-on-one contest more than 40m from goal - particularly when it comes to fatside kicks.

We kick it over that contest (out of bounds if we have too) and just try and play containment footy.

I strongly agree with this.

Step 5: Stick with DJ. Stick with Addison...but they play FORWARD.

Both have shown a willingness to tackle and chase. Stick them where we need tackling and chasing.

Perhaps this could work, but then the more I watch our forward line fail to retain the ball the more I think it's due to unintelligent play than a lack of 'willingness'. Too many players not knowing how to create space or protect the drop of the ball for teammates. In short, the addition of Barry has turned what was once one of the smartest and most cohesive forwardlines in the competition to one which relies on swarming, which is just okay when Barry's actually in the side, but when he's not we rely on Jones to bring the same contest that he does, or try to go back to playing the forward set up we once had to disastrous effect.

[jeemak]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Step 1: Reset the defensive run.

I would keep Murphy back. That is working. I would add Griffen to the defensive mix to give us an extra runner behind the ball. Maybe Hargrave or Wood could fix this (though Wood has not consistently won enough of the ball previously) but given current personnel, Griffen goes to half-back.

If you're going to have Murphy back then I don't think you can have Griffen there as well. We're struggling to get the ball forward quickly from between half back and wing and taking one of the only players in the side likely to provide some drive in that area out of the midfield will only make things worse, especially with the lack of players presenting off half forward. Playing Murphy on a HFF providing that target would allow Griffen to go back though. Would consider getting Gilbee behind the ball as well if Murphy was to go forward.

Step 2: Move Cooney and Sherman outside the game.

Against the Tigers I think we'd be at a huge disadvantage around the contests in terms of pace if we were left with Boyd, Cross, Wallis, Ward and Liberatore as our main centre players. Think round one against Essendon. Also, Cooney is going to get tagged so dragging his man in to the contests will allow us to congest Tigers free flowing movement.

No more centre square work for these two - line them up outside the square and try and increase our run and carry ability through the midfield...Cooney winning the ball at stoppages is not helping us. Stack moving up a line and playing outside is fine with me as well.

Step 3: Move Cross to the half-forward line.

Cross plays high along with Grant with a lead, lead and lead again instruction. Good hands and high endurance levels. And a committed tackler.

I can't see Cross being of any value to the side as a leading half forward. He lacks the pace, the smarts and is too indecisive with the ball if he can't get a quick handball off and his kicking is nothing short of terrible. It's almost the hardest spot on the ground to play amongst the zoning defenders blocking space these days. For mine, Cross needs to be a defensive stopper in the midfield now as he just isn't creative enough to do much else. I'll agree he does have a great set of hands and due to his endurance is able to get back to defense to help out blocking space.

Step 4: Strict instruction. No kicks to a one-on-one contest more than 40m from goal - particularly when it comes to fatside kicks.

Agree. Unless we have dedicated crumbing players in either Picken, Addison or Djekurra storming the loose ball up forward then the ball will rebound easily

We kick it over that contest (out of bounds if we have too) and just try and play containment footy.

Step 5: Stick with DJ. Stick with Addison...but they play FORWARD.

Agree, your following point is spot on.

Both have shown a willingness to tackle and chase. Stick them where we need tackling and chasing.

That's it. No stylistic changes...a couple of positional changes and go from there. We are not going that bad.

I think the main issue with us at the moment is our ball movement. Grant and Jones aren't savvy enough or fit enough to know where to lead on a continual basis and we are desperate for somebody to present from half forward. I can understand you wanting to put Griffen behind the ball as he can dash and gain metres with a penetrating kick (as can Gilbee), but that won't be a lot of use without somebody presenting clearly. I hear a lot that Murphy's body doesn't allow him to play forward for extended periods, and while this is understandable to a point I don't think having him fill that role for us for a couple of weeks when we are desperate should be a problem.

Cooney showed signs of improvement on Saturday afternoon. While he wasn't as effective as he can be he did attempt to take the game on through the middle of the ground and I'm really hoping he can build on that.

[SonofScray]

Re: Jarrad Grant

mjp - bang on the money from where I stand, particularly with getting guys like Cooney and Sherman working hard in outside roles. We've got the quality in the thick of it right now, we need to use their strengths outside.

My other instruction would be for forwards to play more selfishly with the ball in their hands. I.E inside 50 from just about anywhere I'd be encouraging players to have a shot. The way our forward pressure is, maximising the chance of a score with an extra disposal is too risky. You stuff up and that opportunity to score quickly becomes an opposition score. I thought that was here Jones has let himself down a bit.

[Bornadog]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Heard Johnno on League teams tonight saying that Jones and Grant are now coping the better defenders because of injuries to Hall, Higgins and this means its hindering their development.

Agree with all MJP has said although bit worried about losing Griffen to the backline. Cooney has the great ability to get his own ball but then we lose him as an outside runner. He must stay outside and give us that run.

[jeemak]

Re: Jarrad Grant

mjp - bang on the money from where I stand, particularly with getting guys like Cooney and Sherman working hard in outside roles. We've got the quality in the thick of it right now, we need to use their strengths outside.

My other instruction would be for forwards to play more selfishly with the ball in their hands. I.E inside 50 from just about anywhere I'd be encouraging players to have a shot. The way our forward pressure is, maximising the chance of a score with an extra disposal is too risky. You stuff up and that opportunity to score quickly becomes an opposition score. I thought that was here Jones has let himself down a bit.

What do you consider to be an outside role? Receiving the first handball out of a contested situation or the second or third? I understand the thought behind Cooney being a receiving player but part of the reason why he can break a tag and get his hands on the ball is because he is able to get it himself in close losing his marker in traffic in the process. The further you push him away from the contest, the easier it is for him to be marked closely as he is less likely to benefit from a quick block.

[Topdog]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Heard Johnno on League teams tonight saying that Jones and Grant are now coping the better defenders because of injuries to Hall, Higgins and this means its hindering their development.

They are but I would hope it is helping their development rather than hindering it.

[chef]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Lockett wouldn't have been drafted.

Why?

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Jarrad Grant

What do you consider to be an outside role? Receiving the first handball out of a contested situation or the second or third? I understand the thought behind Cooney being a receiving player but part of the reason why he can break a tag and get his hands on the ball is because he is able to get it himself in close losing his marker in traffic in the process. The further you push him away from the contest, the easier it is for him to be marked closely as he is less likely to benefit from a quick block.

Alot of that would have to depend on the opp matchup?

[Dazza]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Where's he at?

Rumours have been floating around he's been locked in the gym.

Any truth to this?

[Greystache]

Re: Jarrad Grant

Where's he at?

Rumours have been floating around he's been locked in the gym.

Any truth to this?

He played 2 weeks ago with Williamstown but didn't do much, he's playing there again this week. Williamstown had the bye last week.

[wb_age]

Re: Jarrad Grant

I'm glad this thread got bumped, after the Darwin game which was easily Grants best game for the year, he was dropped/ommitted with no injury mentioned. Did not Play reserves for weeks, when Bmac was on the couch he very briefly mentioned that we're building Grants body to afl standard.

So I'm interested also, has he been locked away in the gym? Form shouldn't have been an issue after the Darwin game, no injury mentioned, no off field issue mentioned.

Does anybody know, could it be something more?

The curious case that is J Grant..

[Ozza]

Re: Jarrad Grant

I was at the club last week and there was a group doing some specific contested training.

Grant was one of them. Tom Williams also was absolutely rag dolling Panos around. Williams couldn't be that far off by the looks of him.

I'd say Grant has just been doing some very heavy training and weights.