Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

[DOG GOD]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

Thanks for the reports one and all....looking fwd to the start of the season to see all this put into practice when it matters.

[Bornadog]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

Cameron Mooney was discussing BMac yesterday and said at one stage Bmac was the backline coach and helped mould together the great Geelong backline that they have been known for.

Then he became the midfield coach and we know how great they have been. Mooney had high praise for BMac and said he will be a very good coach.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

I think a not too much can be read into the performance of the younger players in this game. They shouldered a lot of workload the week earlier when some of our more experienced players were rested and I think they went in with a preconceived plan to have limited game time.

All of Cordy, Dahlhaus, Grant, Smith & Wallis played 51, 41, 52, 38 & 46% game time respectively.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

I think a not too much can be read into the performance of the younger players in this game. They shouldered a lot of workload the week earlier when some of our more experienced players were rested and I think they went in with a preconceived plan to have limited game time.

All of Cordy, Dahlhaus, Grant, Smith & Wallis played 51, 41, 52, 38 & 46% game time respectively.

Interesting observation Swooper

[Sedat]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

We won the contested possession count again, 150 to 130. Very good sign but also concerning because we seem to be coughing the ball up too easily after our hard-won gains in at the coalface.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

We won the contested possession count again, 150 to 130. Very good sign but also concerning because we seem to be coughing the ball up too easily after our hard-won gains in at the coalface.

I suppose it's the first area McCartney wanted to improve. I read somewhere he said it was important to "fix the inside" before tending to the "outside".

It makes sense, but it's going to be a painful first year or two.

Thinking back to Rocket and when he first arrived, a similar process was put in place. We added size and increased our fitness base, our defenders were forced to learn to defend by themselves, we put a big emphasis on contested ball, and then around 08-09 we recruited skillful players (eg. Akermanis). We almost got there.

Hopefully McCartney's stepping paths lead us to success, but as we know, it won't be easy and there's no guarantee.

[Bornadog]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

I suppose it's the first area McCartney wanted to improve. I read somewhere he said it was important to "fix the inside" before tending to the "outside".

It makes sense, but it's going to be a painful first year or two.

Thinking back to Rocket and when he first arrived, a similar process was put in place. We added size and increased our fitness base, our defenders were forced to learn to defend by themselves, we put a big emphasis on contested ball, and then around 08-09 we recruited skillful players (eg. Akermanis). We almost got there.

Hopefully McCartney's stepping paths lead us to success, but as we know, it won't be easy and there's no guarantee.

I don't think contested possessions was the problem in the last few years under Rocket, its been the spread from the contest and being able to work around the the forward pressure, or apply the forward pressure.

Have we improved in these araes under BMac........... time will tell

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

I don't think contested possessions was the problem in the last few years under Rocket, its been the spread from the contest and being able to work around the the forward pressure, or apply the forward pressure.

Have we improved in these araes under BMac........... time will tell

Contested possession was a strength in 2009, but not in 2011. We were truly cooked by last season.

We were poor in most areas, so in many ways, we're building from the ground up again. McCartney's starting from the inside, and has said he'll work out -- which isn't a bad idea. Let's just hope it works.

Dalrymple has a huge job in front of him, one of the most important of all.

[Bornadog]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

Contested possession was a strength in 2009, but not in 2011. We were truly cooked by last season.

We were poor in most areas, so in many ways, we're building from the ground up again. McCartney's starting from the inside, and has said he'll work out -- which isn't a bad idea. Let's just hope it works.

Dalrymple has a huge job in front of him, one of the most important of all.

2008, 2009 and 2010 we were second in CP in the AFL. Last year we were mid table, but with 11 new players and all young, plus injuries etc, no wonder.

I guess what I am saying is in the past this has not been our biggest concern, but agree
we need to build up again.

[Ozza]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

When I think about contested possessions I always think about that Hawthorn game that we lost at the G' in 2010 - by less than a goal. We were hard at it all night against a very tough contested team - but we didn't get quality out of the amount of ball we had because we had too many in a the contested ball - and as bornadog suggested previously - not enough players spreading and linking up/providing an option. This really hurt us last year, we seemed flat footed at times. In the North Melbourne game late in the year, they sprinted away from us in waves - and its not all a leg speed issue - its a mindset and awareness issue as well - with guys getting sucked into the ball with the blinkers on.

[stefoid]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

Man, I just looked at the 'advanced' stats on the AFL website.

Wallis only got 3/15 posessions contested, and yet had a game high 5 clangers and an efficiency of 47%. Thats pretty bad, I cant see how we can pick him based on those sorts of numbers.

Compare with Libba who got a game high 14/23 contested possies and a DE of 78% !!

Howard got 6/15 conetsted posseis and 100% disposal efficiency!! Not sure how many risks he was taking with his disposal but 6 cotested means he must have been under some ind of pressure with those at least.

I think Howard deserves a crack at half back for round 1.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

2008, 2009 and 2010 we were second in CP in the AFL. Last year we were mid table, but with 11 new players and all young, plus injuries etc, no wonder.

I guess what I am saying is in the past this has not been our biggest concern, but agree
we need to build up again.

What isn't being discussed is our lack of quality forwards. Our midfield is good and our defence with Lake and Hargrave back is more than adequate. Jones is still learning his craft and hardly stacks up against the likes of Cloke, Franklin, Hawkins and Riewolt. We still haven't been able to replace Barry Hall at FF.

[ledge]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

What isn't being discussed is our lack of quality forwards. Our midfield is good and our defence with Lake and Hargrave back is more than adequate. Jones is still learning his craft and hardly stacks up against the likes of Cloke, Franklin, Hawkins and Riewolt. We still haven't been able to replace Barry Hall at FF.

I think our forwards will work when our mids start delivering properly, our problem is our midfield get it ok but butcher it in delivery.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

I think our forwards will work when our mids start delivering properly, our problem is our midfield get it ok but butcher it in delivery.

I think that's correct. I also think it's fair to add that Jones and Grant don't necessarily put themselves into the right positions enough times through out games yet.

This year will be a massive learning curve for Jones and Grant. Without the bonus of having the experienced Hall beside them, demanding the best defender one or both of these guys at some stage are going to have to step up. Are they capable yet? Will they ever be capable? I don't think either are quite ready, and I have more confidence in Jones' ability to eventually be a succeful key forward than I am with Grant.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Practise Match - Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

We won the contested possession count again, 150 to 130. Very good sign but also concerning because we seem to be coughing the ball up too easily after our hard-won gains in at the coalface.

Wasn't it more we couldn't convert/didn't have a fwd stand up?