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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
I think that is a fantastic well reasoned post TBB. Nice work.Let's try and make this a good discussion, rather than throwing out a few one liners. It might help ease some very early season pain.
What are the things we desperately need to work on? There's a few areas.
Skill Level:
I don't have the statistics, but I am positive that for the last 2-3 years we have been in the bottom four for this stat. It is a disturbing trend; if it does not improve this season, then players and coaches need to be held accountable. In terms of drafting, we need to apply the Hawthorn and Richmond philosophy -- if you can't kick, we won't pick you. Thankfully it seems that our recent batch all have decent skills, but this needs to be a concentrated approach at the draft table for 2-4 years and not just 1.
Apparently it has been a real focus this season that whilst was pleasing to read, clearly was not evident in our first game of 2013. Whilst it is understandable to a degree that the skill level will be down, the errors are consistently coming from the same players. I've always been of the belief that you can't teach skill; you can either hit targets well or you can't. Whilst there are some exceptions to the rule (Jobe Watson), the reality is that Smith/Jong/Boyd/Wallis/Addison/Cross/Talia etc. are never going to be damaging disposers of the ball. At best, they will be average.
My biggest concern is that players who used to have skill, have lost it. Griffen is a prime example of this; I shudder when he has the ball, because it rarely ends up on our chest. He's made an extremely poor habit of bombing the ball long, often to the advantage of the opposition's KPD's. Tonight, Fletcher was given first class service from Griff. Higgins and Murphy are two others who make far more errors than they should, for players of their ability.
End result: there's no way around it. Draft players who can kick, trade those who can't. Before anyone replies with "Howard/Tutt" examples, obviously they need to be able to play too.
Forward Structures:
Last year, we had no structure at all, and more often than not we were out-numbered. Tonight, I lost count how many times we bombed the ball to a 2-on-4, 1-on-3 type scenario. At times, we didn't even have anyone deep in our forward line. I'm not sure if this is a coaching thing or young players getting lost, but it really needs to be changed, and it SHOULDN'T be hard to change. The 'youth' tag line can only last so long, at some point they have to start applying what they supposedly learn ... or they aren't played.
End result: much the same as above. If they aren't learning and improving, don't play them. Cordy is the main one I'm looking at, but ditto Grant. It might mean we have to play Roberts and Stringer before they are ready, but I would rather this than playing guys who have been in the system for 4-6 years (Cordy/Grant) and who produce very little. I understand young guys need a few games to find their feet, but at some point, they need to start showing something. I really hope we don't persist and persist with Cordy & co. if they aren't improving. It also means that come draft time, we need to look at taking a mix of 2-3 tall/medium forwards. At this stage, Jones/Dahlhaus/Dickson are OK whilst Stringer/Hunter/Roberts are young and untried. We desperately need to add 2-3 more to this group, given some (Dahlhaus, Higgins, Stringer? Hunter?) will be part of midfield rotations etc. anyway.
Defensive Structures:
We are a very unaccountable side and this can be attributed to a few aspects such as being an inexperienced side and not having the required fitness/strength all over the ground. Again, though, the expectation of improvement needs to stand strong. I hope in the games that follow we DO NOT play Markovic/Austin over Roughead/Talia/Roberts and possibly Williams if he's playing down there. I think Goodes showed he's going to be a good inclusion down there, Lower I am less convinced about (skill level was as bad as Boyd's) and Young did OK. Morris was pretty damn good on return IMO and will be invaluable for the young defenders that we have in JJ/Pearce etc.
End result: it will take time, but this is a promising area of the ground. We will cop some thrashings and look amateur at times, but there's some solid potential in Talia/Roberts/JJ/Pearce. Obviously Goodes and Lower are stop gap for a few years, whilst Morris won't be around a whole lot longer, so in the next 2 drafts we'll definitely need to add to this group in terms of KPD's and medium defenders.
Conclusion:
We are quite a long way off where we'd like to be. Much depends on our drafting in the next 2-3 years. The early signs from this year's crop sounds good, and Libba/Wallis/Dahlhaus/Smith will be long term players. Our midfield looks OK, albeit it's very reliant on Cooney producing good football. In reality, we need to add more class to this area in the next 1-2 years. I've heard we are developing Macrae on flanks etc. which is fine for his initial development, but we need him to become a genuine mid in a couple of years. It's a difficult job balancing your draft needs, and right now, our biggest area we need to address is our forward half. However, in the next year or two, a classy skilled mid is still required.
Lastly, we need to be ruthless this year. By that, I mean we need to separate those who we think can/will make it from those we think will struggle/won't. It's a very early call, I know, but my faith in Cordy, Howard and Tutt (for example) is non-existent. If they don't show good signs early on when they'll undoubtedly be given opportunities, I hope we "cut our losses" and turn our focus to developing other players. I'm still bewildered that Cordy got a 3 year contract, but whatever.
One of my biggest criticisms in the past has been our refusal to turn over the list quicker. We give players far too many chances to prove they cannot play. Yes, young players need time. But you can usually make an educated guess as to whether a kid will make it after 15-20 games. For example, Jong, Pearce and JJ have had far limited game exposure than Howard and Tutt, but all three have a much better chance of making it than the latter.
Rant over.Comment
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If you kicked five goals and Tom Boyd kicked five goals, Tom Boyd kicked more goals than you.
Formerly gogriffComment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
I was at the match tonight and was a little disappointed too about our skills. It's understandable as we have a lot of youngsters in there but the older players don't have an excuse. Cordy for me should of taken that mark near the boundary against Collingwood. Grant looked alright. How did people rate Brett Goodes game?"Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic"Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
the year i end up with high blood pressure and hate footballBecause you cant beat the boys of the BULLDOG breed!!!!!Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
Think grant done ok today was chasing and laid a nice tackle in the forward 50 to turn the ball over. Tuft was growing in confidence and started running with the ball more. Redbath was not too bad IMO he is a big unit and threw his body around which was good to see for a change.
Think Cordy needs to prove himself this year. Jones Will be ok looks a little more confident having a shot but doesn't get enough of it.
It's only NAB cup round 1 so let's not read too much into it rather then getting some game time and km in the legs before the season proper starts. The. We shall asses where we really are at. Don't forget Carlton lost all 5 games last year in the nab cup but started the season with a bang! Let's hope the older guys start hitting up our targets and just take the game on.. We could suprise a few when on songComment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
Top post mate. I find it hard to argue with any of the points you raised but will touch on this one. One thing I will note is that I've never been comfortable with Griffen's ball use by foot, I think he gets a free ride from criticism at times. Anyway it's not always entirely his fault though. Even when we were strong I always felt that we didn't protect or ball users enough which leads to pressured disposal which then leads to poor disposal. Blocking and sheparding have never been a strength and it's virtually non existent now. Our efficiency would improve a hell of a lot if players are prepared to work harder for each other. Some of the basics of football still go a long way.Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
Great read TBB."Footscray people are incredible people; so humble. I'm just so happy - ecstatic"Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
They do, it was hot & sticky and round 1 of the NAB cup. But I can't recall a worse display.
He was good, for the sake of balance I thought Goodes, Smith, Young, Lower & Gia played well, and 4 of those are young or new recruits which is a good sign. We're lamenting Boyd & Griff as much as anyone, it's obvious the skills across the group need work as opposed to our newbies being duds.If you kicked five goals and Tom Boyd kicked five goals, Tom Boyd kicked more goals than you.
Formerly gogriffComment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
Good post TBB.
I agree that Griff's ball use by foot has become second rate, and it really shows that under the extreme pressure (as he's been subjected to since Cooney's injury issues) a poor technique becomes exposed. I remember seeing that game where he got 556 touches in the first half last year, and thinking he's not using them well enough. Part of it is the crowding that happens to accumulators and game breakers these days, but it stood out for me as an area he needs to focus on.
With respect to Howard and Tutt, I can't disagree with you more. The former had a wrecked first season on our list, though he played some excellent football last year for us where he gathered a lot of the ball, was tough, and kicked goals. Sure he has his positioning issues when in defense, but no player is perfect and he was always going to take along time to develop. It's been acknowledged by pretty much everyone at the club, since he arrived there. As for Tutt, he's not played enough football. He looks fit, and that's a good start coming off a horror year. I don't think I can remember too many Bulldogs using the ball as well as he did in his debut game. He needs to consolidate and be given a chance to put his best foot forward.
Cordy was given a three year deal because he's been hampered by injury at the start of his career and is significanty under developed. It's going to be a tough gig for him this year, as his support is suffering from the same crap delivery he is, and they are also in a development stage of their careers. If anyone is suffering from our poor drafting of forwards in recent years, it's him (and possibly Grant).TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
Great post TBB.I will never see #16 the same!!Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
When we finish the pre-season (end of March) and play our first few REAL games, then I will put down my thoughts. How anyone can draw any conclusions from a couple of practise quarters is beyond me.FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Don't piss off old people
The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...Comment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
I think you can draw quite a lot of conclusions from individual players in the NAB.
How they recovered from Injury
If they have improved their ability to hit targets or take a mark.
If they have improved their intensity.You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― EpicurusComment
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Re: WB 2013 its gunna be...
I'm in agreeance to TBB on this one. Both players HAVE to perform this season or that's it. We can't afford to hang onto players just that little bit longer because they may turn out OK we've got to cut our losses and continue to turn the list over. I don't expect to see either player with us next season, as always I hope to get egg on my face because of this comment and hope both prove me wrong.
I'm patient with Cordy. He was always going to be a long term project and as you said the injuries suffered early on have put him well behind. He missed close to 2 years of football which I think a lot forget about. I can't deny that I still get concerned when I see him play at AFL level though. There is a lot of work to be done.Comment
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