Teaching/education vs match day

[Sedat]

I'm a firm believer that the two should not be mutually exclusive pursuits, but they seem to be at the moment. In 26 competitive matches thus far, BMac has really struggled to keep up with his opposition counterparts on game day. Conversely, his gift for repeated learning and education on the wider playing group is a noted strong suit of his and is almost universally acknowledged by successful clubs and players who have previously been under his wing.

With the above in mind, what can we do to shore up for latter so that the former can be more greatly enhanced during match days? I think the recently vacated footy ops role will be crucial in smoothing out discrepancy between the two. Welcome everyone else's thoughts.

[Bornadog]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

The one thing I mentioned last year was that we replaced a very experienced coach with a rookie and gave that rookie no help. We should have put into place an experienced senior assistant to be the right hand man and one that can advise on game day strategy and planning. I don't believe we have the right assistants and we can all see Macca is struggling with this side of the role.

I wrote this in another thread just before you put yours up. I really believe we need a senior coach/mentor for game day. Macca is on the right track with educating players, the type of game plan he wants executed ie contested footy but he is being killed on match day. Last week against Richmond, he made no moves and this week the only move was recognizing Dangerfield was too fast for Lower and putting Picken on him. Mind you, I rate Dangerfield as the best mid in the competition bar Ablett, so very difficult to stop him.

we have some good assistants to help Roughead, Jones etc but for mine there is no one there to help Macca on game day. What do we do? Lets quickly start looking and see who we can get to the club and quick.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I agree they made a massive blue in not recognising his lack of game day ability. With that decision (to appoint) already done, obviously he needs help on game day. I honestly don't see them employing someone else, as that would be a tacit admission that they made the wrong choice in the first place (which I don't believe they'll own up to). It's a tricky situation they've got themselves in.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

Is the issue that he needs help or that it is his belief that the moves he is making (or not making) are for the long term benefit of the players through education and experience?

I'm not exactly sure what the right answer is, but i agree with you on some points. There have been times during games where i'm sure a match up isn't working, but Macca seems very reluctant to make any changes during a game.

There certainly is merit to not making changes as much as there is to making some.
Making too many can de-stabilize the team and bring about uncertainty. While making too few could be demoralizing and can also cost games.

Perhaps Macca needs to balance the two slightly more?

[Mantis]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

One very disappointing thing to come out of our last 2 weeks has been our inability to change the way we 'set up' on the run... It 's been pretty obvious to all of this sites posters (and to the coaches judging on comments in mail-outs & press conferences) that our tactics haven't been working, but it seems we are loathe to or unable to do anything about it.

I'm not sure if it's part of the grand plan and we will become a more adaptable team over time, but it's been incredibly frustrating to watch us the last 2 weeks.... I guess I'm lucky I have watched us after the fact so I already knew it wasn't going to be pleasant.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

We need a Rocket or a Bomber Thompson onside.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

We need a Rocket or a Bomber Thompson onside.

The powers-that-be decided that we don't!

[F'scary]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

We need a Rocket or a Bomber Thompson onside.

Or a Leon Cameron?

[Greystache]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I hear the constant calls for an experienced assistant coach and the examples of Hird/Thompson, Buckley/Eade, Voss/Harvey, Neeld/Craig, but one thing seems to be missed among that.

All of those teams have either stagnated or gone backwards since that structure was introduced. Collingwood were a premiership winning team that had played in consecutive grand finals, last year they were little more than a top 4 also ran who got a consolation win against an interstate team (sounds familiar actually) and look little better this year. Brisbane and Melbourne haven't improved one iota despite a false early dawn for Brisbane. Essendon is debatable, but they made a final in 2009 under Knights which they lost convincingly and that's as far as Hird and Thompson have got them so far too.

McCartney may benefit from a more experienced assistant, but I wouldn't be using any of the current teams as a shining example of that approach working.

[Bornadog]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I hear the constant calls for an experienced assistant coach and the examples of Hird/Thompson, Buckley/Eade, Voss/Harvey, Neeld/Craig, but one thing seems to be missed among that.

All of those teams have either stagnated or gone backwards since that structure was introduced. Collingwood were a premiership winning team that had played in consecutive grand finals, last year they were little more than a top 4 also ran who got a consolation win against an interstate team (sounds familiar actually) and look little better this year. Brisbane and Melbourne haven't improved one iota despite a false early dawn for Brisbane. Essendon is debatable, but they made a final in 2009 under Knights which they lost convincingly and that's as far as Hird and Thompson have got them so far too.

McCartney may benefit from a more experienced assistant, but I wouldn't be using any of the current teams as a shining example of that approach working.

What's your solution, because clearly the coach is struggling on match day?

[F'scary]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I'm going to toss a name into the matchday assistant hat:

Tony Liberatore.

[Twodogs]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I agree they made a massive blue in not recognising his lack of game day ability. With that decision (to appoint) already done, obviously he needs help on game day. I honestly don't see them employing someone else, as that would be a tacit admission that they made the wrong choice in the first place (which I don't believe they'll own up to). It's a tricky situation they've got themselves in.

I understand what you mean but havent the majority of the people who made that decision (Fantasia, Smorgon) departed the club? I dont see that adjusting the coaching set up would reflect badly on the people currently at the club.

[Greystache]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

What's your solution, because clearly the coach is struggling on match day?

I think that an exerienced assistant is a false instant panacea. I've no idea what our match day objective is in relation to players gaining experience vs trying to win the individual position, but the reality is we are a team that will have 10-15 players with less than 50 games for the next year or two, and are getting limited impact from senior players to compensate for that. I don't think there is a solution other than suffer the pain that was inevitable after some short sighted decisions previously. Play the kids, look to bring in some capable experienced players along the way, and turn over the players that aren't up to it.

[Bornadog]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I think that an exerienced assistant is a false instant panacea. I've no idea what our match day objective is in relation to players gaining experience vs trying to win the individual position, but the reality is we are a team that will have 10-15 players with less than 50 games for the next year or two, and are getting limited impact from senior players to compensate for that. I don't think there is a solution other than suffer the pain that was inevitable after some short sighted decisions previously. Play the kids, look to bring in some capable experienced players along the way, and turn over the players that aren't up to it.

Funny thing is Adelaide had less game experience in total than us and also had 11 players with less than 50 games and were in total (average) younger than us. Maybe we just don't have the cattle to be any good.

[DISHLICKERS]

Re: Teaching/education vs match day

I am concerned with match day coaching by Macca. Not sure if its my imagination but he never seems busy in the box, never seems to be on the phone etc.

It makes me think we may have a good educator, assistant, highly respected individual but not a coach who is a tactician and a thinker for 3hours game day.