Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

[comrade]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

On AFL Insider last night they discussed how the game has changed over the past few years and it's now become an 'outside' game. What really stood out was that the top 4 teams at present are all in the bottom 5 for contested possessions, but their kicking efficiency and goals from turnovers are all up near the top.

I know we have focused on winning the contested ball at present, and are becoming quite good at it, but if the current trend continues it may not be a critical stat in footy anymore.

I'd like to see stats for September vs regular H/A games. My gut feeling is 'outside' football might be the new trend during the year but contested footy and clearances are still critical when it comes to winning finals.

Also, I think the AFL Insider guys would find that the top teams are always near the top every year for kicking efficiency and goals from turnovers. Kicking it well and forcing the other team to turn over the ball have always been key to winning football.

If we can continue to win the clearances and contested ball and add quality ball users to our midfield, I think we'll be in good shape. Drafting gun mids and half backs is still our number 1 priority over the next 2 years IMO.

[Greystache]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

I'd like to see stats for September vs regular H/A games. My gut feeling is 'outside' football might be the new trend during the year but contested footy and clearances are still critical when it comes to winning finals.

Also, I think the AFL Insider guys would find that the top teams are always near the top every year for kicking efficiency and goals from turnovers. Kicking it well and forcing the other team to turn over the ball have always been key to winning football.

I was in the process of writing exactly the same thing. I'd be interested to know if this is early season filler citing a trend that's occurring now, or whether the last couple of finals series reflect this too. Free wheeling outside play has won plenty of H&A games over the years, but it nearly always falls apart under the pressure of finals against good teams.

Winning contested footy and clearances has proven to be effective in winning finals, but it's obviously not the only key area. Disposal efficiency and converting on the scoreboard will nearly always make or break a team.

[Bornadog]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

I was in the process of writing exactly the same thing. I'd be interested to know if this is early season filler citing a trend that's occurring now, or whether the last couple of finals series reflect this too. Free wheeling outside play has won plenty of H&A games over the years, but it nearly always falls apart under the pressure of finals against good teams.

Winning contested footy and clearances has proven to be effective in winning finals, but it's obviously not the only key area. Disposal efficiency and converting on the scoreboard will nearly always make or break a team.

I think you will find the Swans actually started this trend last year. I haven't got the figures in front of me but I recall they didnt win the contested ball in the finals.

I think our problem is that we have two or three players in the pack winning the contested ball and no one on the outside to feed it to. Libba, Boyd Cross Smith all in there.

[Greystache]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

I think you will find the Swans actually started this trend last year. I haven't got he figured in front of me but I recall they didnt win the contested balls in the finals.

I think our problem is that we have two or three players in th pack winning the contested ball and no one on the outside to feed it to. Libba, Boyd Cross Smith all in there.

And they were extremely lucky to win the GF, Hawthorn dominated the game but didn't convert in front of goal. Sydney stole it, which proves my point that you still need kicking efficiency both around the ground and in front of goal or you will likely lose. If Hawthorn kicked straight or Sydney were as inaccurate the Hawks would have won by 8 goals.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

I was in the process of writing exactly the same thing. I'd be interested to know if this is early season filler citing a trend that's occurring now, or whether the last couple of finals series reflect this too. Free wheeling outside play has won plenty of H&A games over the years, but it nearly always falls apart under the pressure of finals against good teams.

Winning contested footy and clearances has proven to be effective in winning finals, but it's obviously not the only key area. Disposal efficiency and converting on the scoreboard will nearly always make or break a team.

We also need big players both forward and back that can take a grab. We were hopelessly undermanned against the WCE in defence where Darling Cox and Kennedy reined supreme. We only had Roughead with height in defence and similarly Jones up forward.
The side will look better balanced when the likes of Talia Roberts and Williams come into the team. Cooney was our only midfielder with dash in the West and our lack of pace in the midfield without Griffen is a concern. The development of Hrovat Prudden Hunter Roberts Talia Stringer JJ, Pearce and Macrae becomes critical to our future prospects. The performance against Geelong the previous week was impressive and we should not dwell too much on the aberration against the Eagles, when we simply didn't have the manpower on the day.

[Twodogs]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

How do we address our kicking? Is it done in training or is it something that you just have.

Draft guys who can kick, bit to late to teach them after they've been drafted most of the time.

I disagree. A decent kicking technique can be taught. Sure there are guys who are just great kicks but look at their technique. Head over the ball at the point of it impacting with your foot, dont lean back, dont look at the target you are kicking it to but watch the ball drop instead. These are all pretty basic things but our guys just dont seem to work on these points.


We need more left footers in the side. Most left footers are beautiful kicks of the footy. Look at Hawthorn, from memory they have 14-15 left footers in their best 22.

[Greystache]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

We also need big players both forward and back that can take a grab. We were hopelessly undermanned against the WCE in defence where Darling Cox and Kennedy reined supreme. We only had Roughead with height in defence and similarly Jones up forward.

The side will look better balanced when the likes of Talia Roberts and Williams come into the team. Cooney was our only midfielder with dash in the West and our lack of pace in the midfield without Griffen is a concern. The development of Hrovat Prudden Hunter Roberts Talia Stringer JJ, Pearce and Macrae becomes critical to our future prospects. The performance against Geelong the previous week was impressive and we should not dwell too much on the aberration against the Eagles, when we simply didn't have the manpower on the day.

I agree with you in relation to height both back and forward, and not just height, quality height. It's a shame Talia is injured because I think he could offer at least what Austin and potentially even Markovic can, with the benefit that he has more upside. Roberts should only be another couple of weeks away from coming into calculations, where we decide to play him will be interesting.

Having watched them I'm not sure how much extra pace Pruden, Hunter, and Hrovat will offer at this stage. Hrovat is a bit of an all round type, but Hunter is more a clever ball user, and Prudden an in close ball magnet.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

We need more left footers in the side. Most left footers are beautiful kicks of the footy. Look at Hawthorn, from memory they have 14-15 left footers in their best 22.

Interesting point, we recruited McCrae, Prudden and hunter who are all lefties. I guess Howard is the exception to the rule.

Is it more that left footers just look more natural when they kick? The best kick of a football I've seen is Lindsay Gilbee and he was obviously a right footer.

[Mantis]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

Interesting point, we recruited McCrae, Prudden and hunter who are all lefties. I guess Howard is the exception to the rule.

Where does Clay Smith fit in?

And from yester-year what about Andrew Dunkley... a clasic left footer if there ever was one.

[Bornadog]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

And they were extremely lucky to win the GF, Hawthorn dominated the game but didn't convert in front of goal. Sydney stole it, which proves my point that you still need kicking efficiency both around the ground and in front of goal or you will likely lose. If Hawthorn kicked straight or Sydney were as inaccurate the Hawks would have won by 8 goals.

Your joking aren't you, 8 goals. Another case of if buts and maybes. In the end the best team won.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

I want to see a couple of 70 metre players i.e one who runs 20 and kicks it 50. That's where we are missing out - Motlop, Jetta or Christensen come on over.

[Greystache]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

Your joking aren't you, 8 goals. Another case of if buts and maybes. In the end the best team won.

Hardly, ifs or buts, Sydney were lucky Hawthorn didn't convert. You seriously think Sydney were the better team?

[F'scary]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

On Lloydy: I have a lot of trouble taking anything he says seriously because everytime I see him or hear him I remember his goal kicking routine.

[SlimPickens]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

Where does Clay Smith fit in?

And from yester-year what about Andrew Dunkley... a clasic left footer if there ever was one.

My personal opinion is that people get too caught up in Clay Smiths action and do not focus on the end result. Not saying he is an elite kick by any stretch but he is certainly not our worst.

[Bornadog]

Re: Lloydy on Footy Classifieds last night

Hardly, ifs or buts, Sydney were lucky Hawthorn didn't convert. You seriously think Sydney were the better team?

We are going off topic, but yes. In fact they were the best team all year.