Starting over

[Ghost Dog]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/starting-over-20120421-1xe4r.html

Matthew Lloyd
April 22, 2012

The longer you go without a win, the more the doubts start to mount. More important than any game style is the team's energy and the will to compete. Both clubs have served up below-par efforts over the first three rounds.

Neeld and McCartney served long apprenticeships under successful coaches Mick Malthouse and Mark Thompson.

They have both brought game styles that are in the mould of their mentors and I think that they are making a big mistake by doing so.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1sinfEugT


McCartney is a no-frills coach who has stripped the Dogs' game plan right back to instil a harder edge in his players based around winning the contested footy and demanding that each individual player just plays their role.

The Dogs look to be precise by hand and foot backward of centre, but go long to the top of the square once in the front half.

Unfortunately for McCartney, there is no Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman or Stevie Johnson at his disposal and as a result the Dogs score a goal from just 17 per cent of their forward entries, which is the worst in the competition. It is hard to comprehend that they are worse than Greater Western Sydney in that area of the ground.

The skill level of the Dogs has been poor for a number of years now and in recent times the recruitment of Clay Smith, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore has added more grunt but not the polish or leg speed that the Dogs desperately require. Robert Murphy spent last Saturday night manning Stephen Milne in the back pocket, which Saints coach Scott Watters would have loved considering Murphy is the only elite ball-user in the Dogs defence. The Dogs need to become less predictable going forward and Murphy needs to be used through the middle of the ground or forward to improve their efficiency.

Liam Jones and Clay Smith lead the Dogs' goalkicking with four goals apiece after three rounds which is a poor return, Sam Fisher and Brendon Goddard of the Saints had a field day last week with the high balls coming in. That's unforgivable against the Saints as playing through their men and the likes of Shaun Higgins and Daniel Giansiracusa would have been a more viable option.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1sinXHcSB

[MrMahatma]

Re: Starting over

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...421-1xe4r.html

Matthew Lloyd
April 22, 2012

The longer you go without a win, the more the doubts start to mount. More important than any game style is the team's energy and the will to compete. Both clubs have served up below-par efforts over the first three rounds.

Neeld and McCartney served long apprenticeships under successful coaches Mick Malthouse and Mark Thompson.

They have both brought game styles that are in the mould of their mentors and I think that they are making a big mistake by doing so.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1sinfEugT


McCartney is a no-frills coach who has stripped the Dogs' game plan right back to instil a harder edge in his players based around winning the contested footy and demanding that each individual player just plays their role.

The Dogs look to be precise by hand and foot backward of centre, but go long to the top of the square once in the front half.

Unfortunately for McCartney, there is no Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman or Stevie Johnson at his disposal and as a result the Dogs score a goal from just 17 per cent of their forward entries, which is the worst in the competition. It is hard to comprehend that they are worse than Greater Western Sydney in that area of the ground.

The skill level of the Dogs has been poor for a number of years now and in recent times the recruitment of Clay Smith, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore has added more grunt but not the polish or leg speed that the Dogs desperately require. Robert Murphy spent last Saturday night manning Stephen Milne in the back pocket, which Saints coach Scott Watters would have loved considering Murphy is the only elite ball-user in the Dogs defence. The Dogs need to become less predictable going forward and Murphy needs to be used through the middle of the ground or forward to improve their efficiency.

Liam Jones and Clay Smith lead the Dogs' goalkicking with four goals apiece after three rounds which is a poor return, Sam Fisher and Brendon Goddard of the Saints had a field day last week with the high balls coming in. That's unforgivable against the Saints as playing through their men and the likes of Shaun Higgins and Daniel Giansiracusa would have been a more viable option.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1sinXHcSB

What's he saying? Change the game plan to suit your cattle, where as we're trying to change the cattle to suit the game plan?

[AndrewP6]

Re: Starting over

What's he saying? Change the game plan to suit your cattle, where as we're trying to change the cattle to suit the game plan?

That's how I read it. IMO hard to argue with most of it.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Starting over

What's he saying? Change the game plan to suit your cattle, where as we're trying to change the cattle to suit the game plan?

I agree with what he is (trying to) say, perhaps not very well worded. I think he is mainly questioning how we deliver the ball forward. The 'game plan' comment is a bit of a bundle job with Melbourne. As poorly as we are going at least some elements of our game plan are positive whereas Melbourne just look terrible and completely confused.

[Maddog37]

Re: Starting over

I think he has unrealistic views about how long it takes for a new coach to impart their own mark on a team. Especially a rookie coach.

[ledge]

Re: Starting over

How bad were Geelong the year before they became good under Thompson? WC under Worsfold last year and they had both coached a few years.
Ratten at Carlton still yet to be proved after many years, your giving some coaches years to come good but our coach gets only 3 games?

[comrade]

Re: Starting over

I wouldn't bother creating a game plan around our cattle. It would take a coaching panel comprising Leigh Matthews, John Kennedy and Norm Smith to craft a winning game plan with a list that is too slow, panics under the slightest pressure and can't kick.

Our cattle are heading to the abattoir. Better to instill a game plan early, flush out the players who aren't suited and get guys in who are. He needs 3 years, minimum. If we're going nowhere, time to reassess.

He just needs to draft some bloody elite kickers.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Starting over

He just needs to draft some bloody elite kickers.

Which makes the decision to draft Clay Smith all the more puzzling.

[ledge]

Re: Starting over

Which makes the decision to draft Clay Smith all the more puzzling.

Not if the coach has only just come on board.
He will draft players he thinks will suit his game plan and build from there.

[Desipura]

Re: Starting over

I wouldn't bother creating a game plan around our cattle. It would take a coaching panel comprising Leigh Matthews, John Kennedy and Norm Smith to craft a winning game plan with a list that is too slow, panics under the slightest pressure and can't kick.

Our cattle are heading to the abattoir. Better to instill a game plan early, flush out the players who aren't suited and get guys in who are. He needs 3 years, minimum. If we're going nowhere, time to reassess.

He just needs to draft some bloody elite kickers.

Your post is 100 per cent spot on! We need to get this draft right otherwise the pain will be longer.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Starting over

Your post is 100 per cent spot on! We need to get this draft right otherwise the pain will be longer.

Assuming we have 3 picks inside the top 25 (lets assume we don't trade an early pick or use one on Lachie Hunter), what would our requirements be in terms of type of players (perhaps as a guide use a current AFL player)?

[Hotdog60]

Re: Starting over

Assuming we have 3 picks inside the top 25 (lets assume we don't trade an early pick or use one on Lachie Hunter), what would our requirements be in terms of type of players (perhaps as a guide use a current AFL player)?

A Cooney without a bung knee.

[Maddog37]

Re: Starting over

A Goddard, an Enright and a Pendlebery (spelling?)

[Dancin' Douggy]

Re: Starting over

I wouldn't bother creating a game plan around our cattle. It would take a coaching panel comprising Leigh Matthews, John Kennedy and Norm Smith to craft a winning game plan with a list that is too slow, panics under the slightest pressure and can't kick.

Our cattle are heading to the abattoir. Better to instill a game plan early, flush out the players who aren't suited and get guys in who are. He needs 3 years, minimum. If we're going nowhere, time to reassess.

He just needs to draft some bloody elite kickers.

Our cattle are stewing steak

[Greystache]

Re: Starting over

2 quick outside midfielders with elite skills and perhaps a key defender.