Snoop Dog
21 May 2008, 13:12
Formline
Pies go into this probably none the wiser about where they are actually at. At first watching the other night it was an ‘ugly’ win. We got smashed in the centre clearances, we let them catch us up a couple of times and we stuttered across the 120min mark!
Whilst Fraser was out, so to was Riewoldt, McGuire, Clarke and Baker from their end so they were clearly more disadvantaged. So all in all I wouldn’t say it was great effort.
By the same token Stokes readily admits his Pussies are not in ripping form at the moment. They have found a way to win in the last few weeks which is a credit to them. They are clearly going much better than us though.
At selection
I think this week is pretty simple. Fraser in and either Wood or Bryan out. Not a massive Bryan fan but on last weeks performance he was probably the better performed. Loved his effort and liked his ability to put himself across the middle and deliver the ball. Should Friday night be slippery or wet I would definitely take him in front of Woods. If dry, probably the other way. So its 50:50 but lean towards Wood being retained because we need to develop him.
Few weeks ago I floated Rocca not playing against the Furries because Scarlett will embarrass him. Notwithstanding I thought he competed really well last week for his first back I would still think about it. Going with a smaller more mobile fwd line would worry the Cats more but the reality is we need Rocca to find a way to be competitive against these blokes as we will want to play them in finals. He stays.
Clearly Cloke, OBree, Johnson and Maxwell would be discussed but they get another week. As much as I would like to see OBree go he is our best centre clearance player when you look at the stats (incredible I know….)
The gameplan – what do we want to see
A contest. We need to go 1:1 with them all over the paddock. We need to stop them running freely from HB via Wojinski and Scarlett and delivering through the corridor. If that means applying some tags in our forward line then lets consider it.
We must win at least 50% of centre clearances and stoppages. Generally we are ok at stoppages but centre clearances we are as good as a mirror is to Jason Akermanis. Burns playing extra minutes in this game will help.
The other thing that has gone missing is our forward defensive pressure. Its nowhere near as good as it was last year. And its not because of our height, last year Rocca and Cloke played fwd and we were much better. Against the Cats this is critical.
Hopefully we will be a bit more like last week to and start to kick it longer rather than go via the flanks all the time. Opposition sides are just picking us off to easily. If you want to go around the flanks you need to be exceptional with your skills – we are not in the top half for skills! I hate saying this but I am just really frustrated with our style at times. The only thing that keeps me ‘bought in’ is that it does suit finals.
Interesting to read Maxy’s views – he thinks the fwds are struggling – could have fooled me, the midfield group (50 inside 50’s last week) are not exactly covering themselves in glory. Scoring 103pts off 50 inside 50’s is pretty good.
Key matchups
Its like asking your missus whether she wants Roses or Daffodils – it doesn’t matter. Roses are betters and so are the ‘hoops’ so you are looking for a 1:1 game and for 11-15 of our players beating their direct opponent. I would run Rhyce or Johno with Ablett. If its Johno he needs to play him closer than he did Harvey who smashed him. The other would go to Bartel. I would let Corey and Pendlebury go head to head although the Cats might want to send the ‘red dunny brush’ to Pendles. If not he will look for Burns. Thomas we need to go against a real player and not a tagger. He aint coping with the pressure of being tagged and playing fwd. He needs to play middle at the least.
The other key matchup is Rocca and Cloke respectively. They need to take contested marks in the fwd 50. This will take an enormous amount of pressure off Davis, Didak and Meddy.
What worrying Mick
A lot. The intensity, the fwd pressure, , the number of inside 50’s, the stoppage work, Rocca/Scarlett and Cloke. He wont be getting a lot of sleep this week.
What's worrying Alistair.
Nothing – I bet he sleeps like a new born baby…………………
Who needs to step up
plenty.....
Lockyer – Last weeks effort was terrible after a month of terrific footy
Maxwell – fumbly, lacking confidence, decision making. None of it he would be thrilled with and he would be his own worst critic. Needs to be the 3rd man up, the general. Big ask, but he is in the leadership group. Also seems to worry more about his team mates form than his own. In saying that, love the bloke so hope he steps up.
Cloke – He needs to step up. He needs to be leading up the ground and thru the corridor and creating pressure. If he is taking the ball at CHF then the Cats will be worried.
Wood – Still need more. Bryan put his hand up last week.
OBree – His improved form and work at the stoppages has seen him have more attention paid. He aint coping well this year and just doesn’t have the intensity I would have thought a senior player should. Personally, I think Burns ‘pantsis him’ in this regard.
The result
Look, the best chance we have is the Cats are due a loss. On form, call it a 7 goal towelling…….then you can look fwd to some easier opponents. Personally, just hoping for a competitive effort and no injuries.
Pies go into this probably none the wiser about where they are actually at. At first watching the other night it was an ‘ugly’ win. We got smashed in the centre clearances, we let them catch us up a couple of times and we stuttered across the 120min mark!
Whilst Fraser was out, so to was Riewoldt, McGuire, Clarke and Baker from their end so they were clearly more disadvantaged. So all in all I wouldn’t say it was great effort.
By the same token Stokes readily admits his Pussies are not in ripping form at the moment. They have found a way to win in the last few weeks which is a credit to them. They are clearly going much better than us though.
At selection
I think this week is pretty simple. Fraser in and either Wood or Bryan out. Not a massive Bryan fan but on last weeks performance he was probably the better performed. Loved his effort and liked his ability to put himself across the middle and deliver the ball. Should Friday night be slippery or wet I would definitely take him in front of Woods. If dry, probably the other way. So its 50:50 but lean towards Wood being retained because we need to develop him.
Few weeks ago I floated Rocca not playing against the Furries because Scarlett will embarrass him. Notwithstanding I thought he competed really well last week for his first back I would still think about it. Going with a smaller more mobile fwd line would worry the Cats more but the reality is we need Rocca to find a way to be competitive against these blokes as we will want to play them in finals. He stays.
Clearly Cloke, OBree, Johnson and Maxwell would be discussed but they get another week. As much as I would like to see OBree go he is our best centre clearance player when you look at the stats (incredible I know….)
The gameplan – what do we want to see
A contest. We need to go 1:1 with them all over the paddock. We need to stop them running freely from HB via Wojinski and Scarlett and delivering through the corridor. If that means applying some tags in our forward line then lets consider it.
We must win at least 50% of centre clearances and stoppages. Generally we are ok at stoppages but centre clearances we are as good as a mirror is to Jason Akermanis. Burns playing extra minutes in this game will help.
The other thing that has gone missing is our forward defensive pressure. Its nowhere near as good as it was last year. And its not because of our height, last year Rocca and Cloke played fwd and we were much better. Against the Cats this is critical.
Hopefully we will be a bit more like last week to and start to kick it longer rather than go via the flanks all the time. Opposition sides are just picking us off to easily. If you want to go around the flanks you need to be exceptional with your skills – we are not in the top half for skills! I hate saying this but I am just really frustrated with our style at times. The only thing that keeps me ‘bought in’ is that it does suit finals.
Interesting to read Maxy’s views – he thinks the fwds are struggling – could have fooled me, the midfield group (50 inside 50’s last week) are not exactly covering themselves in glory. Scoring 103pts off 50 inside 50’s is pretty good.
Key matchups
Its like asking your missus whether she wants Roses or Daffodils – it doesn’t matter. Roses are betters and so are the ‘hoops’ so you are looking for a 1:1 game and for 11-15 of our players beating their direct opponent. I would run Rhyce or Johno with Ablett. If its Johno he needs to play him closer than he did Harvey who smashed him. The other would go to Bartel. I would let Corey and Pendlebury go head to head although the Cats might want to send the ‘red dunny brush’ to Pendles. If not he will look for Burns. Thomas we need to go against a real player and not a tagger. He aint coping with the pressure of being tagged and playing fwd. He needs to play middle at the least.
The other key matchup is Rocca and Cloke respectively. They need to take contested marks in the fwd 50. This will take an enormous amount of pressure off Davis, Didak and Meddy.
What worrying Mick
A lot. The intensity, the fwd pressure, , the number of inside 50’s, the stoppage work, Rocca/Scarlett and Cloke. He wont be getting a lot of sleep this week.
What's worrying Alistair.
Nothing – I bet he sleeps like a new born baby…………………
Who needs to step up
plenty.....
Lockyer – Last weeks effort was terrible after a month of terrific footy
Maxwell – fumbly, lacking confidence, decision making. None of it he would be thrilled with and he would be his own worst critic. Needs to be the 3rd man up, the general. Big ask, but he is in the leadership group. Also seems to worry more about his team mates form than his own. In saying that, love the bloke so hope he steps up.
Cloke – He needs to step up. He needs to be leading up the ground and thru the corridor and creating pressure. If he is taking the ball at CHF then the Cats will be worried.
Wood – Still need more. Bryan put his hand up last week.
OBree – His improved form and work at the stoppages has seen him have more attention paid. He aint coping well this year and just doesn’t have the intensity I would have thought a senior player should. Personally, I think Burns ‘pantsis him’ in this regard.
The result
Look, the best chance we have is the Cats are due a loss. On form, call it a 7 goal towelling…….then you can look fwd to some easier opponents. Personally, just hoping for a competitive effort and no injuries.