List Mgmt. Power packed or skill packed for finals.

[jonbe54]

Our die is set for this finals campaign but looking forward (and backward) brings up interesting thoughts.

Commentators and armchair experts rave about skilful teams and rightly so but what about finals time?

When your stars are down or blanketed there is nowhere to hide for a skilful side.

Finals footy is always MUCH more physical.

 

[stormskye]

We haven’t made finals yet.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

We haven’t made finals yet.

Don’t post then.

 

[jonbe54]

We haven’t made finals yet.

If you read my post properly I didn't say we had or that we would.

"Our die is set for this finals campaign"

Neither says we have made it or that I am certain we will make it.

It merely says that our personnel possibilities are set.

 

[The Phantom]

Agree, you need physical teams to win finals.

We have maybe just enough:
JDG
Bruzzy
McCreery
Grundy
Adams
Mihocek

There are others who don’t shirk contests too; Moore, Crisp, Ginnivan, Murphy.

If Grundy and JDG get up, we can stack up.

 

[manicpie]

I think we saw last year with Melbourne, what a skilful team can do. The power team (Bulldogs) couldn't do anything to stop the pure skill Melbourne showed

 

[manicpie]

Agree, you need physical teams to win finals.

We have maybe just enough:
JDG
Bruzzy
McCreery
Grundy
Adams
Mihocek

There are others who don’t shirk contests too; Moore, Crisp, Ginnivan, Murphy.

If Grundy and JDG get up, we can stack up.

Melbourne aren't exactly a physical side, they won on pure brilliance

 

[The Phantom]

I’m speaking finals overall, not just 2021.

Thinking of Lions & Hawks teams who you just knew could hand out and absorb the tough stuff.

Intimidation counts in finals.

 

[jonbe54]

If our own history is anything to go by we, at least, play better with a power side.

1920's / '30's - 1927/28/29/30 then 35/36. Those were our last multi flags eras and corresponded with a team packed with brutal, uncompromising purpose.

1958 underscored this with a Collingwood team that was probably 2 levels below the truly great Melbourne team but we simply got in their faces and never gave them an inch.

1990 we were FAR from favourites but again threw our bodies in relentlessly.

2010 again it was on ball pressure that won the replay.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Players like Murphy mccreery sidebottom adams DeGoey and Grundy will be vital in September for the hardness they bring to the game.

We have a pretty good balance. Don’t think we will be found wanting for power when our two big names are back.

 

[well left]

Players like Murphy mccreery sidebottom adams DeGoey and Grundy will be vital in September for the hardness they bring to the game.

We have a pretty good balance. Don’t think we will be found wanting for power when our two big names are back.

Adams is the best example of this for me.

If we had have gotten over the line in 2018 he’d quite possibly be a Norm Smith Medalist.


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[Timmy from Thomastown]

Adams is the best example of this for me.

If we had have gotten over the line in 2018 he’d quite possibly be a Norm Smith Medalist.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yep that’s the obvious one but I wouldn’t underestimate lesser lights like Murphy to come into their own in finals. It might also affect selection at the fringes…. Johnson over Henry for example.

 

[Dynamics]

It's a damn shame Krueger wont be fit come finals time (if we make it).

Wildly aggressive at the contest and a big boy. Just the type to split a final open.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It's a damn shame Krueger wont be fit come finals time (if we make it).

Wildly aggressive at the contest and a big boy. Just the type to split a final open.

Johnson could provide similar X factor

 

[Dynamics]

Johnson could provide similar X factor

Definitely X factor. Just not the physicality.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Definitely X factor. Just not the physicality.

Reckon he could smash a few packs .

 

[Run n Spread]

Need both but power is priority. Come PF and GF all teams are fired up and there is no lull in the game. Grounds become the size of a postage stamp and the game doesn't open up to a bruise free run a thon like some h and a.
Skills especially goal kicking is always needed but you have to the have the power and physicality to do it under pressure.
Template was dogs and Dee's who got the balance right last September and timed their runs beautifully. Granted dogs fell away but deep in the 3rd looked the winners till dees had that gear (something they haven't recaptured this year fwiw).
Will be interesting guys like Crisp Adams and Degoey will be crucial in the midfield