Ok team, I was shattered after last night, but I agree that we need to adopt a Growth Mindset, inspired by TheBrownDog mature response to last nights devastating loss and also seeing Zorko's attitude in that last quarter.
To that end, I'm wondering if a thread where a long-term strategy of where players should play based on their strengths would be useful. We have a good list of young players who try their guts out but probably aren't polished yet. So let's put them to their strengths / learning roles while they get games under the belt and the tide starts turning.
In particular, I've propose the following:
The forward line
-young group so the finishing/polish isn't there. But let's get the structure right
-I think the 3 talls (Hipwood, McStay, McInerny) + 2 smalls is the go (Cameron, Taylor) - so that we can play a spare man in defence (see Hodge below). Suggest spreading opposition defences out to minimise the impact of the opposition playing a spare man in defence (ie opposition spare man can only go to one contest if the forwards are spread out)
At the centre bounce: the talls should lead up in the middle of the inside 50 incase there is a quick clearance and a mark can be plucked out (what a beautiful sight it was last night) because you'd back our talls against anyone except Richmond really
but if that doesn't eventuate, then spread the forwards out...
In general play - spread out opposition defences: I think we need to pair up 1 tall and 1 small in each wing of the forward 50 and spread opposition defences out. 1 tall to present a lead and 1 small to crumb / rove the pack
I think McInerney+Cameron and McStay+Taylor are the go.
Part of our issue is that our players don't understand each other's movements - but this will come with time. By pairing up players, it will help them work with and read each other better I reckon.
Hipwood: he was a beautiful kick last year and kicked a lot of clutch goals but his kicking for goal this year has deserted him. That's okay - it will come back. Form is temporary - class is permanent.
But until it does come back - let him run around up the field as a lead up marking target. He will beat almost any defender up the ground due to his pace and height. We seem to be breaking down at the next kick from half back where a lot of turnovers happen - Hipwood would be a great lead up target and I reckon his field kicking is pretty good to find the next link up forward.
Christensen: I love his attack on the footy and his tackling pressure. However, his use of the ball is starting to leave scars. Play him as a tagger or as a defensive forward in the forward 50.
Hodge: I really feel for Hodgey as he is trying his heart out to help us but can't match it one-on-one against key forwards as his body isn't up to it. He was all set to retire last year. Also, he spent the last few years for Hawthorn being the loose man in defence. So let's let him do that - if he is the spare man in defence, it takes the pressure off him to match up one on one and it frees him up to set up play and teach the youngsters.
Clearances question: it absolutely tears my heart out that we can win the hitouts but can't get the clearances. That means that the communication between our ruckmen and midfielders is breaking down - how can the opposition midfielders read our ruckmen better than our own midfielders?
Is it worth getting an out of form midfielder (such as Rich or Beams or both) to follow the ruckmen around just to understand each other better?
To that end, I'm wondering if a thread where a long-term strategy of where players should play based on their strengths would be useful. We have a good list of young players who try their guts out but probably aren't polished yet. So let's put them to their strengths / learning roles while they get games under the belt and the tide starts turning.
In particular, I've propose the following:
The forward line
-young group so the finishing/polish isn't there. But let's get the structure right
-I think the 3 talls (Hipwood, McStay, McInerny) + 2 smalls is the go (Cameron, Taylor) - so that we can play a spare man in defence (see Hodge below). Suggest spreading opposition defences out to minimise the impact of the opposition playing a spare man in defence (ie opposition spare man can only go to one contest if the forwards are spread out)
At the centre bounce: the talls should lead up in the middle of the inside 50 incase there is a quick clearance and a mark can be plucked out (what a beautiful sight it was last night) because you'd back our talls against anyone except Richmond really
but if that doesn't eventuate, then spread the forwards out...
In general play - spread out opposition defences: I think we need to pair up 1 tall and 1 small in each wing of the forward 50 and spread opposition defences out. 1 tall to present a lead and 1 small to crumb / rove the pack
I think McInerney+Cameron and McStay+Taylor are the go.
Part of our issue is that our players don't understand each other's movements - but this will come with time. By pairing up players, it will help them work with and read each other better I reckon.
Hipwood: he was a beautiful kick last year and kicked a lot of clutch goals but his kicking for goal this year has deserted him. That's okay - it will come back. Form is temporary - class is permanent.
But until it does come back - let him run around up the field as a lead up marking target. He will beat almost any defender up the ground due to his pace and height. We seem to be breaking down at the next kick from half back where a lot of turnovers happen - Hipwood would be a great lead up target and I reckon his field kicking is pretty good to find the next link up forward.
Christensen: I love his attack on the footy and his tackling pressure. However, his use of the ball is starting to leave scars. Play him as a tagger or as a defensive forward in the forward 50.
Hodge: I really feel for Hodgey as he is trying his heart out to help us but can't match it one-on-one against key forwards as his body isn't up to it. He was all set to retire last year. Also, he spent the last few years for Hawthorn being the loose man in defence. So let's let him do that - if he is the spare man in defence, it takes the pressure off him to match up one on one and it frees him up to set up play and teach the youngsters.
Clearances question: it absolutely tears my heart out that we can win the hitouts but can't get the clearances. That means that the communication between our ruckmen and midfielders is breaking down - how can the opposition midfielders read our ruckmen better than our own midfielders?
Is it worth getting an out of form midfielder (such as Rich or Beams or both) to follow the ruckmen around just to understand each other better?