How to unpick the Dogs:
A. SCORING
I'm pretty sure all sides would be across this recipe by now.
- Don't go all the way back with their high defensive press. Have 2-3 smart players around the centre ready to break the "off-side trap". All need to be mobile, preferably one of them 190cm or more.
- Have 3-4 players ready to move the ball quickly across half-back when the side regains possession. They need to be slick ball handlers.
- Look for the intercept/turnover opportunities - especially when the Dogs try their chip kicks from about half-forward and their forward line is crowded.
- When the (inevitable) turnover eventually comes, move the ball swiftly through the half-back and centre before the Dogs can get back.
- At least one of the forwards to press hard, going goalside of their defender.
- Final delivery: go deep looking for the player out the back. If he's covered already, lower your eyes. They should be outnumbered in their d50 so there will still be a loose target about 30-40m out.
- Kick goal, rinse and repeat
B. STOPPING THE WB FROM SCORING (GOALS)
- Maintain intense pressure on the ball carriers in the midfield so their f50 entries are rushed, long and/or high.
- If it's a choice of marking one of two loose men going forward and one them is Hunter, always mark the other one. Hunter's i50s won't hurt as much and most of them should be easily rebounded.
- Have someone block Naughton when the ball does come in high. He's about the only risk of a mark within range in the corridor. Scragging him is OK too - he only gets an average of about 1 FK a game. Hasn't learned to flop or throw out his arms yet.
- Clog the hot spot with players who can take intercept marks or spoil
- Have a few smalls also clogging up their f50
- Blocking the corridor will force them to come via the boundary making shots harder to convert
- Don't worry too much about them having set shots from marks or frees. Unless it's 20m out straight in front (or it's Dickson or Schache) they are pretty sure to miss.
Agree 100%. Our press worked when we had faster, better one on one players such as Morris, Boyd and Hamling. Its not working at the moment, the worst offender is Cordy. We need to tweak our "high" press. Example was Hipwood's goal in the last quarter. A contest around 70 metres from goal (2 on 2) lose ball falls their way and is kicked to Hipwood with Cordy again stuck in no mans land running back with the flight. Why wasn't he just manning Hipwood up! We are giving up goals like this every week. Soul destroying to all the hard work done by the onballers. Tweaking the press will also free up more space in our own 50 and give Schache and Naughten some space.