Ways The Team Can Improve For Season 2020

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i must have been watching another game then

we were easily good enough to win that game, with Hawkins absolute certainties
A 40 point turnaround in a half of footy suggests nowhere near it really.
 
Jun 5, 2007
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Yes. Both venerable servants, but now clogging the list and slowing development of upcomers. Clarkson would have moved both of them on.
Another reactionary move which shows nothing has changed...forward vision clouded by the increasingly opaque ‘premiership window’
Gaz is better than most players currently on most lists. He just needs to be managed better so he is cherry ripe at the end.
 

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AM

The standard you walk past is the one you accept
Aug 18, 2006
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With Josh Walker getting axed from Lions, I would love to see him rookie-listed at the Cats if Walker is open to it. Still only 27 and good depth at either end.
Bit surprised by the axing. However, I doubt he'd be in our plans. Reckon he could earn more playing for one of the non AFL clubs in Queensland than as a rookie.
 
A.Can we do it at appropriate times for a full game,
B.are we fit enough?
A. Have not seen a 4Q effort like that, but then, no team is likely capable of that. Momentum swings are always going to occur.
B. Definitely not on evidence. Time will tell.
 
With Josh Walker getting axed from Lions, I would love to see him rookie-listed at the Cats if Walker is open to it. Still only 27 and good depth at either end.
No way for me. He has very little going for him apart from his pedigree.
 

LifeSpan-Void

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Jun 7, 2005
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With Josh Walker getting axed from Lions, I would love to see him rookie-listed at the Cats if Walker is open to it. Still only 27 and good depth at either end.
Beast of an athlete, but if he was going to make it as a player he would have really found his niche at Brisbane while they weren’t a threat for a flag. To play 11 games in 2019 but not impressing anyone enough to keep his spot... I’d say he’s probably done. I would even consider Billy Longer over him now for a spot, assuming he could reclaim any semblance of fitness and form.
 
Mar 14, 2009
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We need to fix the obvious issue of a backline that is unable to consistently execute basic kicking skills. Any semblance of rebound is wishful thinking based on the current coaching mindset of team defence equating to "safe" kicks along the wings to a contest and hopeful stoppage.

Playing all of Bews, Blicavs and Kolo on the last defensive line will not alleviate the problem. This triumvirate aren't at league level when it comes to disposal.
 

BotsMaster

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We need to fix the obvious issue of a backline that is unable to consistently execute basic kicking skills. Any semblance of rebound is wishful thinking based on the current coaching mindset of team defence equating to "safe" kicks along the wings to a contest and hopeful stoppage.

Playing all of Bews, Blicavs and Kolo on the last defensive line will not alleviate the problem. This triumvirate aren't at league level when it comes to disposal.
Could have sworn we had the best defense in the AFL :think:
 

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Max Milburn

Norm Smith Medallist
Aug 10, 2018
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We need to fix the obvious issue of a backline that is unable to consistently execute basic kicking skills. Any semblance of rebound is wishful thinking based on the current coaching mindset of team defence equating to "safe" kicks along the wings to a contest and hopeful stoppage.

Playing all of Bews, Blicavs and Kolo on the last defensive line will not alleviate the problem. This triumvirate aren't at league level when it comes to disposal.
Yeah, nah.
Average effective disposals in 2019
Blicavs - 82.44%
Kolo - 78.00%
Bews - 72.09%

As a comparison, G.Ablett was 67.43%
 
Aug 8, 2007
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Yeah, nah.
Average effective disposals in 2019
Blicavs - 82.44%
Kolo - 78.00%
Bews - 72.09%

As a comparison, G.Ablett was 67.43%
Because part of our strategy is for our backmen to chip it around in the back half for an eternity before doing anything with it. It's easy to get a good DE when you're kicking the ball backwards and sideways to players in the clear. What we need are people who can use the ball well under pressure and make decisions quickly, not players who incessantly choose to hold the ball up and then take a nothing option like Blicavs.

Maybe Ablett's is lower because he wins far more contested ball and plays in a part of the ground where he has to take risks in order to create scoring opportunities, rather than stopping and kicking backwards every time he has the ball.
 
Aug 8, 2007
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You're wrong, admit it.
They might chip it around but their disposal is well within "league level".
If "league level" means hitting chip kicks backwards and sideways to team mates with no opposition near them, then sure. If it means identifying and hitting the first option to transition into attack quickly, or hitting targets under pressure, then no. The defence was defined by the former throughout the year and exposed badly for the latter during the finals.
 

Farmer2Goggin

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Aug 17, 2009
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> Continue to be a dominant contested ball team
> Better balance between attacking and being conservative with the ball in hand , pull the trigger more often
> Settle the team well before finals
> Coaches to resist the temptation for "brilliant" but ultimately go smackingly dumb selection decisions in big games
> Either play 2 tall forwards and 2 rucks or 3 tall forwards and 1 ruck - need at least 2 tall marking threats forward at all times
> Be prepared to take the game on and break lines - Clark , Steven, Narkle , Stewart and OConnor to use their pace more.
> Play selfless football and value the team above all else
> Hope the Tigers are satisfied :)
 
Oct 20, 2004
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> Settle the spine, and settle it with Blicavs, Kolodjashnij, Constable, Hawkins and Ratugolea.
> Play aggressive, Geelong football. Miers, Dalhaus and Ablett can cut teams up ahead of the ball but they need a little space.
> The player who we need to come from the clouds is Fort. Stanley may have effort, but he's too small IMO.
> Parfitt needs to turn into Shane Edwards. Did not really go forward this year.
 

Lana

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Jul 23, 2010
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I think it's less about improving and more performing to the same level we did. Kelly out and all of our best players are another year older. On the plus side our squad has serious depth, we blooded quite a few players and topped up again plus we have a few decent picks to find the next Clark. We should have less worries about rotating players to ensure that our best players are fresh for finals football.

Not sure if we'll be able to fix our lack of running power between the arcs in one pre-season with the players we have on the list. Hopefully Mengola, Guthrie, Tuohy and Duncan can have close to a full pre-season to at least allow us to compete. Having an extra tall will make it easier to move the ball up the ground even with slow ball movement. Cockatoo and Rohan providing a good mixture of marking power and pressure for mid sized forwards. But ultimately our chances are all going to be in the hands of our inside midfield group to win the territory battle.

Our MC is going to have to be very brave this year, a lot of well credentialed players need to spend time in the 2nd, I hope they find a way to get the best team on the field.
 

LifeSpan-Void

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Jun 7, 2005
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Could have sworn we had the best defense in the AFL :think:
Yeah the issue isn’t the backline as such, it’s the lack of two-way play with the midfield throwing the defence under the bus on a turnover. The best 6 in the league can’t stop the bleed when it goes straight over their head on a coast-to-coast because our centreline is guarding grass instead of putting pressure on where the ball carrier is directing the play
 

Max Milburn

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Aug 10, 2018
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If "league level" means hitting chip kicks backwards and sideways to team mates with no opposition near them, then sure. If it means identifying and hitting the first option to transition into attack quickly, or hitting targets under pressure, then no. The defence was defined by the former throughout the year and exposed badly for the latter during the finals.
Who knows what "league level" actually means.
Apparently it's a random measurement taken with the naked eye and a good dose of preconception.
 

BotsMaster

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Yeah the issue isn’t the backline as such, it’s the lack of two-way play with the midfield throwing the defence under the bus on a turnover. The best 6 in the league can’t stop the bleed when it goes straight over their head on a coast-to-coast because our centreline is guarding grass instead of putting pressure on where the ball carrier is directing the play
So is the issue with the midfield playing group or midfield coaching?
 

LifeSpan-Void

So, you’re leaving.
Jun 7, 2005
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So is the issue with the midfield playing group or midfield coaching?
It looks like a plan B when it becomes apparent that we don’t have the hard bodies to keep plan A going for a whole season. So it’s both IMO, it becomes apparent when watching our 2nd tier mids fall away when Selwood, Danger, Kelly (now departed obv) are redeployed or rested.
 
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