Having a legit and experienced forward coach might help!
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AgreedThe thing that bugged me last year the most was the lack of team space creation across the whole field. Running to space, off ball blocks, smart movement at stoppages, etc. Getting this right means players kick to leads and/or advantage, skills improve (as kicks are easier/ more time) running becomes a more effective weapon. Not doing this results in kicking to the same spot at kickins, also forward 50 entries, poor skills and just looking sloppy as we were too rushed...
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Having a legit and experienced forward coach might help!
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Great post......A complete lack of a short passing, uncontested possession game that forces opposition defenses that are sitting back on our forwards to move their zone up to press passing outlets.
Going back to the NFL as an example: the best team in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys, know the importance of playing an offense that not only uses rushing (running the ball), which is their strength...but they also know the importance of adding a short passing game to the offense to 'keep the chains moving' and continually get first downs. That's why although they are only 23rd for passing yards, they are 4th for first downs.
That's what we need to add - that short game - the 20m sideways kick to runners out of a stoppage that you constantly see West Coast pull against us and you wonder 'How the **** did that guy get free?!' I don't have an issue with lateral movement as long as it's done with purpose and not hesitation. As soon as you hesitate, the option gets closed and you end up with that stop start football we've seen over the past two years.
It's rock-paper-scissors. Running beats short passing (hence why we consistently dominate Hawthorn), short passing beats contested possession (hence why Hawthorn won three premierships in a row) and contested possession beats running (hence why we struggle against pretty much any side that pressures us, but especially Sydney).
Contested possession game is easy to add. That's literally intent and will to win the ball. It's the rock of our game (and everyone throws rock first...which is probably why Hawthorn did so well).
Scissors, naturally, is the cutting through defense that a running game brings to the table. Sharp, quick, but also fragile.
Paper - that's the blanket, across the ground short passing game that makes it seem like there are 30 players on the field instead of 18, because there's always someone open.
At the moment, it's like we have carpal tunnel syndrome. But we're fixing it.
Also doesn't give credit for the fact that Ryder was first ruck in those games instead of Lobbe. Which might have had a little bit more to do with the methodical, decisive ball movement through winning clean clearances then the playing of another tall in the forward line. And why when we didn't have Ryder rucking in 2016 it turned back to shit again.
As above Ryder forward should help along with an inform Lobbe.....we need to find a better balance between quicker (far quicker) ball movement from defense with time to hit decent forward options....some of Lobbes troubles I attribute to the constant slow switching of play we did, forcing him to run back and forth across the ground to be the "down the line tall option leaving him knackered!We traded for Dixon because he fell in our laps, but I think most of us were hopeful that the more direct style we started to use when we had adequate marking targets up forward would continue now that we had a genuine gorilla marking tall.
It didn't.
Lobbe was back splitting the ruck duties 50/50 with Ryder in rounds 22 and 23.
While I completely agree that playing Ryder as a sole ruck improves our ball movement overall, he's mainly useful at stoppages (and also as the only player in our team capable of regularly taking a contested mark under a high ball). I'm talking about taking the ball from defence to attack and entering the forward 50. In 2016, we could stream out of a stoppage and have a completely uncontested kick from 70 and still not manage to find a target.
With a proper marking target up forward, we started to kick direct to the square instead of trying to hit Schulz up leading to the boundary for every forward entry. That should have continued with Dixon but the way we set up wasn't good enough and we didn't provide him with enough support, apart from when Howard was in the side.
We need to start to control the corridor in our forward 50. The only time we've looked like doing that on a regular basis over the past few years is when we've picked players capable of doing so.
Janus' rock-paper-scissors thing actually makes a lot of sense.
My simple analysis would be that each requires a different skill set - i.e, rock requires intent, paper requires skill, scissors requires fitness/speed/athleticism.
Do we have the skill across the board to execute paper to a level required to beat teams like Sydney? Highly questionable.
CHB or CHF .. geez don't think he will ever play those positions. Ruck or nothing.Primary (80% of game)
FB Austin CHB Trengove R Ryder CHF Westhoff FF Dixon
Secondary (20% of game)
FB Austin CHB Westhoff R Trengove CHF Ryder FF Dixon
Lobbe shouldn't be anywhere near this side until he is competent enough to play either CHB or CHF to an adequate level (and by adequate, it simply means him playing the position doesn't have a negative effect).
CHB or CHF .. geez don't think he will ever play those positions. Ruck or nothing.
Have been watching matches 2014-15 and all he can do is lumber about. Players go past him at twice the speed.
I hope you're wrong as he brings a much more balance to our side if up and goingHence why he'll be nowhere near the side![]()
I hope you're wrong as he brings a much more balance to our side if up and going
I was going to do a "Best 22" thread but I'm not allowed apparently so I'll drop this in here..............
Was reading the AFL.com articles regarding each team’s potential line ups and rankings. I thought that the write ups were fair but Ports line up is not quite as I see it…….so I thought I would have a crack and see what the consensus was.
AFL.com line up-
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jack Hombsch, Matthew Broadbent
C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Aaron Young
F: Jarman Impey, Charlie Dixon, Jackson Trengove
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Brendon Ah Chee, Nathan Krakouer, Sam Powell-Pepper, Matthew White
Mine-
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Jack Hombsch , Jasper Pittard
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove , Matthew Broadbent
C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: , Justin Westhoff, Patrick Ryder , Jarman Impey
F: Aaron Young, Charlie Dixon, Chad Wingard
Foll: Matthew Lobbe , Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Tom Jonas, Nathan Krakouer, Sam Powell-Pepper, Matthew White
Comments-
Surely Trengrove goes back to CHB a position he made his own before being required to ruck, sitting him a forward pocket seems a waste. I think Hombsh is better suited to full back also.
Wingard goes back to a forward pocket but can roam further if he likes. And I’d swap Impey to a flank to take attacking half back flankers with Young closer to goal.
The one move some Port fans here wont like is bringing in Lobbe as first ruck , hoping he will bring his A game (also hoping slow switches of play is removed from our game so he doesn’t get flogged out running back and forth across the ground trying to be the down the line option!) and Ryder to CHF…..IMO we are better with Ryder forward…in fact my game plan would consist of 3 talls forward with one a mobile type (Hoff). So if for whatever reasons this particular move is failing then Eddy or another tall is brought in.
Jonas goes to bench as tall cover in case of need, with Ah Chee out.
Looking forward to fighting it out with 13 other teams for the bottom 4 spots in the 8!
Thanks.......fumbling my way around ATM....next I'll find out hos to do a signature!There's already a 'Best 22' thread, that's why
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/the-evolution-of-your-best-22-for-2017.1143147/
That's a typing error.....maybe a closer look on final edit!
Hi Matthew. How do you find training in this heat? One hour early in the morning and I'm ****ed, I don't know how you do it.The return of Ryder will help this year but I prefer him at CHF.....a return to form of Lobbe will be the biggest shot in the arm for us!
I think also that Lobbe is doneI hope you're wrong as he brings a much more balance to our side if up and going
I was going to do a "Best 22" thread but I'm not allowed apparently so I'll drop this in here..............
Was reading the AFL.com articles regarding each team’s potential line ups and rankings. I thought that the write ups were fair but Ports line up is not quite as I see it…….so I thought I would have a crack and see what the consensus was.
AFL.com line up-
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Jasper Pittard
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jack Hombsch, Matthew Broadbent
C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Aaron Young
F: Jarman Impey, Charlie Dixon, Jackson Trengove
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Brendon Ah Chee, Nathan Krakouer, Sam Powell-Pepper, Matthew White
Mine-
B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Jack Hombsch , Jasper Pittard
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove , Matthew Broadbent
C: Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF: , Justin Westhoff, Patrick Ryder , Jarman Impey
F: Aaron Young, Charlie Dixon, Chad Wingard
Foll: Matthew Lobbe , Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Tom Jonas, Nathan Krakouer, Sam Powell-Pepper, Matthew White
Comments-
Surely Trengrove goes back to CHB a position he made his own before being required to ruck, sitting him a forward pocket seems a waste. I think Hombsh is better suited to full back also.
Wingard goes back to a forward pocket but can roam further if he likes. And I’d swap Impey to a flank to take attacking half back flankers with Young closer to goal.
The one move some Port fans here wont like is bringing in Lobbe as first ruck , hoping he will bring his A game (also hoping slow switches of play is removed from our game so he doesn’t get flogged out running back and forth across the ground trying to be the down the line option!) and Ryder to CHF…..IMO we are better with Ryder forward…in fact my game plan would consist of 3 talls forward with one a mobile type (Hoff). So if for whatever reasons this particular move is failing then Eddy or another tall is brought in.
Jonas goes to bench as tall cover in case of need, with Ah Chee out.
Looking forward to fighting it out with 13 other teams for the bottom 4 spots in the 8!
lol......I'm doing everything I can to get back my 2013/14 form....make or break for me this year (and Kenny!)Hi Matthew. How do you find training in this heat? One hour early in the morning and I'm stuffed, I don't know how you do it.![]()
Ha ha. Welcome aboard. No pressure, but I hope you're aware that you have extremely high standards to live up to. Last year's Rookie Class (well me, really) was exceptional and will be watching closely.lol......I'm doing everything I can to get back my 2013/14 form....make or break for me this year (and Kenny!)
Agree.....but I would give him the chance to prove these skills in the AFL to start with...Interestingly his Bio points to him being a mobile forward, strong overhead and a good kick at goal...........If Lobbe is going to fit back into the first 22, he needs to improve:
1. His ability to tap to the advantage of our mids;
2. His tackling pressure at stoppages (this was a strength in 2014); and
3. His marking ability, so that he can be a viable target from kick-ins and when resting up forward.
At the moment he offers none of those things, so is nowhere near best 22.
hahaha.......I'll see what I can do.....don't expect 5000+ posts out of me through!Ha ha. Welcome aboard. No pressure, but I hope you're aware that you have extremely high standards to live up to. Last year's Rookie Class (well me, really) was exceptional and will be watching closely.![]()
dont forget:If Lobbe is going to fit back into the first 22, he needs to improve:
1. His ability to tap to the advantage of our mids;
2. His tackling pressure at stoppages (this was a strength in 2014); and
3. His marking ability, so that he can be a viable target from kick-ins and when resting up forward.
At the moment he offers none of those things, so is nowhere near best 22.
7. Not being a witches hat.dont forget:
4. Ability to find the ball.
5. Ability to use the ball.
6. Ability to football.
None of which he is capable of.
I thought his ability to football was pretty good in 2014 and he finished top 10 in the B & F in 2013 also......dont forget:
4. Ability to find the ball.
5. Ability to use the ball.
6. Ability to football.
None of which he is capable of.
That's true. if you ignorehe just stood out more than others but IMO he didn't cost us games