2019 Expectations

[yyou]

have been a Docker fan since our team was announced, so have mostly suffered in my love for the team.
As a consequence, I expect nothing, but always hope for the best.
For me it's like buying a lotto ticket. You don't expect to win, but you live in hope

 

[Fred Ziffel]

lobb 60 goals that would be amazing
mundy Hogan walters
iHill lobb tabs
if function might become the best in competition

Harley in for Ian Hill and Cam for Taberner, in the forward line.

Taberner and Mundy interchange bench.

 

[mightymouse75]

have been a Docker fan since our team was announced, so have mostly suffered in my love for the team.
As a consequence, I expect nothing, but always hope for the best.
For me it's like buying a lotto ticket. You don't expect to win, but you live in hope

Every year i dig deep for hope. Its not getting any easier.

 

[freo84]

My expectation is seeing team cohesion manifest during the season resulting in a more productive forward-line and a midfield that can provide pressure for more than a quarter. The back line is looking good and it just needs help with pressuring delivery from the other two parts of the team and we could see it go from solid to very good in a short amount of time. I want to see our best players on the park for most of the season and I want to see players out of form dropped now that we are building depth.

This team has potential and all of us on this board want to see it reached in 2019.

 

[FreoMonocle]

Blakley's biggest mistake as a midfielder was getting 30 odd possessions against Carlton a few years back as a tagger. He was then relegated to the backline to teach him to be more defensive. Now we're crying out for a 30ppg mid and praying he's the one. That's just stupid coaching IMO. He's shown patches but never a full season.

That's not my recollection of it. He wasn't punished for getting lot's of possession, he was sent off to learn the art of defence because his opponent also got 30 possessions. He was a tagger, his job was to shut down the opponent, not let them have 30 possessions or whatever they got.

But that was a few years ago and my memory isn't the best, apologies if I remember that incorrectly. Maybe someone else has the detail?

 

[88mph]

Top 8 or GTFO

(Might have had a few wines).

The competition is the closest it's even been, our list has improved. Some wins, add some inspiration, we could do it.

 

[theGav56]

That's not my recollection of it. He wasn't punished for getting lot's of possession, he was sent off to learn the art of defence because his opponent also got 30 possessions. He was a tagger, his job was to shut down the opponent, not let them have 30 possessions or whatever they got.

But that was a few years ago and my memory isn't the best, apologies if I remember that incorrectly. Maybe someone else has the detail?

Just a quick note to say your memory is doing fine (unless you and I have synchronised memory loss).

 

[Mr Fonebone]

It all comes down to three things:

1. Can Ross adapt to the new rule changes? Recent history gives me some concern in this regard.
2. Luck with injuries. If we can keep the top core of players on the park for the whole season we are a chance. Or..if Fyfe, Hogan, Walters &co miss big chunks of the season we are stuffed. Probably the same with most clubs I dare say.
3. A smooth pre-season. No major injuries or scandals please. I'm looking at you Harley. A good pre season goes a long way.

All in all, if these three go our way then we can give the finals a real shake. If one goes awry then we are probably out of contention. If all three turn to custard then its bottom 4 time.

 

[theGav56]

It all comes down to three things:

1. Can Ross adapt to the new rule changes? Recent history gives me some concern in this regard.
2. Luck with injuries. If we can keep the top core of players on the park for the whole season we are a chance. Or..if Fyfe, Hogan, Walters &co miss big chunks of the season we are stuffed. Probably the same with most clubs I dare say.
3. A smooth pre-season. No major injuries or scandals please. I'm looking at you Harley. A good pre season goes a long way.

All in all, if these three go our way then we can give the finals a real shake. If one goes awry then we are probably out of contention. If all three turn to custard then its bottom 4 time.

So what impact do you think the kebab store scandal had? I can pretty much guarantee that we will have an equally massive scandal between now and game 1.

 

[Patty_Moz]

That's not my recollection of it. He wasn't punished for getting lot's of possession, he was sent off to learn the art of defence because his opponent also got 30 possessions. He was a tagger, his job was to shut down the opponent, not let them have 30 possessions or whatever they got.

But that was a few years ago and my memory isn't the best, apologies if I remember that incorrectly. Maybe someone else has the detail?

No apology necessary but the way I remember it was a reporter asked RL was he impressed with Blakelys game (inferring 30 possies is pretty impressive for a young kid). I thought RL said something like "no I think he shook Murphy's hand at the start of the game and didn't see him again until the end". I took that as RL not happy with Blakelys efforts and bagged him openly for it plus moved him to the backline as a result. Just my interpretation of the situation.

But really my point stays the same. IMO at that point RL should have realised he can develop a ball winning midfielder. To me it always seems that tagging and being defensively minded are the only attributes RL is interested or able to develop. I think this shows in the lack of fwds developed in RLs time at Freo. I think Blakely is an example of defense above all else and now we are hoping he can just pick up where he left off 2 yrs ago as an attacking mid.

 

[theGav56]

No apology necessary but the way I remember it was a reporter asked RL was he impressed with Blakelys game (inferring 30 possies is pretty impressive for a young kid). I thought RL said something like "no I think he shook Murphy's hand at the start of the game and didn't see him again until the end". I took that as RL not happy with Blakelys efforts and bagged him openly for it plus moved him to the backline as a result. Just my interpretation of the situation.

But really my point stays the same. IMO at that point RL should have realised he can develop a ball winning midfielder. To me it always seems that tagging and being defensively minded are the only attributes RL is interested or able to develop. I think this shows in the lack of fwds developed in RLs time at Freo. I think Blakely is an example of defense above all else and now we are hoping he can just pick up where he left off 2 yrs ago as an attacking mid.

If a young player has been given an instruction by the coach and doesn't follow it then they haven't played their role. Blakely has been playing an attacking defensive role where he needs to win the ball. It is not a huge transition from that to the midfield role that I think he will find himself in this year.

 

[Joao]

No apology necessary but the way I remember it was a reporter asked RL was he impressed with Blakelys game (inferring 30 possies is pretty impressive for a young kid). I thought RL said something like "no I think he shook Murphy's hand at the start of the game and didn't see him again until the end". I took that as RL not happy with Blakelys efforts and bagged him openly for it plus moved him to the backline as a result. Just my interpretation of the situation.

But really my point stays the same. IMO at that point RL should have realised he can develop a ball winning midfielder. To me it always seems that tagging and being defensively minded are the only attributes RL is interested or able to develop. I think this shows in the lack of fwds developed in RLs time at Freo. I think Blakely is an example of defense above all else and now we are hoping he can just pick up where he left off 2 yrs ago as an attacking mid.

There is a difference between being a tagger and being defensively accountable. Everyone should be the latter (except maybe Fyfe) and only 1 max is usually the former.

 

[Patty_Moz]

If a young player has been given an instruction by the coach and doesn't follow it then they haven't played their role. Blakely has been playing an attacking defensive role where he needs to win the ball. It is not a huge transition from that to the midfield role that I think he will find himself in this year.

Yes in a RL side if you don't perform your role (roles are always defensive) you will be moved to a more defensive role.
It's all just speculation atm but Blakely could just as likely be rejoining the midfield as a tagger as he developed the defensive side of his game that he was lacking in that game against Carlton we don't really know yet. I hope you're right and he is played as an attacking midfielder.

There is a difference between being a tagger and being defensively accountable. Everyone should be the latter (except maybe Fyfe) and only 1 max is usually the former.

Neale was the least defensively accountable player we had IMO but I don't really have any problems with that. I think players should be allowed to attack just like the gameplan the tigers and eagles developed. I don't think that getting 30 possessions meant Blakely shouldn't play midfield for 2 years. I think we should only play a tagger if they can hurt the other way.

 

[theGav56]

Yes in a RL side if you don't perform your role (roles are always defensive) you will be moved to a more defensive role.
It's all just speculation atm but Blakely could just as likely be rejoining the midfield as a tagger as he developed the defensive side of his game that he was lacking in that game against Carlton we don't really know yet. I hope you're right and he is played as an attacking midfielder.



Neale was the least defensively accountable player we had IMO but I don't really have any problems with that. I think players should be allowed to attack just like the gameplan the tigers and eagles developed. I don't think that getting 30 possessions meant Blakely shouldn't play midfield for 2 years. I think we should only play a tagger if they can hurt the other way.

There is a difference between an experienced player like Neale who knows and is a big part of structuring our game plan on the field not being asked to be accountable though.

 

[wayToGo_]

Neale was the least defensively accountable player we had IMO but I don't really have any problems with that. I think players should be allowed to attack just like the gameplan the tigers and eagles developed. I don't think that getting 30 possessions meant Blakely shouldn't play midfield for 2 years. I think we should only play a tagger if they can hurt the other way.

West Coast's midfield don't attack at all excepting Naitanui at centre bounces. Yeo, Redden, Hutchings, Sheed, Gaff are all defence first. Even Shuey has become mostly defensive these days. They are all about applying pressure around the ball (not tackling and causing stoppages) so their half back line can intercept and then attack on the rebound with the opposition out of position (from them all moving to attack the other way). I'd love to know first possession stats because I reckon they'd be one of the bottom teams. Richmond have the Dusty factor from centre clearances but at stoppages around the ground they were similarly defence first and relied a lot on rebounds from intercepts.

 

[theGav56]

West Coast's midfield don't attack at all excepting Naitanui at centre bounces. Yeo, Redden, Hutchings, Sheed, Gaff are all defence first. Even Shuey has become mostly defensive these days. They are all about applying pressure around the ball (not tackling and causing stoppages) so their half back line can intercept and then attack on the rebound with the opposition out of position (from them all moving to attack the other way). I'd love to know first possession stats because I reckon they'd be one of the bottom teams. Richmond have the Dusty factor from centre clearances but at stoppages around the ground they were similarly defence first and relied a lot on rebounds from intercepts.

Defence is still critical, and I loved our full pressure game. Looking forward to clawing more of it back in 2019.

Regarding expectations for next year, any thoughts on what we should expect of your recent "buddies", Hu and Du?

 

[Patty_Moz]

There is a difference between an experienced player like Neale who knows and is a big part of structuring our game plan on the field not being asked to be accountable though.

Sure it definitely seems that accountability is the most important aspect of our gameplan and there are a select few who are given a bit of leeway. I just think attacking football should be developed better within our team and all players should be given a license and mentality that it's ok to attack first.

Really throughout our time with RL no team would have been worried we'll smash them on the scoreboard. More that they will struggle to score because defense & accountability are our priority.

I think accountability and defense are important but also feel we are very much lacking in developing attacking players and gameplan, hence we have always been a low scoring side under RL.

 

[UYD 4 Life]

Yes in a RL side if you don't perform your role (roles are always defensive) you will be moved to a more defensive role.
It's all just speculation atm but Blakely could just as likely be rejoining the midfield as a tagger as he developed the defensive side of his game that he was lacking in that game against Carlton we don't really know yet. I hope you're right and he is played as an attacking midfielder.



Neale was the least defensively accountable player we had IMO but I don't really have any problems with that. I think players should be allowed to attack just like the gameplan the tigers and eagles developed. I don't think that getting 30 possessions meant Blakely shouldn't play midfield for 2 years. I think we should only play a tagger if they can hurt the other way.

I think blakely being banished to defence as a result of the carlton game is off the mark - he played midfield the next week against adelaide. He got moved to defence because they wanted to give lachie weller some experience as an inside midfielder and they wanted to give them both experience at half forward, in the midfield and half back. Connor had spent time as a half forward and a mid so it was time for defence. Lachie had spent time at half forward and half back so it was time for midfield experience. Injuries have slowed that development so he would have actually only played around 17 of his 46 games at half back.

On a side note i think they are planning to do the same with cerra and brayshaw. Cerra played half a season at half forward and half a season at half back while brayshaw played mid and they were talking about transitioning him to half back to get some experience there before he got injured

In saying all that i would be surprised and disappointed if he played as either a tagger or half back to start off 2019 (unless Hill, Bennel, Mundy, Fyfe are fit and killing it and both Brayshaw and Cerra make massive strides over the preseason and become legitimate guns - then i could deal with connor rolling off half back)

 

[vidwhal]

Not sure I was making "a lot of excuses". I am simply pointing out that out list was not good enough. Same with Gold Coast, Carlton, Brisbane, Saints and Bulldogs.
The ones that should be really angry are GWS, Geelong, Port and Adelaide. They should have been contending.

One thing is a certainty in sport. Some people are naturally faster than others in running, swimming, riding etc. Some are higher jumpers etc.
No matter how much you train or "learn" these techniques, some are naturally better. Same with skills. That is why some golfers, tennis players, formula 1 drivers win over others. It gets to an elite point of not training and learning, because they all do that. It simply comes down to elite performers.

With sport, some players are just naturally better than others. Someone may do much more work and effort in everything, but simply not be as good.
You can simply look at the draft and the elite players in the comp and when they were drafted. It is hard to pick. Someone might be fast, but simply cannot kick. Someone might be an elite kick, but slow. Lachie Neale is one example. So is Fyfe (draft position).

Take the blinkers off and look at every clubs injury list in the AFL at any given point. This is an AFL issue. We had a terrible run, but most clubs were there with us, they just had better players to come in and fill the holes.

Finally, we came close to a premiership. We also finished top of the ladder with Ross. That is better than we had done ever, and there were a few years before that we had a decent team with some disappointing results.

How do you explain Collingwood suddenly making the GF - is Buckley suddenly a genius, or did they get a decent draw, and had some break out performances?
How did Hardwick go from about to be fired, to what is a very strong team.
What about Bevo and the Dogs - coach of the decade to most likely his last year. Simpson from the Eagles was one of the lowest rated coaches at the start of the year according to their fans. Don Pyke is in a similar situation. Stuart Dew was meant to be the savior for the Suns. Bolton, the smartest and freshest coach going around for Carlton.

Sorry for the long reply, but "ensure our players were at an appropriate skill level, and through poor strength and conditioning management had too many injuries that lasted too long" is a bit naive in my opinion. Skills is simply a thing they have, they generally will not develop elite performance in high pressure through training. That is why Harley Bennell is still on our list. He went pick 2 in 2010. We took Pitt at 20 and WCE took Darling at 26. Our next pick was Viv Michie. Pitt had a heart problem and Michie was a hard worker. Sheridan was a hard worker too, as was Sutcliffe.

Bit of a late reply but a very logical and sensible post. I pretty much agree on all points you've commented on [emoji106]

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[vidwhal]

Lobb - 60 goals. He said it, not me.

I believe he's capable of 50 if played forward predominantly but I'm expecting closer to 30 goals as I believe he'll be out of the forward line more than I'd like.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Scham]

Sure it definitely seems that accountability is the most important aspect of our gameplan and there are a select few who are given a bit of leeway. I just think attacking football should be developed better within our team and all players should be given a license and mentality that it's ok to attack first.

Really throughout our time with RL no team would have been worried we'll smash them on the scoreboard. More that they will struggle to score because defense & accountability are our priority.

I think accountability and defense are important but also feel we are very much lacking in developing attacking players and gameplan, hence we have always been a low scoring side under RL.

Successful clubs allow the players to play with instinct and a touch of flare. Something that is lacking in our team.

 

[Monument Hills]

From what I have seen successful clubs allow certain players to play with flair - Dusty, Danger, Cyril, Buddy, McGov, amongst others - and most of the rest play like robots, sticking to their roles/systems/structures like glue. Have a look how the back half of the hawks operate.

 

[theGav56]

From what I have seen successful clubs allow certain players to play with flair - Dusty, Danger, Cyril, Buddy, McGov, amongst others - and most of the rest play like robots, sticking to their roles/systems/structures like glue. Have a look how the back half of the hawks operate.

Spot on. Back in the Blight/Ablett Snr days Geelong played with flair, were exciting and kicked huge scores regularly. Malthouse shut that down and won premierships when it came to GFs.

 

[dropbear101]

2012 season for me, everything is in place but cohesion will only occur in the back half of the season.

 

[Bastyy]

I've got an way better vibe this year than last year. I think this year we showed genuine improvement from 2016, and with how the youngsters are tracking, Hogan and Lobb coming in, and a bunch of players coming back to training early I think we've got it this year. I think that Round 23 game against Collingwood sparked it, we were so close and considering they were grand finalists, it becomes a what if for next season. What if we keep showing that form?

Making the 8 is the dream, and if we get a few good wins in the early rounds to boost team moral, it's possible