Anyone else surprised...

[The Dustbin]

How quickly it appears the team has picked up and adapted to Knights new game style/plan.

We are a completely different team then last year, I was a little bit worried that it may take a year for the team to adjust to the new game style, tactic etc.
But judging by the NAB Cup games, the players have picked up and adapted quite easily.

This tells me that Knights is excellent at communicating with the players and the players want to play for him.


I know we have only played 2 practice matches, but the signs are all good.

 

[Darealrath]

Let's see how we go against teams that will be giving 100%.

Great to see we're giving it a real crack, though it was to be expected with Knights and so many players having a lot to prove.

 

[B-Bomber]

That and most of the stand outs have been coached by Knighta at Bendigo.

 

[The Dustbin]

Let's see how we go against teams that will be giving 100%.

Great to see we're giving it a real crack, though it was to be expected with Knights and so many players having a lot to prove.

Agree. Compared to last season there is a mark difference in the set up and style of play. The team is better structured, even if it is a mickey mouse comp.

I was hoping to play Geel this week, would've been a good test.

 

[Merv]

Since i don't attend training, i really wasn't sure how we would be in comparison to other teams this NAB cup.

There is no doubt we have adapted quite well so far to Knighters strategies but i also feel we are more advanced than the 2 teams we have played so far.

Brisbane hasn't even played an intra club game and if you look at the body shape and the slickness or lack of from the doggies, we had them covered from a talent and preparation POV.

This week will be a much better test.

I have every confidence in Knights as a coach and he bought so much to our team that we have been lacking for years now.

I still think 2008 is a bit of a transition year for us and we won't make the 8 but we have an extremely talented list and a coach with discipline and a work ethic that is the same as what he is asking from his players.

During the H&A season, the coaches will devise a plan to play us and make it a lot harder for us but we now have a gameplan and are on the right track

 

[warney7]

We'll find out how good the plan is when teams are giving their all, and realise that they will be put under greater pressure.

The Bulldogs seemed very unaware on Friday night and I just think we'll lose a lot of spark if teams work that out and play a quicker game themselves.

 

[J.Hetfield]

Ive got to say also Knighters match day coaching has been quite good also..

 

[Napier_Street]

More thank confident that we will beat St Kilda and why shouldnt we, 350K up for grabs in this so called Mickey Mouse competition. Thats better than winning the flag as far as I know

Money not to be sneezed at not to mention the additional 5,000 members an NAB Cup would bring

 

[Walesy]

I love how quickly we have picked it up!

I love even more, the room for growth we have within the curent game plan.

We are just starting out with it, learning the kinks, learning about how each other reacts within the context of the plan.

And it's only going to improve I reckon.

Great signs Dons

 

[thebigboy]

Im not really that suprised. The players are always going to react faster to a new voice and new ideas, so the fact that were playing better footy isn't that suprising.

This season will probably be one of those years where we will have results that will differ big time. With the amount of youngsters we are going to be playing, were gunna have some huge losses and some huge wins. This will probably continue until some of our youngster get experience and with the more experience they get, the more our results will become consistant.

Im enjoying seeing a side that is prepared to take risks in order to win a game.

 

[The Dustbin]

If you look at how long it took Haw, St K to adjust it was at least a season.....

I guess Knights has had the advantage of being at the club for the last 3 years and knowing the players.

 

[Schmick]

Yeh I am suprise at how quickly we picked it up and started playing well, basically for the reasons mentioned in your post above Dustbin.

It's quite impressive by Knights and he's definately showing that he's definately up to the task of coaching, and doing it well.

 

[stander]

Not one little bit.

 

[DonMania#5]

Yeh, usually it takes about a year to get used to the new gameplan but the players have adjusted straight away. Well done Knighta

 

[Tony Delaney]

No offence to the old master but they were craving a fresh change and up to date coaching. The fact that Knights has had an impact in previous years makes the transition a lot quicker and easier eg Pagan after coaching the team at under 19's.

The days of the old time coaches are over. Syndney brought back Barassi at one stage to coach but this sort of appointment wouldn't work these days. Pagan, Sheedy, Parkin, Jeans wouldn't do well in this day and age. Sheedy quotes Alec Ferguson all the time but soccer hasn't changed a tenth of how football has.

Go Bombers

 

[retroparty]

Lots of the players on the list will have played under him at VFL level and he had something to do with Essendon last year so its no suprise that the players have adjusted so quickly

 

[bombersmad75]

No not at all i have been saying since november last year that i think we will make the eight. Alot of the boys have played under matty for a couple of years at bendigo and already have an idea of his coaching methods and game plan it is a no brainer really.

 

[Daytripper]

No not at all i have been saying since november last year that i think we will make the eight. Alot of the boys have played under matty for a couple of years at bendigo and already have an idea of his coaching methods and game plan it is a no brainer really.

Not surprised at all - we were well on the way to making the 8 last year until Alwyn got injured and after that the wheels fell off. Amazing how much of an impact one first year player can have.

W've got a good spine, a decent ruck division and some handy role players like McPhee, McVeigh, Welsh NLM, Rama etc who can play both forward and back depending on the circumstances. Weakness has always been disposal of the midfielders and it seems that has improved over summer.

25/1 was an absolute gift two weeks ago to make the top 4. Not saying they will but it was extremely over the odds.

 

[tigertiger]

I must say that im very impressed how well you guys played the last two games but its always difficult to equate pre-season games to the main season. I think if it was the main season the Doggies would have played a lot tighter and muscled your fleet footed ball carriers out of the game.