Opinion Are we even a quick side? What is a quick side?

[blitzer]

We are a reasonably quick side in terms of leg speed, depending on which of our fringe players we have in the side at the time. However we play on from the mark more so than any other team in the comp, that's got to make us look faster.

If we had all our players fit and chose a team purely for speed, then yeah we could probably have the quickest team in the league. In practical terms I'd say the best 22 of Richmond and maybe Carlton could be a bit quicker than our best 22. But leg speed doesn't really determine games anyway, at least not small discrepancies.

 

[ManWithNoName]

It's remarkable how quick you look when you've got the ball, and how slow you look when you're chasing after it.

 

[yaco55]

Quick players

Under-rated

Hardingham is very quick - can close quickly on the lead and can burst away from the opposition.

Old days against Stkilda's cage was fairly simple = Spread a handball wide ( not through the corridor ) - then kick longish down the line - And outdo the Saints with speed.

 

[Jesse Custer]

We move the ball like lightning. Very few sides move it as fast as us. It's not all leg speed, in fact very little of it is leg speed, but we are lightning quick on the counter.

Ball movement is the key.

 

[Howard Moon]

is it odd that for a team that plays on from almost every mark we dont have a player in the top 15 handball recieves?

Player Team Matches Handball Recieves
1 Andrew Gaff WCE 13 171
2 Dayne Beams COLL 12 168
3 Gary Ablett GCS 11 168
4 Shaun Grigg RICH 13 159
5 Brent Harvey NM 13 156
6 Kane Cornes PORT 13 154
7 Dane Swan COLL 11 152
8 Matthew Boyd WB 13 152
9 Dustin Martin RICH 13 151
10 Ryan Bastinac NM 13 148
11 Steele Sbottom COLL 13 147
12 Brett Deledio RICH 13 145
13 Heath Scotland CAR 12 144
14 Daniel Wells NM 13 143
15 Chris Masten WCE 13 143

Must indicate and even spread

 

[Call Me Cake]

Essendon are #1 for bringing the ball from the kick in to the forward line, quicker than any other team in the competition. This includes the rebound.

Essendon also ranks high in kicking efficiency.

Does that indicate a 'quick' team? Who knows. But I would say it definitely helps in creating the illusion.

Then again, if you have stats like these working for you, who needs 'pace'?

 

[Slattery_20]

is it odd that for a team that plays on from almost every mark we dont have a player in the top 15 handball recieves?

Probably because we don't handball much... pretty sure only rubbish sides (Dees/GC/GWS maybe?) are below us.

 

[fishardansin]

Davey, Crameri, Fletcher, Dempsey, Ryder, Hardingham, Jetta and Zaka are best 22 players who are normally quicker than their opponents. Stanton runs hard to create space which allows from quick movement of the ball. Heppell and Fletch make good decisions, quickly, behind the play which allows us to open up the opposition too. Good tall forwards allow us to kick long which also further adds to the impression of pace. Finally winning a lot of contested ball puts the opponents on the back foot which makes us look quick in comparison.

I think Darcy is half right. Clearly 09 Essendon was one of the quickest sides to ever play the game. This has left an impression in the minds of much of the football media who usually base their opinions on reputation so are 6 months to 2 years behind reality. Also last year with the coaches focus on contested ball and team structure quick players and ball movement wasn't the number one priority until we became stagnant in the middle of the season, Demspey and Winderlich out made a big difference. There was a clear shift in selection policy over the last third of the season with Davey getting a recall and Colyer getting more opportunities.

Clearly this season the coaches were happy with the defensive structures in place and have put a lot of time into attack and ball movement. We are clearly a damaging side as we generate more inside 50s and shots on goal than our opponents in all games bar one, which Collingwood only had one more that us, despite sometimes the opposition having more disposals, clearances, marks and tackles. All stats that would normally indicate the victor.

The Sydney game was an aberation as they beat us by spreading better from the stoppage, and we came against some real midfield speed that night.

We wont be a truly a quick side until we can find a player who can bring the effort around the packs that Lonergan can but also has true break away speed. Howlett is ok with speed, Jobe has improved a lot with speed this year, Zaka is quick in there, we need one more. If two out of Colyer, Dalgliesh or Ross develop into AFL level wingmen then we'll have a very quick side.