Thread starter
#1
Was going to post this during the week, but would've added great fuel to the Freo trolling fire, but now we've won, there ain't to much they can say 
So anyway, what areas of football is there that we can improve on. I still think we have a lot of improvement in us, which is great because we are already performing well, and I can see a number of areas to pick up in;
1 - obviousbly winning away, but thats pointing out the bleeding obvious so we'll forget that one and concentrate on general play.
2 - our disposal into the forward 50 is still very ordinary at best. Even when Gaspar comes back it still won't be great because he isn't the best kick. This is why I lik ethe idea of Jako being there for now but thats only a temporary stop-gap. He won't be there for too long.
As I've mentioned I'd like to see Carroll tried here because (I know I'm harping on about this, this must be the 10th time i've said it this season) he is a good kick of the ball when he knows where it has to go.
3 - Aside from poor disposal into the 50, lack of marking target in the first place has meant almost all of our goals have been kicked by small men on the run. I'd say we'd be close to last (if not in last) for marks inside attacking 50.
4 - Communicatoin doesn't seem to be the best going. Been quite a few times this year that guys seem to be getting run down (Hunter the one that springs to mind, but there was one with Gardy today and somebody else but can't remember) when teammates have been in the area and either not told them about it, or the man in possession hasn't bothered to listen or take it in.
5 - Tackling. Do not make enough tackles. Even today the tackle count wasn't in our favour. and added to that Chick and Kerr would make a very large chunk of them. Hopefully the little dog Ready can change that around abit.
6 - Hands below the knees. Seem to be improving each week. It was absolutely pathetic against the Hawks (some of the worst handling I've seen from an Eagles team for a while). Slowly improving but still a few guys who's hand below their knees aren't the best. Judd is superb and should probably give lessons at training - I reckon he'd nearly allready have the best hands below knee level in the AFL, or go close to it. This is the type of skill error that needs to be ironed out. The H&A season is now basically a quarter of the way through, so its not the start of the season anymore.
7 - Need someone who can take pack marks regularly. These players are very valuable. Gardiner does it on occasions but not regularly, and aside from him there doesn't seem to be anyone that can do it. Cox doesn't take many at all. They are quite rare, but we do need someone to work on their pack marking skills - It would be another top bow to Gardy's every growing belt if he could develop this. Its all frustrating because I think he takes the ruck thing to far, in that he oftens punches in pack contests, I'd rather see him try and take the grab.
One area I'd like to congratulate the lads on for their improvement is the defence from kick ins. It was brilliant today. Last week against Adelaide (particularly early on) I was screaming at the ease in which they went through the wings and into their forward 50 from the kick in. Today not so for Freo as we put in a very tight zone. In fact, I dont think they would've gone from the kick in to the wing without us touching it once today - last week Adelaide did that and went further into their attack on 4 or 5 occasions last weekend.
Thoughts??
So anyway, what areas of football is there that we can improve on. I still think we have a lot of improvement in us, which is great because we are already performing well, and I can see a number of areas to pick up in;
1 - obviousbly winning away, but thats pointing out the bleeding obvious so we'll forget that one and concentrate on general play.
2 - our disposal into the forward 50 is still very ordinary at best. Even when Gaspar comes back it still won't be great because he isn't the best kick. This is why I lik ethe idea of Jako being there for now but thats only a temporary stop-gap. He won't be there for too long.
As I've mentioned I'd like to see Carroll tried here because (I know I'm harping on about this, this must be the 10th time i've said it this season) he is a good kick of the ball when he knows where it has to go.
3 - Aside from poor disposal into the 50, lack of marking target in the first place has meant almost all of our goals have been kicked by small men on the run. I'd say we'd be close to last (if not in last) for marks inside attacking 50.
4 - Communicatoin doesn't seem to be the best going. Been quite a few times this year that guys seem to be getting run down (Hunter the one that springs to mind, but there was one with Gardy today and somebody else but can't remember) when teammates have been in the area and either not told them about it, or the man in possession hasn't bothered to listen or take it in.
5 - Tackling. Do not make enough tackles. Even today the tackle count wasn't in our favour. and added to that Chick and Kerr would make a very large chunk of them. Hopefully the little dog Ready can change that around abit.
6 - Hands below the knees. Seem to be improving each week. It was absolutely pathetic against the Hawks (some of the worst handling I've seen from an Eagles team for a while). Slowly improving but still a few guys who's hand below their knees aren't the best. Judd is superb and should probably give lessons at training - I reckon he'd nearly allready have the best hands below knee level in the AFL, or go close to it. This is the type of skill error that needs to be ironed out. The H&A season is now basically a quarter of the way through, so its not the start of the season anymore.
7 - Need someone who can take pack marks regularly. These players are very valuable. Gardiner does it on occasions but not regularly, and aside from him there doesn't seem to be anyone that can do it. Cox doesn't take many at all. They are quite rare, but we do need someone to work on their pack marking skills - It would be another top bow to Gardy's every growing belt if he could develop this. Its all frustrating because I think he takes the ruck thing to far, in that he oftens punches in pack contests, I'd rather see him try and take the grab.
One area I'd like to congratulate the lads on for their improvement is the defence from kick ins. It was brilliant today. Last week against Adelaide (particularly early on) I was screaming at the ease in which they went through the wings and into their forward 50 from the kick in. Today not so for Freo as we put in a very tight zone. In fact, I dont think they would've gone from the kick in to the wing without us touching it once today - last week Adelaide did that and went further into their attack on 4 or 5 occasions last weekend.
Thoughts??

