Assistant Coaches - Inside the Play, team defence - 23/4

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Lore

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I've tried to cut this down as much as I can... bits that aren't direct quotes are paraphrased. It's really quite interesting even the bits I cut.. mostly anecdotes from for example a Hawthorn vs. Geelong Grand Final. Absolutely fascinating some of the shit they get up to :eyes: Also Woosha having principles and not letting the WC people take photos illegally :D

"In terms of the lifestyle; in a lot of ways it's the hardest job in footy," one opposition analyst said.

"I might fly up to Sydney on the Friday night, fly back and be at Etihad watching a game the next day, then be in the box for us on the Saturday night.

"On Sunday I'd fly to Perth, come back on the red-eye, and Monday morning you have to be ready to go for the next week."

Essendon scout Rob Harding defines the role of an opposition analyst as "a PhD in footy".

"It doesn't teach you about culture, environment, values or relationships – and they're huge – but it is a great grounding in this one area," he said.
Harding is the Bombers' game intelligence and opposition strategy coach and works in tandem with high-profile coaches John Worsfold and Mark Neeld to develop the club's tactics.
Behind-the-goals footage has been available for the last ten years, alongside increasingly available in-depth statistical data, which is changing the role. Used to attend 4 games, now they analyse footage from 8 or 9 games per week.

Former West Coast opposition analyst Mark Stone, who was an assistant coach at Sydney and Fremantle and now coaches Glenelg, would diagram rival sides' stoppages on PowerPoint.

"I remember going to a couple of games and seeing guys hold their phones up and take photos, but we never did it," Stone told AFL.com.au.

"(Then Eagles coach) John Worsfold and Tim Gepp were ethically against it, so we didn't do it.


"If we couldn't watch it with our own eyes and break it down off tape, and then explain it to the coaches and the players, then we weren't good enough."
They also sneak into training, climb trees, buy supporter gear, bring their kids along, question legit supporters about stuff, even sleeping overnight in a coaches box at Ikon Park...
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-02-18/secret-spies-the-life-of-an-opposition-analyst
 

Lore

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I like Skipworth as a forwards coach. I don't know if I can blame him for the midfield when the main couple of cogs are missing in there, but yeah. The new forwards coach seems to be trying to fix what wasn't broke, with half his men injured. Defence... I don't think it's functioned effectively since at least 2013. The midfield pressure and rebound through McKenna and McGrath did a reasonable job of keeping the last line out of the firing line last year, but with that all rejigged this year, Saad in, McGrath in the middle, and McKenna suspended, the midfield turned into zombies... well idk. Whole thing is more like a stew than a michelin star meal rn.
 
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According to Tom Morris on the couch you guys are chasing our assistant coach truck rutten to come in and be your senior assistant on the advice of dan

*apologies if not the place to put this
I’m a fan of Dan Richardson was his idea to get rid of Neeld and sounds like he will be making another good decision
 

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According to Tom Morris on the couch you guys are chasing our assistant coach truck rutten to come in and be your senior assistant on the advice of dan richardson

*apologies if not the place to put this
I'm going to assume he's the defensive coach?
 

Zach Package

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Interesting...

Mark Harvey cops a bad wrap but generally I find him to be a pretty good operator, he's got an incredibly happy knack for developing really good defenders out of not a lot.

I personally don't think that's the part of our game that I'd spend big tickets on improvement but anything that broadens the scope and brings in a little IP from elsewhere I'm all for, I sometimes feel like we get a little bit stuck in our ways because we tend to grow most of our guys in house.
 

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Interesting...

Mark Harvey cops a bad wrap but generally I find him to be a pretty good operator, he's got an incredibly happy knack for developing really good defenders out of not a lot.

I personally don't think that's the part of our game that I'd spend big tickets on improvement but anything that broadens the scope and brings in a little IP from elsewhere I'm all for, I sometimes feel like we get a little bit stuck in our ways because we tend to grow most of our guys in house.
Development role for Harvs?
 
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Oh.... Ben Rutten. thank Christ - I mis-read it as Brett Ratten - that would’ve been bad. I’ve no idea who Ben Rutten is but I’m relieved
Brett Ratten would be pretty good imo, he got more out of Carlton's shitty list than Malthouse could. His knowledge from the Hawks would be pretty valuable too
 

Eleven 38

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Interesting...

Mark Harvey cops a bad wrap but generally I find him to be a pretty good operator, he's got an incredibly happy knack for developing really good defenders out of not a lot.

I personally don't think that's the part of our game that I'd spend big tickets on improvement but anything that broadens the scope and brings in a little IP from elsewhere I'm all for, I sometimes feel like we get a little bit stuck in our ways because we tend to grow most of our guys in house.
Getting the ball out of the backline I'd say is top 2 in our weaknesses. The other one would be the defensive side of our midfield. 2 areas which you could involve a defensive coach.
 

Milanista28

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Members first email...

Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce Ben Rutten will join the Bombers coaching department in 2019.

Rutten brings a wealth of football knowledge to the club after spending four years as an assistant coach at Richmond Football Club, and playing 229 games for Adelaide between 2003 and 2014.

“Ben is a quality person and coach who will complement our current coaching structure,” GM of Football, Dan Richardson said.

“We are respectful that Ben’s focus is on Richmond’s upcoming finals campaign and as a result we will provide a further update once these commitments are complete.

“We look forward to welcoming Ben, Kylie and boys – Jack and Bernie to Essendon
 
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