Attack, take risks is Craig's new order

[Mad Dog]

thought this was worth a read

Attack, take risks is Craig's new order

adelaidenow

michaelangelo rucci


ADELAIDE has a Plan B. While Crows coach Neil Craig yesterday was not laying out his cards for tonight's AFL clash with the sixth-placed Kangaroos at Carrara, the basis of his new gameplan was clearly on public record.

Adelaide - which ranks 14th of 16 for goalkicking with 127 goals in 11 matches (average 11 goals) - will play more attacking football.

"We certainly want to see more attacking play - more risk-taking," said Craig.

Adelaide - which has played a calculated game built on defensive "zones" and putting numbers behind the play - is to gamble.

Craig notes a licence to take risks can also bring mistakes.

"We have to put up with some errors; we might have to go backwards a little bit in that area before we come forward," Craig said.

"Certainly we'll encourage guys to have a go at them - because we need to do it.

"The ground is a good size. The (fine) conditions will be conducive to play that sort of footy. We need to start to see more and more (of that attacking football).

"We've talked about it - now we need to see action."

Adelaide - which has been repeatedly challenged to settle its attack - will make no "structural" changes to its line-up.

"I'm sure it is not a structural thing," said Craig, who is challenged to decide which of Nathan Bock, Ken McGregor and Scott Stevens plays at centre half-back and how the other two work in attack with half-forward Scott Welsh and captain Mark Ricciuto.

"We can't change too much up forward," added Craig, noting Adelaide's progress to the finals is not so much in regaining injured players in the second half of the season but, "more importantly, the way we play the game".

Adelaide's foundation on a tough defensive game - regardless of where the ball is being contested - remains in Craig's Plan B.

"We've spoken in the past about our defence and how it has been reasonably good," Craig said. "It's not just our back six - it is defence all over the ground.

"It is the same concept with us searching for more attack all over the ground.

"It's not just our forwards kicking more goals, or our midfielders (being more attacking), but our defenders as well. That will be the expectation."

Basically, Adelaide is looking for the quick-moving, running game that was once its trademark. At Carrara, this Plan B should see the Crows laying tracks through the centre corridor and igniting its attacking play with forward handpasses.

"Against Essendon (in the season opener) we had too many numbers in the corridor - and trying to get through there rather than us taking a risk," Craig said.

"We now have that organised better; we actually spread more. So we have to look for the opportunities that exist and be prepared to take them."

Adelaide has been reluctant to engage in shoot-outs. But the new spirit Craig wants to inject in his team and, as his assistant Paul Hamilton put it, the "free spirit" coach Dean Laidley has pumped into the Kangaroos, suggests a high-scoring game on the Gold Coast.

"The Kangaroos are not dissimilar to Carlton," Craig said. "Their style of play is very similar - it is reasonably quick, they kick fairly long and direct, their contested ball at stoppages is very good. So our guys, after playing Carlton (on May 26), have a reasonable feel as to what to expect."

The Kangaroos have to guess what Adelaide intends to deliver - or rather how.

Tonight's winner goes to the mid-season break with a 7-5 win-loss count and firmly in the top eight. The loser will be at 6-6 and in the pack.

 

[jenny61_99]

And that's exactly how they trained yesterday afternoon.

Our comment was, if they play like that tomorrow night (tonight) then we will win!

 

[Mad Dog]

And that's exactly how they trained yesterday afternoon.

Our comment was, if they play like that tomorrow night (tonight) then we will win!

Apparently they've been training like that all week.....

hopefully someone has realised that enough is enough

 

[jenny61_99]

Apparently they've been training like that all week.....

hopefully someone has realised that enough is enough

Im confused though MD... didn't we play like this all last year?? We had a percentage of what 170 or something? I wonder if Craig felt he had to change the game plan because other teams (ie. Weagles) had figured us out?

 

[maccas_no1]

Like I pointed out on the thread I started Hawthorn a much younger list than ours with far less senior players and missing their two key forwards produced an attacking game that netted 27 goals..............even the AFC can produce that sort of return and lets take nothing away from Carlton here, because the AFC struggled to beat Carlton and Port lost to Carlton.

Yes you have to have a good defence but to base your whole game plan around it and still not get the desired result questions have to be asked.

 

[Mad Dog]

Im confused though MD... didn't we play like this all last year?? We had a percentage of what 170 or something? I wonder if Craig felt he had to change the game plan because other teams (ie. Weagles) had figured us out?

I'm confused also Jenny - and this is what I was rabbiting on about earlier in the week.

On one hand the coach says in his presser after last week (essentially) that the players weren't responding to his directive to play more attacking football as a defensive mindset wouldn't get the job done...

...and yet this year so far has been just about the lowest scoring period in our Club's history.

 

[maccas_no1]

I'm confused also Jenny - and this is what I was rabbiting on about earlier in the week.

On one hand the coach says in his presser after last week (essentially) that the players weren't responding to his directive to play more attacking football as a defensive mindset wouldn't get the job done...

...and yet this year so far has been just about the lowest scoring period in our Club's history.

Put me in the same basket

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I'm confused also Jenny - and this is what I was rabbiting on about earlier in the week.

On one hand the coach says in his presser after last week (essentially) that the players weren't responding to his directive to play more attacking football as a defensive mindset wouldn't get the job done...

...and yet this year so far has been just about the lowest scoring period in our Club's history.

FFS people how can you play full on attacking footy when your trying to cobble a side together what with so many injuries.

We've had some powerful attacking performances over the last couple of seasons ......Craigs gameplan hasn't changed ......we're playing more kids now due to injuries "which everyone wanted" ......but we expect these kids to get it right immediately .....

Hawthorn ....is Roughead, Doyle and (?who normally plays CHB) ...having no forwards. Hawthorn was criticized just a couple of weeks ago for being dour and defensive .....now they're the attacking champions of the league

Each game on its merits ......Iam happy with our gameplan since Craig has been coach .....Iam happy that being injury riddled with no team continuity that we have been in winning positions every week.

And if you didn't enjoy last weeks game against Geelong then you just don't appreciate good footy!!!!!

Sure I'd like to win by 10 goals every week ....but do people seriously think the opposition will allow that every week

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Im confused though MD... didn't we play like this all last year?? We had a percentage of what 170 or something? I wonder if Craig felt he had to change the game plan because other teams (ie. Weagles) had figured us out?

How about having 26 players to choose from

How about having two different ruckman - one who hasn't cemented a position in Centrals yet.

How about losing Hentschell, Bode and Roo .....our most influential forwrds last year

Yep ....lets play attacking footy where in todays game one loose link (young inexperienced player) ....one turnover .....has a two goal swing.

Guys lets be real here .......Craig will play attacking footy when he has the side to do it.

If he gets beaten by 6 goals against the Roos ....he'll be criticized for NOT going defensive

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Two preliminary finals in two years ....when all the "EXPERTS" had us as wooden spooners who had to rebuild ......even experts on this board said it was a mandatory 5 years before we would be competitive again.

We've had a wonderful ride .....every week we're in the game

We've had the worst run of injuries that I can remember ..... And no-one's happy with our gameplan ......

Try and learn about the game ...rather than listen to your media to garnish opinion

 

[Mad Dog]

FFS people how can you play full on attacking footy when your trying to cobble a side together what with so many injuries.

here's a "for instance"

Round 10 v Essendon last year we kicked 30 goals with no

Torney
Bock
Hudson
Welsh
Perrie
Hart
Clarke

against Geelong we had no

Burton
Hentschel
Biglands
Perrie
Reilly
Bode

against Essendon we cobbled together a side with argueably a comparable number of injuries to important forward line players. Sure - Essendon were crap last year and Geelong are firing this year - but we were without much of our fwd line last year but still kicked big scores....and there are numerous more examples where it could be argued that our injuries were more severe last year than this.

There are really only 2 possibilities here.

Either the gameplan has been turned more defensive to counter the kind of caning we received in the 3rd qtr of the Prelim last year...

or

the personnel missing this year are more important than those missing last year.

 

[Mad Dog]

Two preliminary finals in two years ....when all the "EXPERTS" had us as wooden spooners who had to rebuild ......even experts on this board said it was a mandatory 5 years before we would be competitive again.

We've had a wonderful ride .....every week we're in the game

We've had the worst run of injuries that I can remember ..... And no-one's happy with our gameplan ......

Try and learn about the game ...rather than listen to your media to garnish opinion

hahaaaa - yes we've only been watching the game for 5 minutes........

I think you've just made the point here that I was trying to make.

Last year we had heaps of injuries - but it didn't affect our gameplan

This year we have heaps of injuries - but it is affecting our gameplan

 

[jenny61_99]

Hey WW - don't get me wrong, I'm not bagging our game-plan, just don't understand it. Hence the . I loved watching our open, free-flowing attack last year, but I also understand we didn't end up winning so perhaps some tweaks needed to be made. Perhaps out of necessity (due to injuries) - but maybe it has manifested into something even the coach wasn't aiming for?

 

[- PC -]

I must admit Rucci made me smile ... Plan B

I think NC does have Plan A Plan B and Plan C... I think the problem I see is that he dictates the style according to the opponent and not the match situation.

 

[- PC -]

How about having two different ruckman - one who hasn't cemented a position in Centrals yet.

According to my eyes he doesnt need to cement a spot at Centrals...hes doing quite fine at the AFC

Yep ....lets play attacking footy where in todays game one loose link (young inexperienced player) ....one turnover .....has a two goal swing.

Says who? As long as the players remember the JOhn Kennedy sr adage of who has the ball etc then the players should be experienced enough to work to get the ball.

Even with the game plan we have now of waves of players moving up the ground in rugby scrum style we are still susceptible to the turnover. See Geelong last week.

Guys lets be real here .......Craig will play attacking footy when he has the side to do it.

Who was available round 2?

If he gets beaten by 6 goals against the Roos ....he'll be criticized for NOT going defensive

Unfortunately that is true. Human nature Im afraid

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Craig notes a licence to take risks can also bring mistakes.

"We have to put up with some errors; we might have to go backwards a little bit in that area before we come forward," Craig said.

And that is the most important part of the article.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Last year we had heaps of injuries - but it didn't affect our gameplan

This year we have heaps of injuries - but it is affecting our gameplan

For the last couple of years we have had plenty of players kicking goals, but this year they seemed to have gone into their shell and are afraid to try.

That's the confusing part for me.

 

[maccas_no1]

here's a "for instance"

Round 10 v Essendon last year we kicked 30 goals with no

Torney
Bock
Hudson
Welsh
Perrie
Hart
Clarke

against Geelong we had no

Burton
Hentschel
Biglands
Perrie
Reilly
Bode

against Essendon we cobbled together a side with argueably a comparable number of injuries to important forward line players. Sure - Essendon were crap last year and Geelong are firing this year - but we were without much of our fwd line last year but still kicked big scores....and there are numerous more examples where it could be argued that our injuries were more severe last year than this.

There are really only 2 possibilities here.

Either the gameplan has been turned more defensive to counter the kind of caning we received in the 3rd qtr of the Prelim last year...

or

the personnel missing this year are more important than those missing last year.

This is how I see also and this is why I brought up Hawthorn's performance last night..................missing key players....................didnt go well geez we arent going to be able to produce our running, attacking game style so lets just shut the game down and make it ultra defensive because Carlton forward structure 'on paper' looks a hell of alot better than ours.

 

[- PC -]

For the last couple of years we have had plenty of players kicking goals, but this year they seemed to have gone into their shell and are afraid to try.

That's the confusing part for me.

''Hahaha Hey Knighta you missed a sitter haha look for a Drummond thread on BF tomorrow''

''Shut up Pez at least they think Im a Gun and not a nug''

 

[conVINCEd]

Tonight's winner goes to the mid-season break with a 7-5 win-loss count and firmly in the top eight. The loser will be at 6-6 and in the pack.

Great research from the Rooch again - the Kangaroos are actually 7-4 at present, so if they won they'll be 8-4.

Anyway, we need to attack when we have the footy. Its fine to get numbers back and press when we don't, but lets GO down the middle and long into the forward line when we have the pill. We've got Kenny who is a brilliant contested mark, Roo (nuff said) and Welsh who can carve anyone up when given space to lead into - so lets get it in there quickly so the opposition doesn't have time to fill that space.

"Its not rocket surgery"...

 

[maccas_no1]

Great research from the Rooch again - the Kangaroos are actually 7-4 at present, so if they won they'll be 8-4.

Anyway, we need to attack when we have the footy. Its fine to get numbers back and press when we don't, but lets GO down the middle and long into the forward line when we have the pill. We've got Kenny who is a brilliant contested mark, Roo (nuff said) and Welsh who can carve anyone up when given space to lead into - so lets get it in there quickly so the opposition doesn't have time to fill that space.

"Its not rocket surgery"...

Exactly spot on, open up the forwardline and give your forwards space, leave Roo one out in the square, have Mcgregor and Welsh out wider and push into the middle of the F50 area.

 

[Lidge]

Attack, take risks is Craig's new order

adelaidenow

michaelangelo rucci


Tonight's winner goes to the mid-season break with a 7-5 win-loss count and firmly in the top eight. The loser will be at 6-6 and in the pack.

This Rucci clown knows his stuff doesn't he?

A win for us sees us go to the break with an 8-4 record. A loss to you mob would see us 7-5.

As much as I hate the phrase, tonight is one of those '8 point' games. Always good to have a win against those around you on the ladder and build a buffer for later in the year.

 

[Tas]

Attacking is good but it can be a lot harder to do in practice. If the game is fairly open and we are pilling goals on in the first quarter I can't see NC not trying to shut down the game.

We typically force a lot of teams to play negative with our pretty good starts. I think for NC's plan to work the Crows would need to go out on the front foot early in the game.

If I was NC planning against us I would look to play defensive in the first and third quarters, go on the offensive in the second and last quarters. It is the first and third quarters that usually win us the games and we usually lose them in the 2nd and 4th quarters. I guess Laidely puts them to sleep at the minor breaks.

 

[Gets!]

We will romp it in.

 

[RoosterLad]

This Rucci clown knows his stuff doesn't he?

A win for us sees us go to the break with an 8-4 record. A loss to you mob would see us 7-5.

As much as I hate the phrase, tonight is one of those '8 point' games. Always good to have a win against those around you on the ladder and build a buffer for later in the year.

You can see why we love Rucci.

It is a huge game tonight, I'm looking forward to it.. I just hope we play a good brand of footy.. I want to be excited! (thanks Jars)