Attacking the ball carrier.

[the distributer]

Noticed last night we often had 2 or 3 blokes attacking the ball carrier only for the ball carrier to dish off at the last minute leaving us out numbered/out of position to put pressure on the new ball carrier, IMO we need one or 2 at most attacking the carrier, the Cats also use this as a ploy, they simply draw as many tacklers as possible and then dish off and they are very, very good at it, we need to be mindfull of this IMO, not sure if this deserved its own thread or not, feel free to merge if not, i just thought we got sucked in to many times last night.

 

[hellfire]

This is why our press was so much more effective last year. We would make our tackle on the ball carrier stick, with one or two swarming them, then we would go to the potential receivers and force a stoppage or turnover. Last night, we left the receivers free as you said. We need to rectify this for Saturday, and our tackles MUST stick. Force them to handball backwards by clogging up the long kick option, harass the receivers, then swarm the ball carrier!

 

[mwalker]

This is why our press was so much more effective last year. We would make our tackle on the ball carrier stick, with one or two swarming them, then we would go to the potential receivers and force a stoppage or turnover. Last night, we left the receivers free as you said. We need to rectify this for Saturday, and our tackles MUST stick. Force them to handball backwards by clogging up the long kick option, harass the receivers, then swarm the ball carrier!

I noticed that too, we had too many attacking the carrier and not enough checking of their outlets. Hopefully the boys fix that for next week and we can get Geelong handball happy and going backwards for long periods.

 

[Quicky]

I think it's an important point. Last year we were excellent at pressuring the recievers. We need to improve on this area. We have the intent but we need to be smarter about it.

 

[the distributer]

Also noticed that when we commit so many troops to the one tackle even when we put enough pressue on he would just handball into space/clear the area, then we were almost always second to that contest because we over commited in the first contest.

 

[kevind]

We seem incapable of applying the press as effectively as last year and we are left with an around the boundary style that struggles to score.

We need to do a little more of what Shaw did at a critical time last night when he went through the centre corridor to Blair>Cloke>goal. It took Hawthorn by surprise.

We need to take risks next week and get the ball long and deep into the forward line as quick as possible. Play on at all costs. It will force Scarlett to play deeper.

I wouldn't mind seeing Goldsack( in for Beames) play as a defensive forward on Scarlett. He has the speed to go with him and as Goldsack has a good leap and body size could trouble him in the air.

 

[mwalker]

We should not forget that our version of the press/swarm whatever we called it last year was a new concept for the other teams, thus we got maximum value out of it. This year entire game plans have been worked out over the summer to counter us specifically (knowing other teams will copy it as well) yet we have still come through to another GF.

Still we needed one less person attacking the ball carrier on friday and one more getting ready to pounce on the reciever.

 

[the distributer]

We seem incapable of applying the press as effectively as last year and we are left with an around the boundary style that struggles to score.

We need to do a little more of what Shaw did at a critical time last night when he went through the centre corridor to Blair>Cloke>goal. It took Hawthorn by surprise.

We need to take risks next week and get the ball long and deep into the forward line as quick as possible. Play on at all costs. It will force Scarlett to play deeper.

I wouldn't mind seeing Goldsack( in for Beames) play as a defensive forward on Scarlett. He has the speed to go with him and as Goldsack has a good leap and body size could trouble him in the air.

Yep, Mick said that too, we basicly played not to lose, we didn't play to win, we were reactive for most of the night too IMO, we need to go nuts to beat the Cats and play high risk football, play on more, go through the middle etc etc, if it doesn't come off it doesn't come off, i'd rather us die on our feet than live on our knees, time for flair, not this robotic style we've adopted over the last month.

 

[blaze036]

Our press was better last year because we were less fatigued

 

[Raymond Rougeau]

Don't forget ppl learn and adapt part of not getting caught in a tackle is understanding what is happening and responding accordingly . Last year the pressure and swarms of bodies were not expected