Strategy Breathing new life in the centre

[PremierCatAttack]

I have been struck by our work out of the middle. We are not a great center square team, but we are improving. Duncan is an obvious catalyst, Selwood is Selwood.

But for me, the combination of Stanley and Blicavs and their addition to our spread is amazing - are we watching the evolution of the game in front of our eyes?

I am not proclaiming that we are certainties for finals, but it seems to me that reports of our demise may have been (somewhat) exaggerated. > If only because we are finding fluency in the back half and our forward line looks pretty sharp

EDIT - It was kindly pointed out to me that this discussion should not take place without mentioning Josh Caddy. I didn't mean to offend by omission.

 

[crocsta]

Stanley creates panic with opposition mids when he breaks from centre. They all get drawn to tackle him as they know he can wind up speed. He then gives it off to the mids as he gets tackled but this creates flow and space for receiving mids. It's just one new dimension that's working for us.

 

[manboob]

But for me, the combination of Stanley and Blicavs and their addition to our spread is amazing - are we watching the evolution of the game in front of our eyes?

Cannot be underestimated.

 

[Turbocat]

Its all very new , Stanley and Blitz have 62 and 51 games played... and of that very few doing their current role. Its being done on shear talent...the skill will develop and they will get better. Caddy , Duncan are young mids that will grow the more they play together.
Just how brave can we be? Bring Gore in , bring perhaps.

But it still all revolves around the Captain. With him its all reasonable , without him it may well be too much for so many young guys when there is no Bartel or Kelly.

 

[catswhiskers]

No doubt Blicavs has made a difference. Playing Caddy as a mid (not a small forward) has helped. Playing Johnson as a forward (not a mid) has simplified matters.

Lets hope we keep it this way.

 

[BennyLitter]

The difference that I've noticed in the last couple of games since blitz has been used predominantly in the middle has been astounding! [emoji106]

 

[goyoucatters]

Stanley creates panic with opposition mids when he breaks from centre. They all get drawn to tackle him as they know he can wind up speed. He then gives it off to the mids as he gets tackled but this creates flow and space for receiving mids. It's just one new dimension that's working for us.

Both of them are huge cogs for us at the moment. They are getting their hands on it, drawing opponents, and pretty much getting it away to players in space time after time.

Their ability to ride the tackle and still clear the congestion with a clean disposal is massive. The Pies did get Blitz once last night HTB but they're both proving so effective at the moment in winning the footy cleanly and then releasing it to players who can break away.

It's actually frightening (in a good way) to imagine where the two of them might land with more and more experience under their belts.

The 'first' and the 'last' on the list might just revolutionise the way our entire list plays the game.

 

[Jon Douglas]

I have written on other posts for the last 2 weeks the best position for Blitz himself and the team is in the guts. I did not think of him however as a tagger - that was a stroke of genius in the first half. Blitz really got us going and he negated their best player for a while.

We have a weak midfield and our rucks are so so - with Blitz in the midfield we get a good big willing big body - and the possibility of a third man up to nullify or beat opposition ruckman.

Now if I can only get Walker back in the team at CHF and Clark into the ruck my job will be done !

Imagine having a dominant first ruckman ????

 

[00VicWard001]

Stanley creates panic with opposition mids when he breaks from centre. They all get drawn to tackle him as they know he can wind up speed. He then gives it off to the mids as he gets tackled but this creates flow and space for receiving mids. It's just one new dimension that's working for us.

He breaks into a run a fair bit as well. Willing to take it on and capable enough to handpass it out or bomb it long.

 

[00VicWard001]

The difference that I've noticed in the last couple of games since blitz has been used predominantly in the middle has been astounding! [emoji106]

Suddenly we are not a bottom four midfield, but a midfield that is unpredictable and difficult to deal with. Who do you tag? Selwood? Then Johnson moves into the middle. Duncan? Then Selwood is free. Blitz? He's too big and strong and he goes where ever he wants, he's unpredictable - he's too big to deal with in the forward line, he's too big to tackle in the midfield, he would run any other player off their feet no matter how fit or disciplined they were, he's a link up player, floats into defence, and goes up for third man ups. It's just impossible to deal with him.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Was talking about Blicavs tonight with a mate who runs water for Gold Coast, he thinks from his conversations with people that the only way teams are going to be able to deal with Blicavs going forward is to play 2 players on him. One to negate and tackle at the contest(This will be a big tall player) and one who has the engine to run with him. I almost laughed. There is no way a team can afford to put 2 guys on one man, especially when Blicavs is going to run one of them off their legs anyway. All of which will only help our spread and allow our outside players to have a bigger impact because our opposition have either selected an extra big man to negate him at the contest, or they are giving up height somewhere else on the ground which we can exploit.

Its not going to be smooth sailing this year, but its going to be a very exciting rollercoaster, as teams learn to negate his influence and Blicavs learns how to get around it. Because I can guarantee that horse will be devoting significant time to how best to deal with Blicavs next week.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Suddenly we are not a bottom four midfield, but a midfield that is unpredictable and difficult to deal with. Who do you tag? Selwood? Then Johnson moves into the middle. Duncan? Then Selwood is free. Blitz? He's too big and strong and he goes where ever he wants, he's unpredictable - he's too big to deal with in the forward line, he's too big to tackle in the midfield, he would run any other player off their feet no matter how fit or disciplined they were, he's a link up player, floats into defence, and goes up for third man ups. It's just impossible to deal with him.

Actually you are right Vic, it could be that opposition decide the best way to deal with Blicavs is to focus on stopping others and accept that Blicavs is going to cause you abit of pain.

Its interesting, I am feeling really confident in the Stanley Blicavs combination with the support of Clark. They are just so mobile together both at the contest that they've completely transformed our ability to win clearances. Will be interesting to see how they go this week against Pyke, and Tippet.

 

[BennyLitter]

Suddenly we are not a bottom four midfield, but a midfield that is unpredictable and difficult to deal with. Who do you tag? Selwood? Then Johnson moves into the middle. Duncan? Then Selwood is free. Blitz? He's too big and strong and he goes where ever he wants, he's unpredictable - he's too big to deal with in the forward line, he's too big to tackle in the midfield, he would run any other player off their feet no matter how fit or disciplined they were, he's a link up player, floats into defence, and goes up for third man ups. It's just impossible to deal with him.

All really good points, Duncan was another missing piece of the puzzle. Throw an in form caddy through there then we start looking like we could match it with most.

It will be interesting to see how the other teams prepare for our current biggest weapon, the third man up!!

 

[Jagshemash]

This is huge tactically. Not only does Blicavs block his direct opponent from access to the stoppage around the ground, when he goes third up he hits the ball away from them. If he is playing a run with role, like he did on Pendles, it's obviously difficult for his direct opponent to have any useful effect at the stoppage if the ball is being tapped away, while we will effectively have plus 1. The AFL helps us here with their stupid rule of not being able to block the third man up.

 

[Frappe]

One thing our midfield have to work on, especially against Freo, Hawks and Swans is making tackles stick. For mine this year, the umpires are giving license to players (see Fyfe) to break tackles at a point where previously it was holding the ball. I thought this happened many times against the Dockers in Rd2.

 

[Seeds]

I have been struck by our work out of the middle. We are not a great center square team, but we are improving. Duncan is an obvious catalyst, Selwood is Selwood.

But for me, the combination of Stanley and Blicavs and their addition to our spread is amazing - are we watching the evolution of the game in front of our eyes?

I am not proclaiming that we are certainties for finals, but it seems to me that reports of our demise may have been (somewhat) exaggerated. > If only because we are finding fluency in the back half and our forward line looks pretty sharp

So you've mentioned all the midfielders except for the one who absolutely killed it on centre clearances on Friday. I.e. Caddy.

 

[Seeds]

Something else that has been missed is Johnson is starting to get miles into his legs after not being able to run in the preseason. If he gets back to where he was when fit last year then we are infinitely a better side in the midfield as there is two players for taggers to consider rather than just Selwood.

 

[Turbocat]

Something else that has been missed is Johnson is starting to get miles into his legs after not being able to run in the preseason. If he gets back to where he was when fit last year then we are infinitely a better side in the midfield as there is two players for taggers to consider rather than just Selwood.

Good point. He has shown before that when not fit or carrying an injury he can really drop off

 

[Teriyakicat]

Suddenly we are not a bottom four midfield, but a midfield that is unpredictable and difficult to deal with. Who do you tag? Selwood? Then Johnson moves into the middle. Duncan? Then Selwood is free. Blitz? He's too big and strong and he goes where ever he wants, he's unpredictable - he's too big to deal with in the forward line, he's too big to tackle in the midfield, he would run any other player off their feet no matter how fit or disciplined they were, he's a link up player, floats into defence, and goes up for third man ups. It's just impossible to deal with him.

Having an improved Johnson, Duncan and Caddy is the key- when they were all quiet at various times in recent weeks, it made the opposition decision of who to tag so bloody easy. You're right (as is Seeds above)- now they will have their work cut out for them, won't they? It'll be interesting to see how one stops a 100kg, 6'6' goliath with a traditional-sized stopper.

 

[Bobby_]

Let's not get too carried away though. We have beaten Gold Coast, Richmond and now Collingwood.
The losses to Hawthorn, Fremantle, a lesser degree, North Melbourne, those games have illustrated a significant gap in overall quality through the middle of the ground.

Sydney this week will be the most interesting game of the year to date. Their midfield is ridiculously good. Pyke looks to be back in form too.

A loss will be expected. 4 goals would be admirable imo. If there's another one of those 50+ losses though . . .

 

[Teriyakicat]

Was talking about Blicavs tonight with a mate who runs water for Gold Coast, he thinks from his conversations with people that the only way teams are going to be able to deal with Blicavs going forward is to play 2 players on him. One to negate and tackle at the contest(This will be a big tall player) and one who has the engine to run with him. I almost laughed. There is no way a team can afford to put 2 guys on one man, especially when Blicavs is going to run one of them off their legs anyway. All of which will only help our spread and allow our outside players to have a bigger impact because our opposition have either selected an extra big man to negate him at the contest, or they are giving up height somewhere else on the ground which we can exploit.

Its not going to be smooth sailing this year, but its going to be a very exciting rollercoaster, as teams learn to negate his influence and Blicavs learns how to get around it. Because I can guarantee that horse will be devoting significant time to how best to deal with Blicavs next week.

What's the bet the AFL invent a new rule to negate Blitz, 4quarter? I'm calling it now. He will be wrapped up in so much red tape he won't be able to move...
until he and the coaches nut out Plan B

 

[PremierCatAttack]

So you've mentioned all the midfielders except for the one who absolutely killed it on centre clearances on Friday. I.e. Caddy.

Ok so I missed Caddy. I am simply trying to generate a discussion > my football knowledge isn't as sharp as I am sure yours and others is.

 

[Daniel McL]

Love the centre bounce setup now!

Selwood as always, Duncan now in there with his foot skills if it comes to him to hit a lead towards the forward line, and then Blicavs or Caddy finishing it with their toughness (though two different players).

Stevie J now predominantly playing in the forward line I like, can push into midfield & win ball when needed. But also directs play well & creates space in forward line for Hawkins & Clark, etc.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

All really good points, Duncan was another missing piece of the puzzle. Throw an in form caddy through there then we start looking like we could match it with most.

It will be interesting to see how the other teams prepare for our current biggest weapon, the third man up!!

Selwood is Selwood but having Duncan and Caddy play well in the guts makes us a 6 goal better side.
Loving how we are using Ballroom and if Stanley can build fitness and stay injury free we are a totally different proposition.
If we get fast ball into F50 we will score profusely - more 7 goal quarters please !!

When you consider we have Gore and Jansen to come in as mids our depth could be very impressive
I also think Nakia will be a revelation in the middle once he finds his feet properly.
How quickly things can change

 

[FredLeDeux]

Love the centre bounce setup now!

Selwood as always, Duncan now in there with his foot skills if it comes to him to hit a lead towards the forward line, and then Blicavs or Caddy finishing it with their toughness (though two different players).

Stevie J now predominantly playing in the forward line I like, can push into midfield & win ball when needed. But also directs play well & creates space in forward line for Hawkins & Clark, etc.

All good points, DM.
But Sydney's on ball brigade is a seriously different proposition to the Collingwood one we faced last week.