Centre bounce clearances

[Crumden]

Ottens seems to cop a lot of the flack about our poor performance around centre bounce clearances, some of it a little unfairly in my opinion. While I would like to see him mix it up a bit more in the ruck (and also take more marks around the ground), I think our whole tactics around the centre bounces don't work.

When Brisbane players see the hitout going to their midfielders advantage (whether forwards or backwards), they start running forwards and back their midfielders in to get the ball. The Brisbane midfielders then know where to give the ball off (forwards) before they even get it, like a well rehearsed drill. The end result is a quick break into the forward line. Likewise for some of the other top teams.

On the other hand, we keep our players behind the ball. When our midfielders get the ball, they have to give off a handball backwards or sideways to someone else (sort of like a quarterback) to release. The trouble is, other teams quickly work this out and bear down on the midfielder and/or receiver, applying pressure to force the turnover (and quick move into their forward line as the ball is already heading that direction) or a secondary ball-up. Even if we get the break, we end up having to go wide (and slower) into the forward line.

Funnily enough, this was starkly obvious on Saturday when some-one didn't follow the usual tactics. As Jackson has been concentrating on school this year, he probably hasn't spent much time with the midfield coach. So when he got the ball, he did the instinctive thing and just kicked it forward, putting the Saints defence under immediate pressure.

I think our midfied tactics arise out of two possibly inter-related points:

1. The 'loose man in defence' negative mindset of the coaching panel; and
2. the players (and probably coaches) dont have confidence in each other winning the ball[/list=1]
   While the second point is possibly justified in some cases, we really have nothing left to lose this season so I can't understand why we don't try a more attacking plan for the rest of the season. The coaches need to start backing our players to win the ball. All we have to risk is our already poor percentage, while we can gain either a bit more exciting footy for the rest of the year or at least a better idea than we already have of the players who can't win the ball.

 

[CJH]

Originally posted by Crumden


...

Funnily enough, this was starkly obvious on Saturday when some-one didn't follow the usual tactics. As Jackson has been concentrating on school this year, he probably hasn't spent much time with the midfield coach. So when he got the ball, he did the instinctive thing and just kicked it forward, putting the Saints defence under immediate pressure.

...

Excellent post! I agree that Ottens is unfairly maligned and really is the victim of some very ordinary coaching.

I note with some amusement your correct observation of Jackson's play in the last quarter.

I was listening to 3AW at the time and they were taking the **** out of us for the stupid chip-chip sideways game plan when out of the blue, Jackson wins the ball in the centre and bangs it forward 60 metres and straight down the throat of Richo.

The commentary when something like:

"What are you doing kicking it direct like that?"

"Fair go Rex, it is only his first game. He didn't know better"

"Well this kid has a bit to learn. He'll find out not to go long and direct"

"Watch to see if the runner comes out to tell him...."


While they were trying to be funny, I suspect your description of the tactics are correct and Jackson broke the game plan.

This is why Spud and Co. must go.

 

[Crumden]

LOL. I hadn't hear the 3AW call, CJH. Its a bit of a worry if I'm starting to think like Rex. Maybe that's what supporting Richmond does to you. It does seem to be blindingly obvious to everyone but the coaches and players to go direct though.

 

[gustiger12]

Originally posted by Crumden

On the other hand, we keep our players behind the ball. When our midfielders get the ball, they have to give off a handball backwards or sideways to someone else (sort of like a quarterback) to release. The trouble is, other teams quickly work this out and bear down on the midfielder and/or receiver, applying pressure to force the turnover (and quick move into their forward line as the ball is already heading that direction) or a secondary ball-up. Even if we get the break, we end up having to go wide (and slower) into the forward line.

Hellaluyah. I posted the exact same thing after the Melbourne game in round 2. Melbourne absolutely smashed us in the midfield by doing exactly this, but did we change anything for the whole game....NOOOOOO.

It was driving me spare at this game and has continued all year from what I can see.

The second thing driving me to distraction is our insistence oh handballing to a stationary taget. It's ok if you have the runners linking up but we don't. The receiver most times has to then turn around to dispose of it due to lack of runners and usually ends up getting caught or creating a turn over.

And lastly the little handball inside to a player under just as much pressure at the person dishing off,.....makes no sense at all to me. I always thought the first rule was that you handball to advantage not our disadvantage.

 

[gustiger12]

Don't know what happened here??????????

 

[evo]

Good posts.I really hope we can see Ottens play for Richmond under a different coach.

Britain has alot to answer for in regards to our ability to clear the centre when Ottens gets so many taps.Thankfully Britain will be out on his rrrs at seasons end too.

6 more weeks till we have a new coach and a new era,6 more weeks.

 

[sante]

we are counting down the 6 weeks too!


someone make a sticky thread with a countdown till the end of the year and the start of the new era!

 

[cairo tiger]

its pretty simple really we get a ruckman to knock it to our engine room who give it to our runners who kick long to richo, he either gets it or it goes to ground and we get the pill and kick a goal....problem is otto usually wins ruck only to not have the engine room get the ball and if we do we frigg around and give it to somone like fiora who fiddles and richo get double teamed and we are all out of position...it is not rocket science...we do not have the cattle we do now have the vision and otto is not a ruckman he is a blasted chf!!!!

 

[BulldogMike]

Richmond play hard physical football then seem to lose their aggression.