Changes Round 8 vs Freo

[Mojorisin]

It's not about Buku, its about the team. He is either up to the role or he is not and the last couple of weeks have been alarming. JOD, Buss and Coff/Cleary as the 3rd with Lobb playing the Darcy role is a significantly better proposition when players are available. In the meantime Gards is better than Buku until JOD returns

Im also not sure how much is Buku's fault, there is no way he would get away with playing that far off of his opponent if it wasn't a coach directive.

 

[Libbaaaa]

JOD is a great player already with a very high ceiling. Think Alex Rance.

He has been a great pick-up considering he came from nowhere and barely played competitive footy, hopefully he continues to improve. But he is not a great player yet and comparing him to one of the best full backs in history won't help.

 

[lachy]

Personally I'm just not sure why is role was to be lined up on Curnow. Even though we're undermanned, has Buku even shown he can play that sort of role? Buss at the very least had a good game on Hogan last year, if we're desperate and Gardner can't handle it why wasn't that our go to?

Khamis is a limited player but he can play well when it's within that limitation. First few games he was really the spare defender that didn't really follow his opponent that closely. He was mostly there to intercept the ball when pressure was on the kicker and come in as the third man in marking contests. Occasionally had to cover an opponent but that was mostly when there was a breakdown in another matchup.

We've moved away from having that spare behind the ball for some reason and he's struggled. Pressure up the field has also dropped off. Playing on Dangerfield or Curnow just isn't going to work for him but knowing Bevo we'll persist and then drop him when it continues to not work instead of reverting to the style that had our defence looking good.

A combination of Injuries and Teams we are playing as well as opposition teams highlighting that he was paying well when he didn't really follow his opponent closely and other teams don't allow the spare behind the ball.

Opposition assistant coaches job is to identify how to exploit weaknesses and nullify strengths. The role he was doing well in has been shut down by quality opposition teams. Players can either adapt to it or have a short time in the spotlight. Given these issues were there when he started in defense and had to be moved forward, and have resurfaced again, he is in a race against time to adapt.

Part is one on one coaching, however that is not always successful

 

[lachy]

Im also not sure how much is Buku's fault, there is no way he would get away with playing that far off of his opponent if it wasn't a coach directive.

It could well be, but it was also what he was doing in the earlier rounds. He is now getting isolated and is not adapting, not being in the inner sanctum I can't say for sure be usually defending is not shoulder to shoulder it is often teasing distance which is different for each player, maybe his is not adjusting

 

[Libbaaaa]

Im also not sure how much is Buku's fault, there is no way he would get away with playing that far off of his opponent if it wasn't a coach directive.

I noticed it in the Cats game and then again against the Swans, opposition forwards are staying at home against us and bucking the trend of pushing up. Yet we haven't adjusted and continue to play off them. If Danger or Curnow are parked their own inside 50 when the ball is in our forward line just stand next to them.

 

[Mojorisin]

I noticed it in the Cats game and then again against the Swans, opposition forwards are staying at home against us and bucking the trend of pushing up. Yet we haven't adjusted and continue to play off them. If Danger or Curnow are parked their own inside 50 when the ball is in our forward line just stand next to them.

I think this is exactly the case. Teams have quickly adjusted and realised that we're still just as vulnerable out the back as we were before if they get through or around our centre press. The first few weeks our change in structure caught teams off guard.
Another thing I have noticed is team slowly switch the ball behind play 2 or 3 times spreading out our zone before going fast when we break down in or or around the centre square.

 

[Struggle]

Im also not sure how much is Buku's fault, there is no way he would get away with playing that far off of his opponent if it wasn't a coach directive.

JOD has the same horrible positioning 10m in front and so did Cordy

It has to be coaching directive.

It works when pressure up the field is 10/10 but as soon as the ball movement is even slightly smooth it's the worst position you can be

 

[Bulldoge]

It will be weird going into a fourth straight game expecting to be flogged and then it probably happens. Must be how it feels to be a West Coast supporter over the last few years.

Or Essendon

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The biggest issue in the backline is Buku. He plays so far off his opponent, he is in a different time zone. He had 5 goals kicked on him and if his opponent didn’t have a shot at goal they gave it to another player who did.

Teams are starting to play through him like they did last year. He needs to change how he defends or he wont be in the team.

With Darcy out for the rest of the year it's got to be one of him or Lobb playing forward again I think in our post-bye Best 23.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

It's not about Buku, its about the team. He is either up to the role or he is not and the last couple of weeks have been alarming. JOD, Buss and Coff/Cleary as the 3rd with Lobb playing the Darcy role is a significantly better proposition when players are available. In the meantime Gards is better than Buku until JOD returns

I find it incredible that two key defenders clearly play bad games and in the case of Gardner it's him and not the team and in the case of Khamis it's the Tran but not him.

They were two poorly played players in the same defence in the same team.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I'm not sure there was caught in the broadcast but there were numerous times that Khamis wasn't playing in front, but he simply misread the ball off the boot, charges forward, Curnow/Amartey don't misread it, and Khamis has to backpedal. On replay or on broadcast when you first see Khamis come into the screen, it appears he's playing in front. When he wasn't. He simply just isn't a good defender in the sense that he was very bad at reading the eventual location of the kick off the boot. It isn't coaching, it's Khamis.

 

[Dougs Wing]

There will be quite a few changes announced tonight. There is a bit happening at the Kennel

 

[Doggy]

There will be quite a few changes announced tonight.

We don't have quite a few available

 

[TheScriptorWL]

If English plays this week. We’re at least competitive. He’s that important, as we have all come to realise properly.

Still not likely to get the choccies without our VFL calibre backline present. But going into the 4th quarter with the game still in the balance would be a nice change of pace

 

[Dougs Wing]

We don't have quite a few available

You will be surprised.

 

[Dougs Wing]

Im also not sure how much is Buku's fault, there is no way he would get away with playing that far off of his opponent if it wasn't a coach directive.

I agree. They train that way otherwise he would be dropped for not following instructions.

 

[Doggy]

You will be surprised.

The ability to get weaker in our situation is a special talent

 

[Dougs Wing]

The ability to get weaker in our situation is a special talent

That's the spirit.

 

[go the dogs]

There will be quite a few changes announced tonight. There is a bit happening at the Kennel

Give us more

 

[Doggy]

Looks like English, VDM, Coffield, Jones.

Not sure who else

 

[Bulldogs85]

 

[Doggy]

Plus Arty, Coffield and VDM

 

[Werewolf]

Hopefully we give Smith another game. Emmett should probably develop in the VFL for the rest of this year.

 

[go the dogs]

Looks like English, VDM, Coffield, Jones.

Not sure who else

i am going to guess outs.
English for Emmett Coff for Gardner Jones for Hynes then i feel like treloar will be out otherwise maybe a statement and drop West?

 

[Dougs Wing]

Looks like English, VDM, Coffield, Jones.

Not sure who else

At least one, perhaps two more.