Chris Conolly

[docker_johnno]

Our Coach.

I heard on the radio a corporate member of our club speaking about his experience of the Adelaide game. He was allowed into the coaches meeting and adresses before the game and was "there" to see all the pre match preparations. He did say that he had signed a document of privacy to not divulge information. He did however make a few interesting points about Conolly in particular,

- Chris was very specific in telling the players how to carryout the game plan to beat Adelaide. This involved long kicking and fast ball movement.

- Chris told the players how Adelaide were going to play. He was acccurate and the players did not implement the counter measures he stressed.

Now obviously this gentlemen is not a coaching expert however you would expect that the players don't seem to be doing what they are told.

Has Conolly lost the players?
Are key members of the team unable to follow logical instructions?

or does Chris have it all wrong?

My thoughts are that Chris may have a great game plan but when we keep losing the stoppages it is imperative that we have an extra man in defence. When we then gain possession in defence it is impossible to move the ball quickly when the free man is behind the player with the ball. This is forcing us into playing a short stagnant game. Our CHF is playing too deep and he is always covered by more than one man. There seems to be no existance of half forward flankers providing targets up the ground. It is impossible to implement a poorly structured game plan.

 

[dominguez]

Kick it long sounds great, but when you look up and it's 1 Freo player and 4 defenders 50 metres down the line, what are you supposed to do? Our forwards don't present and our backs don't provide run. Is it because they can't be bothered and think that the coach is a moron? Probably.

 

[Ripper]

Kick it long sounds great, but when you look up and it's 1 Freo player and 4 defenders 50 metres down the line, what are you supposed to do?

Kick it to the free man in the corridor. There were some terrible options taken against Adelaide. At least twice Pav kicked it to a nest of crows when Headland had lost his man and was free at the fifty metre line directly in front.
I reckon there was a bit of a jumper clash under the lights (that appear to be duller than they once were) and the players had difficulty picking out our players.

Maybe we would have been better off with the away jumper?

Our forwards don't present and our backs don't provide run. Is it because they can't be bothered and think that the coach is a moron? Probably.

Trouble is that when supporters blame the coach and not the players it give the players an easy out.

 

[Freo Shark]

The problem doesnt lie so much in the quality of the list as it does with the players and the coach directly.

The bottom line here is perhaps CC has lost\losing the players.

Eade ran the Swans and they were middling until Roos tookover and rest is history, 2006 may change Roos standing tho. Eade takesover at Bulldogs and turns them around. Worsfold from Judge and likewise. Pagan is the anomaly thus far at Carlton. Clarkson early yet and hes had massive early draft picks. The common thread here is the new coach has lifted the players and had them playing at their best.

The longevity of success comes down to the coach\players connection, thats the risk in changing coaches. Do you get a one year reaction or 2+.

So perhaps CC has outstayed his welcome and the players are not listening to him ?

 

[Borry]

Kick it long sounds great, but when you look up and it's 1 Freo player and 4 defenders 50 metres down the line, what are you supposed to do? Our forwards don't present and our backs don't provide run. Is it because they can't be bothered and think that the coach is a moron? Probably.

Lets just stuff the game plan etc. and go horses for courses. Let the players make their own decisions on how to move the ball, without them having to follow a seat game plan from the coach, there are always going to be better ways of doing the things than how a set game plan suggests things should be done. Who cares how they play, just get the bloody score on the board and a winning one at that.

 

[Ripper]

The problem doesnt lie so much in the quality of the list as it does with the players and the coach directly.

The bottom line here is perhaps CC has lost\losing the players.

Eade ran the Swans and they were middling until Roos tookover and rest is history, 2006 may change Roos standing tho. Eade takesover at Bulldogs and turns them around. Worsfold from Judge and likewise. Pagan is the anomaly thus far at Carlton. Clarkson early yet and hes had massive early draft picks. The common thread here is the new coach has lifted the players and had them playing at their best.

The longevity of success comes down to the coach\players connection, thats the risk in changing coaches. Do you get a one year reaction or 2+.

So perhaps CC has outstayed his welcome and the players are not listening to him ?

Looks like Eade has "lost" the Bullies.

http://livescores.afl.com.au/livescores-10160503.html

 

[wehavethepassion]

Lets just stuff the game plan etc. and go horses for courses. Let the players make their own decisions on how to move the ball, without them having to follow a seat game plan from the coach, there are always going to be better ways of doing the things than how a set game plan suggests things should be done. Who cares how they play, just get the bloody score on the board and a winning one at that.

Connolly is not going anywhere even if it happens to be 2-10.

I think Shaw is the one making sure thatplayers are accountable for their performance ie the list of players dropped in the first 4 weeks. This needs to continue and if poor form continues a few more name players like DJ,Big Carr, Supermuir etc go back to WAFL. then I'll bet you all the forgetfulness of the game plan will decrease real quick!!

Quick ball movement and long direct kicking will come very natural

 

[dominguez]

If Shaw is picking the side, and Harvey brings the discipline, does Connolly bring the oranges?

 

[theGav56]

I think Shaw is the one making sure thatplayers are accountable for their performance ie the list of players dropped in the first 4 weeks.

That is a slightly bizarre comment. Correction. Very bizarre. Even if Shaw was the bloke saying to players "your out" (which he wouldn't be), or whatever, CC as head coach is responsible for giving him the authority.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

I heard on the radio a corporate member of our club speaking about his experience of the Adelaide game. He was allowed into the coaches meeting and adresses before the game and was "there" to see all the pre match preparations. He did say that he had signed a document of privacy to not divulge information. He did however make a few interesting points about Conolly in particular,

- Chris was very specific in telling the players how to carryout the game plan to beat Adelaide. This involved long kicking and fast ball movement.

- Chris told the players how Adelaide were going to play. He was acccurate and the players did not implement the counter measures he stressed.

One conclusion from this is CC has set himself up for failure. In the last two seasons the list has remained stable with only the addition of Josh Carr and 4-5 draft picks most of whom aren't playing. Even crowley, Dodd and Peake have been in the system 3 to 4 years.

CC has repeatedly said stuff like "backing the players in" and its about the players spending time playing together. At this point, if they can't follow instructions it's down to the coach for mine. He's backed in the wrong players.

I bet you Sheedy, Worsfold, Craig et al get their instructions followed.

 

[Freo Shark]

One conclusion from this is CC has set himself up for failure. In the last two seasons the list has remained stable with only the addition of Josh Carr and 4-5 draft picks most of whom aren't playing. Even crowley, Dodd and Peake have been in the system 3 to 4 years.

CC has repeatedly said stuff like "backing the players in" and its about the players spending time playing together. At this point, if they can't follow instructions it's down to the coach for mine. He's backed in the wrong players.

I bet you Sheedy, Worsfold, Craig et al get their instructions followed.

Thats what the next few weeks will show.

 

[Ripper]

Thats what the next few weeks will show.

Yep, it will be facinating, but the thing in CC's favour is that this year he has plenty of players pushing up for spots who will make sure they try to follow instructions.

 

[hoss]

Has had a couple of good weeks I reckon.

Been poised, calm and composed in the media, even using some humour.

Has outcoached Thomas and Woosha in the last two games.

Players seem to be working for him at the moment. We went down the middle and kicked more direct today than the Eagles.

Has done some really good work with the matchups. Is getting them right most of the time. Like someone has said elsewhere on the Freo board Scotty on Wirrpunda was a great move.

Credit where credits due.

 

[docker_johnno]

Chris has done a fantastic job the last two weeks. Lets hope we can continue this. We have just beaten two of the AFL's best sides.

 

[Docker_Brat]

Chris has done a fantastic job the last two weeks. Lets hope we can continue this. We have just beaten two of the AFL's best sides.

One of.

St Kilda are crap.

 

[hoss]

One of.

St Kilda are crap.

They may be playing like crap, but with a list like that, potentially they are the best side in the comp.

FWIW, I think we've been playing pretty poorly too, though it seems to be slowly coming together.

That's the great thing. We are 4-2 and not anywhere near peak form. We could've just as easily played much better and ended up 2-4 with that run of games against quality teams. Well Port's not great, but nor is our form at AAMI.

Any win is a good win for us. We have to be careful to avoid the Bris, Kangas and Hawks home ground debacles that we had last year.