Clearance Watch

[Grimreepah]

Note that when I say 'when we were at our best' I am referring to the premiership years. Many a time we would be locked in an arm wrestle only to destroy the opposition in 10 minutes with a series of unpressured clearances.

 

[Last of the Roys]

Round 6 vs. Sydney at the S.C.G
- Sydney 38 clearances to the Lions 24
- Best for us Clark with 4, Buchannan 3, no one else more than 2!!!

My thoughts:
- We were absolutely murdered in there tonight.
- We continue to refuse to get numbers close-in at stoppages. All night we were outnumbered (often 2 or 3 to 1), and on many occasions had no players in close at stoppages.
- Many times I watched players hang 5 to 10m back and watch the likes of Kieran Jack go in and get or receive the Ball.
- Sad to say one of the chief culprits I saw a few times just standing and watching like a spectator and not trying to go in and get it was Daniel Rich. Unfortunately this has been a bit of a trademark of his year, in complete contrast to last year.
- Our ruck work continues to be utterly abysmal at times. Clark got better in the second half, but Leunberger continues to get beaten in situations where you think he really shouldn't be. Whatever our ruck coach is doing it isn't working.
- He didn't seem to play in the middle, but I was really impressed by Selwood's attack on the ball / ability to extract it from difficulty situations. I would put him in the middle and not in his usual defensive role and see how he goes.
- We seem to carry far too many slow midfielders - Black, Power, Rich, Rischatelli, even Johnstone - none have pace - we are getting killed from the stoppages once we don't win the ball.

 

[whatboutbob]

- He didn't seem to play in the middle, but I was really impressed by Selwood's attack on the ball / ability to extract it from difficulty situations. I would put him in the middle and not in his usual defensive role and see how he goes.

Problem with Selwood was that he went in and got the ball but didn't seem to have the nous, vision or clean hands to extract it. Liked his endeavour though on a dirty night for our hardball gets.

 

[Duritz]

Clearances...

...are now, and have been for the last few years, our biggest problem. One of my closest friends is a Swans member, and I was talking to him last night after the game, and I said, "If we had a clearance coach, then his whiteboard has written on it: "Plan A: Hope Blacky gets it. Plan B: ......".

There were times at the centre bounce last night when they'd go the tap and the only player running through the circle would be a Swans player. Our guys all appeared to be flat-footed.

What is going on? Why are we usually unable to win bloody clearances? The Swans got two goals in the last 58 seconds of a quarter yesterday, by getting quick clearances. When Leuey was tapping them, he was tapping them to no-one. Do we have no plan in there?

Can anyone shed any light on why we seem to be unable to achieve success in clearances, and what the club are doing or might do to solve it?

 

[3KZ is Football]

Round 6 vs. Sydney at the S.C.G
- Sydney 38 clearances to the Lions 24
- Best for us Clark with 4, Buchannan 3, no one else more than 2!!!

My thoughts:
- We were absolutely murdered in there tonight.
- We continue to refuse to get numbers close-in at stoppages. All night we were outnumbered (often 2 or 3 to 1), and on many occasions had no players in close at stoppages.
- Many times I watched players hang 5 to 10m back and watch the likes of Kieran Jack go in and get or receive the Ball.
- Sad to say one of the chief culprits I saw a few times just standing and watching like a spectator and not trying to go in and get it was Daniel Rich. Unfortunately this has been a bit of a trademark of his year, in complete contrast to last year.
- Our ruck work continues to be utterly abysmal at times. Clark got better in the second half, but Leunberger continues to get beaten in situations where you think he really shouldn't be. Whatever our ruck coach is doing it isn't working.
- He didn't seem to play in the middle, but I was really impressed by Selwood's attack on the ball / ability to extract it from difficulty situations. I would put him in the middle and not in his usual defensive role and see how he goes.
- We seem to carry far too many slow midfielders - Black, Power, Rich, Rischatelli, even Johnstone - none have pace - we are getting killed from the stoppages once we don't win the ball.

Sadly, you are spot on with this summary of what went wrong last night. Once again we lose a game because of an inability to effectively clear the ball from stoppages.

As far as the midfielders go, with the exception of Black and Rischitelli (on a good day), they do seem to have a tendency to "zone off" at stoppages rather than to aggressively pursue the ball. This issue goes beyond stoppages; however, because it seems to be a feature of our entire defensive game. The pattern where we seek to contain opponents by setting up a basketball style zone defence may be seen as a "play safe" option for a side that lacks leg speed, but it has cost us on too many occasions over the last few years, led to our humbling last week against Melbourne, cost us again against Sydney and will continue to see sides defeat us this year unless we revise the game plan. Fundamentally, sides that can generate run from their half back line will bust through the centre, own the corridor and by playing quick transition football, tear us apart.

As for the ruck situation, I couldn't agree more. I have been saying this for some time, but Leuenberger has a long way to go in his development. At this stage I think his efforts on too many occasions are flaccid and fail to provide enough force and direction at the ruck contests. This compounds the clearance issue. This is why a fit and firing Charman is so important and I suggest that once he gets over his ankle, he will be in the senior side fairly promptly. We are really missing his aggression in the middle and presence around the ground.

With all this in mind, Fremantle looms as a real danger game next week.

Go Lions!

 

[pod17]

Totally agree with what has been said. At the end of last year our team had three clear deficiencies:

1) A reliable crumber in the forward 50 that lays tackles and pressures opponents.

2) Leg speed. Too often the faster teams spread and we simply did not have the ability to keep up with them.

3) Clearances. Beaten last year in the clearances and have continued to be thrashed this year.

Whilst one has been somewhat resolved by the arrival of Banfield 2 and 3, despite Vossy's intense recruiting, remain problems. With a couple more reserves games under the belt maybe we will see what Bartlett and Harwood can produce at senior level.

 

[JB75]

The strange thing is that we seem to be doing worse at clearances when Black is in the team. I know he's a champion, but for whatever reason, the midfield hasn't functioned at all since his return.

Lynch's new stat is important, we have been conceding too many uncontested/unpressured clearances which are the ones that kill you. There is no excuse for these as it reflects a lack of intensity, lack of tackling pressure and not enough numbers at the contest. Occasionally you accept an uncontested clearance due to a piece of individual brilliance from a Judd, Ablett or Goodes, but when it happens because the opposition simply gets more players in the area, works harder and shows more intensity, it is unacceptable.

I think Rich is due for a spell in the twos, his intensity and appetite for the contest has been very poor and is costing us. He has often been caught spectating and waiting for his opponent to make a move. He has not shown any of his tradmark determination to tackle like his life depended on it. As we know, he is a great kick, but his real strength last year was his contested effort and creativity in traffic. Unfortunately he is playing like an outside receiver this year, but doesn't have the leg speed or will to gut run to space (which very few of our players have) to damage the opposition in this role. Perhaps his confidence is down which is making him second guess. I think a run in the twos for a few weeks may help him find his confidence so that the real Daniel Rich can stand up in the seniors.

 

[FFB1]

- Our ruck work continues to be utterly abysmal at times. Clark got better in the second half, but Leunberger continues to get beaten in situations where you think he really shouldn't be. Whatever our ruck coach is doing it isn't working.

As for the ruck situation, I couldn't agree more. I have been saying this for some time, but Leuenberger has a long way to go in his development.

Has anyone noticed both Clark and Leuenberger seem to spend an awfully long in centre bounces looking at their ruck opponent when running in? While it is probably not longer than half a second it seems that it's causing them to lose where the ball is. If the ball was thrown up, as opposed to bounced, it would pretty much be in the same 'spot' each time and ouldnt so much of an issue - but to spend so long looking at your opponent you then need to locate the ball, so to speak. There were at least three occasions last night when either of the two had perfect position to knock it out but they completely missed the ball. And as for these backhanded hitouts - fine and good if its a set play and someone is there, but it happended a few times last night when nobody was anywhere near the ball.

The strange thing is that we seem to be doing worse at clearances when Black is in the team. I know he's a champion, but for whatever reason, the midfield hasn't functioned at all since his return.

Does appear that way - its almost as like they just expect Black to get in there.

 

[Dylan12]

Problem with Selwood was that he went in and got the ball but didn't seem to have the nous, vision or clean hands to extract it. Liked his endeavour though on a dirty night for our hardball gets.

I liked Selwood's game and as you said his endeavour was fantastic.

I hate to go over this old chestnut again, but why did we get Leuenberger? I have never been a fan and at the time thought we should have recruited Joel Selwood, a player we so desperately lack. But what does Leuenberger bring that Cam Wood didn't, and why did we get sucked in to the Dean Cox comparisons? Leuenberger and Wood are both soft as butter and to be honest I really hope Leuenberger starts living up to a number 4 pick.

 

[OldLion]

No mention of Brennan - his last two weeks have been terrible. He is the key - he was exposed previously as a player that can get sucked in and totally loses focus. But his home games have been excellent.

 

[guzroo]

our midfield needs to be much more accountable at the stoppages. the amount of times sydney cleared the ball without even a lion placing a hand on them was not good. It seems that a lot of the time our centre square strategy is all about attack and no defence which is fine but when the opposition has the momentum they should be playing one on one.

 

[Snuka]

our midfield needs to be much more accountable at the stoppages. the amount of times sydney cleared the ball without even a lion placing a hand on them was not good. It seems that a lot of the time our centre square strategy is all about attack and no defence which is fine but when the opposition has the momentum they should be playing one on one.

Yep, it's baffling isn't it, especially when a lot of our guys seem to be following their opponent to the ball rather than going to the ball.

It is a bizarre situation. I think our list is good, it's just hard to take advantage of our good forwards and good kicks when we can just go missing so badly for periods in the middle. We are doing pretty well sitting 4 and 2 with a midfield that can get taken apart so easily at times. Maybe needs a restructure, maybe we don't have the cattle...If we just break even in the middle for most of the game, then we will win a lot...why do we get smashed so badly...Snuka just doesn't understand!

 

[dlanod]

Maybe Harwood being given a run (in Redden's spot?), just to see what he can offer in and under.

 

[mpal6]

Maybe Harwood being given a run (in Redden's spot?), just to see what he can offer in and under.

This.

Heard a lot of good things about Harwood so far, about his willingness to be at the bottom of the packs. Give this bloke a go.

 

[_hyphy]

It's quite scary that we may be pinning our hopes on a third round (?) draft pick from last year to sort our clearance issues, when guys like Brennan, Rischa, Buchannan have the ability to help in this area. Structually we are very poor. We're no where near the ball at the centre bounces, and the only person always under a pack is Blacky.

Rischa has stepped up this year, but other teams have also noticed this and are paying him closer attention, so others need to get involved, I think Buchannan will improve on last nights effort, at least in the clearance area, but we need to get our set up at stoppeges right.

 

[Lehmo87]

I would love to be a fly on the wall when the team meets to discuss clearances. Surely Voss and Co. have tried everything to get the players to do as they want. Or perhaps Voss sees the potential for the current gameplan to develop to where he wants it. Or perhaps I'm clutching at straws but it doesn't seem like a lot has changed for a long while.

 

[mpal6]

What is stopping our blokes from pushing their man away and running to the ball drop ?! Why is there a tendency for everyone to sit back and watch the ball hit the ground ?? is this a game plan ? how is this being effective ? Why are we waiting for the opposition to get the first crack at footy and then tackle the ball carrier ? Jesus, the more I think of this crap it makes me go nuts. 1 Ruckman, 4 blokes standing around footy and not even one wants to go and get it.. I mean not all 4 are getting held by opposition.. why is there no willingness to win the ball ? crap........

 

[Grimreepah]

- Sydney 38 clearances to the Lions 24

I'm guessing much of that disparity was during Sydney's 9 goal run. IMO it is not necessarily any individual's fault, but rather there is a lack of cohesion.

 

[mpal6]

It's quite scary that we may be pinning our hopes on a third round (?) draft pick from last year to sort our clearance issues, when guys like Brennan, Rischa, Buchannan have the ability to help in this area.

I am happy to give a game to ANY bloke who puts his hand up and says he'll try and get the clearance. Its quite embarrassing at the moment. Its not as if the current bunch is setting the world on fire in the middle.

 

[Tassie4ever]

our midfield needs to be much more accountable at the stoppages. the amount of times sydney cleared the ball without even a lion placing a hand on them was not good. It seems that a lot of the time our centre square strategy is all about attack and no defence which is fine but when the opposition has the momentum they should be playing one on one.

Sorry to disagree, but I think our problem is exactly the opposite. We seem to be totally reactive at the bounce.

Basically, it's find a body to stand behind at the moment. We need a couple of kamikazi's at the bounce, and based on Rischitelli's first couple of games I thought we'd found one at least to add to Simon Black. Maybe not.

 

[BuntonRules]

Sorry to disagree, but I think our problem is exactly the opposite. We seem to be totally reactive at the bounce.

Basically, it's find a body to stand behind at the moment. We need a couple of kamikazi's at the bounce, and based on Rischitelli's first couple of games I thought we'd found one at least to add to Simon Black. Maybe not.

Yeah. Just attack it. Even to give away a free kick means a slow clearance for them. The problem is not only losing, but how quick the ball is coming out. T'was what Riska was doing the first couple of games. What has changed?

 

[Last of the Roys]

I watched the replay the other night and out of interest I counted how many times different players were in at the centre bounce.

- Clark was in there for 17 out of 33 times (thankfully he decided to try to thump the hitouts in the second half and started to look better); vs. Leunberger 16/33 (was often looking at the opponent / mistimed jump, or was too timid with his hit-out);
- Black 25/33 (almost always tries to attack the ball)
- Rischa 17 (usually tries to attack the ball, but especially when Black is not in the middle at the same time)
- Brennan 14 (had a shocker; often skirts around the pack too much, rather than going through it)
- Buchanan 9 (tried to be aggressive without much success)
- McGrath 7 (definitely worth a try, however he was playing as a stopper most of the time)
- Power 6 (is so/so in terms of attacking the ball; some nights he can be very good)
- Rich 4 (mostly hung out waiting for others to get it to him - has this been an instruction to try and use his kicking going forward???)
- Selwood 4 (only played stopping roles)
- Johnstone 3 (only played stopping roles)
- Redden 3 (only played stopping roles)
- Raines 3 (only played stopping roles)
- Staker 1 (only played a stopping role)

Has anyone noticed both Clark and Leuenberger seem to spend an awfully long in centre bounces looking at their ruck opponent when running in? While it is probably not longer than half a second it seems that it's causing them to lose where the ball is. If the ball was thrown up, as opposed to bounced, it would pretty much be in the same 'spot' each time and ouldnt so much of an issue - but to spend so long looking at your opponent you then need to locate the ball, so to speak. There were at least three occasions last night when either of the two had perfect position to knock it out but they completely missed the ball. And as for these backhanded hitouts - fine and good if its a set play and someone is there, but it happended a few times last night when nobody was anywhere near the ball.

Yeah I have definitely noticed that. You know our rucks are off their game when they start looking at their opponent and mistiming their jumps.

No mention of Brennan - his last two weeks have been terrible. He is the key - he was exposed previously as a player that can get sucked in and totally loses focus. But his home games have been excellent.

He has definitely not been good the last two weeks. He needs to be instructed to run in closer to the fall of the ball - he looked like he was constantly trying to skirt around the packs to lose his opponent. Also I think we need to be pro-active about moving Brennan around to a different position when he is not getting into a game.

I'm guessing much of that disparity was during Sydney's 9 goal run. IMO it is not necessarily any individual's fault, but rather there is a lack of cohesion.

Supprisingly the clearances were 17 to 12 at half time, so they must have been 21 to 12 after half time. Another interesting stat is that we were outscored 56 to 8 directly from stoppages.

A couple of other observations:
- Rich obviously needs to be told to get back to trying to get in close and attack and win clearances himself. At the same time he needs to be put into the middle more to do this;
- When coming in off the edge of the square for a centre bounce most of our players almost always trail their opponents;

Overall like others have suggested we need to be more attacking. In the centre square at the moment most of the time we go with one mid attacking the ball and two trying to be stoppers (with the stoppers almost never stopping their opponents in any case). We need to flip that around in the centre and around the ground and put an emphasis on attacking the clearances by having at least two mids going at the ball at every contest.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Voss basically nailed it after the Fremantle loss, endorsing exactly what most of us have been saying for quite some time.

Coach Speak:
“At the moment our work rate is just not as good as it needs to be,” he said.

Plain English:
Some of our players are lazy, taking short-cuts, content to hang back and let others do the hard running.

Coach Speak:
“The opposition is certainly getting away from contests quicker than we are. We’ve shown we can do it; you see in the last quarter exactly what we can do. It’s got nothing to do with fitness, it’s just that intent to get out after it.

Plain English:
Over the last three weeks, Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle players have been able to clear the ball from stoppages more quickly than we have because they have been prepared to make the ball their object, prepared to do the physical work and willing to do the hard running required to support the player who has first possession.

Brisbane players, while physically capable, are lacking the same intensity. Which reads as above - Some of our players are lazy, taking short-cuts, content to hang back and let others do the hard work.

Until this is addressed, we will continue to lose games to teams that are willing to work harder.

 

[Judge]

Voss basically nailed it after the Fremantle loss, endorsing exactly what most of us have been saying for quite some time.

Coach Speak:
“At the moment our work rate is just not as good as it needs to be,” he said.

Plain English:
Some of our players are lazy, taking short-cuts, content to hang back and let others do the hard running.

Coach Speak:
“The opposition is certainly getting away from contests quicker than we are. We’ve shown we can do it; you see in the last quarter exactly what we can do. It’s got nothing to do with fitness, it’s just that intent to get out after it.

Plain English:
Over the last three weeks, Melbourne, Sydney and Fremantle players have been able to clear the ball from stoppages more quickly than we have because they have been prepared to make the ball their object, prepared to do the physical work and willing to do the hard running required to support the player who has first possession.

Brisbane players, while physically capable, are lacking the same intensity. Which reads as above - Some of our players are lazy, taking short-cuts, content to hang back and let others do the hard work.

Until this is addressed, we will continue to lose games to teams that are willing to work harder.

It's either that or we're simply too slow- we can improve on the former but the latter can only be changed by new personnel.

 

[3KZ is Football]

It's either that or we're simply too slow- we can improve on the former but the latter can only be changed by new personnel.

100% agree. We have key position players who are the equal of, or close to, the best in the business, but our onballers are really letting us down, with the exception of Black, Power, Rischitelli (usually) and Rich (usually).

Addressing this has to become the complete focus at the Lions from here on in.