Janus
Advocatus Diaboli
- Sep 9, 2007
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- 57,133
- AFL Club
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- Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bulls
After the win against Fremantle in 2015, Ken Hinkley was quoted as saying that 'we are in pursuit of mastery'.
A master isn't just someone with experience. It isn't someone who can just 'do the job'. It is someone who excels at all facets of their particular endeavour.
So...allow me to paint a picture of the gameplan that I envision us playing sooner rather than later. I've probably posted this before somewhere, but * it, I'm going to dedicate a thread to it. Starting with the backline.
DB:-------------------------Jonas-----------Hombsch---------------------------------
Your deepest backs should be your best defenders. These are the guys who are equipped to take intercept marks as well as clear the ball out of the danger zone. They don't have to be the most mobile players because if the ball is delivered laterally into the pockets it is a low percentage kick and it's easy to spoil the ball out of bounds in that situation. Playing two of them enables one to push up and provide coverage to the half back line at a defensive half boundary throw in.
SW:--------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------------------
Just in front of those two, you place your sweeper. I say sweeper because his job isn't to take a singular opponent the way the traditional CHB does. Rance and McGovern play this role to perfection, moving from side to side depending on which wing the ball is travelling down. This player should be not only the most athletic defender, but have sufficient speed to close space on both the half back line to provide aerial support, but also fold back behind the deep backs in the event of turnover that could potentially expose the defence.
One note I will say here is that Rance and McGovern are only as good as the defensive structure ahead of them that enables them to predict where the ball is going to be. If the midfield isn't holding their shape, it's easy for a sweeper to get caught out - as Rance found out against well-known contested mark Josh Jenkins.
HB:-------Bonner----------------Houston--------------------Pittard------------
Now we come to the high backs. These are a hybrid between a wingback and a defensive midfielder - their job is to start attacks from the backline and push up the ground.
At the moment, we are playing Houston in the central 'regista' role - the guy who dictates flow and tempo and decides which side of the ground to attack. And at his best, Houston would excel in this position because he makes good decisions. But at the moment, he is taking way too much time to execute those decisions. Pick up your game, Dan.
If you want to know who a good 'regista' player was, it was Luke Hodge when he played at Hawthorn. Knew when to go, knew when not to go.
Bonner could play this role eventually once he's gained a bit more confidence and experience, particularly because he can use both his left and right boot well and would also add the ability of being able to run through the middle, but at the moment I have Riley on the right wing with Pittard on the left. These two players should alternate with the players on the wing, who need to fold back and cover defensively when the high backs push up in attack. I'm still holding out hope that Broadbent returns, because with Hartlett out of the side we could really use him right about now.
C: --Motlop------------------------Wines-------------------------Polec--
The wings in our system provide both defensive and offensive support, folding back behind the high backs when they push up the ground but also pushing up to provide attacking options when the high forwards push down into the midfield to act as link up players. They don't have to be the quickest players, but they should be the most skilful and adaptive.
HF: -----------S.Gray------------Westhoff--------------Boak----------------
The most thankless role in the side, the high forward has the responsibility of pushing all the way back down to defence from the forward line and creating options that encourages the ball to transition back into the corridor. They are transition link players - the ones that provide the 45 degree outlet for the wings and high backs to utilise. At the moment, due to the slow ball movement from our defensive zone, these players are finding themselves being pushed wide to get a kick - curling out towards the boundary instead of staying towards in the corridor/wing area due to the opposition defence rolling back faster than the ball is being delivered. Speed up the movement, and this will change.
Westhoff is in the centre, but basically, he just does whatever the * he wants as a free player.
F:---------------------Dixon----------------------Watts----------------------------
As I've said elsewhere, Dixon and Watts are playing a traditional primary 'target' striker and secondary 'shadow' striker system. Watts will generally push up into the hole that the high forwards leave when the drop back down into the defensive half, and if both drop back, Dixon will also push up to provide a target. Again, when the movement of the ball is slow, you'll find both players pushing up extremely deep into defence to encourage an outlet dump kick...but this is not how it should be. In fact, there should always be at least one player in each line at all times if this is being executed correctly, creating multiple angles of attack. So if Dixon and Watts are dropping deep, there's a breakdown somewhere in the system.
DF:-------------------------------Wingard------------------------------------------
Wingard, as I see it, has been asked to play the Lionel Messi 'false 9' role - the guy who starts in the forward line but then drops into midfield and uses their guile to create triple (rather than simple dual threat) opportunities: threat one is being able to drop deep and get an easy goal out the back, threat two is being able to lead up and mark the ball, and threat three is to drop into midfield and then double back coming at the defender rather than having the defender being able to play in front or behind. Think what Dangerfield does, but a more constant movement between forward and midfield. Ken said that Wingard's role requires him to have 'explosive' power.
FOL: Ryder, Rockliff/Ebert, R. Gray
Self explanatory really. If we need to stop a run of goals, you put Ebert at the stoppage in a defensive role. If we need to score in a hurry or have the ascendancy, you roll with Rockliff and double down on winning clearances with Gray. I believe Rockliff was only ever played on the wing get some match fitness, and that when he comes back in (hopefully this week) he will assume his rightful place in the middle.
INT: Marshall, Powell-Pepper, Byrne-Jones, Rockliff/Ebert
Marshall because he can play anywhere from deep forward to forward to high forward to wing.
Powell-Pepper because Wines needs help and if we need another contested bull we can double up.
Byrne-Jones because you always need a defensive stopper and he can swap out for a high back.
Rockliff/Ebert because of the reason I mentioned earlier.
This is the system we are trying to play as I see it (but haven't seen it quite yet). It WILL work once every one is on the same page and the ball moves faster than the glacial movement we've seen so far.
It won't work if we are playing the likes of Amon, Neade and Barry in roles they aren't suited to.
A master isn't just someone with experience. It isn't someone who can just 'do the job'. It is someone who excels at all facets of their particular endeavour.
So...allow me to paint a picture of the gameplan that I envision us playing sooner rather than later. I've probably posted this before somewhere, but * it, I'm going to dedicate a thread to it. Starting with the backline.
DB:-------------------------Jonas-----------Hombsch---------------------------------
Your deepest backs should be your best defenders. These are the guys who are equipped to take intercept marks as well as clear the ball out of the danger zone. They don't have to be the most mobile players because if the ball is delivered laterally into the pockets it is a low percentage kick and it's easy to spoil the ball out of bounds in that situation. Playing two of them enables one to push up and provide coverage to the half back line at a defensive half boundary throw in.
SW:--------------------------------Howard-------------------------------------------------
Just in front of those two, you place your sweeper. I say sweeper because his job isn't to take a singular opponent the way the traditional CHB does. Rance and McGovern play this role to perfection, moving from side to side depending on which wing the ball is travelling down. This player should be not only the most athletic defender, but have sufficient speed to close space on both the half back line to provide aerial support, but also fold back behind the deep backs in the event of turnover that could potentially expose the defence.
One note I will say here is that Rance and McGovern are only as good as the defensive structure ahead of them that enables them to predict where the ball is going to be. If the midfield isn't holding their shape, it's easy for a sweeper to get caught out - as Rance found out against well-known contested mark Josh Jenkins.
HB:-------Bonner----------------Houston--------------------Pittard------------
Now we come to the high backs. These are a hybrid between a wingback and a defensive midfielder - their job is to start attacks from the backline and push up the ground.
At the moment, we are playing Houston in the central 'regista' role - the guy who dictates flow and tempo and decides which side of the ground to attack. And at his best, Houston would excel in this position because he makes good decisions. But at the moment, he is taking way too much time to execute those decisions. Pick up your game, Dan.
If you want to know who a good 'regista' player was, it was Luke Hodge when he played at Hawthorn. Knew when to go, knew when not to go.
Bonner could play this role eventually once he's gained a bit more confidence and experience, particularly because he can use both his left and right boot well and would also add the ability of being able to run through the middle, but at the moment I have Riley on the right wing with Pittard on the left. These two players should alternate with the players on the wing, who need to fold back and cover defensively when the high backs push up in attack. I'm still holding out hope that Broadbent returns, because with Hartlett out of the side we could really use him right about now.
C: --Motlop------------------------Wines-------------------------Polec--
The wings in our system provide both defensive and offensive support, folding back behind the high backs when they push up the ground but also pushing up to provide attacking options when the high forwards push down into the midfield to act as link up players. They don't have to be the quickest players, but they should be the most skilful and adaptive.
HF: -----------S.Gray------------Westhoff--------------Boak----------------
The most thankless role in the side, the high forward has the responsibility of pushing all the way back down to defence from the forward line and creating options that encourages the ball to transition back into the corridor. They are transition link players - the ones that provide the 45 degree outlet for the wings and high backs to utilise. At the moment, due to the slow ball movement from our defensive zone, these players are finding themselves being pushed wide to get a kick - curling out towards the boundary instead of staying towards in the corridor/wing area due to the opposition defence rolling back faster than the ball is being delivered. Speed up the movement, and this will change.
Westhoff is in the centre, but basically, he just does whatever the * he wants as a free player.
F:---------------------Dixon----------------------Watts----------------------------
As I've said elsewhere, Dixon and Watts are playing a traditional primary 'target' striker and secondary 'shadow' striker system. Watts will generally push up into the hole that the high forwards leave when the drop back down into the defensive half, and if both drop back, Dixon will also push up to provide a target. Again, when the movement of the ball is slow, you'll find both players pushing up extremely deep into defence to encourage an outlet dump kick...but this is not how it should be. In fact, there should always be at least one player in each line at all times if this is being executed correctly, creating multiple angles of attack. So if Dixon and Watts are dropping deep, there's a breakdown somewhere in the system.
DF:-------------------------------Wingard------------------------------------------
Wingard, as I see it, has been asked to play the Lionel Messi 'false 9' role - the guy who starts in the forward line but then drops into midfield and uses their guile to create triple (rather than simple dual threat) opportunities: threat one is being able to drop deep and get an easy goal out the back, threat two is being able to lead up and mark the ball, and threat three is to drop into midfield and then double back coming at the defender rather than having the defender being able to play in front or behind. Think what Dangerfield does, but a more constant movement between forward and midfield. Ken said that Wingard's role requires him to have 'explosive' power.
FOL: Ryder, Rockliff/Ebert, R. Gray
Self explanatory really. If we need to stop a run of goals, you put Ebert at the stoppage in a defensive role. If we need to score in a hurry or have the ascendancy, you roll with Rockliff and double down on winning clearances with Gray. I believe Rockliff was only ever played on the wing get some match fitness, and that when he comes back in (hopefully this week) he will assume his rightful place in the middle.
INT: Marshall, Powell-Pepper, Byrne-Jones, Rockliff/Ebert
Marshall because he can play anywhere from deep forward to forward to high forward to wing.
Powell-Pepper because Wines needs help and if we need another contested bull we can double up.
Byrne-Jones because you always need a defensive stopper and he can swap out for a high back.
Rockliff/Ebert because of the reason I mentioned earlier.
This is the system we are trying to play as I see it (but haven't seen it quite yet). It WILL work once every one is on the same page and the ball moves faster than the glacial movement we've seen so far.
It won't work if we are playing the likes of Amon, Neade and Barry in roles they aren't suited to.
