Freemantle Trial Comments

[Asgardian]

This is what I've said elsewhere, and I still believe it's true ------

This is why I believe the Crows are on the slide

Suspect rucks

Well because Clarke has gone,
Biglands wont play this year, and is 30 for the 2008 season,
Hudson is making a return from a knee reco & he'll be 28 for the 2007 season,
Meesen has played 0 AFL games, plus has a medium term injury
Maric has played 8 AFL games, plus has a medium term injury
Griffin has played 0 AFL games
Tippett, a rookie, already has had a neck injury

To me that adds up to suspect rucks for 2007.

No key position depth.

Hentschell wont play in 2007
Bassett is 30, BP
Bock is okay, CHF or CHB
Gill is a 24 yo rookie forward, out for an indefinate period
McGregor is a 26 yo who can't make the team ahead of Perrie, nuff said
Perrie, at 28 with bricks for hands
Ricciuto will be your 32 yo 183cm FF or FP, plus is out for an indefinate period
Rutten is a fine FB
Sellar is a rookie forward
Stevens is a stop gap CHB
Welsh is your 28 yo, 188cm when fit, only worth a one year contract, forward

So for a game, you need 2 rucks, 3 tall forwards, 3 tall backs, as a general guide. You're already missing Hentschell, you have no key position prospects on the Rookie List. What happens if you get the usual 2 or 3 serious injuries to your taller players?

Hence to me that adds up as a lack of key position depth.

A lack of leg speed.

The prime mover midfielders are no longer pacey, they have endurance, but no real speed, Goodwin, Edwards, McLeod & Ricciuto.

The Crows will rely on making the ball do their running, eg ball speed. This style of game is one requiring high levels of skill, and as we all know, pressure is the biggest test for skill. As most other teams will have greater leg speed, they, if they are motivated enough, will be able to close down their Crow opponent, putting him under pressure, creating more chances for the Crow skills to diminish.

THAT is how I see the Crows will lose some games.

Therefore I see the Crows in the lower depths of the 8

I have updated it taking current injuries into account

 

[- PC -]

Always good to see another POV asgardian.

Having rose coloured glasses on I sometimes look more for the positives and one thing is that Fremantle and WC will be up there again so having the young guns play a majority of minutes is a '' a good learning experience''

Kicking is the only issue I have. Not being at the game or hearing the radio I can only offer the opinion that some long shots were taken( due to some flooding? ) and that the kicking boots werent on. Is that a skill issue or pressure or ? Whatever it is it needs to be addressed immediately. The simplest thing is to want to kick the goal...no use looking to pass to a better option. My rule would be , your all AFL footballers if your inside the 50 have a shot. Unless the blind freddy option is there...but the general rule should be to have a shot

The second thing is once committed you go through steps to calm the body and mind...then make sure you are enough steps away from the man to kick it over his head


But yes your points are valid...but my glass is half full

 

[- PC -]

Rutten is a fine FB

Do we rob Peter to pay Paul? Is Rutten an option at FF? McGregor at FB or Bock...though I like the Bock at CHF atm

 

[Asgardian]

Kicking is the only issue I have. Not being at the game or hearing the radio I can only offer the opinion that some long shots were taken( due to some flooding? ) and that the kicking boots werent on. Is that a skill issue or pressure or ? Whatever it is it needs to be addressed immediately. The simplest thing is to want to kick the goal...no use looking to pass to a better option. My rule would be , your all AFL footballers if your inside the 50 have a shot. Unless the blind freddy option is there...but the general rule should be to have a shot

I've always been of the opinion that a really good forward needs to be a bit selfish, one that'll back himself in to kick the winning goal.

A bit like Rick Davies in his 1983 SANFL season, or Scott Hodges in his 1990 SANFL season

 

[- PC -]

I've always been of the opinion that a really good forward needs to be a bit selfish, one that'll back himself in to kick the winning goal.

A bit like Rick Davies in his 1983 SANFL season, or Scott Hodges in his 1990 SANFL season

Yep agree with that

 

[relapse]

The other thing too that Fremantle exploited all game was that when we went forward Freo would have a couple of unchecked outriders just outside the 50 so the moment that there was a turnover the ball would go straight to one of these players and Freo would go straight into attack.

Whereas when they went forward our players were all checked so we couldnt do a similar thing (which is maybe what we should have done). I was surprised that it wasnt picked up or addressed through the game.

Obviously we were tinkering with things, but hopefully all those issues will be rectified come round 1.

 

[Lach72]

Do we rob Peter to pay Paul? Is Rutten an option at FF? McGregor at FB or Bock...though I like the Bock at CHF atm

The only problem with that is this:

Freo Foward line.
Sandi/Longmuir Murphy Farmer (when he's back)
Tarrant Pav Crowley/Headland.

If you put the truck up front, you look awfully thin down back.
Granted not everyon has that depth up forward, but rutten could play on four of those six forwards. Do you have four backs to cover?

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I'll reserve my judgement until Round 1............but I'm almost done with the Perrie experiment.

disappointing loss..........especially because most of our points were because we had to have shots from distance

I've been done with the variations of Perrie, Welsh, Bock or McGregor experiment for a while now. I'm counting down the days until the Trent H/Sellar/Tippett/Griffen experiment starts.