Game Plan & Team (long)

[Moo]

Executive Summary: Perhaps we are picking certain player types to play a run and stun type of game plan. Page down to the list discussion at the bottom.

One of my favourite things to do now is to watch the coach press conferences at the end of the round. It really does appear the game is heading into a new era where ball movement and pace are now paramount to winning modern day games of football.

With this in mind, I know we have all made comments on who we think should or should not be taken and what sort of skill set we think the club lacks and we do of course base it on what we see in front of us today.

However lets just look at who we have taken and for once consider that perhaps Bond and Harvey are ahead of the curve where the game is going.

If we expect the game to continue to moving in the direction of foot speed, gut running, quick ball movement to break zones and of course with this comes don’t turn it over (ie decision making and skill to execute) and finishing skills (when you run to break a zone or you follow a match up you may well find yourself in a goal kicking position).

I’ll classify these as
- Pace
- Footy brain
- Skills
- Work horse mentality/able to apply pressure consistently

Most of our recent recruits seem to have2 or 3 of these attributes and if they are not at least competent in one of these – they compensate by being off the scales in another area.

We stuck a toe in the water in 2007 ….Palmer obvious choice but in Hinkley (pace) and Mayne (determined) we started but I think we have embraced change in 2008.

Taking Hill who if we are looking at the above 4 is what you would call the package …very fast, agile, naturally knows the game, great skills and has a great work rate plus a defensive side. Whilst others may be better footballers – if we look for where the modern game plan …he is a rocket.

Ballantyne – pacey, great skills, a goal kicker and a natural footballer. Not sure on his tood or work rate – would need to see him at AFL level.

Suban – not pacey but great foot skills, superb footy brain and looks like a willing worker.

Clarke is the only player that really does not suit the profile but hey he is one out of the box with his size and athleticism.

Walters, Hall, Bucovaz and Ruffles all tick boxes too.

I really think that we are going to try and create our own game plan rather than the standard try and do what last year’s premiers did.
Now you might say most players fit into this cat …but not on our list – we have too many with dodgy disposal and a lot of tall utilities who have reasonable height but not the pace, decision making or footskills to fit this plan.

I think we will go to the well again in 2010 and again load up on players who will bring complimentary skill sets to this plan …..ability to execute the game plan.


Looking to 2010/11

Broughton Grover Hayden

Pearce Tarrant/Elvis Suban

Hinkley Hasleby Hill

Mundy Pavlich Mayne

Ballantyne Campbell Peake

Ruck: Sandi, Palmer, De Boer

Sub: Walters, Clarke, Ibbo, MJ

Chances to meet this plan ? Schammer, Bucovaz, Ruffles, Connelly, Pratt, Foster, Crowley, Duffield, Van Berlo, Hall, BOB, Pratt, Shepheard, Sibosado, Thornton?

Being very, very harsh is there room on the list for any of these guys?
X Gilmore, Dodd, Bradley, Headland, Browne, Solly, Murphy, Drum, Head X

God I hope one of Shepheard, Sibbo or Clarke are KP’s.

I can see another 5 players going end of this year. Personally I'd keep Bradley, Dodd and maybe Drum/Murph.

 

[Frigate]

I would agree with most of what you have said.

One consideration is we have
Hayden
Grover
Headland
Haselby
Pavlich
McPharlin
Tarrant
Soloman
Thornton (82)

all born in 1980/1981
of those it will depend who we have immediate replacements for and what they offer to the club.

I would say these players will be cut :
Head (not up to it)
Browne (not up to it)
Gilmore (not up to it)
Murphy (not up to it)
Drum (not good reports)
Soloman (he is slowing down)

These players will need to show consistent form without injury
Headland (has a lot to offer in a variety of roles)
Haselby (need his knees to hold up)

Grover and Tarrant will play important defensive roles. Thornton is under contract but may agree to retire. Kiwi will need to get enough games or he will want to leave. Dodd has his critics but he is required.
Bradley will need to show he is still improving.
So all in all we will have atleast 6 players leaving, probably around 8.

 

[dominguez]

Ballantyne's work rate and defensive pressure will be his greatest assets at AFL level because he won't get the easy possessions that he collects for Peel.

 

[Selggad]

If that is Harvey and Bonds big plan, why then the game plan of the first four games? It seems we spent a lot of the pre-season working on the rolling zone and possession orientated play. Going man on man ala against Sydney, and the more long kicking and instinctive play of the last weekend fits your theory, but we appear to have spent a lot of time working on rolling zones and possession based play, probably to our detriment.

 

[hedgehog]

We stuck a toe in the water in 2007 ….Palmer obvious choice but in Hinkley (pace) and Mayne (determined) we started but I think we have embraced change in 2008.

Taking Hill who if we are looking at the above 4 is what you would call the package …very fast, agile, naturally knows the game, great skills and has a great work rate plus a defensive side. Whilst others may be better footballers – if we look for where the modern game plan …he is a rocket.

Ballantyne – pacey, great skills, a goal kicker and a natural footballer. Not sure on his tood or work rate – would need to see him at AFL level.

Suban – not pacey but great foot skills, superb footy brain and looks like a willing worker.

Clarke is the only player that really does not suit the profile but hey he is one out of the box with his size and athleticism.

Walters, Hall, Bucovaz and Ruffles all tick boxes too.

Great Summary Moo

I liked this bit especially, rather than get some one like Rich who isn't quick and can be lazy, we got someone who was great skills, great work ethic, great pace with a footy brain.

I think last year we aced the National and Rookie Drafts.

 

[Ripper]

However lets just look at who we have taken and for once consider that perhaps Bond and Harvey are ahead of the curve where the game is going.

They are all 15 years behind the curve.

Gerard was the one ahead of the curve.

 

[Scham]

They are all 15 years behind the curve.

Gerard was the one ahead of the curve.

Too true.

 

[Moo]

If that is Harvey and Bonds big plan, why then the game plan of the first four games? It seems we spent a lot of the pre-season working on the rolling zone and possession orientated play. Going man on man ala against Sydney, and the more long kicking and instinctive play of the last weekend fits your theory, but we appear to have spent a lot of time working on rolling zones and possession based play, probably to our detriment.

Good point.

I can only speculate that we currently don't have the cattle for the more hard running approach - so we were having a bet each way.

Personally I'd rather us just run the thing and try and run the opposition off their feet. Especially at Subi - we have a lot of hard runners coming through, we may get beaten in the in and under stakes but if we can work the stoppages for clear breaks ...it will more than supplement.

For us to run harder than we did against Sydney - we really need to add a few pairs of young legs to that squad and hit targets.

I really can't wait to see Walters and De Boer get a few games.

Word on the street is Tom Swift may get a run ...be great to match De Boer up on him.

 

[yakamoto]

Given the space-time continuum if Bond and Harves look behind Gerard will be about to lap them.

 

[dominguez]

They are all 15 years behind the curve.

Gerard was the one ahead of the curve.

Will you still be flying the flag for Connolly in 2018?

 

[Moo]

They are all 15 years behind the curve.

Gerard was the one ahead of the curve.

Pity his 3 stooges player selection out warriored his Sun Tzu game plan.

 

[Ripper]

Pity his 3 stooges player selection out warriored his Sun Tzu game plan.

He did trade in Bondy.

 

[Lach72]

I;d also say that Rhys's injury will change our draft next year and we will taje another mid first pick

 

[theGav56]

Good point.

I can only speculate that we currently don't have the cattle for the more hard running approach - so we were having a bet each way.

Moo I found your post interesting, but your conclusion quite strange. On the weekend we clearly showed that we do have the cattle for the run and stun type of approach, and in the 4 weeks prior we showed that we don't have the cattle for the gameplan Harvey wanted the team to play. In effect, we are 4 weeks in and have already gone to Plan B, which to me looked very similar to our only really successful period just a few years ago.

Why not assume that the gameplan the coach took into the season and drilled in the pre-season is the one he wants?

Also, I agree with what you are saying about the recruits, but you have left out recruits and contract extensions for players who are very different (Murphy, Thornton, Head, Johnsnon, Bradley etc). A distinct lack of many of the traits that you see the clubc gods as targetting. Apart from Dwarf Johnson that may well be collectively the least footy smart group of individuals to ever get game-time. And their skills set is a Fright Night made flesh.

 

[dominguez]

Moo I found your post interesting, but your conclusion quite strange. On the weekend we clearly showed that we do have the cattle for the run and stun type of approach, and in the 4 weeks prior we showed that we don't have the cattle for the gameplan Harvey wanted the team to play. In effect, we are 4 weeks in and have already gone to Plan B, which to me looked very similar to our only really successful period just a few years ago.

Why not assume that the gameplan the coach took into the season and drilled in the pre-season is the one he wants?

The handball heavy game plan certainly worked for the eagles when they had the cattle and works for the Cats and the zone works for the very skillful Hawks.

Maybe Harvey and Co thought it would work for us but have shelved it until we replace the people who butcher the ball.

 

[Lach72]

The other thing to look at this week is whether the Eagles zone.

Sydney played very much a man on man game style.

 

[Clay Davis]

The other thing to look at this week is whether the Eagles zone.

Sydney played very much a man on man game style.

If the Eagles zone I reckon we're screwed. Don't have players smart enough to think through it.

 

[Moo]

Moo I found your post interesting, but your conclusion quite strange. On the weekend we clearly showed that we do have the cattle for the run and stun type of approach, and in the 4 weeks prior we showed that we don't have the cattle for the gameplan Harvey wanted the team to play. In effect, we are 4 weeks in and have already gone to Plan B, which to me looked very similar to our only really successful period just a few years ago.

I thinkwe have the cattle to run it spasmodiacally but not for 22 rounds and then a finals campaign. We just don't have the runners ...not sure if you saw the press conference but Harvey but he basically eluded to the fact that a lot of teams could not have such a hard game week in - week out.

My whole post is just a theory that when the class of 2009 come through we could be seeing a very different brand of football.

 

[Lach72]

If the Eagles zone I reckon we're screwed. Don't have players smart enough to think through it.

I think the same way we played last week is the only option.

We must play on at all costs and move the ball quickly to break the zone AND take plenty of shots from the arc to break the deep defensive zone open.

If we play on and get the ball moving quickly it encourages the contested footy we played well last week, because you kick to more one on ones

 

[Clay Davis]

I think the same way we played last week is the only option.

We must play on at all costs and move the ball quickly to break the zone AND take plenty of shots from the arc to break the deep defensive zone open.

If we play on and get the ball moving quickly it encourages the contested footy we played well last week, because you kick to more one on ones

One of the things I liked about the weekend's game was that we took a lot more shots from outside 50 rather than looking for a pass. Not only do you not let them get back to stop your forwards taking a mark, but if you miss and get a point, the quick movement of the ball makes it harder for them to set up from a kick out.

 

[Lach72]

One of the things I liked about the weekend's game was that we took a lot more shots from outside 50 rather than looking for a pass. Not only do you not let them get back to stop your forwards taking a mark, but if you miss and get a point, the quick movement of the ball makes it harder for them to set up from a kick out.

What it also does is when they do manage to get the zone set if you pot a few from 50m, it pulls the zone outwards to stop the shot, which then opens things up for our forwards

 

[Lach72]

We also had only 120 handballs last week against a season average of 160.

Which looks to me like the instruction has been given to kick more, especially when in trouble.

 

[Clay Davis]

We also had only 120 handballs last week against a season average of 160.

Which looks to me like the instruction has been given to kick more, especially when in trouble.

I reckon Sandilands is the barometer. He seems like the kind of guy who would do what the coach says, regardless of what it is.

The weekend was one of the few games where he kicked more than he handballed.

And on that, why doesn't he kick more? He isn't a bad kick at all (no worse than anyone else).

 

[Polly]

I’ll classify these as
- Pace
- Footy brain
- Skills
- Work horse mentality/able to apply pressure consistently

Haven't these always been qualities that make a good footballer, it's hardly anything new. I would like to think that would be the focus of our recruiters every year!

 

[Moo]

Haven't these always been qualities that make a good footballer, it's hardly anything new. I would like to think that would be the focus of our recruiters every year!

There are a number of different skill sets and attributes out there .....attitude (includes leadership traits), athleticism, of the mark speed, endurance/gut running, foot skills, goal kicking prowess, contested marking, footy brain (footy is a 2nd nature), strength, height, clearance ability (in and under), ability to think to a plan and you normally get a mind set defensive/offensive and risk adverse-conservative/taking a game on and aggressive.

You rarely get these in spades with all players and so with every person you draft you compromise.

For example Bell and Richo - very different attributes, both wonderful players.

I am saying Harvey/Bond appear to me to have homed in very hard on a core set of skills and have taken an uncompromising view in making sure we have targeted the Pace, Footy smarts, foot skills (goal kicking & execution), worker attitude.

Hill over Rich is the big one. However we followed up with Ballantyne, Suban over a lot of other players who were around - who would fit the profile of a good footballer but perhaps have suspect delivery by foot, who are not overly quick, football is not a natural game (normally late comers) or they are not goal kickers or they have suspect attitudes (Mitch Robinson by all accounts has a 5c head).

For example Clarke stands out as the exception - I think he has been picked for his height, athleticism and endurance.

The rest of the picks the same theme just kept coming ...Walters, Bucovaz, Ruffles & Hall. Size has not been a focus, ability to kick a goal has been.

To me if it was just a normal draft we would have seen far more big utility types taken or potential KP's.

We appear to be assembling a squad heavy in the ability to run long or run quickly, a large number of potential goal kickers and most appear to have disciplined attitudes and a rep as hard workers (one or two exceptions).

I say again if we get these guys coming through and the zones continue ...we are going to have a lot of guys at the fall of the ball who are going to be able to run and carry, kick a goal and who can rotate through the middle. If modern footy keeps going up a notch - I for one will be more than happy to have a few more Mayne types in the team than Gilmores.

20 minutes a game in the middle from Ballantyne (ala Farmer) and Walters if they are playing forward is a quarter relief provided to Ibbo/Palmer/Hill and it will make a big difference both to run hard all game and to be able to run hard all season and beyond.

If we lose a player to injury - which a more contested style will mean happens ...we need 3 or 4 capable of coming in. At the moment we lose a mid/running player and we are looking at Gilmore, Head, Bradley or a rookie - it is damming reality check on where our list is.



The DVD of this post is out next Tues form all bad bookstores.