Goddard Up Forward, Kozi Down Back

[olmate]

2007 Koschitzke (1.6) averaged more tackles per game than Fevola (1.5), Hall (1.2) and Riewoldt (1.0).

2008 Koschitzke (2.2) averaged more tackles than Fevola (1.7), Hall (0.8) and Riewoldt (0.7).

In 2009, Kochitzke (1.3) did average less tackles than Hall (1.5), Riewoldt (2.1) and Fevola (2.2).

2009 was the first year Riewoldt had more tackles (apart from 2006 when Koschitzke was out most of the year).

And 1.3 tackles per game is quite an achievement for a full time full forward.

I actually don't think that Koschitzke is not mobile enough and I certainly would not compare him to Gehrig in that regards (I also cannot remember Lake running off Koschitzke too often in the NAB GF a la Scarlett when he ended Gehrig's career).

Im with you on this one

Kosi is one of the best players in AFL today and has displayed this with his improvement at kicking at goal

When you have 2 or 3 opponents every time you go for a mark I ask the question WHERE ARE the crummers ?

So all you dicks that say hes to slow I ask you how quick would you be getting up with 2 or more 100 kilo blokes on top of you ?

GIVE THE BLOKE A BREAK

 

[Squizz]

So all you dicks that say hes to slow I ask you how quick would you be getting up with 2 or more 100 kilo blokes on top of you ?

Notwithstanding the excellent use of a penis reference, I fear you may be over-simplifying things (can't say I can recollect too many occasions where Kosi has had to get up with two 100 kilo blokes on top of him).

Kosi is one of the best at bringing the ball to ground, and when he is on song with his marking & kicking it is great to watch, but to me our forward structures have moved on from having a crumber permanently stationed at his feet.

The forwards are expected to chase their man upfield and lay tackles, which makes it harder to get back and scunge goals off a pack.

One thing is for sure, Kosi does polarise opinions.

 

[mysainters]

Notwithstanding the excellent use of a penis reference, I fear you may be over-simplifying things (can't say I can recollect too many occasions where Kosi has had to get up with two 100 kilo blokes on top of him).

Kosi is one of the best at bringing the ball to ground, and when he is on song with his marking & kicking it is great to watch, but to me our forward structures have moved on from having a crumber permanently stationed at his feet.

The forwards are expected to chase their man upfield and lay tackles, which makes it harder to get back and scunge goals off a pack.

One thing is for sure, Kosi does polarise opinions.

Really? I think our forward structure is operating best and is less predictable when Kosi gets his fair share of delivery deep in the goalsquare. Mainly due to position, but Roo doesn't bring our small forwards into the game in quite the same way, and we need to make more of Kosi's ability to create a contest.

We deviated a little from our traditional forward structures in the finals series this is true, but I don't actually believe that was a coaching directive as much as being in the pressure of the situation.

 

[Squizz]

Really? I think our forward structure is operating best and is less predictable when Kosi gets his fair share of delivery deep in the goalsquare. Mainly due to position, but Roo doesn't bring our small forwards into the game in quite the same way, and we need to make more of Kosi's ability to create a contest.

We deviated a little from our traditional forward structures in the finals series this is true, but I don't actually believe that was a coaching directive as much as being in the pressure of the situation.

Maybe I didn't explain myself very well. I'm more than happy to watch the Saints take a risk in the midfield and kick long to a hotspot (with the appropriate/designated players hitting the spot at speed). One of the things the Saints did right in turning their fortunes around was implementing long kicking more as their natural instinct, less possession obsession, and not fearing the boundary line.

This hasn't seemed to be the strategy to date this year, which is bad news for Kosi. Hopefully this will change.

Switching play and maintaining possession is all well and good, but it doesn't make for a great spectacle - and I don't think it is all that effective (it allows the opposition to set up their defensive structures without buring too much energy).

 

[borderbarry]

I believe that Roo contests too many of Kosi's marks. Kosi is the FF, Roo is CHF, but how often do you see both of them flying for the mark in or near the goalsquare.

 

[Squizz]

I believe that Roo contests too many of Kosi's marks. Kosi is the FF, Roo is CHF, but how often do you see both of them flying for the mark in or near the goalsquare.

I've seen Kosi take out Riewoldt just as Roo was going to take an uncontested mark - does this count?

To be fair, Kosi has shown alot more awareness of Roo's positioning in the pre-season. I'd prefer this to continue. If someone is coming back with the flight and you can screen them - do it.

The issue is more whether Kosi is holding his marks, whether his opponent is outbodying him or marking uncontested, and what he's doing when the ball is at ground level.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

If Riewoldt goes the mark and it goes to ground, Kosi isn't going to do much, he'd be better to head for a position to take a pass if someone else can scoop it up.
This would also stop all of the best defenders being lead to the same position.

 

[mysainters]

I believe that Roo contests too many of Kosi's marks. Kosi is the FF, Roo is CHF, but how often do you see both of them flying for the mark in or near the goalsquare.

I think you make a good point borderbarry.

Kosi has admitted that he pulls out of a contest if he does see Roo, but for mine, I'd prefer to see Roo pull out especially near the goalsquare.

This isn't anything against Roo, I just wouldn't like Kosi to be Roo concious. He is very much a confidence player, and needs to go out there with the mindset that every mark is his own.

We can't have it both ways, we can't expect him to impose himself on a game, and also be second guessing himself and looking for opponents before flying for a grab.

Good discussion though

 

[Value Added]

It seems to me that altho Kosi has some ok points, his most glaring deficiency is that his complete lack of mobility means that his opponent often runs off him and sets up play down field.
His hurling himself at the ball and inability to do anything once the ball hits the ground means we effectively have one less player at the fall of the ball. Fraser G was criticised for his lack of defensive pressure and as far as I can see Kosi has none. When was the last time he tackled his opponent as fev or hall or Roo does??

Agree with that. Kosi is a one trick pony. When his marking is on he's a match winner but when he's not taking grabs he's a worry.

 

[GilbertSideStep]

G'day everyone, I'm new to BF so take it easy on me ok .

I agree that too often you see Riewoldt and Kosi in each other's space, and more often than not Riewoldt is going to get there first because he's a freak athletically.
I don't understand why they don't just sit Kosi in the goal square with Milney at his feet? At least if Kosi goes to ground deep in the forward line we've either got Milney there mopping up or our mids/half forwards have a bit of time to zone off and stop the ball exiting our fifty too deeply.